Europe’s Thales Alenia Space has marked a significant milestone in the construction of the Axiom Hab One (AX-H1) commercial space station module.
Thales Alenia Space is one of few companies in the world that boasts significant experience in the development of space station modules. The company developed and built the International Space Station’s Harmony, Tranquility, and Columbus modules. It was, as a result, no surprise that in July 2021, Axiom Space entrusted the development of the pressure vessels and Micrometeoroid and Debris Protection System for the first two modules of its commercial space station to the Cannes-headquartered aerospace giant. At the time, Thales Alenia Space stated that the contract for both modules was worth €110 million.
Late last week, Thales Alenia Space announced that it had successfully mated the forward cone to the cylinder bulkhead of the AX-H1 pressure vessel. According to the company, the two elements coming together “marks a significant evolution of the primary structure of AX-H1.”
Once complete, AX-H1 will provide quarters for a crew of four with additional volume for research and manufacturing applications. The module will also feature several large Earth-viewing windows and will be equipped with propulsion, guidance, navigation, and station control systems.
Thales Alenia Space is expected to deliver the pressure vessel for AX-H1 in 2025. Axiom will then complete final outfitting at its facility in Houston. The module is currently expected to be launched in late 2026. It will then be docked with the International Space Station’s Harmony module for use by visiting Axiom astronauts.
