Orbex Space is a privately owned UK company that has launched several experimental sounding rockets, most notably the eleventh unmanned orbital test flight from the Plesk Research Centre in Russia. The company also plans to start the first series of twelve satellites that will fly around the Earth from orbit. The company is led by Thomas Warren, an experienced aerospace engineer who previously worked at Rockwell International. The company recently received favourable comments from the Russian government for launching the first ever orbital experimental vehicle (OVV).
Orbex Space was chosen as one of only two companies in the UK that were invited to join the European Space Agency's (Esa) Partakator project to develop modular space modules. The company's chief executive, Tom Price, said that the US had expressed a willingness to back up its claims with action. He also pointed out that the European Space Agency's plans for the future are aligned with the goals of the US, including commercialization of low-earth orbit (LEO) systems. Orbex Space's proposed designs would fit in with those plans.
Price continued: "orbital-safe, fully-integrated modules will enable users to construct permanent structures in space, which can be moved around at will." He went on to state that the company's proposed designs for its modular rocket system "will allow for construction right here on Earth of extremely lightweight structures that can then be put into a geostationary transfer orbit or polar orbit." Orbex Space has signed agreements with a number of global satellite communications companies for the production of the final components of its space system. It is also involved in discussions with the European and Chinese space agencies to develop the use of the technologies already in use on Orbex hardware. All this means that the commercial space industry is already thinking about the use of modularity for satellite construction.
But what of the future of the private space flight industry? Is the US prepared to spend billions more on such ventures as commercial partnerships with European and Asian countries? Some industry experts believe that the US may back out of such ventures once the Europeans and Asians get an agreement in place and begin producing modular satellites using their own modular design approach. The implication is that the US may not pursue its goal of world dominance in space because it will lose the battle to its competitors, namely those companies that make use of open source modular design technology.
Some industry analysts believe that the US should be more flexible in its definition of "open source" and that it should seek a middle way between these two extremes. By this they mean that the US should become more willing to allow modular design companies to use proprietary technology and then license those designs to the world's satellite operators. Orbex and EOS are both developing modular design vehicles but the emergence of Space Launch System (SLS) has left the other companies either scrambling to catch up or sitting on the sidelines. Some industry experts believe that the retirement of SLS will open up a perfect opportunity for the US to develop its own modular SLS which could be used in parallel with European and Asian modular systems.
In fact the ultimate dream of many commercial space flight enthusiasts, one that was expressed by billionaire Charles Spencer during the International Space Station presentation, is the development of a modular SLS that would allow the crew to "go to" the International Space Station (ISS). However the emergence of an entirely new commercial market and the retirement of the Space Shuttle will probably put an end to this dream before it ever gets off the ground. And if the Chinese, Russians or Japanese should build such a system, who would finance it? The only solution then is to tap the international market for modular design and manufacturing capabilities. This presents an opening for companies like Orbex who have been developing such systems for years and who have experience in providing services to both government and commercial customers.
Orbex has been successfully outsourcing its design and production capabilities from other international companies and is now focusing on the global modular space launch and development market. If it can win such a delicate balance between developing reliable systems for low risk / low cost construction / integration and developing reliability and safety features for a highly technically complex system that is not likely to be able to use its manifest all at once, then it may well walk away with a very valuable clientele. It also needs to be able to offer a price that is attractive to the general public but which brings down the risk / cost ratio and allows it to compete effectively in such a highly competitive market.
A team that has worked on both innovative and highly modular SLS designs should be in a good position to help them design and manufacture a robust modular system which provides the reliability and safety requirements. The UK is one of the world's most successful industrial nations and is home to some of the world's best and most prestigious engineering and research organisations. And it is home to Orbex who have a strong track record in developing cost effective systems. The company is well positioned to benefit from the UK's industrial strength and drive towards industrial expansion.