Space taxis, or spacecraft that carry astronauts between various space stations, could be viable mode of space transportation for astronauts as early as 2017 thanks to developments from companies like Boeing and SpaceX. However, just like cars on Earth, space taxis need a place to park. In the coming days, NASA astronauts Jeff Williams and Kate Rubins will carry out a space walk on the ISS to install a new "parking spot" for space taxis.
To install the docking port, Williams and Rubins will take advantage of the cables laid out by previous crew members as well as the helping hand of the Canadarm2, which is attached to the ISS. Canadarm 2 will hold the docking platform a few inches from the cables, and the astronauts will be responsible for connecting it the cables.
What's Driving This Trend
- Space Taxis
- Opportunity to develop advanced docking technologies for space taxis.
- Space Transportation
- Potential for innovation in space transportation systems for astronauts.
- Space Infrastructure
- Growing demand for space docking ports and parking solutions.
Who This Affects Most
- Aerospace
- Disruptive opportunity to create next-generation space vehicles and infrastructure.
- Technology
- Innovations required in advanced docking systems and automation for space taxis.
- Construction
- Emerging need for building and maintaining space docking ports.
