A prototype of Max Space’s Thunderbird could launch as early as 2027.
Florida startup Max Space announced its plans to launch a prototype of its commercial space station by 2027, testing its expandable habitat technology that aims to reduce the number of trips needed to build the orbital lab.
Thunderbird is a single-module space station that is designed to expand to a volume of 12,360 cubic feet (350 cubic meters) once in orbit. Instead of launching multiple missions to assemble an assortment of modules, the entire Thunderbird space station could be packed inside SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and launched on a single mission.
This week, Max Space revealed that a small prototype of the space station, called Mission Evolution, is set to launch on board a SpaceX ride-share mission in early 2027, SpaceNews reported. The mission will test the space station’s orbital debris protection system, as well as its environmental control and life support system.
