. 24/7 Space News .
SPACE TRAVEL
ESA and Airbus sign partnership agreement for new ISS commercial payload platform Bartolomeo
by Staff Writers
Noordwijk, Netherlands (SPX) Feb 09, 2018

Artwork depicting ESA's new ISS commercial payload platform Bartolomeo

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus have signed a commercial partnership (PPP) agreement for construction, launch and operations of the commercial "Bartolomeo" platform. Airbus' new external payload hosting facility will be attached to the European Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS) from mid-2019.

The agreement defines the roles and responsibilities of the two PPP partners, with Airbus investing around euro 40 million into the development, construction and launch of this innovative platform, and ESA providing Bartolomeo's installation on the ISS. Bartolomeo will be launched in the unpressurized compartment of an ISS supply vehicle and installed using the ISS robotics system and an extra-vehicular activity. Airbus is then responsible for platform operations and payload integration.

These new, commercially available opportunities are open to users world-wide, coming from areas including Earth observation, technology demonstrators, astro- and heliophysics, material science, new space flight applications and commercial missions.

"Our role is to make access to low-Earth orbit as easy as it possibly can be and open up the ISS to a global user community," said Oliver Juckenhofel, Head of On-Orbit Services and Exploration at Airbus.

"We are creating a cost and time efficient way for institutional and private organizations to bring their experiments into space as external payloads. We can get them launched just 18 months after signing a contract. With our All-in-One Space Mission Service, the Bartolomeo users can concentrate on their payload, while we take care of everything else, from launch and installation, to in-space operations, communication links and even all the way to returning the experiment to Earth if it is required," he continued.

"We are extremely pleased to have confirmed this agreement, as it is a major step towards an increased commercial use of the Space Station," said David Parker, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA.

"The ISS is one of humanities' most exciting research facilities, and with Bartolomeo and Airbus' unique service concept, we will be able to offer more capacity to more users from more domains in the very near future."

Named after the younger brother of Christopher Columbus, the Bartolomeo platform will offer 12 payload slots on the outside of the Columbus module. The growing number of commercial space users for payloads in the 100kg class is driving demand. The payloads do not require hands-on maintenance by astronauts and can be operated outside of the ISS.

The platform development has recently passed the preliminary design review and is on track for launch in May 2019. First payloads are then expected to be installed in the second half of 2019.

Key to offering a service for smaller payloads is the General-purpose Oceaneering Latching Device (GOLD) - a new attachment mechanism for payloads of up to 125kg and 0.5 m developed by Airbus' partner Oceaneering Space Systems in Houston, Texas. The two companies are also working on the system to attach the platform to the Columbus module using ISS robotics.


Related Links
Airbus
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


SPACE TRAVEL
All-in-one service for the Space Station
Paris (ESA) Feb 12, 2018
Quick access to space, high-speed data feed and a unique vantage point are the selling points of a new commercial venture on the International Space Station. Its name is Bartolomeo, and its versatile design allows for many mission types at competitive prices from next year. The Space Station has been growing in size during the past 20 years, and so have the number of platforms dedicated to science in orbit. However, researchers and engineers are finding it harder to acquire slots for their experim ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SPACE TRAVEL
NanoRacks adds Thales Alenia Space to team up on Commercial Space Station Airlock Module

ESA and Airbus sign partnership agreement for new ISS commercial payload platform Bartolomeo

All-in-one service for the Space Station

Marshall tech cleans your air, keeps your beer cold and helps with math

SPACE TRAVEL
Elon Musk, visionary Tesla and SpaceX founder

Japan Successfully Launches World's Smallest Carrier Rocket

What's next for SpaceX?

Final request for proposal released for Air Force launch services contract

SPACE TRAVEL
HKU scientist makes key discoveries in the search for life on Mars

Tiny Crystal Shapes Get Close Look From Mars Rover

NASA leverages proven technologies to build agency's first planetary wind lidar

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter capatures images of splitting slope streaks

SPACE TRAVEL
Chinese taikonauts maintain indomitable spirit in space exploration: senior officer

China launches first shared education satellite

China's first X-ray space telescope put into service after in-orbit tests

China's first successful lunar laser ranging accomplished

SPACE TRAVEL
UK companies seek cooperation with Russia in space technologies

GovSat-1 Successfully Launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket

Iridium Announces First Land-Mobile Service Providers for Iridium Certus

2018 in Space - Progress and Promise

SPACE TRAVEL
Helping authorities respond more quickly to airborne radiological threats

Singapore takes next step towards implementing world's first space-based VHF communications

A Detailed Timeline of The IMAGE Mission Recovery

Researchers take terahertz data links around the bend

SPACE TRAVEL
Are you rocky or are you gassy

UChicago astrophysicists settle cosmic debate on magnetism of planets and stars

Viruses are falling from the sky

What the TRAPPIST-1 Planets Could Look Like

SPACE TRAVEL
New Horizons captures record-breaking images in the Kuiper Belt

Europa and Other Planetary Bodies May Have Extremely Low-Density Surfaces

JUICE ground control gets green light to start development

New Year 2019 offers new horizons at MU69 flyby









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.