Astronauts spacewalk outside the International Space Station. Photo: Wikimedia.

NanoRacks and NASA have signed the contract for Ixion, a commercial habitat concept study first announced last summer that will focus on repurposing spent launch vehicle upper stages. NanoRacks is working with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to provide launch services as well as Space Systems Loral (SSL), which will provide robotic outfitting capabilities.

Funded by the NASA NextStep 2 award, the Ixion concept is the only NASA-funded program that focuses on repurposing spent launch vehicle upper stages.

NanoRack’s “Ixion Initiative Team,” is a new addition to NASA’s NextStep effort, and will begin by conducting a feasibility study evaluating the conversion of rocket upper stages into habitats. According to the company, this approach offers a pathway that is more affordable and involves less risk than fabricating modules on the ground and subsequently launching them into orbit.

The Ixion Initiative Team proposes demonstrating this concept via the conversion of a Centaur rocket upper stage, which can be attached to the International Space Sattion (ISS). After the converted Centaur upper stage is attached to the ISS, the NanoRacks’ team intends to leverage the habitat as a proving ground for private sector activities.