Max Space unveils new expandable space habitat for the moon and beyond:

from
https://www.space.com/technology/max-space-unveils-new-expandable-space-habitat-for-the-moon-and-beyond-we-need-real-estate-that-is-scalable

Max Space unveils new expandable space habitat for the moon and beyond: 
'We need real estate that is scalable'
News
By Leonard David published 4 hours ago
"They are truly ready for long duration space flights and lunar habitation."

three people in jeans and blazers stand in front of a round crenellated 
structure in a field
Expandable space patrol, left to right: Maxim de Jong, Max Space 
co-founder and chief technology officer, Saleem Miyan, co-founder and 
CEO, and Aaron Kemmer, Max Space co-founder and chairman. (Image credit: 
Future/Barbara David)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — Next-generation space habitats for low 
Earth orbit, the moon and beyond are on display here at the Space 
Foundation's 41st annual Space Symposium.

Max Space has unveiled a large sub-scale version of their expandable 
habitat, giving viewers a real look at how best to offer far greater 
habitable volume for future space endeavors. "This is more than a 
model," said Saleem Miyan, co-founder and CEO of Max Space, based in 
Florida. "It is a physical demonstration of a new approach to space 
infrastructure, far greater habitable volume, lower launch mass and 
logistics burden, scalable architecture for commercial low Earth orbit 
stations, lunar surface systems, and future deep space missions."

If we are serious about permanent human presence on the moon and in 
space, Miyan told Space.com, "we need real estate that is scalable and 
built for how humans will actually live and operate off Earth."

You may like
Artist's illustration of a white inflatable habitat on the moon.
Could NASA use expandable habitats for its Artemis moon bases? These two 
companies are betting millions
Artist's illustration of SpaceX's Starship vehicle on the moon 
during an Artemis astronaut mission for NASA.
A city on the moon: Why SpaceX shifted its focus away from Mars
an artist's rendering of a NASA Artemis moon base with development 
underway.
Can current space law handle the new space age?
Click here for more Space.com videos...
Practical readiness of materials
Many refer to what's called Technical Readiness Levels (TRL's) of their 
products being readied for use in space.

Max Space relies heavily on its over three decades of material science 
expertise, referring to and also refers to that knowhow as PRM's - the 
Practical Readiness of Materials, said Miyan. "And they are truly ready 
for long duration space flights and lunar habitation," he said.

The next era of space habitation will not be built with small thinking, 
Miyan said.

Strategic partnership
In February a new strategic partnership was announced between Voyager 
Technologies and Max Space.

Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching 
events and more!

Your Email Address
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of services and acknowledge that 
you have read our Privacy Notice. You also agree to receive marketing 
emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and 
sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.
"This technology reflects a fundamental shift in how humanity will live 
and work in space," said Dylan Taylor, chairman and CEO of Voyager — a 
defense and space technology company. Sustained operations on the moon 
"require infrastructure designed for endurance, scalability and 
industrial execution," he said in a press statement.

"The moon is no longer a single destination or a flags-and-footprints 
exercise," Taylor added. It is the next operational domain in a growing 
space economy, he said.

an illustration of several round, domed structures on the moon

An illustration of Max Space expandable habitats on the surface of the 
moon. (Image credit: Max Space)
Phased development path
Max Space has been an early pioneer in expandable structure development.

The company's lightweight expandable habitat launches compactly and 
expands 20 times larger once deployed in orbit or other destination, 
allowing a large, fully equipped habitat to launch on a single SpaceX 
Falcon 9 rocket.

The strategic partnership blueprints a phased development path, 
including ground validation and in-space demonstrations later this 
decade. That development path's goal is to enable operational moon and 
Mars capabilities aligned with NASA's exploration timelines.

For more on Max Space, visit the company's website.

Leonard David
Leonard David
Space Insider Columnist
Leonard David is an award-winning space journalist who has been 
reporting on space activities for more than 50 years. Currently writing 
as Space.com's Space Insider Columnist among his other projects, Leonard 
has authored numerous books on space exploration, Mars missions and 
more, with his latest being "Moon Rush: The New Space Race" published in 
2019 by National Geographic. He also wrote "Mars: Our Future on the Red 
Planet" released in 2016 by National Geographic. Leonard  has served as 
a correspondent for SpaceNews, Scientific American and Aerospace America 
for the AIAA. He has received many awards, including the first Ordway 
Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History in 2015 at the AAS 
Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium. You can find out Leonard's latest 
project at his website and on Twitter.