TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State University has been tapped to help be part of a project to create the first-ever commercial space station.
The station called "Orbital Reef" hopes to be operational by the end of this decade.
The project is being led by Blue Origin, an aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos. The idea is to create an "office park" in space that can be accessed by governments, tourists and businesses.
Once completed, Orbital Reef hopes to be able to house 10 people at a time and have all the needed amenities to conduct whatever might be needed in space.
ASU will lead 14 universities to help assist the project.
“We need a place where we can have a village.” Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the Vice President of ASU’s Interplanetary Initiative, explained. “Indeed our space future is not just scientists and engineers and sci-fi writers but for everyone”
The universities will help create ethical guidelines, support businesses trying to transition to space and provide education.
“It’s an amazing powerful draw, space exploration,” Elkins-Tanton said.
Lindy hopes that in the future, commercial space won't just be the realm of billionaires but have a place for everyday people and businesses.
“Looking back at the earth, seeing the continents pass underneath. Seeing from space that we are all one people.” Elkins-Tanton said. "I think it could have quite a ripple effect."
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