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1000 Planets Space Infrastructure:

One of the goals of 1000 Planets is to develop infrastructure in space that can be used to pursue our overarching goals. The identification of key markets that have to be exploited commercially is one of the aims of 1000 Planets. The first step in large-scale space commercialization is the successful establishment of profitable space companies and the willingness to test new ideas and concepts. 1000 Planets' endeavors include a variety of approaches:

Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV):

The goal of the OMV Project is to create a reusable space tug that can serve a multi-purpose role in space. Several key markets for such a vehicle has been identified. They are as follows:

Boosting satellites from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO).
Recovery of malfunctioned satellites from a variety of orbits.
Boosting satellites that may have entered the wrong orbit due to a launch failure.
Repair, Maintenance and refueling of satellites.
Clearing Debris, Dead Satellites from valuable orbit locations.
Possible boosting of the shuttle main tank to a stable orbit.

The concept of the OMV is not a new one. Indeed it is seen as a market that has potential to generate revenue by some of the larger corporate bodies within the aviation industry. Boeing, for example, is developing an OMV that can transport a satellite to Geosynchronous Orbit and then serve as a power platform to that satellite. The major difference between Boeing1s OMV and 1000 Planets is reusability. The 1000 Planets OMV is designed for flexibility and can be used within a variety of flight missions. The 1000 Planets design for an OMV, codenamed Orson, can be viewed here.

Space Station:

A space station is seen as the next step in 1000 Planets goal of reaching space. Space stations will make a useful staging area for the OMV's and for later development of space in general. In the distant future it can be seen as the next step to colonize the planets of this Solar System.

Several possibilities are being explored for the creation of a Space Station. It is hope that partnerships can be pursued and developed within the aviation industry which bring about the goal of a Space Station. For example Space Island Group novel use of the Space Shuttle External Tank as the basic building block of a Space Station.

At 1000 Planets we feel the OMV and Space Station are the critical portions of the drive to space.

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