Bishop Airlock
Airlocks, critical infrastructure for all space stations, facilitate movement between the internal station environment and the vacuum of space. Our first Airlock, Bishop, became the first permanent, commercial addition to the International Space Station in 2020, offering 5x more capacity than the government airlocks.
Bishop & future airlocks facilitate more efficient movement of equipment, internal and external research, satellite and trash deployment, maintenance, and other services.
The Bishop Airlock provides several unique capabilities for deploying larger SmallSats from the Space Station including the ability to accommodate various satellite sizes in a single sortie.
The Airlock is maneuvered and installed/removed by the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). Astronauts prepare and install payloads and then ground control manages depressurization, EVR and deployment activities. Deployments are performed during a Space Station orbital day pass to provide visual confirmation that the payload has properly deployed and ideal conditions for imagery.
Bishop Airlock can accommodate payloads up to 112 x 112 x 127 cm with masses up to 322 kg.
The Bishop Airlock is an ideal platform for conducting microgravity research and a variety of technology demonstration missions. Payloads can be exposed to the space environment for short durations or kept in the Space Station environment. For exposure, there are multiple pointing options, including Ram, Wake, Zenith, and Nadir. Additionally, payloads and research can operate with the hatch open (Node 3) or in various pressure conditions from 14.7 psi to vacuum (Node 3 closed).
Hosting payloads on Bishop is an ideal alternative to satellite development and launch, allowing for rapid in space evaluation of concepts and technology prior to adoption into a larger operational program. Hosting on Bishop allows the researchers and companies to focus on collecting the data, sensor, or mission most important to them. Key benefits include reducing overall programmatic costs and risk as well as reducing complexity by providing power and data transfer as standard services.
- Payload Combination: Combine multiple microgravity payloads and satellite types in one Airlock sortie.
- Infinite Pointing: No limit to pointing options while attached to CanadaArm2. Zenith, Nadir, Ram, Wake – tell us what you need.
- Standardization: We stick to our principles. Standard rack and locker payloads. Similar electrical interfaces. The Mission Management you know and love.
- Supporting Spacewalks: Large equipment can now be robotically moved to the outside of the Space Station, creating an external ‘toolbox’ for crew members on a spacewalk.
- The Pressure is On: Payloads can be operated in the vacuum of space or in various pressure conditions up to 14.7 psi.
- Increased Throughput: Over 5x the volume of the current airlock on the Space Station. Up to 144U of payloads at once.
- Bishop Configuration Overview
Numerous Deployment Configurations
Nominal Payload Envelope
- Maximum payload size 44.2″ x 44.2″ x 50″ and 709 lbs
- Must fit through Node 3 Hatch
- 46″ if CPAs rotated and kick-plate installed (nominal)
- 50″ if CPA’s removed (premier)
- Maximum 144U per Airlock sortie
Various satellite sizes can be hosted during one
sortie. Can combine CubeSat deployer with multiple MicroSats. Deployment commands will be operated by Nanoracks Operations Team.
Learn more about deploying satellites from the Bishop Airlock.
Six Hosted Payload Sites Available
Pressurized or unpressurized launch opportunities available. Oceaneering GOLD 2 connector provides electrical, mechanical and robotic interface. Infinite pointing options while on the SSRMS (CanadaArm) – including Ram, Wake, Zenith, and Nadir.
Nominal Payload Envelope:
- 500 lbs (227 kg)
- Exceedances may be considered on a case by case basis
Power: 120 VDC; 350 watts (nominal)
- Maximum 700 watts but must coordinated with Nanoracks as total Airlock payload power available is 2.6 kW berthed and 1.8kW un-berthed – This is a shared resource so payload usage will be managed by Nanoracks.
Data: Ethernet protocol (nominal)
- 100 Mb/sec to Airlock avionics
- Data rate from Airlock to ISS: 100 Mb/sec berthed (hardwired to Node 3); 10 Mb/sec un-berthed (WIFI)
- Data rate to ground to be negotiated with NASA
- Data storage capability within Airlock avionics
Redundant power and data interfaces
Redundant fiber optics and coaxial connections also available and terminated inside of Airlock pressure shell
Learn more about hosting payloads on the Bishop Airlock.
Nominal Payload Envelope.
- Maximum payload size 44.2″ x 44.2″ x 50″ and 709 lbs
- Must fit through Node 3 Hatch
- 46″ if CPAs rotated and kick-plate installed (nominal)
- 50″ if CPA’s removed (premier)
Power: 120 VDC; 350 watts (nominal)
- Maximum 700 watts but must coordinated with Nanoracks as total Airlock payload power available is 2.6 kW berthed and 1.8kW un-berthed – This is a shared resource so payload usage will be managed by Nanoracks.
Data: Ethernet protocol (nominal)
- 100 Mb/sec to Airlock avionics
- Data rate from Airlock to ISS: 100 Mb/sec berthed (hardwired to Node 3); 10 Mb/sec un-berthed (WIFI)
- Data rate to ground to be negotiated with NASA
- Data storage capability within Airlock avionics
Operations conducted by in the Nanoracks “Bridge” in coordination with NASA, crew, and customer.
Robotics company GITAI successfully demonstrated how leveraging the Bishop Airlock, their robot can execute versatile tasks such as In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) and help save valuable astronaut time by robotically handling necessary crew activities. The second mission will demonstrate an expansion of these capabilities. ISAM tasks will be demonstrated in an externally hosted site on the Bishop Airlock and showcase GITAI’s capability of providing extravehicular robotic systems that are durable in a space environment. This mission will utilize a full open-close cycle of the Bishop Airlock.
Our trash deployment concept utilizes a specially designed deployment system and container which can hold up to 600 pounds (272 kg) of items ready for disposal. The system is mounted inside the Bishop Airlock with the bag empty, and once filled, the bag is closed and cinched tight awaiting deployment. When the ISS robotic arm grapples Bishop, moves it, and points it away from the ISS, the deployer then jettisons the trash bag away from the ISS. The bag will orbit the Earth for several months until it naturally burns up upon re-entry into the atmosphere. First mission completed in July 2022.
Gambit’s primary goal was to serve as a testing platform to demonstrate robotic transfer and installation processes at Bishop’s external sites. Equipped with a suite of sensors, Gambit also provided critical and detailed data on external payload operations. Its sensors verified the functionality of the Bishop Airlock’s external sites and gathered environmental data critical to future payloads. This data is invaluable in ensuring the success of upcoming scientific missions and commercial endeavors destined for Bishop.