ALTERNATE ESA SPACE STATION CONCEPT [BAe,1990]
Notes:
British Aerospace Ltd. (BAe) also investigated alternate European space station designs for the European Space Agency. The configuration shown here would have consisted of self-contained modular “building blocks” much like the Soviet Salyut and Mir space stations. Unlike the existing Columbus module design, each module could function as a free-flying spacecraft since it had its own solar panels, guidance & control capabilities etc.. The propulsion section at the base of each module would also be used on the Ariane (cargo-) Transfer Vehicle to achieve maximum commonality.
In 1990, BAe's Long-Term Space Architecture Study group also investigated possible European contributions to President Bush's Space Exploration Initiative, including space stations in Earth and lunar orbit derived from the design shown here.
