Axiom Space selects Rendezvous- and Docking Sensor from Jena-Optronik for its commercial space station module.

Axiom Space, a Houston-based US company, is building the first commercial space station, called “Axiom Station”, offering access to low Earth orbit to researchers, governments, manufacturers, technology development and private individuals. When the first commercial module – the Ax-H1 – docks with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024, a RVS 3000 LiDAR sensor from Jena-Optronik will be on-board to ensure an accurate in-space approach and docking manoeuvre.

Best in class, Jena-Optronik’s sensor is a single box LiDAR containing all optical and electronic components including the necessary processing capabilities for an ISS approach using retro-reflector targets. The fully qualified RVS 3000 has achieved TRL9 (Technology Readiness Level) on several US, European and Japanese flights to the International Space Station.

“We are pleased to have Jena-Optronik providing one of our key navigation sensors. Our module’s approach and rendezvous with the ISS is obviously a critical activity and selecting Jena-Optronik greatly enhances our system,” said Matt Ondler, Chief Technology Officer and Director of Engineering for Axiom Space.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the great team of Axiom Space on the rendezvous- and docking concept. We are excited to contribute to these fascinating missions with our RVS 3000 LiDAR and are looking forward to a long lasting successful collaboration with Axiom Space,” comments Dr. Max Möller, Director LIDAR Products at Jena-Optronik.

Although we are not yet at the stage where spaceflight is possible for everyone, the trend clearly leads towards increasing opportunities to access space for more and more people from all over the world – no matter of their origin, age, gender or job.