NanoRacks is excited to announce that on February 17, 2015, the NanoRacks External Payload Platform (NREP), manufactured by Airbus DS Space Systems Inc., was delivered to Lockheed Martin Cargo Mission Contract to be prepared for launch.
The NREP will be launched on the Japanese HTV-5 International Space Station Cargo Resupply Mission.
The NREP will provide the first ever commercial platform for access to the outer space environment. The platform will be mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module External Facility and will be robotically installed and operated for CubeSat form factor payloads.
“We have been working long and hard with NanoRacks to ensure the NREP meets the highest commercial standards and customer needs.” says Airbus DS Space Systems Inc. CEO, Ron Dunklee. “I’m very proud of the Airbus team’s efforts in building this one of a kind commercial platform.”
The NanoRacks External Payload Platform was originally manifested on Orb-3, but both NanoRacks and Airbus chose to hold back NREP for further quality testing.
Adds NanoRacks CEO, Jeffrey Manber: “This platform truly broadens commercial access to the ISS. We are now offering commercial platforms inside station, outside station, and in-orbit. It has been a pleasure continuing our partnership with Airbus, and we look forward to working with the already growing list of NREP customers from commercial researchers to government organizations.”
Be sure to follow @NanoRacks and @AstriumNA on Twitter for continued updates.
Download the full press release and for further press inquiries, please contact Abby Dickes at adickes@nanoracks.com
About NanoRacks, LLC:
NanoRacks LLC was formed in 2009 to provide commercial hardware and services for the U.S. National Laboratory onboard the International Space Station via a Space Act Agreement with NASA. NanoRacks’ main office is in Houston, Texas, right alongside the NASA Johnson Space Center. The Business Development office is in Washington, DC., and NanoRacks’ now has a new office in Silicon Valley, California. The Company has grown into the Operating System for Space Utilization by having the tools, the hardware and the services to allow other companies, organizations and governments to realize their own space plans.
To date over 200 payloads have been deployed by the Company on the International Space Station and our customer base includes the European Space Agency (ESA) the German Space Agency (DLR,) the American space agency (NASA,) US Government Agencies, Planet Labs, Urthecast, Space Florida, NCESSE, Virgin Galactic, pharmaceutical drug companies, and organizations in Vietnam, UK, Romania and Israel. Our customer base has propelled NanoRacks into a leadership position in understanding the emerging commercial market for low-earth orbit utilization.
