Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB)
Developed a platform called the Space Pallet Satellite, or SPAS. It is a truss of graphite-epoxy tubes and fits snugly into the bay of the space shuttle.
Created: 2023-08-19
Updated: 2024-02-18
Company - Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB)
- Founded
- Country
- 1968
- Germany
- Funding
- Yes, ?
Product/Service - SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger
- Classification
- Miscellaneous
- Category
- Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Reusable Satellite
Point-to-point
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Robotic Space Station
- Fields
- Spaceplane
Automated Microgravity Laboratory
- Status
- Cancelled, Acquired
- First launch
- 1983
Space Pallet Satellite (SPAS)
Developed a platform called the Space Pallet Satellite, or SPAS. It is a truss of graphite-epoxy tubes and fits snugly into the bay of the space shuttle. On the seventh shuttle flight, it was released from the shuttle, was operated for ten hours, and was then retrieved. It flew again on the tenth shuttle flight, remaining in the cargo bay and carrying equipment for several commercial users into orbit. It has only battery power and uses compressed cans of gas to push it around, so it is suitable only for short-duration missions. But it's cheap; the basic platform costs less than $4 million.
Saenger (Sänger)
West German concept design for a two-stage-to-orbit spaceplane.
Spacelab
European Retrievable Carrier
Status Comment / Notes
Similar Organizations
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Workspaces
Cancelled, Development
Pioneer-class Space Station, Voyager-class Space Station
In-Space Manufacturing, Commercial Space Station, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Robotic Space Station
Early stage
Bartolomeo
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Active
The Port, The Cutter
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Assembly, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Bioreactor Express
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, ISS Utilization Service
Active
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development, ?
Ecos
In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware, Medical Support, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
ELS-R, ELS-RS
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Carousel Spacelab
Active Debris Removal (ADR), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science
Early stage, ?
Foton Spacecraft
Foton
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Retired
SpaceLAB
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
FSW
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Dormant
SpaceLAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Space Laboratory Equipment
Development
Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station
Development
Phoenix Orbital Transfer Vehicle
In-Space Manufacturing, Orbital Transportation, Space Tug, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Kirara
Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Science, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Active
HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander
Demonstrated
Life Sciences Platform
Microgravity Research Payloads, ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
LEAP
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
NanoLab, Bishop
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Commercial ISS Airlock, Microgravity Research Payloads
Active
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Research Payloads
Demonstrated, Launched
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science, Microgravity Research Payloads
Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
Breakthrough
In-Space Assembly, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Space Solar Power
Development
In-Space Production, In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service
Active
REV1
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
BARNACLE DOT, INDY DOT
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads
Development
ForgeStar, Aether
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Space Pocket
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service
Demonstrated
Space Rider
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
TangoLab, CubeLabs
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Active
ST-42
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, ?
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
SPACTORY
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Science
Demonstrated, Active
RED-25, RED-DATA2
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Launched, Demonstrated, Development
DragonLab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
MUSES (Multi-User System for Earth Sensing)
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Hardware
Active
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Launch Service Brokerer
Active
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
ThinkPlatform-1
Commercial Space Station, Space Construction Company, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), On-Orbit Servicing, Space Tug
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service
Active
VSI-LAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, Dormant
Space-Lab, AsteriX Lab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Commercial Space Station
Early stage
SpaceCase
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
ScienceTaxi
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service, Hardware, Microgravity Science
Active
BAM-FX
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Dormant, Development
ASTROLAB SAS
Commercial Space Station, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
SpaceDrone
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development, ?
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite
Concept, Development
ELS-R, ELS-RS
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
FSW
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite
Development
On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics
Early stage
Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station
Development
MERCAP
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Interspace Explore
ZengZhang
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Skylon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Concept
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
Dream Chaser, Shooting Star
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Ghost
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
REV1
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
ForgeStar, Aether
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Space Rider
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
TangoLab, CubeLabs
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Active
ST-42
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, ?
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Black Bay
Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite
Dormant, Bankrupt
DragonLab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
VSI-LAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Demonstrated, Development
SpaceCase
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
ASTROLAB SAS
Commercial Space Station, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
SpaceDrone
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite
Concept, Development
FSW
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite
Development
On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics
Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Black Bay
Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite
Dormant, Bankrupt
Human Spaceflight, Point-to-point
Development
Starship, Starship HLS, Starship Human Landing System
Human Landing System, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Point-to-point
Development, Launched
SpaceShipTwo
Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital), Suborbital Space Tourism, Point-to-point
Active
Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Space Traffic Management, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active, Concept
Blue Ring
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Persistent Platform, Space Tug, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics, Space Logistics Platform, In-Orbit Computing, In-Space Mobility
Development
CST-100 Starliner
Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Human Landing System
Demonstrated
ION
Space Tug, In-Orbit Computing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Orbital Transportation, In-Space Logistics
Active
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Commercial Space Station, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Concept
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
Interspace Explore
ZengZhang
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander
Demonstrated
Orbiter
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active, Discontinued, ?
VIA
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Orbital Transportation, Hardware, Software
Development, Concept
Moon Dancer
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Cancelled, Development
Cygnus
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active
Earth Port
Space Elevator, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
Ferry, Cargo Ferry
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development, Launched
Aurora
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Skylon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Concept
Redshift
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
IOSHEXA
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Dream Chaser, Shooting Star
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Ghost
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Modular Transport System (MTS)
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon)
Concept
Space Elevator, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Early stage
RoWo
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), On-Orbit Servicing
Development
Crew Dragon
Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active
Starship, Starship HLS, Starship Human Landing System
Human Landing System, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Point-to-point
Development, Launched
Dragon, Dragon 2, Cargo Dragon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Active
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
Pioneer-class Space Station, Voyager-class Space Station
In-Space Manufacturing, Commercial Space Station, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Robotic Space Station
Early stage
The Port, The Cutter
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Assembly, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform
Development
Blue Ring
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Persistent Platform, Space Tug, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics, Space Logistics Platform, In-Orbit Computing, In-Space Mobility
Development
Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station
Development
Kosmos-Station
Robotic Arm, Hardware, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station
Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Earthshine-Mini, Earthshine-Robotic
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station
Early stage
STARFAB
Robotic Space Station
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Concept
RoWo
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), On-Orbit Servicing
Development
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing
Development