6.01.2026

A company establishing a manufacturing presence at Kennedy Space Center plans to use innovative Kevlar-like materials to build an expandable space habitat for low Earth orbit in a bid to answer NASA's call for a permanent presence on the moon and, someday, even Mars.

Max Space, a company establishing manufacturing at Exploration Parkin Kennedy Space Center, recently released to the public the concept for its upcoming Thunderbird Station. Unlike other space stations designs, made up of interconnected metal modules launched individually, Max Space is taking a different approach.

Built with layers of materials like Kevlar, a lightweight fiber material, durable habitats can be packed for launch and deployed once in orbit, and even expanded upon with little construction involved. The company said the material has been tested to stand up to vibration, temperature, vacuum, and even micrometeoroid impacts. They are building off the success demonstrated previously by companies such as Bigelow Aerospace.

To kick the effort off, Max Space will send up a small scale demo mission consisting of a five cubic meter test version of the habitat's technology. It will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission slated for 2027. From there, the company will move onto the expandable Thunderbird Station, which could launch as soon as 2029.

Future goals call for establishing these expandable habitats on the moon and Mars, hoping to benefit from the new NASA administration's reinvigorated goal of establishing a human presence in deep space.

“The space superiority bill that President Trump signed talks about the US reestablishing its leadership in space. It talks very clearly about getting to the moon and getting to Mars first, being that pioneering leader,” said Max Space CEO Saleen Miyan. “Jared Isaacman, the new administrator of NASA, restated that commitment in his opening addresses. We are very firm supporters and very big believers of that.”

Currently working with Space Florida, Max Space is moving toward setting up operation in Exploration Park on Space Commerce Way, and has already begun hiring. While the company already has a address in Exploration Park, they are seeking to set up in an existing 20,000 to 30,000 square-foot manufacturing facility. This is where the large space habitat modules will be manufactured.

While Space Florida confirmed Max Space's intentions to move into the area, no further details were provided.

Max Space said they expect to bring 30 to 50 new hires onboard within the first half of 2026.

Quelle: Florida Today