THE public got a chance to view two space stations from Russia in May.

Isle of Man based space exploration company Excalibur Almaz Limited brought the stations to the Island in June.

The stations - one a completed test unit and the other a near-complete space station frame – are stored in a hangar in Jurby.

Excalibur Almaz aims to become the world leader in providing reliable, affordable and routine access to space for exploration and tourism.
 
The stations will be refurbished and eventually launched into orbit as part of the company's long-term business plan.

 
In addition to space tourism the refurbished space stations could provide platforms for microgravity scientific experimentation to serve governments and academic institutions.
 
The space stations are approximately 11 metres long and four metres in diameter and are directly related to the module design used on the International Space Station as well as the earlier Russian Salyut and Mir space stations.
 
Other unique features include the largest window ever developed for a spacecraft, boasting more than two metres of panoramic view of the earth and stars.
 
Tim Craine, director of the Business Development Agency for the Department of Economic Development, said: "The two space stations are part of the Russian Almaz space programme. It was designed back in the 1970s as part of an earth orbit observation programme by the Soviet Union.
 
"The company Excalibar Almaz has bought the two space stations that were built as part of the programme plus the four space capsules and they purchased those assets to refurbish for orbital space tourism purposes.
 
"They are planning to have the equipment refurbished and to provide space tourism, possibly with a test launch as close as 2013.
 
"From that date they would offer full orbital space tourism or possibly trips around the moon and back.
 
"From an Isle of Man point of view we would love the refurbishment work to take place on Island and to see the job creation that would go with that and the benefit to the economy."
 
He added: "Excalibur Almaz are very keen on the educational benefits of allowing schoolchildren to see the assets and to talk to astronauts and cosmonauts to enthuse them about careers in space and the opportunities space can present to mankind. That has also been a huge benefit to the Island and we are very grateful for that educational commitment that they have shown."
 
The then Michael MHK David Cannan said he hoped the space stations would be refurbished in Jurby.
 
He said: "I am delighted that they are here at Jurby and I am delighted they will be used as a static display in the first place and children and other interested parties can view them.
 
"But more importantly, and this is fundamental, that the decision is made to carry out the refurbishment and engineering works here in Jurby with the benefits of employment and to the greater economy of the Isle of Man."

This is part of isleofman.com's Review of the Year 2011.