Designing Life in Space
Bailey Carlson, ’24, is developing the world’s first commercial space station at Axiom Space.
Bailey Carlson, ’24, is helping design the next generation of space habitats.
He’s drawing on lessons he learned not in orbit but in UND’s simulated Lunar/Mars outpost.
As an integrated mechanical engineer at Axiom Space, Bailey works on Axiom Station, the world’s first privately built and operated space station. His experience living in UND’s Inflatable Lunar/Mars Analog Habitat (ILMAH) gave him insight into what makes a space environment livable.
“The ILMAH was surprisingly comfortable, and that got me thinking, how do we design Axiom Station to better serve the astronauts inside it?” Bailey said.
A course taught by UND Assistant Professor Keith Crisman sparked his interest in human-centered design. “I learned how to design systems that accommodate human needs rather than forcing people to adapt to designs,” he said.
Bailey’s love of space inspired him to launch a YouTube channel to explain complex topics. “My goal is to educate people about all the amazing things about space. Talking about video games and science fiction is a great way to connect with people and make learning fun.”
Building the Future of Space Habitats
NASA selected Axiom Space to develop the first commercial module to connect to the ISS. Axiom Station will initially attach to the aging space station, which has served as a hub for research and international collaboration for over 25 years.
With NASA planning to decommission the ISS by 2031, Axiom Station is designed to transition into a fully independent platform.
Bailey said the station will have everything astronauts need, including entirely independent
life support, power generation, thermal control, and research facilities.
Axiom Station will also support research and in-space manufacturing in microgravity,
with Axiom Space targeting industries like semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and
orbital data centers.
Big-Picture Thinking
Of his role at Axiom Space, Bailey said, “I get to work on the big picture while also seeing the individual parts. My job is to make sure everything meshes together on both a small and large scale.”
Though he enjoys his job, Bailey has a goal. “I’ve wanted to be an astronaut for a long time, and I wanted the best possible start to a space career. UND’s Space Studies program gave me that initial boost,” he said.
