• NASA to Test Bigelow Expandable Module on Space Station in 2015
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[table="width: 500, class: outer_border, align: center"] [tr] [td][IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/19/Bigelow_Commercial_Space_Station.jpg[/IMG] [hr][/hr] NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver announced Jan. 16 a newly planned addition to the International Space Station that will use the orbiting laboratory to test expandable space habitat technology. NASA has awarded a $17.8 million contract to Bigelow Aerospace to provide a Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which is scheduled to arrive at the space station in 2015 for a two-year technology demonstration. "Today we're demonstrating progress on a technology that will advance important long-duration human spaceflight goals," Garver said. "NASA's partnership with Bigelow opens a new chapter in our continuing work to bring the innovation of industry to space, heralding cutting-edge technology that can allow humans to thrive in space safely and affordably." The BEAM is scheduled to launch aboard the eighth SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the station contracted by NASA, currently planned for 2015. Following the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the BEAM to the station, astronauts will use the station's robotic arm to install the module on the aft port of the Tranquility node. After the module is berthed to the Tranquility node, the station crew will activate a pressurization system to expand the structure to its full size using air stored within the packed module. During the two-year test period, station crew members and ground-based engineers will gather performance data on the module, including its structural integrity and leak rate. An assortment of instruments embedded within module also will provide important insights on its response to the space environment. This includes radiation and temperature changes compared with traditional aluminum modules. "The International Space Station is a uniquely suited test bed to demonstrate innovative exploration technologies like the BEAM," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for human exploration and operations at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "As we venture deeper into space on the path to Mars, habitats that allow for long-duration stays in space will be a critical capability. Using the station's resources, we'll learn how humans can work effectively with this technology in space, as we continue to advance our understanding in all aspects for long-duration spaceflight aboard the orbiting laboratory." Astronauts periodically will enter the module to gather performance data and perform inspections. Following the test period, the module will be jettisoned from the station, burning up on re-entry. The BEAM project is sponsored by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Program, which pioneers innovative approaches to rapidly and affordably develop prototype systems for future human exploration missions. The BEAM demonstration supports an AES objective to develop a deep space habitat for human missions beyond Earth orbit. For more information about Bigelow Aerospace, visit: [url]http://www.bigelowaerospace.com[/url] [/td] [/tr] [/table] [B]Source:[/B] [url]http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/beam_feature.html[/url]
Wasn't this intended to be a module early on but they scrapped it?
So what exactly is BEAM I can't seem to pick it out from the article..
BEAM is a cool name.
[QUOTE=Matt-;39255767]So what exactly is BEAM I can't seem to pick it out from the article..[/QUOTE] Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. I'm sorry NASA, but there's no way you could get me to live in space inside of a balloon.
Here's how it will look like [img]http://i.imgur.com/KZir3.jpg[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Jd4UQ.jpg[/img] pretty damn cool
[QUOTE=Matt-;39255767]So what exactly is BEAM I can't seem to pick it out from the article..[/QUOTE] Inflatable space module if i understood it correctly [editline]17th January 2013[/editline] Oh i got ninja'd
It's tiny! How adorable!
They should have named it bigblow
[QUOTE=Forumaster;39255787]Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. I'm sorry NASA, but there's no way you could get me to live in space inside of a balloon.[/QUOTE] Still, Good way to use the available space in a rocket
[QUOTE=Forumaster;39255787]Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. I'm sorry NASA, but there's no way you could get me to live in space inside of a balloon.[/QUOTE] It's not a balloon.
Damn, I thought it would be one of their full-size modules that would actually expand the productive living space in the station. If you're doing it purely for tests, why not test full-scale?
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;39255950]Damn, I thought it would be one of their full-size modules that would actually expand the productive living space in the station. If you're doing it purely for tests, why not test full-scale?[/QUOTE] Because its expensive.
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;39255950]Damn, I thought it would be one of their full-size modules that would actually expand the productive living space in the station. If you're doing it purely for tests, why not test full-scale?[/QUOTE] It's a proof of concept.
[QUOTE=Medevilae;39255852]For scale [IMG]http://ut-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/beam-2.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] it could be good as a bedroom
[QUOTE=Matt-;39255767]So what exactly is BEAM I can't seem to pick it out from the article..[/QUOTE] Basically when you're launching shit into space you want it to be as cheap as possible. The cost to launch shit into space is mandated mostly by it's weight and it's size. With a satellite you don't have any problem cramming all those satellitey bits into the smallest size possible, but when you're trying to launch something that can be inhabited by humans you're looking at a large module with a lot of zero-mass space inside it. And that's more expensive to get into space. So the idea is to make it like a balloon, so it's small when you launch it, and you inflate it when it gets there to create that habitable space.
I hope that shit's got durable walls; you can't get that into space if the walls aren't thick or resilient. Also, I don't think it'd be the kind of module that could perform re-entry. On a space-related note, we really need some sort of orbital shipyard, where we can build better spaceworthy ships than the rockets and shuttles that we use for getting into space. Don't get me wrong, rockets and shuttles work, but they don't seem to be the kind of vessel one would use to traverse the inky void beyond Earth orbit; what you need is a vessel that's essentially an aircraft carrier in space, capable of housing many many people, travelling across the void between worlds at a good speed, and staying in orbit around a planet/moon whilst shuttles can go to and from it. That kinda ship is what should help us colonize the Sol system.
[QUOTE=ironman17;39265964]I hope that shit's got durable walls; you can't get that into space if the walls aren't thick or resilient.[/QUOTE] Just put on some fairings during launch and jettison them once you're in orbit.
[QUOTE=ironman17;39265964]I hope that shit's got durable walls; you can't get that into space if the walls aren't thick or resilient. [B]Also, I don't think it'd be the kind of module that could perform re-entry.[/B] [/QUOTE] No Shit? It's a living/storage habitat, not a re-entry vehicle.
I'd like to point out how huge this is, Bigelow is intending to build hotels in space with these sorts of materials and compartments. Big old inflatable hotels.
[QUOTE=ironman17;39265964]I hope that shit's got durable walls; you can't get that into space if the walls aren't thick or resilient. Also, I don't think it'd be the kind of module that could perform re-entry. On a space-related note, we really need some sort of orbital shipyard, where we can build better spaceworthy ships than the rockets and shuttles that we use for getting into space. Don't get me wrong, rockets and shuttles work, but they don't seem to be the kind of vessel one would use to traverse the inky void beyond Earth orbit; what you need is a vessel that's essentially an aircraft carrier in space, capable of housing many many people, travelling across the void between worlds at a good speed, and staying in orbit around a planet/moon whilst shuttles can go to and from it. That kinda ship is what should help us colonize the Sol system.[/QUOTE] None of those modules would survive reentry. And thickness doesn't matter because you're fucked either way if something hits you.
[QUOTE=ironman17;39265964]I hope that shit's got durable walls; you can't get that into space if the walls aren't thick or resilient. Also, I don't think it'd be the kind of module that could perform re-entry.[/QUOTE] What. The walls don't need to be thick or resilient at all. If space junk hits it they're pretty fucked either way, and it's never going to perform re-entry with people in it. The moon landers from Apollo had incredibly thin walls in some places.
[QUOTE=OvB;39266561]None of those modules would survive reentry. And thickness doesn't matter because you're fucked either way if something hits you.[/QUOTE] Wouldn't a module like this be easier to fix than a solid module, anyways? As long as they can be separated/locked from each other, you lock down the penetrated/damaged module, get in your space suit, whip out the Teflon tape and go to work?
First thing that came to mind hearing the name of this module [IMG]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Aimm0Lb2vx4/S7_y2FyQjhI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/p4IxYmVjcyw/s1600/DBEG+poster.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=Karmah;39272545]First thing that came to mind hearing the name of this module [IMG]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Aimm0Lb2vx4/S7_y2FyQjhI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/p4IxYmVjcyw/s1600/DBEG+poster.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Some funky Zero-G shit is about to go down at ISS
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