Aviation Week: some of Bigelows plans

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">All I can say is, "Wow!"</font>/i><br /><br />OK, I can say a little more ... <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Bigelow says his engineers predict that 800 paying crewmembers could fly to Bigelow outposts over the next 10 years.<br />...<br />As many as 12-14 commercial launch vehicles could fly cargo and crew to the initial outpost in its initial year of manned operations<br />...<br />By 2016 the plan is for three flights per month going to Bigelow outposts.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />Those are sounding like the numbers NASA floated in the early 1970s for the Space Shuttle. If Bigelow can pull this off, it will really transform the industry.</i>

 

[radarredux]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The flights on vehicles like the <font color="yellow">SpaceX</font>Falcon 9 could be a major new growth area for the Cape<br />...<br />But <font color="yellow">Russian</font>launches or flights from Woomera, Australia<br />...<br />The NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) competitors SpaceX and <font color="yellow">Rocketplane Kistler</font>will be heavily involved, as could other launcher/spacecraft concepts, including Russian Soyuz and, eventually, <font color="yellow">Chinese</font>Shenzhou missions. Even outfits like <font color="yellow">Blue Origins</font>could fly to Bigelow modules.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />I was intrigued at what was on the list of organizations, namely, Blue Origin.<br /><br />And I was intrigued at what was left off the list, namely, LM, ULA, and NASA.

 

[docm]

<font color="yellow">Geez that's huge, it looks like an actual space station instead of a steel tube like the ISS.</font><br /><br />Yup, and consider you're only seeing the middle 1/3. You have stowage up & down from the center "level" in this configuration, which to my eye looks like the moon base setup. <br /><br />Alternatively it can have a rigid central core with floors & rooms from end to end, which IMO is the most likely manned orbital or spaceship hab configuration (image attached) <br /><br />Now multiply by 3-5 modules <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[dreada5]

Wow, cool images guys!<br /><br />Those images on page 1 of this thread (esp. the one called "Join the Adventure", which has more to it) have been on my desktop wallpaper for like the last 3 months!!<br /><br />IMO Bigelow's efforts embodies everything NEWSPACE!<br /><br />You just can't help but get excited! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[spacy600]

Spacedev confrence call is out. Minute 18:45 to 19:15 (about)<br />makes reference to the big announcement on Tuesday.<br /><br />Well I think so at least<br />http://www.spacedev.com/newsite/templates/subpage_article.php?pid=448<br /><br />What do you think?

 

[dreada5]

Docm, where'd you get those cool photos from?<br /><br />That Bigelow's BA site, takes some getting used to.<br /><br />I guess it designed to appeal more to non-space folks, than traditional space geeks.

 

[docm]

Advanced image mining <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />I've also done some image processing as with the cutout from one of their wallpapers that showed the propulsion modules "feet" & engine.<br /><br />I have a bunch that have likely not been widely seen. I've been considering putting them up on one of my web spaces, but haven't had the time. If I do they won't be very organized, OK?<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[kdavis007]

It seems that Bigelow can build a space station a lot faster than NASA....

 

[nwade]

Just one note:<br /><br />Those shots of the interior "mock up" of a BA-330 do not appear to include a central "stalk" that you would suppose exists; nor does it appear to include any of the inflation or life-support gear.<br /><br />So the usable volume is likely only 2/3rds or 3/4ths of what you can see there (just a WAG on my part)... But that's still an impressive amount of space!!<br /><br />--Noel<br />

 

[spacy600]

Satellite repair and upgrade? Can you fold up a sat to fit through the airlock?<br /><br />

 

[docm]

Probably not through a CBM, but a "space tug" might do with the spacecraft of your choice docked. Tugs are a really overlooked option that need to get built. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacy600]

What is a CBM?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> What is a CBM? <br /> </font><br /><br />Common Berthing Mechanism. The door. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[gunsandrockets]

[Those shots of the interior "mock up" of a BA-330 do not appear to include a central "stalk" that you would suppose exists;...So the usable volume is likely only 2/3rds or 3/4ths of what you can see there...]<br /><br />You must have missed some earlier threads about Bigelow inflatables including other imagery and links to patents describing Bigelow's variation on the inflatable Transhab theme.<br /><br />The Bigelow inflatable DOES have a central structure, but it is engineered so that it unfolds into the flat flooring panels you see in the images of this thread. It's all very clever. Four central box-pillars provide support for the flooring panels and also a raceway for pipes and cabling.<br /><br />[...nor does it appear to include any of the inflation or life-support gear...]<br /><br />Elements such as those can be placed within the hard endcap structures which also contain the airlock/hatches/docking-port system.<br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[josh_simonson]

I'd like to see an inflatable 'drydock' module that opens up like a clamshell to allow for pressurized servicing of fairly large spacecraft.