Bigelow Current Updates Thread....

[js117]

Here is a YouTube link to a TransHab that was proposed on the ISS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj-RPmgi ... re=related

It looked good.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Private Space Stations Edge Closer to Reality

 

[Boris_Badenov]

"If we can deploy and gang together modules in low-Earth orbit, you can do it in L1...and you are 85 percent of the way to the moon," Bigelow said. In fact, one scenario Bigelow Aerospace has already blueprinted is the soft landing of a trio of attached BA-330 modules — including astronauts — on the moon.

The result: instant moon base, something the size of the International Space Station, Bigelow advised. The self-propelled base could even blast itself into lunar orbit, or move from spot to spot on the moon, he said.


:shock:

 

[csmyth3025]

I find it fascinating that there may be the possibility of radially connecting numerous transhabs to a central hub - thus producing a "space-wheel" habitat. If such a structure is large enough, and rotated at the proper speed, the artifical gravity in the habitats could elliminate many of the debilitating effects of extended zero-g living. I'm sure someone has already considered this scenario. It harkens back to the old "Stanford Torus" concept and, indeed, may be a first step in that direction.

The big hurdle, of course, is the tremendous cost of hauling all that "stuff" up to L-1 (or anywhere else, for that matter). The fact that we've been able to construct the ISS is a demonstration that an undertaking like this is technically feasable and financially do-able, however.

Chris

 

[docm]

Bigelow has chosen Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) to do their environmental/life support systems.....

Feb. 2009 PDF showing a BA330 diagram + where ORBITEC's products could be used....

http://www.orbitec.com/

Presser (PDF)....

Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) Trusted by Bigelow Aerospace to provide Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) for Sundancer

Madison, Wisconsin – January 28, 2010 ORBITEC’s Human Support Systems and Instrumentation Division continues its relationship with Bigelow Aerospace to develop and integrate ORBITEC'S cost-effective environmental control and life support systems, subsystems, and components for Sundancer and commercial space travel and habitation.

Robert Bigelow, President and owner of Bigelow Aerospace stated that “We have had a long standing beneficial relationship with ORBITEC. Their capabilities and commercial business practice mesh well with our company.” Mr. Bigelow also states “My expectation for ORBITEC to provide safe and reliable solutions, to build and deliver on time, and to collaboratively work with my team to provide cost effective product is the reason I have them on the Bigelow team.”

ORBITEC is partnering with Bigelow Aerospace’s technical staff to develop systems for pressure control, oxygen production and supply, hydrogen supply, temperature and humidity control, ventilation, thermal transport, water processing, gas contaminant removal, carbon dioxide removal, and atmospheric composition monitoring. ORBITEC is proud to be part of this incredible development that will introduce revolutionary and cost effective sustenance of human activity in space. The company’s life-sustaining systems, subsystems, and components build on 20 years of company experience with closed human environments for space travel. Many of ORBITEC’s solutions have already been implemented and used in spaceflight, and the company has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to reduce product costs through the use of commercially available components. Complete systems are available for air and water processing, environment and thermal management, waste management, environmental control, cabin instrumentation, and science or payload systems. ORBITEC also offers thermal vacuum, acoustic load, vibration, shock, thermal cycling, humidity and specialized testing to determine component and system impacts resulting from exposure to lunar dust.

Thomas Crabb, President and CFO of Orbital Technologies Corporation could not be happier with the relationship that has been built with Bigelow Aerospace. “It is a pleasure to showcase ORBITEC’S technology and products with such a powerful and innovative space partner,” said Mr. Crabb “Our proven technology and ability to provide extremely cost effective reliability is a perfect fit for these commercial applications. Our engineering allows ORBITEC customers to integrate a full network of reliable and automated life support subsystems into a full human support space system.”

ORBITEC is also developing the next generation of technologies for human support and instrumentation, including new gas contamination removal, water processing, oxygen delivery, carbon dioxide removal, fluid handling and manipulation under several patent-pending processes.

About Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC)

ORBITEC is a leading high technology development and subsystem integration company based in Madison, Wisconsin. ORBITEC offers commercially mature solutions and strong capabilities in five distinct areas: Next Generation Fire Suppression; Propulsion, Propellant, and Power Systems; Life Support and Environment Control; Bio-based products and production systems; and Interactive 3D Simulation Software. ORBITEC has won more than $250 million in contracts to develop state-of-the-art technologies and products from government (NASA, USAF, US Army, US Navy, USDA, FAA/DOT), large and small commercial aerospace, and other commercial industries The company has been able to convert research and development initiatives into leading technologies and mature the technologies to valuable products in their respective markets that provide significant cost advantages, superior functionality, and high reliability. ORBITEC is led by an experienced management team with over one hundred years of industry experience.

For more information please contact:
Paul Zamprelli
Business Development Director

 

[docm]

New Scientist video podcast whose first story is on the Bigelow modules.

Has an animation of Sundancer/power bus assembly.

http://brightcove.newscientist.com/serv ... 8924016001

 

[docm]

New Scientist story about NASA suddenly liking inflatables again, touching on Bigelow....

Link....

 

[MeteorWayne]

Just to clarify, the bigelow modules aren't really "inflatable" like a balloon, rather they use pressure to expand the module, which then becomes a rigid structure.

 

[js117]

Just to clarify, the bigelow modules aren't really "inflatable" like a balloon, rather they use pressure to expand the module, which then becomes a rigid structure.

Here's how they inflate them. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1 ... tions.html

How are the modules inflated?

Bigelow modules are made from flexible, airtight fabric. Once in orbit tanks of nitrogen and oxygen release a breathable mix inside, expanding the structure by 40 per cent as the gas inside pushes the skin outwards into the vacuum of space. The structure's diameter expands but its length does not change. Air pressure of just 1 atmosphere is needed to expand a module. This is all that astronauts moving in will need to breathe

 

[rockett]

Here is a YouTube link to a TransHab that was proposed on the ISS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj-RPmgi ... re=related

It looked good.

That's cool!

If Congress decides to extend the Shuttle up to 4 more years, that could become real! They will need cargo anyway.
See this thread for info: http://www.space.com/common/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=23134

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Whatever happened to Bigelow's "America's Space Prize" for launching? Was its life extended after not being won (yet)?

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Whatever happened to Bigelow's "America's Space Prize" for launching? Was its life extended after not being won (yet)?

According to the ASP Wiki page it expired in January & was not extended. $50 million just wasn't a big enough prize.

 

[js117]

This was on Bigelow's Aerospace web site, don't know if it is old.
Didn't see it anywhere.


NASA Selects Boeing for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Award to Study Crew Capsule-based Design


News Release Issued: February 2, 2010 8:30 AM EST

HOUSTON, Feb. 2, 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] was selected by NASA on Feb. 1 to develop critical technologies and capabilities for the space agency's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) initiative, which offers an opportunity for the aerospace industry to develop concepts for future crewed space missions.

The funded Space Act Agreement for the CCDev project is valued at $18 million.

"We appreciate this opportunity to advance our crew system design," said Keith Reiley, Boeing CCDev program manager. "This agreement complements our internal efforts to accelerate development of system concepts and capabilities that will ultimately lead to a safe, reliable and cost-effective way to transport humans to low Earth orbit."

Boeing will research and further develop the system concepts and advance key technologies that are applicable to a capsule-based crew transport system. The company will develop the overall system definition, and also perform demonstration testing on life support, avionics, landing systems and other critical subsystems, primarily at sites in Texas, California and Nevada.

Boeing's crew module concept will be based on previous company efforts. It will be compatible with multiple launch vehicles and configurable to carry a mixture of crew and cargo on short-duration missions to and from the International Space Station, orbital habitats by Bigelow Aerospace and other future destinations in low Earth orbit. The size of the system is expected to be larger than the Apollo-era space capsule.

As part of the Boeing CCDev team, Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace will provide requirements for crew transportation to support its planned Orbital Space Complex, as well as additional investment and expertise in testing and validating the technologies necessary to construct and deploy the complex.

"We're excited about this program and the Boeing partnership in general. Boeing brings with it unparalleled experience and expertise in human spaceflight systems, which will be combined with Bigelow Aerospace's entrepreneurial spirit and cost-conscious practices," said Robert T. Bigelow, president and founder of Bigelow Aerospace. "By combining these attributes, this partnership represents the best of both worlds."

NASA is using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to fund its Space Act Agreements. By maturing the design and development of commercial crew spaceflight concepts and associated enabling technologies and capabilities, the CCDev program allows companies to move toward full demonstration of commercial human spaceflight to low Earth orbit.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

 

[rockett]

Here's the Boeing release on the same story.
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1054

Isn't CCDev Orion Lite?

 

[docm]

CCDev is a NASA program with many participants, including the group developing Orion Lite.

Bigelow wants to hire astronauts....

Link....

>
Description

Bigelow Aerospace seeks professional astronauts to fill permanent positions. Qualified applicants need to have completed a training program from their government or recognized space agency and have at least some flight experience on a recognized space mission. Specialized training and/or experience (ie: Medical, Payload Specialist, EVA, Pilot, etc.) is not a pre-requisite, but is definitely a plus.

Possible opportunities will come in two areas:

1) Ground

· Working with Marketing Team to secure government and cooperate clients.

· Working with Design and Fabrication Teams to help optimize layout of systems for on-orbit serviceability and ergonomics.

· Working with Mission Control Team on final checkout of flight vehicles, both pre and post launch.

· Help Develop Astronaut training programs for Bigelow Aerospace Professional Astronaut Corps as well as Client Astronaut Corps.

· Work instructing in the Bigelow Astronaut Training Program

2) Flight

· Perform as Professional Astronaut aboard Bigelow Aerospace Station Complex

· Manage all onboard aspects of employee and customer astronaut personal safety

· Maintain the Station Complex as required (mainly IVA, but some EVA as well)

· Help clients with payloads or experiments (primarily with regards to integration into station’s systems and communications)

Bigelow Aerospace is a leader in the commercial space complex arena providing a Low Earth Orbital environment and necessary services to cooperate and governmental clients in support of space research and exploration.

Requirements You may apply online at http://www.bigelowaerospace.com or fax your CV to 702-456-9404

 

[gawin]

This is great news as well as helps show that not every one will be out of a job with nasa getting out of manned space.

 

[neutrino78x]

This is great news as well as helps show that not every one will be out of a job with nasa getting out of manned space.

They are only getting out of manned flights to LEO targets like the ISS. They are not getting out of manned space flights to asteroids, the moon, mars, etc.

--Brian

 

[docm]

If they're going to do that they'll need a spacecraft, and in a new thread I posted that they've relinquished control of Orion back to LockMart.

 

[js117]

Bigelow Aerospace have updated there website alot lately.

Latest news : http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/news/

Theses videos have been posted here before

Two nice videos : http://www.newscientist.com/video?bcpid ... 9690465001

http://audiovideo.economist.com/?fr_sto ... f803&rf=bm

 

[EarthlingX]

So Boris, is it moving now ?

 

[Boris_Badenov]

So Boris, is it moving now ?

Quite well in fact. :mrgreen:

 

[docm]

Newport News, Virginia Daily Press.....

Bigelow Aerospace eyes Wallops for rocket launches

WALLOPS ISLAND

— The only American company to launch a rocket into space from Russia may be opening shop at Wallops Island.

Michael Gold, an attorney who represents Bigelow Aerospace, said the Nevada-based company will work at Wallops provided the nation commits to the commercial spaceflight agenda outlined by President Barack Obama.

"We will be here," Gold told a group of about 50 people recently after a tour of Wallops, where NASA has launched rockets from since 1945.

Bigelow was founded in 1999 by Robert T. Bigelow, who made millions operating the hotel chain, Budget Suites of America. The company made a name for itself in 2006 when it partnered with the U.S.' former Cold War nemesis to launch Genesis I. It used a Russian rocket that once held a nuclear warhead to send an inflatable space station into space.

Bigelow self-financed the aerospace company with $180 million and has said he is willing to spend $320 million more to put a private space station into orbit. The company's success will be determined by finding a reusable vehicle to send humans into space, Gold said.

Key to that is NASA's Commercial Crew Development, a program created to stimulate the development of privately operated space vehicles. Using $50 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, NASA awarded contracts for the program to several companies, including Boeing.
>

 

[docm]

SDC story on the Bigelow lunar base concept.....

 

[Gravity_Ray]

SDC story on the Bigelow lunar base concept.....

Gotta love Mr. Big's vision. Listening to him makes me keep fighting everybody that says government can do it better. NO THEY CANT.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

while another plan sketches out use of a super-jumbo structure providing 3,240 cubic meters of volume.

:shock: