Bigelow Thinks Big, Plans Lunar Cruise Ship

[Boris_Badenov]

Bigelow Thinks Big, Plans Lunar Cruise Ship <br /><br /> Does anybody think he's still working on this idea? It's been, what, eight years since he gave this interview. He does look at the big picture though. <br /> I can always hope he needs a 5 star chef on his cruise ship too<img src="/images/icons/cool.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>

 

[spacefire]

I'm sure Bigelow inflatable modules could be used to construct a ship that would gho around the Moon, in fact I have seen a rendering of such, albeit at a much smaller scale than what that article suggests. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[why06]

<img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /> Is that what the site used to look like <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div>________________________________________ <br /></div><div><ul><li><font color="#008000"><em>your move...</em></font></li></ul></div> </div>

 

[arc2]

I met Bob Bigelow on his invitation at his palatial business estate in Las Vegas in 2001. Met by gorgeous women serving coffee and sitting with us... what a place... marble columns and floors, etc... his private space was piled high with all kinds of pricey doodads.... <br /><br />I am not that impressed with the trappings of wealth or power (this estate was over the top in opulance) but his intellect and motivation, his people skills, were certainly impressive. We spent the afternoon discussing various issues related to our trip, he still had NIDS going at the time but was phasing it down. He gave us an over-view of Bigelow Aerospace... looked over his assembly and launch facility models, etc....Toured the NIDS facility... Had dinner with him that afternoon. Very down to Earth guy. It was during that trip that I realized that I had met him once before at a party in the Oakland hills in the mid-80s... called me several times afterward - not a very nice guy at that point, a bit nefarious even, though I won't bother with the details on this list other than to say that I wouldn't want to be on his list of enemies. <br /><br />However, the plans and his ambitions were very focused at the 2001 meeting and I had no doubt at that point he would become a primary mover in commercial space projects. I have watched with interest since... the money incentives he has offered for development of practical and reuseable orbital craft have certainly helped open the door....<br /><br />I do think he opted for an orbital hotel facility vs a "cruise ship"....

 

[saurc]

Could he really expect to do it for $500 million? That's about what NASA spends for a mars mission...

 

[owenander]

enterprise can do everything NASA can do for 70% of the price

 

[j05h]

<i>> Does anybody think he's still working on this idea? It's been, what, eight years since he gave this interview. He does look at the big picture though.<br />I can always hope he needs a 5 star chef on his cruise ship too</i><br /><br />Mr. Bigelow seems to be aiming to provide others with the components to build lunar cruisers. He personally seems interested in flying in space, of course, but has said he isn't getting into the space hotel business. He also discussed more recently the formation of an International astronaut corp, so things are in heavy flux? Bigelow Aerospace's line of spacecraft, assuming that Sundancer and Nautilus fly, would represent the first of many products. Those two modules, with an "EDS" stage of some kind, would be more than enough facility for starting bases all over the Inner Solar System. <br /><br />Perhaps Mr. Bigelow is going to build the lunar cruiser as his personal yacht?<br /><br />EDIT: when I said things are in heavy flux, I wasn't kidding. Bigelow is going public with their plans on April 9th:<br /><br />http://bigelowaerospace.com/multiverse/news.php#update<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[docm]

Date marked in red on my calendars <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> Perhaps Mr. Bigelow is going to build the lunar cruiser as his personal yacht? </font><br /><br /> Maybe it'll look like this. <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>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Or this. Notice the Lunar Lander legs at the bottom, in the middle? <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>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Here are several different layouts in one cutaway. <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>

 

[saurc]

Where do you get those pics from? Or do u make them?

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> Where do you get those pics from? Or do u make them? </font><br /><br /> I got them from the Bigelow Website a couple of years ago. <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>

 

[j05h]

Here is some patent info. Boris, those are some cool pictures!<br /><br />The basic patents include the Nautilus core and pressure restraints. The core forms a "C" shape with a tunnel running along one wall of the hab (or near it). The idea is to create a large open space inside the Nautilus, with an integrated blow-out shelter. The original TransHab had an axial core instead. You can see the access tube and framework in your cutaway image.<br /><br />Nautilus Core:<br />http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6293500&id=aFYHAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=inflatable+space+module<br /><br />Pressure Bladder:<br />http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT7100874&id=y0F6AAAAEBAJ&dq=inflatable+space+module+bigelow&jtp=1<br /><br />Thermal/Rad:<br />http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6481670&id=Bx0KAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=inflatable+space+module+bigelow#PRA1-PA5,M1<br /><br />TransHab:<br />http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6231010&id=XOkHAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=inflatable+space+module <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[thereiwas]

I don't see anything that could be a radiation shelter in that cutaway view.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> I don't see anything that could be a radiation shelter in that cutaway view. </font><br /><br /> The entire structure is a radiation shelter. The layered wall includes a blanket of water & the different materiels were chosen to reflect radiation. <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>

 

[j05h]

<i>> I don't see anything that could be a radiation shelter in that cutaway view.</i><br /><br />The whole structure is covered in a patented liquid band, plus will have water blankets inside. What I was calling a shelter might not be in that image, though, it is in their patent application. Instead of having a core running down the center, it is a "C" shaped tube that runs along one wall that can be entered and sealed during blowout/fire events. check out the patent links, it's really cool.<br /><br />EDIT: The Bigelow Nautilus has a better layout than TransHab for using on planetary surfaces, since it is already laid out "sideways". <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[gunsandrockets]

"The original TransHab had an axial core instead. You can see the access tube and framework in your cutaway image. "<br /><br />Well that's certainly interesting!<br /><br />Any idea if the currently flying small scale test hab uses the modified design? Is the offset core design what the BA-330 will use?

 

[j05h]

<i>> Any idea if the currently flying small scale test hab uses the modified design? Is the offset core design what the BA-330 will use?</i><br /><br />I think the Genesis I uses it, the patent looks like the BA330, so you can assume any flight units are based on it.<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[thereiwas]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The whole structure is covered in a patented liquid band<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />I was thinking of a radiation shelter that would be sufficient for a solar storm. Are the walls thick enough for that?

 

[scottb50]

The whole structure is covered in a patented liquid band.....<br /><br />With a sweet creamy center. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> With a sweet creamy center. </font><br /><br /> As it were<img src="/images/icons/wink.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>

 

[j05h]

<i>> I was thinking of a radiation shelter that would be sufficient for a solar storm. Are the walls thick enough for that?</i><br /><br />Not sure, but they claim some amount of overall protection and a storm shelter (somewhere). THe Nautilus/Sundancer combination are looking to be incredible machines.<br /><br />I prefer the nuggat filling.<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> Not sure, but they claim some amount of overall protection and a storm shelter (somewhere). </font><br /><br /> I have a montage of photos with a cutaway that very clearly shows the storm shelter. That same montage also has a Mars Orbiter configuration too. I'll e-mail it to anyone that's wants it & can post the pix separately on this thread. Just PM me. <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>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Here it is. <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>