Bigelow Aerospace Gearing-Up to Build Private Space Stations
Bigelow Aerospace, founded in 1999 by construction and real estate multi-millionaire Robert Bigelow, is working to put private space stations in orbit during the 2010's. These space stations will be lofted by Atlas 5 or Falcon 9 rockets (the Falcon 9 is a private booster under development by Space Exploration Technologies). They will feature "expandable space modules" -- essentially, tough inflatable habs -- and be operated by Bigelow astronaut crews and rented out to users for various purposes.
From Space.com, Leonard David, "Private Space Habitats Edge Closer to Reality" (http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/private-space-stations-bigelow-100120.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+%28SPACE.com+Headline+Feed%29&utm_content=LiveJournal)
The company's expandable module designs are designed to offer low-cost commercial volume in space - for rent or lease - not only to private sector interests, but also to national space agencies.
What I find exciting about this is that Bigelow seems to be viewing his mission as providing the maximum volume at the minimum cost, which could finally move us away from the "cramped tin can" model of space station design to something better suited to long-term human purposes. So far all our space habs -- even the ISS -- have had so little space that crowding has had bad psychological effects on crews. Clearly, we will have to learn how to build larger offworld structures before we can attempt permanent colonization, and Bigelow is on the right path.
Bigelow has already experimented with the technique in orbit:
To seal the deal that, indeed, the dawn of expandable space structures has arrived and was beyond puffery, Bigelow Aerospace lofted in July 2006 and in June 2007, respectively, its Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 trial space modules, forerunners to the larger, human-rated Sundancer and BA-330 modules. The Genesis spacecraft were lobbed into orbit individually atop Russian Dnepr boosters - a converted SS-18 ICBM - from the Yasny Launch Base in Siberia.
Bigelow is planning to put up its first operational habitat by 2015, and hoping to have NASA as one of its major clients. Bigelow has also been actively prospecting other countries interested in orbital operations, though not yet the corporate world.
"For the last year our focus and concentration has been on contacting countries," Bigelow said, and he looks forward to developing agreements to serve their needs. "We haven't contacted the corporate world at all yet ... there hasn't been time."
Bigelow plans a wide variety of habs to suit different markets:
Bigelow said that there are iterations of different kinds of space modules that can be made available for rent or lease depending on client needs. "We can supply them with as much volume as they want to have."
The first hab will be a sort of "space hotel":
The first complex is designed to be leased, with one module housing Bigelow Aerospace-supplied astronauts that will maintain the Earth orbiting facility for clientele.
"Our astronauts will take care of housekeeping chores," Bigelow said. "They'll make sure everything is totally sanitary and very accommodating. That's a big job in itself."
Indeed, and one logically separate from specific mission plans. Bigelow's business model is based on providing habitable space for clients to use as they see fit:
The mission of Bigelow Aerospace "is to build the buildings...to be occupied by geniuses that can do really interesting things in those buildings...and these buildings just happen to be in space," Bigelow explained. "We want to facilitate what the dreams of people are, whether they are national dreams or corporate ambitions."
This gives me considerable hope for Bigelow's success. This is a rational, limited sort of business plan, hence one with a strong focus -- and hence likely to succeed.
It is because of entrepreneurs such as Bigelow and Branson and Rutan -- the real D. D. Harriman's of our present age -- that the human future in space is almost assured. This or that government or corporation may gain or lose interest, but the process is now underway that will see us (eventually) to the stars.
From Space.com, Leonard David, "Private Space Habitats Edge Closer to Reality" (http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/private-space-stations-bigelow-100120.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+spaceheadlines+%28SPACE.com+Headline+Feed%29&utm_content=LiveJournal)
The company's expandable module designs are designed to offer low-cost commercial volume in space - for rent or lease - not only to private sector interests, but also to national space agencies.
What I find exciting about this is that Bigelow seems to be viewing his mission as providing the maximum volume at the minimum cost, which could finally move us away from the "cramped tin can" model of space station design to something better suited to long-term human purposes. So far all our space habs -- even the ISS -- have had so little space that crowding has had bad psychological effects on crews. Clearly, we will have to learn how to build larger offworld structures before we can attempt permanent colonization, and Bigelow is on the right path.
Bigelow has already experimented with the technique in orbit:
To seal the deal that, indeed, the dawn of expandable space structures has arrived and was beyond puffery, Bigelow Aerospace lofted in July 2006 and in June 2007, respectively, its Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 trial space modules, forerunners to the larger, human-rated Sundancer and BA-330 modules. The Genesis spacecraft were lobbed into orbit individually atop Russian Dnepr boosters - a converted SS-18 ICBM - from the Yasny Launch Base in Siberia.
Bigelow is planning to put up its first operational habitat by 2015, and hoping to have NASA as one of its major clients. Bigelow has also been actively prospecting other countries interested in orbital operations, though not yet the corporate world.
"For the last year our focus and concentration has been on contacting countries," Bigelow said, and he looks forward to developing agreements to serve their needs. "We haven't contacted the corporate world at all yet ... there hasn't been time."
Bigelow plans a wide variety of habs to suit different markets:
Bigelow said that there are iterations of different kinds of space modules that can be made available for rent or lease depending on client needs. "We can supply them with as much volume as they want to have."
The first hab will be a sort of "space hotel":
The first complex is designed to be leased, with one module housing Bigelow Aerospace-supplied astronauts that will maintain the Earth orbiting facility for clientele.
"Our astronauts will take care of housekeeping chores," Bigelow said. "They'll make sure everything is totally sanitary and very accommodating. That's a big job in itself."
Indeed, and one logically separate from specific mission plans. Bigelow's business model is based on providing habitable space for clients to use as they see fit:
The mission of Bigelow Aerospace "is to build the buildings...to be occupied by geniuses that can do really interesting things in those buildings...and these buildings just happen to be in space," Bigelow explained. "We want to facilitate what the dreams of people are, whether they are national dreams or corporate ambitions."
This gives me considerable hope for Bigelow's success. This is a rational, limited sort of business plan, hence one with a strong focus -- and hence likely to succeed.
It is because of entrepreneurs such as Bigelow and Branson and Rutan -- the real D. D. Harriman's of our present age -- that the human future in space is almost assured. This or that government or corporation may gain or lose interest, but the process is now underway that will see us (eventually) to the stars.