- NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver is given a tour of the Bigelow Aerospace facilities on February 4 by the company’s President Robert Bigelow. The tour showcased the private firm’s work on expandable space modules. Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls
NASA is reviewing use of a private-sector supplied expandable module, to be outfitted on the International Space Station.
If a go-ahead is given, Bigelow Aerospace of North Las Vegas would supply the segment, an outgrowth of the firm’s prototype Genesis I and Genesis II modules that were orbited in 2006 and 2007.
The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) would be brought to the station via NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services. It would then be robotically berthed to the station – likely onto one of the station’s Node 3 interfaces.
BEAM would benefit both Bigelow Aerospace and NASA.
The privately-built module would help Bigelow Aerospace demonstrate the commercial viability of expandable structures in space. Secondly, NASA would gain experience in use of “soft-sided” modules and how a non-rigid structure performs in space.
While no deal has been officially struck between NASA and Bigelow Aerospace, space agency planners see utility in such an add-on. The segment would support and augment use of the International Space Station.
In a February 4 visit to Bigelow Aerospace, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver discussed with Bigelow Aerospace founder and President, Robert Bigelow, potential partnership opportunities with the space entrepreneur for use of inflatable habitat technologies.
A Las Vegas-based construction contractor, real estate mogul, hotel businessman, Bigelow has invested $215 million of his own money to hasten the day of expandable habitats in Earth orbit, as well as on the Moon and Mars.
By Leonard David