{"id":17943,"date":"2019-09-13T01:57:32","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T17:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/bigelow-aerospace-and-nasa-test-earthly-mockup-of-interplanetary-space-station\/"},"modified":"2019-09-13T01:57:32","modified_gmt":"2019-09-12T17:57:32","slug":"bigelow-aerospace-and-nasa-test-earthly-mockup-of-interplanetary-space-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/bigelow-aerospace-and-nasa-test-earthly-mockup-of-interplanetary-space-station\/","title":{"rendered":"Bigelow Aerospace and NASA test earthly mockup of interplanetary space station"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_520773\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-520773\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-520773\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/190912-bigelow1-630x508.jpg\" alt=\"Bigelow habitat mockup\" width=\"630\" height=\"508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/190912-bigelow1-630x508.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/190912-bigelow1-768x620.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/190912-bigelow1-1260x1017.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-520773\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The team for the NASA-Bigelow Aerospace habitat test lines up in front of the Bigelow Mars Transporter Testing Unit at the company\u2019s Nevada headquarters. (Bigelow Aerospace Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bigelow Aerospace opened up its ground-based prototype for a space station module \u2014 or perhaps even a Mars transport habitat \u2014 for inspection today at its headquarters in North Las Vegas.<\/p>\n<p>The open house centered on the Mars Transporter Testing Unit, an all-steel mockup of the company\u2019s expandable, fabric-covered B330 space module. For two weeks, a NASA-Bigelow team will be testing the suitability of the B330 concept for crewed deep-space missions.<\/p>\n<p>Bigelow\u2019s prototype is one of six ground-based demonstration projects funded as part of NASA\u2019s NextSTEP-2 program. The other companies building full-sized NextSTEP-2 prototypes for space habitats include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada Corp. and Nanoracks.<\/p>\n<p>Northrop Grumman\u2019s modified Cygnus cargo carrier has already won NASA\u2019s nod for use as the crewed mini-habitation module on the future moon-orbiting Gateway outpost, mainly because it was the only one judged likely to be built in time for a 2024 lunar landing.<\/p>\n<p>However, Bigelow Aerospace and other contractors are hoping their concepts will remain in the running for future deep-space facilities.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"KLAS Bigelow Aerospace BA330 Mock-up Tour\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ttGpkUelRjc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"450\" style=\"display: block; margin: 0px; width: 800px; height: 450px;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Bigelow\u2019s expandable space structures are sent into orbit in a folded-up, space-saving configuration, and then filled with air for deployment and use.<\/p>\n<p>Robert Bigelow, the founder of Bigelow Aerospace, noted in a statement issued today that the B330 design evolved from a NASA concept for an expandable habitat capable of carrying a crew to Mars.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is important,\u201d Bigelow said. \u201cIn deep space, expandable structures have the potential to provide better protection against secondary radiation than traditional aluminum structures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Expandable structures have been put through in-space tests for more than a decade. Bigelow started out with two uncrewed modules that were delivered to orbit by Russian rockets in 2006 and 2007 and are still flying today. In 2016, an expandable test module was successfully installed onto one of the International Space Station\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n<p>Bigelow Aerospace has offered the much larger B330 \u2014 so named because it offers 330 cubic meters (12,000 cubic feet) of interior volume \u2014 for use as a supersized addition to the space station, a free-flying space outpost in Earth orbit, or a moon-orbiting supply depot.<\/p>\n<p>The B330 is built to accommodate four people indefinitely, or five people for a months-long stay. It\u2019s equipped with two galleys, two toilets and two independent propulsion systems that make it \u201cthe ideal habitat for a long-duration space mission,\u201d Robert Bigelow said.<\/p>\n<p>Bigelow said the first B330 could be built 42 months after the go-ahead for construction is given.<\/p>\n<style>.fotorama1782800097320 .fotorama__nav--thumbs .fotorama__nav__frame{\npadding:2px;\nheight:64px}\n.fotorama1782800097320 .fotorama__thumb-border{\nheight:60px;\nborder-width:2px;\nmargin-top:2px}<\/style>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow2-1260x851.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 592.244px; height: 400px; left: 103.878px; top: 0px;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tNASA astronauts Drew Feustel, Richard Linnehan, Stan Love and Shannon Walker pose next to the inflation tanks inside the Bigelow Mars Transporter Testing Unit. (Bigelow Aerospace Photo)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelox04-1260x840.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 400px; left: 100px; top: 0px;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tThe upper deck of the Bigelow Mars Transporter Testing Unit provides room for a medical research area, a medical isolation unit. and an exercise area. (Bigelow Aerospace Photo)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow3-1260x840.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 400px; left: 100px; top: 0px;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tNASA crew members receive instructions for the ground test on the middle deck of the Bigelow Mars Transporter Testing Unit. (Bigelow Aerospace Photo)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow2-1260x851.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 95px; height: 64.1627px; left: 0px; top: -0.0813492px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow3-1260x840.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64px; left: 0px; top: 0px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow4-840x1260.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 43px; height: 64.5px; left: 0px; top: -0.25px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow5-1260x931.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 87px; height: 64.2833px; left: 0px; top: -0.141667px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow6-840x1260.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 43px; height: 64.5px; left: 0px; top: -0.25px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow7-840x1260.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 43px; height: 64.5px; left: 0px; top: -0.25px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow8-1260x840.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64px; left: 0px; top: 0px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelow9-1260x840.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64px; left: 0px; top: 0px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelox02-1260x840.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64px; left: 0px; top: 0px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Bigelox03-1260x840.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64px; left: 0px; top: 0px;\"><\/p>\n<p>This month\u2019s two-week test involves a team of eight NASA astronauts as well as more than 60 NASA engineers, test leads and support staff at the company\u2019s cavernous Nevada facility.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn contrast to the other NextSTEP Phase 2 participants, we chose to keep our ground units at our facility so we could continue to develop and test,\u201d Bigelow said. \u201cWe also have may units that are too large and complex to feasibly transport back and forth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NASA isn\u2019t likely to be the only potential customer for the B330. Bigelow has spoken repeatedly about providing space modules as research platforms for non-NASA clients, or as destinations for space tourists.<\/p>\n<p>In June, Bigelow Aerospace\u2019s service subsidiary, Bigelow Space Operations, struck a deal with SpaceX to arrange commercial rides to the International Space Station at a price of roughly $52 million a seat.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually, Bigelow\u2019s customers might well be staying on a B330, either attached to the ISS or flying on its own.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Update for 10 a.m. PT Sept. 13:<\/strong> In a report from The Verge, Bigelow says the SpaceX deal for trips to the International Space Station has been put on hold, due to the red tape associated with arranging such trips. Instead, Bigelow is thinking about a reality-TV show that would pick contestants to launch to a free-flying B330. Which sounds a lot like reality-TV impresario Mark Burnett\u2019s plan for \u201cDestination Mir\u201d back in 2000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The team for the NASA-Bigelow Aerospace habitat test lines up in front of the Bigelow Mars Transporter Testing Unit at the company\u2019s Nevada headquarters. (Bigelow Aerospace Photo) Bigelow Aerospace opened up its ground-based prototype for a space station module \u2014 or perhaps even a Mars transport habitat \u2014 for inspection today at its headquarters in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[2007,4956,4922],"class_list":["post-17943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-bigelow-aerospace","tag-nextstep-2","tag-space-habitats"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17943"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17943\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}