Bigelow Aerospace
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1999 (?) |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Key people | Robert Bigelow: (position?) |
| Products | orbital space stations and hotels |
| Revenue | (?) |
Number of employees | (?) |
| Website | www.bigelowaerospace.com |
Bigelow Aerospace is a Las Vegas, Nevada space technology start-up company that is pioneering work on expandable space station modules.
An expandable module is a space structure that has a flexible outer shell, allowing conservation of diameter for launch. Once in orbit, the module is inflated, allowing greater work, play, and living area for astronauts. Expandable modules initially were proposed and designed by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the Transhab program. After cancellation of the Transhab program, Bigelow Aerospace entered into three Space Act agreements whereby Bigelow Aerospace is the sole commercializer of several of NASA's key expandable module technologies.
The company has announced development of a family of prototype and production space station modules, including: the Genesis pathfinder, a one-third scale prototype module weighing approximately 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg), with dimensions of approximately 15 feet (5 meters) in length and 6.2 feet (1.9 meters) in diameter, expanding to twice the diameter once in orbit; the Guardian, a 45% scale prototype module; and the Nautilus, a full-scale production module weighing approximately 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg), with dimensions of approximately 45 feet (14 meters) in length and 22 feet (6.7 meters) in diameter when expanded.[1] The Nautilus is now referred to as the BA-330 (330 cubic meters).
Contrary to many popular expectations, inflatable modules are often considered to be more durable than the rigid modules found on the International Space Station. This is partially due to their use of several layers of vectran, a material twice as strong as kevlar.
Bigelow Aerospace planned to launch the initial Genesis Pathfinder module in November 2005 on the maiden launch of the SpaceX Falcon 5 rocket. This launch was delayed until Q4 2006 and subsequently Q1 2008 [2] [3]. In the meantime, the initial Genesis Pathfinder flight has been switched to the Kosmotras Dnipro, or Dnepr, rocket on a flight scheduled for July 2006 [4]. Bigelow Aerospace has contracted to launch as many as six Bigelow station modules between 2006 and 2008 at intervals of 7 to 8 months [5] The larger Nautilus module is planned to launch in 2008.
Expected uses for Bigelow Aerospace's expandable modules include microgravity research and development and space manufacturing. Other potential uses include space tourism, such as modules for orbital hotels, and space transportation, such as components in spaceships for Moon or Mars manned missions. The company plans to sell Nautilus modules for $100 million apiece. Bigelow also plans to launch by 2010 an orbital resort, tentatively called the CSS (Commercial Space Station) Skywalker.
Bigelow Aerospace was founded by Robert Bigelow and is funded by the fortune Bigelow gained through his ownership of the hotelier Budget Suites of America. Bigelow has stated that he is prepared to fund Bigelow Aerospace with about US$500 million through 2015.
Proposed module launch timeline
There are a number of scheduled flights of Bigelow modules in the coming years. Six slots on Dnepr rockets are scheduled between 2006 and 2008, only two of which have been announced. Both launches are Genesis Pathfinder launches for 2006. It is expected that two of the launches will be the Guardian models to fly in 2007 or 2008.
One additional launch has been scheduled on the SpaceX Falcon 9 spacecraft. This time period corresponds to the proposed launch of the first full-scale Nautilus module, and the Falcon 9 would be large enough to accomodate the Nautilus, but no announcement to date has connected the launch with the premier of the Nautilus.
note: These dates are proposed and are subject to change.
| Module Type | Module Name | Flight Date | Launch Vehicle |
| Genesis pathfinder | Genesis I | Between July 4-July 14, 2006 | Dnepr |
| Genesis pathfinder | Genesis II | 3rd quarter, 2006 | Dnepr |
| Guardian | unknown | 2007 or 2008 | unknown |
| Guardian | unknown | 2007 or 2008 | unknown |
| BA-330 Nautilus | unknown | 2008 | unknown |
Fly your stuff program
In 2006 Bigelow Aerospace announced it's Fly your stuff program. This program is designed to allow private citizens to have their pictures or small items launched into space for $295 per item or $265 per item for reservations of 5 or more items. These items will then be photographed by cameras aboard the Genesis II craft.
If the Genesis I launches in July and successfully tests the program out on items from Bigelow staff, the Genesis II will flywith the items and pictures from customers in September, 2006. Those items will then cycle past their on-board camera, which will then send the pictures back for display on the Bigelow Aerospace website.
See Also
- List of private spaceflight companies - A compiled list of private spaceflight companies
External links
- Bigelow Aerospace official web site
- Inflatable POOFs (privately owned orbital facility), Space Review article (July 19, 2004)
- U.S. Hotel Tycoon Reaches for the Stars, Reuters article (August 8, 2004)
- Holidays in space are on the horizon, New Scientist article (September 4, 2004)
- Bigelow's Gamble -- Inside the Bigelow Inflatable-Module Plant Aviation Week & Space Technology article (September 26, 2004)
- The Five-Billion-Star Hotel Popular Science article (March 2005)
- Low-Earth Orbit, and Beyond! Popular Science article (March 2005), showing plans for moon cruisers and space yachts
- Progress Made on Inflatable Private Space Module, space.com article (March 8, 2005)
- Russians Delay First Test Flight of Space Hotel, msnbc.com article (June 7, 2006)