Bigelow Expandable Activity Module
The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module is an expandable space habitat currently under development by Bigelow Aerospace Corporation, under contract to NASA for flight to space and attachment to the International Space Station in 2015.
History
With NASA taking a second look at expandable module technology beginning in early 2010 (see History section, above),[1][2] Various module options were considered, including Bigelow for providing a torus-shaped storage module, called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM, for the International Space Station (ISS). As of January 2011[update], it was projected to be able to fly 24 months after NASA issued contracts.[3] In particular, the BEAM was projected to be able to be used as a centrifuge demo preceding further developments of Nautilus-X.[4]
BEAM flight unit
On 20 December 2012, NASA awarded Bigelow Aerospace a $17.8 million contract to construct the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM).[5] In 2015, BEAM will be transported to ISS inside Dragon’s trunk during the SpX CRS-8 cargo mission.[6] The station’s Canadarm2 will attach BEAM to the Tranquility module’s aft attachment mechanism.[6] During it's two-year long mission the module's structural integrity, leak rate, radiation dosage and temperature changes will be monitored.[6] At the end of BEAM's mission it will be removed from the ISS and burn up during reentry.[6] The BEAM project is being contracted under NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Program.[6]
See also
References
- ^ NASA turned on by blow-up space stations, Paul Marks, NewScientist, 2010-03-03, Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ^ Nasa.gov - Inflatable Module Mission (May 26, 2010)
- ^ David, Leonard (January 26, 2011). "International Space Station Could Get Private Inflatable Room". Space.com. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
NASA is apparently in discussions with Bigelow to acquire a Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, called BEAM for short, to enhance use of the International Space Station (ISS).
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|newspaper=(help) - ^ TopSpacer on hobbyspace.com (January 28, 2011). "NASA NAUTILUS-X: multi-mission exploration vehicle includes centrifuge, which would be tested at ISS". Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "NASA Contract to Bigelow Aerospace". SpaceRef. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "NASA to Test Bigelow Expandable Module on Space Station". NASA. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.