Bigelow Commercial Space Station

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The Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station was a private orbital space station under conceptual development by Bigelow Aerospace in the 2000s and 2010s. [1] Previous concepts of the space station had included multiple modules, such as two B330 expandable spacecraft modules as well as a central docking node, propulsion, solar arrays, and attached crew capsules. However it was also suggested that each B330 can operate as an independent space station. Attaching a B330 to the International Space Station or flying a B330 alone have been suggested by Robert Bigelow.

Contents

On 8 April 2016, NASA launched a Bigelow inflatable module and attached it to the ISS, where it has been tested for over four years.

History

Early work at Bigelow Aerospace on expandable space habitats, with plans to eventually assemble them into on-orbit space stations, began in the early years after the company was formed in 1999. By 2004, plans made public included assembly of multiple modules "into a manned space facility in low Earth orbit for both privately- and publicly-funded research and for space tourism." [2]

Two more formal concepts have since been made public. By 2005, Bigelow space station plans had been further conceptualized into Commercial Space Station Skywalker, or CSS Skywalker. [3] In mid-2010, Bigelow announced their Next-Generation Commercial Space Station—later named "Space Complex Alpha". [4] [5]

The initial dates for the Alpha complex were not achieved. In January 2013, the Alpha complex was specified to be an in-space assemblage of only two B330 modules, with the first module to be launched no earlier than 2016. [6]

CSS Skywalker

CSS Skywalker
Station statistics
Crew5–7
Mass 100,000 kg (220,000 lb) [7]
Height30.0 m (98.4 ft) [7]
Diameter6.7 m (22 ft) [7]
Pressurised volume 1,500 m3 (53,000 cu ft) [7]

The CSS Skywalker (Commercial Space Station Skywalker) was a 2005 concept for the first "space hotel" by Bigelow Aerospace. [3] The Skywalker was designed to be composed of multiple Nautilus (B330) habitat modules, which would be inflated and connected upon reaching orbit. An MDPM (Multi-Directional Propulsion Module) would allow the Skywalker to be moved into interplanetary or lunar trajectories. [7]

In short, CSS Skywalker was "an effort to build the planet's first orbiting space hotel, [with a projected] room rate of USD$1 million per night", and a hoped-for launch date for the first Nautilus module of 2010. [3]

Company challenges

Early assessments of the probability of success of the technology development and challenges of a commercial space station pointed to the importance of factors largely beyond Bigelow's control. For example, in 2005, John M. Logsdon, director of George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, said, "I have little doubt that the basic technology is likely to work ... The issue is whether there's a transportation system that can get people, things, or both, up there." [3]

In practice, orbital launch plans were significantly delayed. First, after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, Bigelow had to compete with NASA for rides on the Russian Soyuz three-person rocket — "a distinctly untenable position." [3] [8] In mid-2009, Bigelow announced they were continuing to develop a variety of space habitat architectures. [9]

Space transport

In 2008, Bigelow initially began talks with Lockheed Martin to potentially contract launch services on its Atlas V-401 vehicle for both crew and cargo launches. [10] [11]

By mid-2010, Bigelow was actively pursuing launch options for its space station modules and crew capsules from two launch systems: the Boeing CST-100 capsule on a ULA Atlas V launcher and also the SpaceX Dragon / Falcon 9 capsule/launcher combination. [12] "Bigelow offers Boeing, SpaceX, and other vehicle developers ... the promise of a sustained, large market for space transportation services." [4] With the initial Space Complex Alpha, Bigelow "would need six flights a year; with the launch of a second, larger station, that number would grow to 24, or two a month." [4] After 2010, no further concrete plans have been announced for transport with Atlas V launch vehicles.

In May 2012, almost simultaneously with the successful mission of SpaceX's Dragon capsule, launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 vehicle, to the International Space Station, Bigelow and SpaceX jointly announced that they were teaming to offer private crewed missions to space, promoting the Bigelow space station and SpaceX transport systems. [13] [14] [15]

In 2014, plans called for transport of humans and resupply cargo to the station to be via a SpaceX Dragon V2, with a round-trip seat priced at US$26.5 million. Lease of the on-orbit stations was priced at US$25 million to rent one-third of a B330 module for 60 days. The B330 modules and any of several tugs were planned for launch aboard a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. [16]

Space Complex Alpha

Space Complex Alpha
Bigelow Commercial Space Station.jpg
Station statistics
CrewUp to 12
Pressurised volume 690 m3 (24,000 cu ft)
A full-scale mockup of Bigelow Aerospace's Space Station Alpha inside their Nevada facility Bigelow Aerospace facilities.jpg
A full-scale mockup of Bigelow Aerospace's Space Station Alpha inside their Nevada facility

The Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station was announced in mid-2010. [5] The initial configuration for the 2014/2015 space assembly was two Sundancer modules and one B330 module, [12] named Space Complex Alpha after October 2010. [4]

Bigelow began to publicly refer to the initial configuration—two Sundancer modules and one B330 module— of the first Bigelow station as Space Complex Alpha in October 2010. [4] If the entire station is leased out, it could mean up to 25 Launches per year for crew and cargo. [17] In early 2013, Bigelow Aerospace started referring to Alpha as consisting of two B330 modules instead of two Sundancer and one B330. [6]

In October 2010, Bigelow announced that it has memorandum of understanding with six sovereign nations to utilize the on-orbit facilities of the commercial space station: United Kingdom, Netherlands, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Sweden. [18] A seventh country signed on in February 2011: the United Arab Emirates [19]

In August 2015, Michael Gold stated that the timetable for the first B330 deployment is uncertain at the moment since it is tied to the development of private astronaut taxis that can get people to orbit. With this projected to be 2017 or later Bigelow expects to be "ready when they are". [20]

In April 2016, the two B330s attached together were also questioned, by suggesting that the first B330 might ideally be attached to the International Space Station or that each B330 could operate on its own. [21] The first liftoff was targeted for 2020. All flights are currently on hold due to the temporary lay off of all Bigelow employees due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Orbital complex construction

In 2010, Bigelow Aerospace began building a large production facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada to produce the space modules. The 16,800 m2 (181,000 sq ft) facility will include three production lines for three distinct spacecraft, doubling the amount of floor space at Bigelow and transitioning the focus from research and development to production. Bigelow expects to hire approximately 1200 new employees to staff the plant, with production commencing in early 2012. [22] [23] Construction would require three medium lift launches and one heavy lift launch. [24] In October 2011, Reuters reported that Bigelow had "pared its 115-member workforce to 51 [...] because of delays developing space taxis needed to fly people to the outposts." [25]

As of 2010 On-orbit assembly of the Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station components was projected to begin in 2014. As of July 2010, construction of the orbital complex was projected to occur in seven principal steps, [5] based on an operations concept that included the on-orbit addition of two Sundancer modules and one B330 module. [5]

Commercial leasing

In January 2013, Bigelow announced that they would sell naming rights to the dual-B330-module Alpha complex for US$25 million per year. [6]

In 2014, Bigelow announced that prices for human access to the space station were expected to be US$26.25 million aboard a SpaceX Dragon, or US$36.75 million aboard a Boeing CST-100. [6]

The price for a two-month lease of one-third of a module (approximately 110 cubic metres (3,900 cubic feet)) was provisionally set at US$25 million. [6]

Technical

Docking system

As of 2007, Bigelow was planning to equip its expandable space modules with both a Soyuz-style docking system on one end and a NASA-standard Low Impact Docking System on the other. [26] The available docking port options for the Next Generation Commercial Space Station have not yet been released.

Test program

The "human-in-the-loop testing of the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS)" for Sundancer began in October 2010. [27]

By January 2013, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) pressurised module was under development by Bigelow Aerospace, being purchased by NASA for attachment to the International Space Station. [6] The BEAM arrived at the ISS on April 10, 2016, was berthed to the station on April 16, and was expanded and pressurized on May 28, 2016. The initial plan was to test the expandable habitat technology for at least two years. During its flight mission, NASA has been testing and monitoring the module's structural integrity, leak rate, radiation dosage and temperature changes. [28] [29] The module has been performing well, and in October 2017, it was announced that the module would stay attached to the ISS until 2020, with options for two further one-year extensions. The module is being used to store up to 130 cargo transfer bags in an effort to free up additional space aboard the station. [30]

Launch planning

Potential launch options are in the mid-heavy lift launch system class of launch vehicles, where Bigelow has now negotiated arrangements with two commercial launch providers. As of January 2013, both SpaceX—using the Falcon 9/Dragon— and United Launch Alliance/Boeing—using the Atlas V/CST-100—have signed to deliver launch services to Bigelow Space Station Alpha. [6]

In February 2011, Bigelow announced that it would begin launching its unmanned space station modules in 2014 from Cape Canaveral using Atlas V launch vehicles. [31]

In addition to the Atlas launches for the expandable modules, Bigelow had reserved a single 2014 Launch on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, [32] but that launch had not taken place as of early 2019. As of August 2011, press reports indicate that Bigelow will launch at least some of their crews to the station on the human-rated Atlas V utilizing the Boeing CST-100 seven-person space capsule. [33]

In April 2016, Bigelow signed an agreement with United Launch Alliance to launch the first B330 module in 2020 using an Atlas V rocket. [21]

In October 2017, Bigelow Aerospace and United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced they were working together to launch a B330 expandable module on ULA's Vulcan launch vehicle. The launch would place a B330 module in Earth orbit, and after outfitting it would be boosted to low lunar orbit by two further Vulcan ACES launches by the end of 2022 to serve as a lunar depot. [34] As this announcement stated that only a Vulcan had the performance and fairing capacity needed to launch a B330, it appears that any Atlas V launches would be for crew rather than B330 modules. The timeline may be 'aspirational' as ULA have indicated that the Vulcan will transition to using the ACES upper stage around 2024. [35]

Long-term proposals

In late 2010, Bigelow indicated that the company would like to construct ten or more space stations and that there is a substantial commercial market to support such growth. [36]

Future space station concepts

Space Complex Bravo
Complex Bravo Model.jpg
Station statistics
CrewUp to 24
Pressurised volume 1,320 m3 (47,000 cu ft)

In 2010, Bigelow said that second orbital station—Space Complex Bravo—was scheduled to begin launches in 2016 [37] and go into commercial operation in 2017. [38] This complex would consist of four B330 modules.

Bigelow has publicly shown space station design configurations with up to nine B330 modules containing 2,800 m3 (100,000 cu ft) of habitable space. [18] The conceptual configurations are listed below. [39]

See also

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Human spaceflight programs have been conducted, started, or planned by multiple countries and companies. Until the 21st century, human spaceflight programs were sponsored exclusively by governments, through either the military or civilian space agencies. With the launch of the privately funded SpaceShipOne in 2004, a new category of human spaceflight programs – commercial human spaceflight – arrived. By the end of 2022, three countries and one private company (SpaceX) had successfully launched humans to Earth orbit, and two private companies had launched humans on a suborbital trajectory.

Bigelow Aerospace was an American space design and manufacturing company which closed its doors in 2020. It was an aeronautics and outer space technology company which manufactured and developed expandable space station modules. Bigelow Aerospace was founded by Robert Bigelow in 1998, and was based in North Las Vegas, Nevada. It was funded in large part by the profit Bigelow gained through his ownership of the hotel chain, Budget Suites of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">America's Space Prize</span> Award

America's Space Prize was a US$50 million space competition in orbital spaceflight established and funded in 2004 by hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow. The prize would have been awarded to the first US-based privately funded team to design and build a reusable crewed capsule capable of flying 5 astronauts to a Bigelow Aerospace inflatable space module. The criteria also required the capsule be recovered and flown again in 60 days. The prize expired January 10, 2010, without a winner or any test flights attempted. The teams were required to have been based in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B330</span> Space habitat designed by Bigelow Aerospace

The B330 was an inflatable space habitat privately developed by Bigelow Aerospace from 2010 until 2020. The design was evolved from NASA's TransHab habitat concept. B330 was to have 330 cubic meters (12,000 cu ft) of internal volume, hence its numeric designation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesis II (space habitat)</span> Experimental uncrewed space habitat

Genesis II is the second experimental space habitat designed and built by the private American firm Bigelow Aerospace, launched in 2007. As the second module sent into orbit by the company, this spacecraft built on the data and experience gleaned from its previously orbited sister-ship Genesis I. Like its sister-ship and other modules being designed by Bigelow Aerospace, this spacecraft was based on the NASA TransHab design, which provided increased interior volume and reduced launch diameter along with potentially reduced mass compared to traditional rigid structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galaxy (spacecraft)</span>

Galaxy was a canceled prototype space habitat designed by the American firm Bigelow Aerospace, and was intended to be the third spacecraft launched by the company in their efforts to create a commercial space station. Like other modules made by Bigelow Aerospace, Galaxy was based on the inflatable TransHab design by NASA, and was to be used for advanced systems testing before the company launched human-rated vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundancer</span>

Sundancer was the proposed third prototype space habitat intended to be launched by Bigelow Aerospace—and the first human-rated expandable module based on TransHab technology acquired from NASA. It was to have been used to test and confirm systems used in the company's commercial space station efforts during the early 2010s, and if successful, would have formed the first piece of the proposed commercial space station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inflatable space habitat</span> Structure that can support life whose volume can be increased in outer space

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Starliner</span> Class of partially reusable crew capsules

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">BA 2100</span> Space habitat conceptualized by Bigelow Aerospace

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t/Space

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigelow Expandable Activity Module</span> Experimental inflatable module – Installed on ISS

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is an experimental expandable space station module developed by Bigelow Aerospace, under contract to NASA, for testing as a temporary module on the International Space Station (ISS) from 2016 to at most 2028, when the contract can not be further extended. It arrived at the ISS on 10 April 2016, was berthed to the station on 16 April 2016, and was expanded and pressurized on 28 May 2016. Although originally planned to be a two year test, it has exceeded expectations and is used as additional cargo storage. The module is under ownership of NASA after Bigelow Aerospace suspended operations in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiom Orbital Segment</span> Planned ISS component

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Starlab is a planned LEO commercial space station, which is expected to launch no earlier than 2028. It is currently being designed by Starlab Space, a joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus. It is planned to be launched before the decommissioning of the ISS.

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