Topic: Bigelow module for the ISS?

[Nemesis]

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International Space Station Program (ISSP) managers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston held a two-day meeting this week to discuss the prospect of adding a Bigelow Aerospace inflatable module to the ISS. The Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) ran on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th January.

ISS Inflatable Module:

The purpose of the ISS inflatable module would be a simple, limited capability stowage volume, similar in purpose to the currently on-orbit Japanese Logistics Platform (JLP), which serves as a stowage module for scientific equipment from the Japanese Pressurised Module (JPM) laboratory. The module would be certified to remain on-orbit for two years.

The module would be a collaboration between NASA and Bigelow Aerospace, with NASA HQ providing funding, the ISS National Laboratory Program providing project management, and NASA providing all Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), which includes the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM), Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture (FRGF), smoke detector, fan, and emergency lights.

[NJAntman]

Can't happen. If the public saw that an easy inexpensive design could be put in space, or heaven forbid the ISS crew liked it, then the big Gov/complex design/huge cost space contractors would be threatened. Watch for a helpful congressman or two to kill the idea quickly.

[Nemesis]

Happily I can say YOU ARE WRONG!

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NASA has announced that it has awarded a US$17.8 million contract to Bigelow Aerospace to provide the International Space Station with an inflatable module. Details of the award will be discussed by NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and Bigelow Aerospace President Robert Bigelow at a press conference on January 16 at the Bigelow Aerospace facilities in North Las Vegas. However, based on previous talks, it’s likely that the module in question could be the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM).

The "module" may be bigger than the station itself. 

[knightstorm]

What's the survivability of these inflatable modules?  I can't imagine that they have the same lifespan as a conventional one.  Is it worth the cost?

[Lieutenant_Q]

Probably not, but the Station has de-orbit plans in early to mid 2020s we're not that far away from it.  So... why not?

[NJAntman]

Happily I can say YOU ARE WRONG!

Link to full article

NASA has announced that it has awarded a US$17.8 million contract to Bigelow Aerospace to provide the International Space Station with an inflatable module. Details of the award will be discussed by NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and Bigelow Aerospace President Robert Bigelow at a press conference on January 16 at the Bigelow Aerospace facilities in North Las Vegas. However, based on previous talks, it’s likely that the module in question could be the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM).

The "module" may be bigger than the station itself.

 For the good of future spaceflight I truly hope your right.

BUT.......... Give Congress or Government enough time and they will fluck this up or make it impractical.

[Nemesis]

I'm not finding anything that shows how long they are scheduled to last.  The 2 prototypes are still in orbit apparently and though their avionics were designed to report only for 6 months each lasted 2 1/2 years before avionics failure, at which time the prototypes were sill operational otherwise.  Orbit is calculated to last 12 years.  How that relates to usability of the unit is unknown to me.