New York, Jan 13: <\/p>\n
NASA has signed a $ 17.8 million deal to attach an inflatable private module to the International Space Station (ISS). <\/p>\n
NASA will pay the hefty amount to the Nevada-based private spaceflight firm Bigelow Aerospace for the companys Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which will be affixed to the orbiting lab as a technology demonstration. <\/p>\n
This partnership agreement for the use of expandable habitats represents a step forward in cutting-edge technology that can allow humans to thrive in space safely and affordably, and heralds important progress in US commercial space innovation, NASA Deputy Chief Lori Garver said. <\/p>\n
NASA said Garver and Bigelow founder and President Robert Bigelow will discuss the BEAM programme at a media event on January 16, Space.com reported. <\/p>\n
BEAM is likely to be similar to Bigelows Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 prototypes, which the company launched to orbit in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Both Genesis modules are 4.4 by 2.5 meters, with about 11.5 cubic metre of pressurised volume. <\/p>\n
NASA said that BEAM could be on orbit about two years after getting an official go-ahead. The module is likely to be launched by one of the agencys commercial cargo suppliers, California-based SpaceX or Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp. <\/p>\n
The company also intends to launch and link up several of its larger expandable modules to create private space stations, which could be used by a variety of clients. <\/p>\n
Tenants could get to orbiting Bigelow habitats in several different ways. The company has set up a partnership with SpaceX for use of its Dragon spacecraft and another one with Boeing, to use the aerospace giants CST-100 capsule. <\/p>\n
Bigelow is also eyeing a possible outpost on the moon, for which the company envisions using its BA-330 modules. Several BA-330 habitats, along with propulsion tanks and power units, would be joined together in space and then flown down to the lunar surface. <\/p>\n
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NASA buys private inflatable room for ISS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New York, Jan 13: NASA has signed a $ 17.8 million deal to attach an inflatable private module to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA will pay the hefty amount to the Nevada-based private spaceflight firm Bigelow Aerospace for the companys Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which will be affixed to the orbiting lab as a technology demonstration. This partnership agreement for the use of expandable habitats represents a step forward in cutting-edge technology that can allow humans to thrive in space safely and affordably, and heralds important progress in US commercial space innovation, NASA Deputy Chief Lori Garver said Continue reading