Quote from: ChefPat on 01/21/2010 02:56 pmQuote from: mmeijeri on 01/21/2010 12:53 pm Any kind of propellant transfer at a Lagrange point will also be a game changer. It doesn't look as if a Bigelow hab itself is very useful as a depot though. It could still be very useful to have it colocated with a depot or depot precursor.Why couldn't a Bigelow hab be designed specifically to be a propellant depot?Would.YOU.want.to.live.next.to.big.tanks.of.high.power.rocket.fuel?
Quote from: mmeijeri on 01/21/2010 12:53 pm Any kind of propellant transfer at a Lagrange point will also be a game changer. It doesn't look as if a Bigelow hab itself is very useful as a depot though. It could still be very useful to have it colocated with a depot or depot precursor.Why couldn't a Bigelow hab be designed specifically to be a propellant depot?
Any kind of propellant transfer at a Lagrange point will also be a game changer. It doesn't look as if a Bigelow hab itself is very useful as a depot though. It could still be very useful to have it colocated with a depot or depot precursor.
Would.YOU.want.to.live.next.to.big.tanks.of.high.power.rocket.fuel?
Why couldn't a Bigelow hab be designed specifically to be a propellant depot?
Quote from: ChefPat on 01/21/2010 02:56 pmWhy couldn't a Bigelow hab be designed specifically to be a propellant depot?Materials science. Bigalow habs do not use materials that work well with cryogenic propellants.
I.spilled.water.on.my.keyboard.the.other.day.and.haven't.gotten.to.the.store.for.a.replacement.yet..The.Space.bar.is.hosed...
Oh, I've thought of ways that could probably make it work--the more important thing is that there are better ways of doing the job that probably wouldn't be as much of a science project. To me, that's why.~Jon
Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) Trusted by Bigelow Aerospace to provide Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) for SundancerMadison, Wisconsin – January 28, 2010 ORBITEC’s Human Support Systems and Instrumentation Division continues its relationship with Bigelow Aerospace to develop and integrate ORBITEC'S cost-effective environmental control and life support systems, subsystems, and components for Sundancer and commercial space travel and habitation.Robert Bigelow, President and owner of Bigelow Aerospace stated that “We have had a long standing beneficial relationship with ORBITEC. Their capabilities and commercial business practice mesh well with our company.” Mr. Bigelow also states “My expectation for ORBITEC to provide safe and reliable solutions, to build and deliver on time, and to collaboratively work with my team to provide cost effective product is the reason I have them on the Bigelow team.”
Actually, the Bigelow designs are oriented longitudinally. The 'layer cake' was used for the transhab designs.
Bigelow mockup images....d/l'ed off their site before the links disappeared. The first pretty much matches ORBITEC's concept art and the mid-deck "floor" looks a lot like the last images "floor". The rest show the core framing.A lot of info can be gleaned if you visit http://www.freepatentsonline.com/. Search for Robert T. Bigelow or Bigelow Aerospace. It'll list the patents, many of which are for the modules and their subsystems while many of the others are just flat entertaining. This one is the pdf for the module core & bulkheads;http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20050120638.pdf
Bigelow mockup images....d/l'ed off their site before the links disappeared. The first pretty much matches ORBITEC's concept art and the mid-deck "floor" looks a lot like the last images "floor". The rest show the core framing.