Quote from: clongton on 04/07/2010 04:02 pmSci-fi. Want a better idea of actual size? Look at Bio-Dome 2. That supported, what? Six people? Anyone know?Arguably, Biosphere-2 didn't demonstrate that it could successfully support any number. However, it's not really a good example, they were trying to build an entire ecosystem that replicated a bunch of natural environments (a fundamentally misguided approach for a first attempt, IMO), not optimize for size/efficiency. You could build much more compact systems if your goal is only to close specific portions of an ECLS loops. Advances in bioengineering may help this considerably.The Russians did some work that was much more closely applicable to spacecraft. I think there was a thread about this a while back, but a quick search didn't turn it up.That said, I'm not sure such systems will be more reliable/lower maintenance than conventional ones, at least not at scales we can contemplate now. Keeping living things healthy in a closed environment can be at least as tricky as keeping machines healthy.
Sci-fi. Want a better idea of actual size? Look at Bio-Dome 2. That supported, what? Six people? Anyone know?
However, given the interview that was immediately posted where he talks about bioresearch I don't understand why I can't bring up closed loop biological life support as a potential realistic application for BA modules.
>ORBITEC is partnering with Bigelow Aerospace’s technical staff to develop systems for pressure control, oxygen production and supply, hydrogen supply, temperature and humidity control, ventilation, thermal transport, water processing, gas contaminant removal, carbon dioxide removal, and atmospheric composition monitoring.>
The link below suggests seven assembly flights for the sundancer module
The link below suggests seven assembly flights for the sundancer modulehttp://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/04/08/space-access-10-jeff-patton-united-launch-alliance/#more-13422
Some of its operations, such as Atlas V, could shift to Wallops, Gold said. Such a move could create hundreds of high-paying jobs on the Eastern Shore.
All very interesting, hypothetically speaking but utterly pointless so long as there isn't a crew transfer system to get people there. Of course, that could sum up Bigelow's entire product line, really.
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 04/15/2010 03:15 pmAll very interesting, hypothetically speaking but utterly pointless so long as there isn't a crew transfer system to get people there. Of course, that could sum up Bigelow's entire product line, really. It's an interesting chicken-and-egg problem.