New Space all the way around for NASA!NASA considers ISS Bigelow module http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/09/09/332086/nasa-considers-iss-bigelow-module.htmlHowever, internal NASA documents passed to Flightglobal show the US space agency is now interested in attaching a Bigelow module, but neither the company or NASA were available for comment.More through the link
In 1997 the US space agency examined the possible attachment of its Transhab inflatable module to the ISS, but abandoned the technology project. Transhab would have been used for crew quarters.Bigelow took the NASA Transhab technology and developed it for its own orbital complex concept and launched two technology demonstrators, Genesis I and II, which were successfully launched using Russian rockets in 2006 and 2007.
In 1997 the US space agency examined the possible attachment of its Transhab inflatable module to the ISS, but an act of Congress forced them to abandon the technology project. Transhab would have been used for crew quarters.NASA licensed the Transhab technology to Bigelow, which developed it for its own orbital complex concept and launched two technology demonstrators, Genesis I and II, which were successfully launched using Russian rockets in 2006 and 2007.
I would have written it this way:Quote from: JorgeIn 1997 the US space agency examined the possible attachment of its Transhab inflatable module to the ISS, but an act of Congress forced them to abandon the technology project. Transhab would have been used for crew quarters.NASA licensed the Transhab technology to Bigelow, which developed it for its own orbital complex concept and launched two technology demonstrators, Genesis I and II, which were successfully launched using Russian rockets in 2006 and 2007. Much more honest, and it really wouldn't have taken more room in the article.
Transhab [...] has come under fire within the House of Representatives. Concerns were raised by legislators that the R & D effort would emerge from the ISS office as a construction project that would replace the current station habitation module. The fear was that with the replacement would come a dramatic increase in the cost of the International Space Station and delays in the contemplated construction schedule.
Quote from: Jorge on 09/10/2009 12:57 amI would have written it this way:Quote from: JorgeIn 1997 the US space agency examined the possible attachment of its Transhab inflatable module to the ISS, but an act of Congress forced them to abandon the technology project. Transhab would have been used for crew quarters.NASA licensed the Transhab technology to Bigelow, which developed it for its own orbital complex concept and launched two technology demonstrators, Genesis I and II, which were successfully launched using Russian rockets in 2006 and 2007. Much more honest, and it really wouldn't have taken more room in the article.You don't think it's worth mentioning the poor state of the ISS program at the time? From a public statement at the time:QuoteTranshab [...] has come under fire within the House of Representatives. Concerns were raised by legislators that the R & D effort would emerge from the ISS office as a construction project that would replace the current station habitation module. The fear was that with the replacement would come a dramatic increase in the cost of the International Space Station and delays in the contemplated construction schedule.That sounds like a pretty justified fear to me.
Quote from: yinzer on 09/10/2009 01:35 amThat sounds like a pretty justified fear to me.Whether it was justified or not is beside my point. My point is that cancellation wasn't NASA's choice. That's aimed at the bleating hordes excoriating NASA for "abandoning" Transhab.
That sounds like a pretty justified fear to me.
Mr. Suffredini noted that Biggalow has approached NASA about docking a module to ISS, which he would like to try to accommodate.
The article about Orion-Lite went open on SPACE.COM, in case you wanted to know what's going on with those 760 million that apparently nobody wanted:http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/090814-orion-lite.htmlIt's a little confusing, but apparently Bigelow is building Orion-Lite themselves with LM's "help" (whatever that means) instead of asking some other company (like LM) to build it for them. That's where 760 millions are going to go (at least in part).-- Pete
Quote from: zaitcev on 08/14/2009 06:04 pmThe article about Orion-Lite went open on SPACE.COM, in case you wanted to know what's going on with those 760 million that apparently nobody wanted:http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/090814-orion-lite.htmlIt's a little confusing, but apparently Bigelow is building Orion-Lite themselves with LM's "help" (whatever that means) instead of asking some other company (like LM) to build it for them. That's where 760 millions are going to go (at least in part).-- PeteI missed this when it came up last month, but given the news that's been developing since then, I'm starting to wonder if Lockheed Martin is positioning themselves for a possible COTS-D bid.
Here's a Space News article/interview with Robert Bigelow, via Clark Lindsey:http://spacenews.com/profiles/100111-robert-bigelow.html"I also have a design for a “Big Bertha” spacecraft for NASA’s Ares 5. We can create a module that has twice the volume of the entire international space station"Good stuff...
2014/2015seems quite a significant delay when compared with previous aggressive schedule
Quote from: 8900 on 01/13/2010 03:31 am2014/2015seems quite a significant delay when compared with previous aggressive scheduleExpect more delays. There are just too many unknowns for having any firm schedule, including funding, crew transport, demand, technical possibility etc.
I really think the domestic crew launch is the key, because I think he's going to have a hard time "sovereign customers" to take him seriously until he has a believable plan for how he's actually going to access his station.
"Beyond low-Earth orbit, Bigelow Aerospace also has its sights on expandable space habitats for Lagrangian Point L1, partway between the sun and the Earth.""