There's a big banner on the Bigelow site announcing they're hiring for 100 new positionsBigelow Aerospace Career Opportunities
Quote from: ChefPat on 10/30/2014 11:27 amThere's a big banner on the Bigelow site announcing they're hiring for 100 new positionsBigelow Aerospace Career OpportunitiesBigelow always said that he was waiting for commercial crew to be in place before launching his habitats. Looks like he really meant it.
I've read through the entire thread to this point, over 1.5 years of posts.Given that Bigelow got into commercial real estate business to cultivate resources for his modules, and now that NASA's space taxis are selected and greenlighted, there still seems to be a "critical mass" element missing in the Bigelow plan as expressed by many here: Interest. The tech appears to be solid (no pun intended) and will get the official nod once BEAM's tests are done.Before the Virgin Galactic incident, I would easily suggested a courting by Bigelow with major hotel chains to construct the first space hotel. The room rate would be as stellar in cost as the view, but we're aware of plenty of idle millionaires looking for something to do. Labor and their lodging, with supplies and contingencies for rescue and accident (NASA's old STS rescue balls (http://www.astronautix.com/craft/reseball.htm) came to mind) would make things more stratospheric but not impossible.It would seem this would be a more practical and primary starting avenue to further the module's use, with semiconductor and pharmacological businesses next in line. After all, a space factory is one thing, but anyone at work in space for any reason have to be able to eat, sleep and recreate comfortably as well in the same place.While I don't necessarily see the VG incident causing a long-term fear of spaceflight (barnstorming or LEO-style), has anyone noted any firmer recent reports of a collaboration to create a prototype hotel?
Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 10/02/2014 09:45 pmI do wonder how the lunar buildings will land vertically when the engines are horizontal.When comes to landing on moon the bulk of DV required is for deorbit burn which is horizontal. The actual energy and propulsion required for final vertical landing is quite small. Google ULA DTAL and Masten Xeus landers. Using these concepts you could land a BA330 by using a large propulsion stage at one end and small propulsion stage at the other end. The large propulsion stage would to do the deorbit burn with its main engine eg RL10. The small vertical thrusters (can use storable propellant) on each stage would do the final landing.There are variations on this idea. Use a standard Centuar upper stage to do bulk of deorbit burn, then separate and return to orbit. Leaving 2 small stages for final landing. Allows you to reuse the expensive Centuar stage.Using storable propellant for vertical thrusters would allow you fly BA330 to different location close by. Eg into lava cave.
I do wonder how the lunar buildings will land vertically when the engines are horizontal.
Quote from: MattMason on 11/03/2014 04:18 pmI've read through the entire thread to this point, over 1.5 years of posts.Given that Bigelow got into commercial real estate business to cultivate resources for his modules, and now that NASA's space taxis are selected and greenlighted, there still seems to be a "critical mass" element missing in the Bigelow plan as expressed by many here: Interest. The tech appears to be solid (no pun intended) and will get the official nod once BEAM's tests are done.Before the Virgin Galactic incident, I would easily suggested a courting by Bigelow with major hotel chains to construct the first space hotel. The room rate would be as stellar in cost as the view, but we're aware of plenty of idle millionaires looking for something to do. Labor and their lodging, with supplies and contingencies for rescue and accident (NASA's old STS rescue balls (http://www.astronautix.com/craft/reseball.htm) came to mind) would make things more stratospheric but not impossible.It would seem this would be a more practical and primary starting avenue to further the module's use, with semiconductor and pharmacological businesses next in line. After all, a space factory is one thing, but anyone at work in space for any reason have to be able to eat, sleep and recreate comfortably as well in the same place.While I don't necessarily see the VG incident causing a long-term fear of spaceflight (barnstorming or LEO-style), has anyone noted any firmer recent reports of a collaboration to create a prototype hotel?Ehm, point? He (Bigelow) made his money in real estate specifically cheap but good motel rooms for travellers. THEN he decided to get into the space module business. Not the other way around. He made his millions and then decided to build space habitat modules (And keeps insisting they are NOT going to be a "Space Hotel" BTW Randy
http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/careers.php"1 hour lunch"HAHAHAAHAHAAHA!The fact that they list this among their benefits should be a warning sign. Engineers have to clock in and clock out with a swipe card, and have to make up every minute over 60 for lunch. For the sake of future employees I hope they have revised the vacation policies. They have a long way to go to even come close to mainstream company benefits.Bigelow Aerospace is currently a mock-up of a space company. If Robert Bigelow really decides to 'get serious' he will need to cultivate the properties of a real company.
Quote from: Orbital Debris on 11/03/2014 12:56 amhttp://www.bigelowaerospace.com/careers.php"1 hour lunch"HAHAHAAHAHAAHA!The fact that they list this among their benefits should be a warning sign. Engineers have to clock in and clock out with a swipe card, and have to make up every minute over 60 for lunch. For the sake of future employees I hope they have revised the vacation policies. They have a long way to go to even come close to mainstream company benefits.Bigelow Aerospace is currently a mock-up of a space company. If Robert Bigelow really decides to 'get serious' he will need to cultivate the properties of a real company.What would be some of the things that you would change?
These initial capabilities will be accomplished with the development of the Exploration Augmentation Module (EAM). The EAM will serve as a foundational component of a future in-space habitation capability and may include multiple elements as the architecture is further refined.
Funding Allocation: Individual award amounts up to $500K – $1M for this phase of efforts not to exceed a 6-12 month period. Contracts shall be firm fixed price with milestone payments. The Government’s obligation to make awards is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payments can be made and the receipt of proposals that NASA determines are acceptable.
What happened to the Gate 1 and Gate 2 reports that Bigalow presented to NASA? Are they in the public domain?
THAT is some fascinating reading. What other companies are investigating inflatable space habitats?
Any new news on Beam. We should be hearing more about it soon as it's slated for 2015.