Did you guys fail to read Chris and Pete's article? This has all been reported already.Check out the news site, it'll help you.
Apparently, Bigelow plans to have two BEAM units ready by 2016. One is the spare, of course, but that got me thinking.Possible BEAM ApplicationHSF Mission Module* Modified BEAM with Dragonrider- or CST-100-derived life support on the opposite side to the docking port;* Base permanently attached to Falcon-9 upper stage, which will also provide RCS and, through Dragon-type solar arrays, electrical power;* Dragon rides on top of BEAM or, if a Bigelow mission, the module will be enclosed with a SpaceX-standard 5.2m PLF. Alternate launch vehicle is either EELV-M (Delta-IV (5,4) or Atlas-V-5x2);* Central spine of module has five or six 'flower petal' work station mountings that fold out to the full width of the module from flush against the spine as the module inflates.The module could fly underneath a Dragon when launched by Falcon Heavy for a single launch multi-week mission. Application: Lower-cost space tourism or short-term science. The module could also fly attached to a Golden Spike-style Centaur EDS as the hab module for a lunar fly-around or orbiter mission.Reason for being: Possible Bigelow competitor to DragonLab.
That pricing is being categorized as:•Astronaut Flight Costs: $26.25 - $36.75 million for a 60-day stay, depending on taxi selected.•Lease Block Cost: $25 million for exclusive use of and control over 110 cubic meters of volume for a two-month period.•Naming Rights: Full Alpha Station yearly for $25 million; half of Alpha Station (one BA 330 module) yearly for $12.5 million.[...]Bigelow Aerospace would be able to transport an astronaut to Alpha Station for $26.25 million for countries, companies or even visiting individuals that wish to utilize SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule. Using Boeing’s CST-100 capsule and the Atlas 5 rocket, astronauts can be launched to Alpha Station for $36.75 million per seat, company officials said.
High res images have been released
Quote from: manboy on 01/16/2013 10:08 pmHigh res images have been released That bottom image confirms Node 3 Aft will be the berthing port.
If you are going to modify the BEAM you could simply fly a Genesis II. It already has solar arrays.http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/genesis-2-specs.php
In the video Bigelow confirms they have spent $250m, will spend $250m more & have 2 BA-330's flight ready in 2016. When has SpaceX said Dragonrider will be ready?
Quote from: ChefPat on 01/17/2013 01:37 pmIn the video Bigelow confirms they have spent $250m, will spend $250m more & have 2 BA-330's flight ready in 2016. When has SpaceX said Dragonrider will be ready?The first LAS tests are due for 2013/2014. I, personally, wouldn't be surprised if the first crew flight occurs some time in 2015 but I doubt NASA will use them before 2016 as that is when the Soyuz contract expires.
The first LAS tests are due for 2013/2014. I, personally, wouldn't be surprised if the first crew flight occurs some time in 2015 but I doubt NASA will use them before 2016 as that is when the Soyuz contract expires.
SpaceX says that they would have the first DragonRider ready about the same time as Bigelow says he would have the BA-330 spacecraft ready.