I have hoped that Bigelow would do well, they have good proven technology that is useful and have plans to take one of the next milestones of expanding into space: commercial space stations.
NASA has published a slide deck on commercialization of LEO.Bigelow is nowhere to be found....
Quote from: GWH on 05/28/2019 04:35 pmNASA has published a slide deck on commercialization of LEO.Bigelow is nowhere to be found....This appears to be the results of this NASA contract:https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invests-in-concepts-for-a-vibrant-future-commercial-space-economyBigelow was given an award, yet it is the only one missing from the results package. All 12 of the others are present in the package.Contracts were for max $1 million a piece.
The 13th company, Bigelow Aerospace, “respectfully withdrew their proposal submission” after that announcement, NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz said.Blair Bigelow, vice president of corporate strategy at Bigelow Aerospace and Bigelow Space Operations, said May 30 that the company decided to withdraw its study proposal “in return for pursuing something else that was very important to both NASA and ourselves.” She did not elaborate on what the alternative opportunity was.
Space News has a little info on this:QuoteThe 13th company, Bigelow Aerospace, “respectfully withdrew their proposal submission” after that announcement, NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz said.Blair Bigelow, vice president of corporate strategy at Bigelow Aerospace and Bigelow Space Operations, said May 30 that the company decided to withdraw its study proposal “in return for pursuing something else that was very important to both NASA and ourselves.” She did not elaborate on what the alternative opportunity was. https://spacenews.com/leo-commercialization-studies-show-wide-range-of-markets-and-demand/
Quote from: GWH on 05/31/2019 03:54 pmSpace News has a little info on this:QuoteThe 13th company, Bigelow Aerospace, “respectfully withdrew their proposal submission” after that announcement, NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz said.Blair Bigelow, vice president of corporate strategy at Bigelow Aerospace and Bigelow Space Operations, said May 30 that the company decided to withdraw its study proposal “in return for pursuing something else that was very important to both NASA and ourselves.” She did not elaborate on what the alternative opportunity was. https://spacenews.com/leo-commercialization-studies-show-wide-range-of-markets-and-demand/I wonder what that could be?Lunar base habitat?Living quarters on a space station?Living quarters on a Mars Transfer Vehicle?
Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 05/31/2019 09:44 pmQuote from: GWH on 05/31/2019 03:54 pmSpace News has a little info on this:QuoteThe 13th company, Bigelow Aerospace, “respectfully withdrew their proposal submission” after that announcement, NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz said.Blair Bigelow, vice president of corporate strategy at Bigelow Aerospace and Bigelow Space Operations, said May 30 that the company decided to withdraw its study proposal “in return for pursuing something else that was very important to both NASA and ourselves.” She did not elaborate on what the alternative opportunity was. https://spacenews.com/leo-commercialization-studies-show-wide-range-of-markets-and-demand/I wonder what that could be?Lunar base habitat?Living quarters on a space station?Living quarters on a Mars Transfer Vehicle?Could be Bigelow's XBASE concept. It's a B330 attached to ISS.
Quote from: RonM on 06/01/2019 12:17 amQuote from: A_M_Swallow on 05/31/2019 09:44 pmQuote from: GWH on 05/31/2019 03:54 pmSpace News has a little info on this:QuoteThe 13th company, Bigelow Aerospace, “respectfully withdrew their proposal submission” after that announcement, NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz said.Blair Bigelow, vice president of corporate strategy at Bigelow Aerospace and Bigelow Space Operations, said May 30 that the company decided to withdraw its study proposal “in return for pursuing something else that was very important to both NASA and ourselves.” She did not elaborate on what the alternative opportunity was. https://spacenews.com/leo-commercialization-studies-show-wide-range-of-markets-and-demand/I wonder what that could be?Lunar base habitat?Living quarters on a space station?Living quarters on a Mars Transfer Vehicle?Could be Bigelow's XBASE concept. It's a B330 attached to ISS.But why do they need to withdrew their proposal if they want to do XBASE? Several other proposals also have modules attached to the ISS first before going independent.
Bigelow Space Operations was formed for the purpose of studying demand etc: https://www.bigelowspaceops.com/press/press_021418.phpThe commercial study would seem like a great way to get paid to do this? My bet is that RB got paranoid that their participation is going to give away some kind of trade secrets and master plan. Or he's chasing UFOs... Either way I have zero faith in this company following through on any of their big ideas.
With the two launches of B330-1 and B330-2 expected in 2021,...
But why do they need to withdrew their proposal if they want to do XBASE? Several other proposals also have modules attached to the ISS first before going independent.
B330 mass 23 tonne plus a second launch of several tons of furniture and fittings. Most LOP-G modules mass around 10 tonnes. I wonder if Bigelow has been told, informally, that XBASE with its extra large fairing is too heavy for high energy orbits such as the one used by the Gateway?
more photos:https://bigelowaerospace.com/pages/firstbase/edit: two main engines, with two modules with similarly sized fuel tanks. Implies either methalox or hypergolics I guess.edit 2:Actually, pixel measuring suggests a tank volume ratio of ~3:1. So, looks like hydrolox. BE-7?
