Author Topic: Bigelow Aerospace Update and Discussion Thread (3)  (Read 661267 times)

Offline Elmar Moelzer

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #280 on: 11/12/2013 05:19 pm »
BA330 could be orbited by a Delta-IV Heavy or soon a Falcon Heavy. If they ever build the 2100 SLS could launch it in one shot.

Crew access not too far out.
No question about that, but they have been in hibernation for a couple of years or so now and they will be until they can actually put people on their space stations. There is no point in launching a habitat that can not be inhabited. In order to do that, you require a frequent stream of people going back and forth. That requires at least one, better two commercial operators. So far none are available and wont be until at least 2015, or later.
So they have to wait. The NASA thing is only going to provide some minor interim funding until then.

Offline JasonAW3

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #281 on: 11/12/2013 05:46 pm »
I get the feeeling that as soon as someone has a commercial vehicle that can reliably get cargo and crew into orbit, Bigelow will be contracting with them.

     I figure SpaceX in about 5 years or The Dreamchaser crew in 7 years.

     I figure that Bigelow et al, would like a few manned flights under the belts of anyone he plans to contract with before he commits.

Jason
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Offline ChefPat

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #282 on: 11/12/2013 05:49 pm »

     I figure SpaceX in about 5 years
Jason
I'd say within 3 at the max.
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Offline Elmar Moelzer

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #283 on: 11/12/2013 05:58 pm »
I get the feeeling that as soon as someone has a commercial vehicle that can reliably get cargo and crew into orbit, Bigelow will be contracting with them.

     I figure SpaceX in about 5 years or The Dreamchaser crew in 7 years.

     I figure that Bigelow et al, would like a few manned flights under the belts of anyone he plans to contract with before he commits.

Jason
They already have a deal of sorts with Boeing for their CST100, IIRC and I believe to remember them talking about rides on Dragon as well.

Offline Lurker Steve

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #284 on: 11/12/2013 06:14 pm »
BA330 could be orbited by a Delta-IV Heavy or soon a Falcon Heavy. If they ever build the 2100 SLS could launch it in one shot.

Crew access not too far out.
No question about that, but they have been in hibernation for a couple of years or so now and they will be until they can actually put people on their space stations. There is no point in launching a habitat that can not be inhabited. In order to do that, you require a frequent stream of people going back and forth. That requires at least one, better two commercial operators. So far none are available and wont be until at least 2015, or later.
So they have to wait. The NASA thing is only going to provide some minor interim funding until then.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like they will have any sort of habitat ready to launch. All they've done lately is build models.

Offline Elmar Moelzer

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #285 on: 11/12/2013 06:21 pm »
Well, they did fire most of their team back then, from what I understand... I guess they will have to hire back some people (if they can get them back) for that NASA contract.

Offline A_M_Swallow

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #286 on: 11/12/2013 06:33 pm »
How the spacestations are progressing depends on how crafty Bigelow is with his NASA contracts.

BEAM gives him a proven flexible habitat skin and Common Berthing Module (CBM).  The communications equipment may also be usable in future Bigelow spacestations.

If Bigelow gets the BEAM2 contract for a module with life support then he has parts that are very useful for future spacestations.
« Last Edit: 11/12/2013 06:34 pm by A_M_Swallow »

Offline Occupymars

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #287 on: 11/12/2013 07:26 pm »
Jeff Foust is at the event, follow him on twitter to see whats going on https://twitter.com/jeff_foust

« Last Edit: 11/12/2013 07:34 pm by Occupymars »
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Offline JBF

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #288 on: 11/12/2013 07:29 pm »
How the spacestations are progressing depends on how crafty Bigelow is with his NASA contracts.

BEAM gives him a proven flexible habitat skin and Common Berthing Module (CBM).  The communications equipment may also be usable in future Bigelow spacestations.

If Bigelow gets the BEAM2 contract for a module with life support then he has parts that are very useful for future spacestations.
I am hopeful he will have something up before/if he gets contracted for BEAM2.
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Offline ChefPat

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #289 on: 11/12/2013 07:31 pm »
Jeff Foust ‏@jeff_foust 11m Bigelow: we financial capacity to develop 2 BA 330 modules by end 2016, plus 2 transit tugs.
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Offline newpylong

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #290 on: 11/12/2013 07:33 pm »
I fairly sure the last conference Bigelow spoke at they said they have two 330's under construction...

Offline Occupymars

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #291 on: 11/12/2013 07:51 pm »
Jeff Foust "Here's a preview of the event, based on advance copy of the report: http://bit.ly/1eIEngT"

Jeff mentions that Bigelow are working on a version of the BA330 called the BA 330-DS it will have rad-hardened avionics and additional shielding, as well as a larger inventory of spare parts for deep space missions, and it would be capable of landing on a planetary body.
« Last Edit: 11/12/2013 07:55 pm by Occupymars »
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Offline Occupymars

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #292 on: 11/12/2013 07:57 pm »
Jeff Foust ‏@jeff_foust 47m
Bigelow: mocking up a next-gen s/c with 3,250m^3 volume, needs an 8-meter fairing; would be interested in using SLS for that.

3,250m^3 volume that's over 3 times that of the iss  :o
« Last Edit: 11/12/2013 08:02 pm by Occupymars »
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Offline QuantumG

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #293 on: 11/12/2013 09:19 pm »
Bigelow Aerospace is the only space company that I know of that gets more vague in their plans after winning contracts with NASA.

Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline ChefPat

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #294 on: 11/12/2013 09:28 pm »
Jeff Foust ‏@jeff_foust 47m
Bigelow: mocking up a next-gen s/c with 3,250m^3 volume, needs an 8-meter fairing; would be interested in using SLS for that.

3,250m^3 volume that's over 3 times that of the iss  :o
Thats bigger than the Olympus Module Bigelow introduced a while back.
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Offline yg1968

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #295 on: 11/13/2013 01:13 am »

Offline Danderman

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #296 on: 11/13/2013 01:18 am »

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like they will have any sort of habitat ready to launch. All they've done lately is build models.

Build buildings, mockups and subscale modules. Now BA will have a full scale functional module at ISS (albeit not full scale as envisioned for their large modules).

For BA to actually build one of their giant platforms, they need customers. Apart from NASA, there is no customer. Therefore, the NASA contract is supremely important.

Offline yg1968

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« Last Edit: 11/13/2013 01:38 am by yg1968 »

Offline dcporter

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #298 on: 11/13/2013 03:11 am »

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like they will have any sort of habitat ready to launch. All they've done lately is build models.

Build buildings, mockups and subscale modules. Now BA will have a full scale functional module at ISS (albeit not full scale as envisioned for their large modules).

For BA to actually build one of their giant platforms, they need customers. Apart from NASA, there is no customer. Therefore, the NASA contract is supremely important.

True although it sounds like he's claiming to be able to self-fund two rounds of "build it and they will come"?

Offline Danderman

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Re: Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (3)
« Reply #299 on: 11/13/2013 04:01 am »
True although it sounds like he's claiming to be able to self-fund two rounds of "build it and they will come"?

I was involved in an effort to run a space station on a commercial basis, and I can tell you that the costs far exceed Mr. Bigelow's potential budget.

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