When do we expect Bigelow to do more than just BEAM?
I was looking over the comments on working at Bigelow at glassdoor.com. In addition to the poor vacation and working time issues mentioned above, what I find more worrisome is the lack of communication between departments and complete disregard for proper engineering practice. It reminds me a lot of what went wrong at North American when they were building the block-1 Apollo modules. And we all know what a horror show those were.
Quote from: Hernalt on 12/06/2014 03:34 pmTHAT is some fascinating reading. What other companies are investigating inflatable space habitats?Besides Bigelow there's Thin Red Line in Chilliwack BC, CA who has worked with Bigelow,http://www.thin-red-line.comand Paragon SDC (Paragon Space Development Corp.) of Tucson, Arizona,http://www.paragonsdc.com/index.phpParabolicArc article....
THAT is some fascinating reading. What other companies are investigating inflatable space habitats?
There are a lot of jobs being advised on the Bigelow website all of a sudden. http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/careers.phpHas Bigelow just come in to some money? It looks like things are hotting up again!
They have been in a holding pattern waiting on commercial crew. With the selections, the construction of their space station can proceed.
I can't tell for certain because of the ancient, outdated browser on this computer, but it looks like Bigelow just updated their website. It kind of looks like a work in progress though.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 12/18/2014 12:59 pmThey have been in a holding pattern waiting on commercial crew. With the selections, the construction of their space station can proceed.Ponies for everyone!In reality, knowing which providers the government has picked for a development program doesn't really buy Bigelow anything in regards to attempting to build and fly commercial orbital platforms. There would still be many risks until these crewed vehicles are actually flying and validating their cost models.When Bigelow is generating requirements from customers and then designing a station to meet those requirements, then you will know that something is about to be built. One piece of evidence for such activity would be a draft ICD floating around the internet.
It doesn't bode well for them that 7 of 11 bulleted items on the cover page to their list of job openings are things like vacation, 401k, health benefits, and, get this, a "1-Hour lunch". It seems to me to be flashing a bright red signal that says "our company is not managed like any tech company you've ever worked for", and telegraphs that backwardness fact to potential employees up front. Seems to me that this will not attract the best and the brightest into that sort of management environment.
They're in Las Vegas.. people are just happy to have a job that isn't in hospitality.
Bigelow Aerospace ... will offer transportation aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, using the Falcon launch vehicle to carry passengers to Bigelow habitats orbiting the Earth.
Bigelow Aerospace ... intends to utilize the upcoming modified Falcon Heavy for habitat assets and propulsion tug delivery to Low Earth Orbit.
Quote from: QuantumG on 12/28/2014 12:02 amThey're in Las Vegas.. people are just happy to have a job that isn't in hospitality.The HR department maybe. What about the engineers? Lots of table managers with materials sciences backgrounds? I think they were more to Llian's point.
Someone at Reddit noticed that the new Bigelow website includes http://bigelowaerospace.com/about/strategic-relationships/spacex/ with a prominent rendering of FH and these gems:QuoteBigelow Aerospace ... will offer transportation aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, using the Falcon launch vehicle to carry passengers to Bigelow habitats orbiting the Earth.QuoteBigelow Aerospace ... intends to utilize the upcoming modified Falcon Heavy for habitat assets and propulsion tug delivery to Low Earth Orbit.