Author Topic: What's Happening at Bigelow? (Read 429250 times)

joek · « **Reply #620 on:** 05/13/2011 04:18 am »

Quote from: ChefPat on 05/13/2011 03:28 am

We weren't talking about the Demo model. We were discussing the dimensions of the possible full size model.
The Demo model was proposed by Bigelow. I think it would be safe to assume that if the Bigelow Demo design is validated in those tests, Bigelow will build the full size model.

Thanks for the clarification, but I'm still confused...

1. There is a proposed inflatable hab for ISS. It has been proposed for a ~2013 mission. It has nothing to do with NAUTILUS-X (it is not a torus as shown in the pic's in previous posts and has nothing to do with artificial gravity). Apparently Bigelow has some involvement.

2. There is a proposed NAUTILUS-X ISS demo centrifuge, which is what is shown in the pics in previous posts. It has nothing to do with (1), proposed for a ~2015 mission and ~~AFAIK~~ as far as I know Bigelow has no involvement at this point and it is little more than a powerpoint exercise.

3. There is the NAUTILUS-X operational centrifuge, which ~~AFAICT~~ as far as I can tell is little more than a a wet dream and significantly larger than the ISS demo version (which is what is shown in the pics in previous posts).

telomerase99 · « **Reply #621 on:** 05/13/2011 04:46 am »

What is AFAICT?

Cinder · « **Reply #622 on:** 05/13/2011 07:42 am »

As far as I can tell.

notsorandom · « **Reply #623 on:** 05/25/2011 03:36 am »

Here are some sides from a presentation given by Bigelow at the International Space Development Conference. http://www.onorbit.com/node/3393 I hadn't seen mention of a BA-330 asteroid mission before. There is also some more details on a HLV launched module. Interesting stuff!

majormajor42 · « **Reply #624 on:** 05/25/2011 05:55 am »

Would like to see what the FH version would look like, being that the BA2100 is too heavy. They did mention in passing at some point in the last couple months that they could design something that might be a good fit. Hoping we'll see them draw something up at some point.

I also like the 10th page, which shows the Boeing capsule and what looks like a Dragon Cargo craft both visiting a station

from earlier:

Quote from: e of pi on 04/07/2011 05:38 pm

Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/07/2011 02:00 pm
Quote from: e of pi on 04/07/2011 01:04 pm
I'm not sure how well a Bigelow module would fit on the Falcon Heavy. My best calculations from publicly available data indicate such a 53 ton module would have a usable volume of about 883 cubic meters, which is certainly an interestingly large number. However, to fit within the Falcon's currently announced payload fairing, it might have to have a much higher length:diameter ratio than any of their other modules.
Custom fairings are available.

Well, in that case, my best guess at a Falcon Heavy-max Bigelow unit would be a 9 m by 18 m module with about 890 cubic meters of volume. It might fit inside of the barrel diameter of the current faring, but would require a stretch of the cylindrical portion to almost triple the current length. A larger diameter fairing could get a larger diameter module, with a shorter length.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #625 on:** 05/25/2011 10:30 am »

It looks like Bigelow are taking a leaf out of SpaceX's book and telling NASA to "just get on with it". I wonder how long The Powers That Be can justify spending time and effort on studies, counter-studies and revised studies with several commercial companies (and I include ULA here too) are starting to propose actual working architectures, including launchers, CRVs, space infrastructure and detailed mission vehicle designs.

Danderman · « **Reply #626 on:** 05/25/2011 02:56 pm »

It would be nice if someone could clear up all the confusion about the various Bigelow proposals, such as what is the relationship of Sundancer to the BA-330 or Nautilus, or any of the other names that have been thrown about as ready to launch Real Soon Now?

Space Junkie · « **Reply #627 on:** 05/25/2011 03:30 pm »

From the ISDC presentation above:

Quote

Dry mass [BA2100] is approximately 65 metric tons...70 metric ton capable launch vehicle will allow initial launch of the vehicle and 10% of water required for supplemental radiation shield.

Am I reading this correctly that the BA2100 would use 50 metric tons of water for radiation shielding? I don't recall seeing this mentioned before.

Where exactly would this water be stored? In the walls of the station for constant shielding or concentrated in a small 'storm shelter' for high radiation events?

Do the smaller modules have similar systems planned?

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #628 on:** 05/25/2011 03:41 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 05/25/2011 02:56 pm

It would be nice if someone could clear up all the confusion about the various Bigelow proposals, such as what is the relationship of Sundancer to the BA-330 or Nautilus, or any of the other names that have been thrown about as ready to launch Real Soon Now?

Sundancer is a 2/3-length version of BA330; Everything else is identical, AFAIK. 'Nautilus' was the old model name for BA330. Bigelow stopped using that for some reason.

The first Sundancer has been on SpaceX's books for years now. The problem is that you can't just launch one of these things and leave it up there; You need crews to visit it just to outfit it for operations. So, Bigelow are waiting until after someone has an operational ETO crew vehicle for them to use. Eventually, their patience ran out and they talked Boeing into building the CST-100 instead.

Orbital Debris · « **Reply #629 on:** 05/26/2011 03:31 am »

The Bigelow Nautilus was one of the original concepts (circa 2003) and names for the 330, no relation to the Nautilus-X concepts currently being put out.
The two Genesis prototypes currently in orbit are 1/3 scale demonstrators for the 330. They were silo launched from Dombarovsky.
Galaxy (~16m3 and inflatable, but not habitable) was to follow on a stretched Dnepr, but was canceled when Russia 'democratized' the pricing structure.
The Sundancer concept took Galaxy's place as Bigelow decided to press with a human habitable design. Sundancer is/was to have functioning ECLSS systems, and be habitable.
Once systems were proven in Sundancer, they would be upscaled to BA330 for commercial sale.
Complexes require a prop bus to provide additional tankage and propulsion systems.
The BA2100 is a future concept in search of launch vehicle.

Don't get too wrapped up in the pictures. Don't judge a book by its cover, or a company by its marketing department.

e of pi · « **Reply #630 on:** 05/26/2011 04:00 am »

This is just a head's up, but after feeding some numbers from the presentation into my module calculator, I've discovered some serious issues with it and am retracting it. Hopefully this is just until I can get the model revised and fixed, but I wanted to make it known--especially since someone a few posts up the thread was citing a post of mine based on that model. The full story is on my blog.

ChefPat · « **Reply #631 on:** 06/05/2011 02:50 pm »

I too would like to correct a mistake.
Earlier in this thread I incorrectly claimed that Bigelow was going to build the Centrifuge Demonstrator sceduled for 2013 on the ISS. They are not involved as far as I know & I have it on excellent authority that they have no current plans to build a centrifuge.
I'm sorry for providing misinformation that was based on a misunderstanding.

yg1968 · « **Reply #632 on:** 06/05/2011 08:35 pm »

Robert Bigelow’s Keynote Address at the 2011 ISDC Governors’ Gala:
http://moonandback.com/2011/06/03/robert-bigelows-keynote-address-at-the-2011-isdc-governors-gala/

tigerade · « **Reply #633 on:** 06/05/2011 11:34 pm »

Quote from: yg1968 on 06/05/2011 08:35 pm

Robert Bigelow’s Keynote Address at the 2011 ISDC Governors’ Gala:
http://moonandback.com/2011/06/02/robert-bigelows-keynote-address-at-the-2011-isdc-governors-gala/

I like this guy.

Scia · « **Reply #634 on:** 06/05/2011 11:58 pm »

Quote from: tigerade on 06/05/2011 11:34 pm

Quote from: yg1968 on 06/05/2011 08:35 pm
Robert Bigelow’s Keynote Address at the 2011 ISDC Governors’ Gala:
http://moonandback.com/2011/06/02/robert-bigelows-keynote-address-at-the-2011-isdc-governors-gala/

I like this guy.

Second

Diagoras · « **Reply #635 on:** 06/06/2011 01:26 am »

Dear God, that is awesome. I...words fail me.

That's just awesome.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #636 on:** 06/06/2011 01:50 am »

Quote from: Diagoras on 06/06/2011 01:26 am

Dear God, that is awesome. I...words fail me.

That's just awesome.

It'll be awesome when and if it happens.

Diagoras · « **Reply #637 on:** 06/06/2011 01:52 am »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 06/06/2011 01:50 am

Quote from: Diagoras on 06/06/2011 01:26 am
Dear God, that is awesome. I...words fail me.

That's just awesome.
It'll be awesome when and if it happens.

Oh? Do you know something I don't?

Jorge · « **Reply #638 on:** 06/06/2011 02:58 am »

Quote from: Diagoras on 06/06/2011 01:52 am

Quote from: Robotbeat on 06/06/2011 01:50 am
Quote from: Diagoras on 06/06/2011 01:26 am
Dear God, that is awesome. I...words fail me.

That's just awesome.
It'll be awesome when and if it happens.

Oh? Do you know something I don't?

He knows Bigelow was talking about the future, and predictions are difficult, especially about the future. So the things Bigelow spoke of are not guaranteed to happen.

What part of that did you not know?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #639 on:** 06/06/2011 03:32 am »

Yeah, I've got powerpoint fatigue, so I'm no longer impressed by any fanciful powerpoint depictions of ambitious spacecraft. Can't take much more. I want to see all these spacecraft which we've been hearing about so much flying and doing their jobs. Just got to wait, I guess. Soon, Dawn will arrive at Vesta, Dragon and Cygnus will be at ISS, MSL and Juno will launch towards Mars and Jupiter, Orion will launch (unmanned, at first), James Webb will launch, commercial crew will launch, Bigelow will launch (maybe).

That said, there are lots of missions which have been going on for years and that are still interesting, like Cassini, MER Opportunity, MRO, and ISS.