Bigelow Aerospace Update Thread (2)

[DaveH62]

I think we can let go on the osc thread. It is known that Boeing has a deal with Bigelow. It seems reasonable that Spacex will get some skin.
Blue O is basically the Schroedinger cat of space development. No one really knows, outside of blue O' where they are. Capsule looks impressive though.

[A_M_Swallow]

Source - logic.  I named the US companies with COTS and CCDev launch vehicles.

I understood that. But what makes you think that a Cygnus would be developed that could dock with a bigelow module?  How are bigelow and Orbital connected so far? By what logic do you think they are likely to end up with a launch contract?
Saying that bigelow is likely to end up with a launch contract with a few of them, sure. But to talk about a launch contract between bigelow and Orbital as if it is a certainty is quite wrong, imo.

I used the word 'likely'.  The use of the word 'likely' does not mean certainty in English.

[Orbital Debris]

I'm curious about EVA capability. Every space station flown so far has had it (& and found it very useful for repair and external science payloads), but the Bigelow modules do not appear to have a dedicated airlock. Does anyone know how they play to support it?

You are assuming there is a plan.
Currently, a station configuration would protect for an EVA capable hatch out of the side of the prop node/bus.  The concept is to avoid assembly tasks which would require EVA's.  Mostly this capability is kept in presentations by management, so that Bigelow Actual can offer it in later editions.  The BA330 does not have hatches that can support suited crew member exit.

[A_M_Swallow]

Does the architecture of the spacestations allow the docking of modules that contain arms, EVA hatches and/or berthing systems similar to those on the ISS?

[manboy]

Some new info

The mechanism to be used for the interface between the CST-100 and the Bigelow module was originally an APAS, but the NDS platform is also consideration due to its implementation as part of the International Docking System Standard (IDSS).

Bigelow has considered use of the APAS system as the means for attaching the inflatable modules together (inter-module attachment). They have also considered use of the common berthing mechanism. If the choice is made to use the APAS then this would involve a potential use of the new development avionics system for control of the APAS system which Boeing is currently developing.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110010964_2011009594.pdf

[ChefPat]

U.S. Space & Rocket Center opens exhibit with model of commercial space habitat module

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The U.S. Space & Rocket Center's latest permanent exhibit is a one-third scale model of a commercial space habitat module that Bigelow Aerospace of North Las Vegas is developing and plans to launch in 2015.

[snip]

The model itself is about 10-feet tall and is in two parts -- a habitat module and a docking node and propulsion "bus" or system -- making it about 30 feet long.

Bigelow's subcontractor for the forward propulsion system was Orion Propulsion of Huntsville, which was acquired by Huntsville Dynetics of Huntsville in December 2009. A couple of years ago, Ingham and project manager Erik Haakonstad were in Huntsville for a design review meeting, and Tim Pickens, Orion's founder and now chief propulsion engineer with Dynetics, took them to the museum.

Ingham and Bigelow toured the museum in May, and met with Barnhart about the possibility of creating an exhibit. Ingham and Shawn Buckley, the manager of the model department, were in Huntsville last week setting up the exhibit.

The exhibit, Barnhart said, "will educate people about the next generation of commercial offerings that are complimentary to NASA and other commercial projects.

[manboy]

U.S. Space & Rocket Center opens exhibit with model of commercial space habitat module

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The U.S. Space & Rocket Center's latest permanent exhibit is a one-third scale model of a commercial space habitat module that Bigelow Aerospace of North Las Vegas is developing and plans to launch in 2015.

[snip]

The model itself is about 10-feet tall and is in two parts -- a habitat module and a docking node and propulsion "bus" or system -- making it about 30 feet long.

Bigelow's subcontractor for the forward propulsion system was Orion Propulsion of Huntsville, which was acquired by Huntsville Dynetics of Huntsville in December 2009. A couple of years ago, Ingham and project manager Erik Haakonstad were in Huntsville for a design review meeting, and Tim Pickens, Orion's founder and now chief propulsion engineer with Dynetics, took them to the museum.

Ingham and Bigelow toured the museum in May, and met with Barnhart about the possibility of creating an exhibit. Ingham and Shawn Buckley, the manager of the model department, were in Huntsville last week setting up the exhibit.

The exhibit, Barnhart said, "will educate people about the next generation of commercial offerings that are complimentary to NASA and other commercial projects.

I'm kind of surprised by this, but it should result in more support for Bigelow's plans.

[Jim]

Does the architecture of the spacestations allow the docking of modules that contain arms, EVA hatches and/or berthing systems similar to those on the ISS?

No, because it is not the ISS

[Ronsmytheiii]

I'm kind of surprised by this, but it should result in more support for Bigelow's plans.

Bigelow's subcontractor for the forward propulsion system was Orion Propulsion of Huntsville, which was acquired by Huntsville Dynetics of Huntsville in December 2009. A couple of years ago, Ingham and project manager Erik Haakonstad were in Huntsville for a design review meeting, and Tim Pickens, Orion's founder and now chief propulsion engineer with Dynetics, took them to the museum.

So not too surprising, seems Bigelow in addition is trying to court Alabama political support, which as we have seen in the past is pretty influential.  Mr Bigelow does seem to be an expert at navigating bureaucracy and politics.

[Orbital Debris]

I'm kind of surprised by this, but it should result in more support for Bigelow's plans.

I don't know why you are surprised, Bigelow loves his models, and will give them out to anywhere they will take them.  The will be showing up in a lot more places. 

[ChefPat]

"one-third scale model"

"making it about 30 feet long"

Can we use this info to estimate the overall length of the docking node/propulsion bus?

[manboy]

I'm kind of surprised by this, but it should result in more support for Bigelow's plans.

I don't know why you are surprised, Bigelow loves his models, and will give them out to anywhere they will take them.  The will be showing up in a lot more places. 

Well didn't think Bigelow had the influence to get a permanent exhibit.

[docmordrid]

"one-third scale model"

"making it about 30 feet long"

Can we use this info to estimate the overall length of the docking node/propulsion bus?

M2 Eyeball analysis/speculation;

let's presume that the model is roughly contemporaneous with the ISDN presentation. The last image in it is their asteroid mission proposal, and if you print that out and grab a set of dividers it's clear that the node/bus are roughly equal in length with the BA-330 module (45ft) being a tad shorter. This would make the node/bus between 45 and 50 feet long. The question is if this artwork represents the 'normal' or 'large' version of the node/bus mentioned previously.

[Danderman]

I'm kind of surprised by this, but it should result in more support for Bigelow's plans.

I don't know why you are surprised, Bigelow loves his models, and will give them out to anywhere they will take them.  The will be showing up in a lot more places. 

Models (some actually fly in space), full scale mockups, and buildings.

[Orbital Debris]

The artwork would have represented the larger version of the prop-node, since at that time they had kicked off the effort to design the larger version.

[Orbital Debris]

I'm kind of surprised by this, but it should result in more support for Bigelow's plans.

I don't know why you are surprised, Bigelow loves his models, and will give them out to anywhere they will take them.  The will be showing up in a lot more places. 

Models (some actually fly in space), full scale mockups, and buildings.

I don't quite understand what you mean by this? Are you trying to imply that Genesis 1 and 2 were models?

[docmordrid]

The artwork would have represented the larger version of the prop-node, since at that time they had kicked off the effort to design the larger version.

Then can we take that 45-50 feet is close?

If the 'standard' is done then how about it? 30-ish?

Anything available on propulsion? Fuels?

[Orbital Debris]

Yes, those sizes would be accurate.

In reality, they haven't settled on a prop system for the bus, but would likely have to be bi-prop hypergol.

[8900]

is the conceptual gigantic bigelow module tailored for the 130mT SLS? huh
anyone hae any idea how big (a bigelow module) can the SLS lift into orbit?

[ChefPat]

Bigelow Aerospace: Space Act Agreement Best Path for Commercial Manned Spacecraft Development

Mike Gold talks about the proposed switch from SAA's to FAR in this article.