Bigelow BEAM as Dragonrider Orbital module

[Chalmer]

Right. The Bigelow update thread was kinda spilling over with non-updates about about the new Bigelow BEAM module, and it got me thinking. So not to add fuel to the fire I thought a new thread would be appropriate.

Now, the idea that was discussed a little that got me thinking was the use of BEAM, or a similar sized inflatable along side with the crew Dragon space craft for the Dragonrider role.

The BEAM module could be attached to the dragon dockingport deflated upon liftoff and then expand to provide crew space in orbit. A bit like the Orbital Module on the Soyuz. BEAM is a bit bigger inflated than the orbital module on Soyuz (4x3,3 vs. 2,2x2,6), but somewhat comparable in size.

I don't think there would need to be made that many modifications in order to make it work. If BEAM is light enough (1.300 kg) to fly along in the trunk it could fly along on the nose as well, weight wise anyway. The nosecone that is now used on dragon would have to be modified to allow the BEAM to sit under it and still be an aerodynamic front, but that should be fairly easy i think.

Using a module like BEAM in this way, I think would bring a lot more merit to the Dragonrider concept and allow for more ambitious missions.

Besides that, it would be a great opportunity for Bigelow to establish a market, before moving on to bigger modules.

What do you all think about this? Would it be as easy as I imagine or is there hidden difficulties?

-Tobias 

[apace]

Had the same idea, but it will be much easier if you start with BEAM in the trunk and after orbit insertion, you use some robotic to get it out of the trunk and put it on top of the docking adapter. I see no problem at all to add a multipurpose robotic arm to dragon. As we see with the outside attached solar panels, there's plenty of room.

[Ben the Space Brit]

For completeness, here is a copy of my thoughts on the subject:

Apparently, Bigelow plans to have two BEAM units ready by 2016.  One is the spare, of course, but that got me thinking.

Possible BEAM Application
HSF Mission Module

* Modified BEAM with Dragonrider- or CST-100-derived life support on the opposite side to the docking port;
* Base permanently attached to Falcon-9 upper stage, which will also provide RCS and, through Dragon-type solar arrays, electrical power;
* Dragon rides on top of BEAM or, if a Bigelow mission, the module will be enclosed with a SpaceX-standard 5.2m PLF.  Alternate launch vehicle is either EELV-M (Delta-IV (5,4) or Atlas-V-5x2);
* Central spine of module has five or six 'flower petal' work station mountings that fold out to the full width of the module from flush against the spine as the module inflates.

The module could fly underneath a Dragon when launched by Falcon Heavy for a single launch multi-week mission.  Application: Lower-cost space tourism or short-term science.  The module could also fly attached to a Golden Spike-style Centaur EDS as the hab module for a lunar fly-around or orbiter mission.

Reason for being: Possible Bigelow competitor to DragonLab.

[A_M_Swallow]

The BEAM can be compared with other inflatable modules from Bigelow such as the BA-330 and Sundancer.

The specifications of these include:
windows
full life support systems
hygiene systems
attitude control and orbital manoeuvring systems
solar panels
full radio communication

Where as the BEAM appears to be an empty box except for some telemetry hardware.  So the passengers would get more space but would have to cook in the Dragon.

[Chalmer]

Had the same idea, but it will be much easier if you start with BEAM in the trunk and after orbit insertion, you use some robotic to get it out of the trunk and put it on top of the docking adapter. I see no problem at all to add a multipurpose robotic arm to dragon. As we see with the outside attached solar panels, there's plenty of room.

Yes it could be done with a robot arm or something as well and the BEAM in the trunk. My unsubstantiated feeling is just the it would require more development, and therefor cost.

However a robot arm on dragon rider could also have other valuable uses and allow interaction with experiments being done in the trunk.

[Ben the Space Brit]

I think that everyone would agree that it is a no-brainer that it cannot be an unmodified BEAM module.  However, although complex, the modifications required do not strike me as being difficult enough to make it uneconomical to recycle the BEAM production processes to create a working and potentially revenue-generating product.

As I pointed out above, attach one of these (with transparent panels sown into the hull) to a Centaur, of the same type proposed by Golden Spike, then you have a trans-lunar flyby tourist module.  Potentially this could form the basis of a two-launch early revenue generating product for Golden Spike.

[Chalmer]

The BEAM can be compared with other inflatable modules from Bigelow such as the BA-330 and Sundancer.

The specifications of these include:
windows
full life support systems
hygiene systems
attitude control and orbital manoeuvring systems
solar panels
full radio communication

Where as the BEAM appears to be an empty box except for some telemetry hardware.  So the passengers would get more space but would have to cook in the Dragon.

I think you mean can't be compared 

Yes it is true that BEAM is probably an empty shell. However if you were to stay in space for let say two weeks, have that extra living space would be very useful even without the things you list. 

windows, full life support systems, attitude control and orbital manoeuvring systems, solar panels, and full radio communication would already be in the Dragon.

Hygiene systems would be required but since it would be even without the BEAM it should be in the Dragon as well when SpaceX is ready to introduce Dragonrider.

BEAMs main function would be crew quarters then. Sleeping, eating and so forth.

[guckyfan]

Had the same idea, but it will be much easier if you start with BEAM in the trunk and after orbit insertion, you use some robotic to get it out of the trunk and put it on top of the docking adapter. I see no problem at all to add a multipurpose robotic arm to dragon. As we see with the outside attached solar panels, there's plenty of room.

Yes it could be done with a robot arm or something as well and the BEAM in the trunk. My unsubstantiated feeling is just the it would require more development, and therefor cost.

However a robot arm on dragon rider could also have other valuable uses and allow interaction with experiments being done in the trunk.

It cannot be connected to the Dragon port. It would make abort impossible.

I wonder though if it could be done Apollo style. The module is separately in the upper stage. Dragon separates, turns and attaches to the module, then pulls it out. That could be possible without robotic arms.

[Chalmer]

It cannot be connected to the Dragon port. It would make abort impossible.

Yes that might true. I don't know if the superdraco's could handle the extra weight.
 

I wonder though if it could be done Apollo style. The module is separately in the upper stage. Dragon separates, turns and attaches to the module, then pulls it out. That could be possible without robotic arms.

That is also a possibility. It might even be the least complex.

I think that everyone would agree that it is a no-brainer that it cannot be an unmodified BEAM module. 

Yes of course it would have to be modified  to some degree

[Jim]

Not viable.
It can ride on the nose.  It can't get from the trunk to nose.
It needs more systems than the BEAM has.  Which when added would make it unable to fit in the trunk

BEAM doesn't have heat rejection system, ECS, crew systems (hand holds, crew restraints, substructure for other systems, etc), and then there are all the systems you are placing in module to make it a hab (hygiene, food, sleep, etc).  Also, there are the fluid and electrical electrical connections between the Dragon and module which don't exist.

Then there is the interference of Dracos and the module

[Chalmer]

Not viable.
It can ride on the nose.  It can't get from the trunk to nose.
It needs more systems than the BEAM has.  Which when added would make it unable to fit in the trunk

BEAM doesn't have heat rejection system, ECS, crew systems (hand holds, crew restraints, substructure for other systems, etc), and then there are all the systems you are placing in module to make it a hab (hygiene, food, sleep, etc).  Also, there are the fluid and electrical electrical connections between the Dragon and module which don't exist.

Then there is the interference of Dracos and the module

So it is more complex than meets the eye. However the modifications that you are talking about, could they be made and could they be done relatively painless ?

And if i understand you right, having it connected to the nose on launch is a possibility?

[A_M_Swallow]

The Falcon 9 will lift 13,150 kilograms (29,000 lb) to low Earth orbit.  The Falcon Heavy hopes to lift 53,000 kilograms (120,000 lb) to low Earth orbit (LEO), and 12,000 kilograms (26,000 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

Can a BEAM 2 contain sufficient food, water and air for a round trip to say EML-2?  The Dragon's life support may need augmenting to support the extra volume and mission time.

[Ben the Space Brit]

It can ride on the nose.  It can't get from the trunk to nose.

Jim, by that argument, the Grumman LEM was also 'non-viable'.

[Robotbeat]

It can ride on the nose.  It can't get from the trunk to nose.

Jim, by that argument, the Grumman LEM was also 'non-viable'.

The LEM wasn't in the trunk, but attached to the stage. A very different system. Also, NDS (some flavor of which Dragon will use) is only really capable of docking if the smallest spacecraft weighs at least 4 tons. BEAM is much less than that.

[jongoff]

Had the same idea, but it will be much easier if you start with BEAM in the trunk and after orbit insertion, you use some robotic to get it out of the trunk and put it on top of the docking adapter. I see no problem at all to add a multipurpose robotic arm to dragon. As we see with the outside attached solar panels, there's plenty of room.

Yes it could be done with a robot arm or something as well and the BEAM in the trunk. My unsubstantiated feeling is just the it would require more development, and therefor cost.

However a robot arm on dragon rider could also have other valuable uses and allow interaction with experiments being done in the trunk.

As an aside, Altius is independently working on a compactly stowable robot arm for applications like this on Dragon, Dreamchaser, Orion, etc. We're not directly working with SpaceX on this, but we're definitely interested in talking with them.

~Jon

[Robotbeat]

Had the same idea, but it will be much easier if you start with BEAM in the trunk and after orbit insertion, you use some robotic to get it out of the trunk and put it on top of the docking adapter. I see no problem at all to add a multipurpose robotic arm to dragon. As we see with the outside attached solar panels, there's plenty of room.

Yes it could be done with a robot arm or something as well and the BEAM in the trunk. My unsubstantiated feeling is just the it would require more development, and therefor cost.

However a robot arm on dragon rider could also have other valuable uses and allow interaction with experiments being done in the trunk.

As an aside, Altius is independently working on a compactly stowable robot arm for applications like this on Dragon, Dreamchaser, Orion, etc. We're not directly working with SpaceX on this, but we're definitely interested in talking with them.

~Jon

Don't forget the consummate V's.

[Elmar Moelzer]

Hey Jon!
That sounds great! Where do you think the Altius- arm would best fit on the Dragon?

[Nomadd]

Dragon's solar panels are on the trunk. After you extracted the module Apollo style, it would have to re-dock with the trunk and remake the connections.

[guckyfan]

It can ride on the nose.  It can't get from the trunk to nose.

Jim, by that argument, the Grumman LEM was also 'non-viable'.

The LEM wasn't in the trunk, but attached to the stage. A very different system. Also, NDS (some flavor of which Dragon will use) is only really capable of docking if the smallest spacecraft weighs at least 4 tons. BEAM is much less than that.

That is why I suggested to do it Apollo style, have the module, with all required modifications (a lot of them) in the stage. The docking mechanism would have to be able to be operated from Dragon, too. It is not like docking on the ISS.

Dragon's solar panels are on the trunk. After you extracted the module Apollo style, it would have to re-dock with the trunk and remake the connections.

Why would Dragon disconnect from the trunk for the maneuver?

[Comga]

Had the same idea, but it will be much easier if you start with BEAM in the trunk and after orbit insertion, you use some robotic to get it out of the trunk and put it on top of the docking adapter. I see no problem at all to add a multipurpose robotic arm to dragon. As we see with the outside attached solar panels, there's plenty of room.

Yes it could be done with a robot arm or something as well and the BEAM in the trunk. My unsubstantiated feeling is just the it would require more development, and therefor cost.

However a robot arm on dragon rider could also have other valuable uses and allow interaction with experiments being done in the trunk.

It cannot be connected to the Dragon port. It would make abort impossible.

I wonder though if it could be done Apollo style. The module is separately in the upper stage. Dragon separates, turns and attaches to the module, then pulls it out. That could be possible without robotic arms.

You have a good point that putting an inflatable on the front of Dragon would interfere with the Launch Abort System.  Beyond the added mass there would be a shift of the center of gravity, and the configuration would probably be aerodynamically unstable.

Much as disagreeing with Jim has it's perils, there are ways to get an inflatable from the trunk to the front.  Check out the Japanese manned spaceflight conceptual system. 

A prroblem with the Apollo method is that both vehicles need full attitude control.   The arms on the Japnese system keep the orbital module attached and under control with much lses spphistication. 

It might be possible to do this with cables and "centrfical force".  Spring eject the inflatable, with three retaining lines spread by spring loaded guides.  Rotate Dragon athrough a gap.  Back away and start the whole collection spinning so that the inflatable "hangs" at the ends of the lines in front of the Dragon.  Deploy the solar arrays.  Reel in the inflatable.  Berth the inflatable by puling on the lines.
[/armchair amature designing]

Or we coud use Jon's proposed system. 

Dragon's integral LAS.  Bigelow's inflatable orbital module. JAXA's attached but stowed configuration with Altius's arm.  Sounds good to me.