Bigelow and SpaceX

[Lars-J]

What about the length of a 330 module?  Their website says it will fit in an Atlas V fairing.  Atlas is longer I believe.  So SpaceX is going to  build a longer fairing, and maybe a tad wider?  If so would this decrease the lift capacity sine the bigger fairing would weigh more?

There are different Atlas V fairing lengths, but the Atlas V 5m fairing also looks deceptively longer than it is, since it also encapsulates the 2nd stage.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Posting here rather than starting new thread:

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell visited Bigelow Aerospace today. Probably making a play for those UFO alloys 👽

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/943998120970588165

[Raj2014]

Posting here rather than starting new thread:

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell visited Bigelow Aerospace today. Probably making a play for those UFO alloys 👽

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/943998120970588165

Any new news on why the visit? 

[Lars-J]

Posting here rather than starting new thread:

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell visited Bigelow Aerospace today. Probably making a play for those UFO alloys <span class="emoji-outer emoji-sizer"><span class="emoji-inner" style="background: url(chrome-extension://immhpnclomdloikkpcefncmfgjbkojmh/emoji-data/sheet_apple_32.png);background-position:46.00470035252644% 20.035252643948294%;background-size:5418.75% 5418.75%" data-codepoints="1f47d"></span></span>

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/943998120970588165

Any new news on why the visit?

Why? I'm sure SpaceX and Gwynne Shotwell routinely meets with and visits potential customers.

[Johnnyhinbos]

I too am interested in what went on in this meeting. Bigelow and ULA are in some form of agreement, and it was my understanding that Elon has no interest in Bigelow (but I don’t have a source to back that up). Plus, can a BA330 even fit in a Falcon fairing?

Zuma, Bigelow, aliens - it’s all coming together...

[Roy_H]

I too am interested in what went on in this meeting. Bigelow and ULA are in some form of agreement, and it was my understanding that Elon has no interest in Bigelow (but I don’t have a source to back that up). Plus, can a BA330 even fit in a Falcon fairing?

Zuma, Bigelow, aliens - it’s all coming together...

Not true. SpaceX has had a place holder for Bigelow on its manifest from the earliest days. Originally to launch BA330 on FH, but as FH got delayed finally Bigelow gave up on SpaceX and made arrangements with ULA, so Bigelow still listed but no payload assigned. If you go to Bigelow's website you will see animation of their habitats launched on Atlas V but the visiting capsule is Dragon, even though they have agreements in place for Starliner.

[Ludus]

https://arstechnica.com/science/2012/05/spacex-announces-deal-to-shuttle-tourists-to-private-space-stations/

6 years later Bigelow hasn’t put up a habitable module and SpaceX hasn’t launched any people but both are closer.

No reason they wouldn’t be discussing things again.

[QuantumG]

Bigelow hasn’t put up a habitable module

Sure they have. It's on the ISS right now.

[Owlon]

I too am interested in what went on in this meeting. Bigelow and ULA are in some form of agreement, and it was my understanding that Elon has no interest in Bigelow (but I don’t have a source to back that up). Plus, can a BA330 even fit in a Falcon fairing?

Zuma, Bigelow, aliens - it’s all coming together...

Not true. SpaceX has had a place holder for Bigelow on its manifest from the earliest days. Originally to launch BA330 on FH, but as FH got delayed finally Bigelow gave up on SpaceX and made arrangements with ULA, so Bigelow still listed but no payload assigned. If you go to Bigelow's website you will see animation of their habitats launched on Atlas V but the visiting capsule is Dragon, even though they have agreements in place for Starliner.

If I recall correctly, it was originally a deposit for a Falcon 1. It was then transferred to Falcon 9 when Falcon 1 was no longer available, but was never for a BA330 specifically. I think it was originally for a small test module like Genesis I and II, then perhaps intended for a Sundancer when transferred to Falcon 9. Regardless, it does seem like Bigelow is now planning on launching modules with ULA and only relying on SpaceX for logistics and crew rotation. If the deposit still stands, I would assume it is currently for a Dragon/F9 launch.

[QuantumG]

I expect the next thing to come out of Bigelow will be another ISS module launched in the trunk of Dragon. Probably a prototype of their BEAM airlock. Getting NASA funding is like eating a can of Pringles, once you pop you can't stop.

[RDoc]

I expect the next thing to come out of Bigelow will be another ISS module launched in the trunk of Dragon. Probably a prototype of their BEAM airlock. Getting NASA funding is like eating a can of Pringles, once you pop you can't stop.

Well, since there is literally no other show in town, if you want to be in the commercial manned space flight arena, you'd better get very friendly with NASA.

Depending on how good your Mandarin is, you could try China, but good luck with that.

[jpo234]

Depending on how good your Mandarin is, you could try China, but good luck with that.

US spaceflight and China is governed by all kinds of export restrictions.

[StealthGhost]

A Bigelow/SpaceX team up would be great & could pave the way for the possibility of space hotels & possibly even lunar surface habitats without much need for government support. Especially when the SpaceX private launch site in Texas gets completed.

[Jim]

A Bigelow/SpaceX team up would be great & could pave the way for the possibility of space hotels & possibly even lunar surface habitats without much need for government support. Especially when the SpaceX private launch site in Texas gets completed.

Nope, private launch site still uses gov't resources.

[Roy_H]

A Bigelow/SpaceX team up would be great & could pave the way for the possibility of space hotels & possibly even lunar surface habitats without much need for government support. Especially when the SpaceX private launch site in Texas gets completed.

Nope, private launch site still uses gov't resources.

Jim, he did say "much", I am sure you will agree that launches from BC will have a huge portion of the work done by non-government employees.

[jabe]

I expect the next thing to come out of Bigelow will be another ISS module launched in the trunk of Dragon. Probably a prototype of their BEAM airlock. Getting NASA funding is like eating a can of Pringles, once you pop you can't stop.

I hope Bigelow bites the bullet and launches one on their own dime.  A big enabler showing off their wares.  Need to put more money were their mouth is.
jb

[Roy_H]

I expect the next thing to come out of Bigelow will be another ISS module launched in the trunk of Dragon. Probably a prototype of their BEAM airlock. Getting NASA funding is like eating a can of Pringles, once you pop you can't stop.

I hope Bigelow bites the bullet and launches one on their own dime.  A big enabler showing off their wares.  Need to put more money were their mouth is.
jb

Bigelow has been waiting about 10 years to do just that. Problem has been no US craft to support it. We are now just one year away from having Starliner or Dragon 2 flying so I expect to see a BA330 launched next year.

[GWH]

Bigelow has been waiting about 10 years to do just that. Problem has been no US craft to support it. We are now just one year away from having Starliner or Dragon 2 flying so I expect to see a BA330 launched next year.

Might have to lower those expectations a tad. They have outright stated they won't have B330's ready to launch until after 2020...
http://www.ulalaunch.com/bigelow-aerospace-and-ula-lunar-depot.aspx

[ThereIWas3]

The  Bigelow craft, for all their conceptual simplicity, are quite complex to assemble.  Plus Bigelow Aerospace has very high employee turnover rates.

[matthewkantar]

Nope, private launch site still uses gov't resources.

Everyday commercial airplane flights use gov't resources.