Posted on August 23, 2011, at 11:50 am .
Bigelow's space station would have space to accommodate up to 12 people. (Photo: Douglas Messier)
NewScientist reports that NASA isn’t the only space agency interested in attaching a Bigelow module to the International Space Station:
Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas, Nevada, which has built an expandable Kevlar-based space station module, is currently working on two ISS-related deals. Bigelow director Mike Gold, a member of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, says the firm is in “advanced discussions” with the commercial Japanese Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS) – which operates the Kibo module on the ISS for the Japanese Space Agency JAXA – to provide it with an orbiting habitat.
The module could be rented out as an ISS storage unit, making the station less dependent on frequent resupply flights, says Hiroshi Kikuchi of JAMSS. To show that the modules are capable of safe, crewed operation, Bigelow is also negotiating with NASA to attach one to a US-owned ISS module.
Thanks to Clark Lindsey of HobbySpace for finding this gem.
Posted on February 22, 2011, at 2:43 pm .
NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver is given a tour of the Bigelow Aerospace facilities by the company's President Robert Bigelow on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, in Las Vegas. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA has recommended that Bigelow Aerospace be granted a license to market some of its patented inflatable space habitat technology, according to a notice published in the Federal Registrar.
NASA hereby gives notice of its intent to grant a partially exclusive license in the United States to practice the invention described and claimed in United States Patent 7,509,774 (issued March 31, 2009) and NASA Case No. MSC 24201-1, entitled “Apparatus For Integrating A Rigid Structure Into A Flexible Wall Of An Inflatable Structure†to Bigelow Aerospace, having its principal place of business in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Continue reading ‘NASA Proposes License Grant for Bigelow Technology’
Posted on February 5, 2011, at 1:23 pm .
NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver is given a tour of the Bigelow Aerospace facilities by the company's President Robert Bigelow on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, in Las Vegas. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver visited Bigelow Aerospace and Sierra Nevada Corporation this week to see commercial human spaceflight hardware that to two companies are developing. The following report is based on NASA press releases.
Inflatable Space Stations
In Las Vegas, Garver toured the facilities of Bigelow Aerospace, a company that has been developing expandable space habitats. NASA is evaluating Bigelow’s concept for an expandable module for the International Space Station. If approved, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM, could be launched to the station using a commercial cargo flight and robotically attached to the orbiting laboratory.
Continue reading ‘Garver Views Commercial Space Hardware at Bigelow, Sierra Nevada Facilities’
Posted on February 4, 2011, at 1:44 pm .
Space Florida's Launch Complex 36
Aviation Week has a bit more on Bigelow Aerospace’s pitch to Florida to become the main launch complex for the company’s commercial space stations:
One of the keys to Bigelow’s success is an exemption from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions. “Our aerospace company is the only aerospace company in the United States that is ITAR-exempt. That was not easy. We achieved that a while back,†[Robert] Bigelow told about 150 community leaders and journalists gathered to hear his pitch for the Space Coast. The event was organized by Space Florida, a state-backed agency.
Continue reading ‘Bigelow to Space Coast: Infrastructure Expansion and Upgrades Essential’
Posted on February 3, 2011, at 2:57 pm .
Bigelow Aerospace's planned Sundancer space module
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL (February 3, 2011) – Yesterday, Space Florida President Frank DiBello and Robert Bigelow, president of Bigelow Aerospace, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing to work together to pursue and identify foreign and domestic companies that could benefit from utilization of Bigelow’s expandable, orbital space complexes.
Continue reading ‘Bigelow, Space Florida to Pursue Customers for Private Space Stations’
Posted on February 3, 2011, at 2:47 pm .
A Boeing CST-100 crew module docks at a Bigelow Aerospace space station. (Credit: Boeing)
A bit more on the Bigelow-Space Florida MOU, which was signed at an event yesterday at Cape Canaveral. It looks as if the actual cooperative venture is relatively modest in the near term, but potentially quite lucrative in the long run — providing state officials play their cards right and ante up.
Continue reading ‘Bigelow Partnership is Potentially Quite Lucrative for Florida’
Posted on February 2, 2011, at 4:06 pm .
Deputy NASA Administrator Lori Garver
NASA MEDIA ADVISORY
NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver will travel to Las Vegas and Boulder, Colo., this week to meet with leaders of two commercial space companies, Bigelow Aerospace and Sierra Nevada Corp., and tour their facilities. NASA is partnering with the commercial sector to develop innovative technologies to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive in future space endeavors.
On Friday, Feb. 4, Garver will tour Bigelow Aerospace facilities at 1899 W. Brooks Ave. in North Las Vegas. NASA has been discussing potential partnership opportunities with Bigelow for its inflatable habitat technologies. Garver and the company’s President Robert Bigelow will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. PST. To attend, media representatives must contact Mike Gold at mgold@bigelowaerospace.com.
On Saturday, Feb. 5, Garver will meet with Mark Sirangello, chairman of Sierra Nevada Space Systems. Afterward, she will tour the company’s facility responsible for spacecraft mechanical subsystems, components and satellite manufacturing in Louisville, Colo.
Continue reading ‘NASA’s Garver to Visit Bigelow, Sierra Nevada Facilities’
Posted on February 2, 2011, at 3:52 pm .
Bigelow's space station would have space to accommodate up to 12 people. (Photo: Douglas Messier)
Bigelow Aerospace and Space Florida signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today at Cape Canaveral. Robert Bigelow and Frank DiBello signed the MOU on behalf of their respective organizations. The event, attended by about 100 people, also featured Dr. George Sowers, Vice President of Business Development and Advanced Programs at United Launch Alliance.
Bigelow is planning to orbit two space stations later in the decade, a project that would use ULA’s rockets for some of the launches. The Las Vegas company wants to launch from Cape Canaveral and other locations, including Wallops Island in Virginia.
Edward Ellegood posted Tweets on the event. Below are the highlights:
Bigelow and Space Florida will collaborate on various activities. Bigelow expects to require 156-186 total launches between 2015-2023.
No facility development is planned under this MOU. Space Florida will seek suitable location for exhibits. Bigelow would open small office.
Bigelow would work with Central Florida’s simulation industry/institute to develop and test concepts. Exhibits would be 1/3 scale.
Bigelow plans two operational space stations: “Alpha” and “Bravo”.
Bigelow looking at 2011-2014 as preparatory time for designing and developing space hardware. He wants FAA AST to be the regulator.
Bigelow would have to build a third mfg facility to develop their third and largest station modules. Would need to be near launch site.
DiBello: Space Florida goal is to increase the state’s launch rate. ULA says its EELV sites are operating below capacity.
Posted on February 1, 2011, at 4:15 pm .
The seven-state United Arab Emirates is quickly becoming the center of the Middle East’s space effort, with agreements with Virgin Galactic for a suborbital spaceport and Bigelow Aerospace to develop an orbital spaceflight program. In the process, it is riding the crest of a new commercial wave in how human spaceflight will be conducted.
UAE might have the first commercial suborbital spaceport outside of the United States should the American government allows Virgin Galactic to export its WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo system.
Continue reading ‘UAE Becomes Center of Middle East’s Space Effort’
Posted on January 31, 2011, at 7:03 am .
The government has published status updates on NASA’s five Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) 1 grants which were awarded last February. Sierra Nevada Corporation, Blue Origin and Paragon Space Development Corporation have completed their work as planned by the end of the calendar year. The Bigelow/Boeing team and United Launch Alliance have been given extensions through March and April, respectively. NASA awarded a total of $50 million for the first round; it will award about $200 million in additional grants in March.
Individual status reports follow after the break.
Continue reading ‘NASA CCDev Update: Three Down, Two to Go’
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