Bigelow Commercial Space Station
Encyclopedia
The Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station is a private
orbital space
complex currently under development by Bigelow Aerospace
. The space station
will be constructed of both Sundancer
and BA 330 expandable spacecraft modules as well as a central docking node
, propulsion
, solar arrays
, and attached crew capsules
. Initial launch of space station components is planned for 2014, with portions of the station available for leased use as early as 2015.
Two more formal concepts have since been put forward and made public. By 2005, Bigelow space station plans had been further conceptualized into Commercial Space Station Skywalker, or CSS Skywalker. In mid-2010, Bigelow announced their Next-Generation Commercial Space Station—later named "Space Complex Alpha"—with projected launch dates beginning in 2014 and availability for commercial leasing beginning in 2015.
, a second Bigelow Commercial Space Station—Space Complex Bravo—was scheduled to begin launches in 2016.
The Skywalker was designed to be composed of multiple Nautilus habitat modules, which would be inflated and connected upon reaching orbit. An MDPM (Multi-Directional Propulsion Module) would allow the Skywalker to be moved into interplanetary or lunar trajectories.
In short, CSS Skywalker was "an effort to build the planet’s first orbiting space hotel, [with a projected] room rate of $1 million a night", and a hoped-for launch date for the first Nautilus module of 2010.
’s Space Policy Institute said "I have little doubt that the basic technology is likely to work ... The issue is whether there’s a transportation system that can get people or things, or both, up there."
In the event, orbital launch plans were significantly delayed, first when, after the Columbia
accident
in 2003, Bigelow had to compete with NASA
for rides on the Russia
n Soyuz three-person rocket — "a distinctly untenable position."
Later, commercial launch provider
SpaceX
's efforts to achieve the first launch of the Falcon 9
medium-lift rocket were delayed from 2008 to 2010.
In mid-2009, Bigelow announced they were continuing to develop a variety of space habitat architectures.
The Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station was announced in mid-2010. The initial configuration for the 2014/2015 space assembly is two Sundancer modules and one BA-330 module,
named Space Complex Alpha after October 2010.
to potentially contract launch services on its Atlas V
-401 vehicle for both crew and cargo launches.
By mid-2010, Bigelow was actively pursuing launch options for its space station modules and crew capsules from two launch systems: the Boeing
CST-100 capsule on a ULA
Atlas V
launcher and also the SpaceX
Dragon
/Falcon 9
capsule/launcher combination.
"Bigelow offers Boeing, SpaceX, and other vehicle developers ... the promise of a sustained, large market for space transportation services."
With the initial Space Complex Alpha, Bigelow "would need six flights a year; with the launch of a second, larger station, that number would grow to 24, or two a month."
In October 2010, Bigelow announced that it has agreements with six sovereign nation
s to utilize the on-orbit facilities of the commercial space station: United Kingdom
, Netherlands
, Australia
, Singapore
, Japan
and Sweden
.
A seventh country signed on in February 2011: the United Arab Emirate of Dubai
.
to produce the space modules. The 181000 ft2 facility will include three production line
s for three distinct spacecraft, doubling the amount of floor space at Bigelow and transitioning the focus from research and development
to production
. Bigelow expects to hire approximately 1200 new employees to staff the plant, with production commencing in early 2012. Construction would require three medium lift launches and one heavy lift launch.
In October 2011 Reuters
reported that Bigelow had, "pared its 115-member workforce to 51 [...] because of delays developing space taxis needed to fly people to the outposts."
On-orbit assembly of the Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station components will begin in 2014. , construction of the orbital complex is projected to occur in seven principal steps.
on one end and a NASA-standard Low-impact Docking System
on the other.
The available docking port options for the Next Generation Commercial Space Station have not yet been released.
testing of the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS)" for Sundancer has begun.
In February 2011, Bigelow announced that it would begin launching its unmanned space station modules in 2014 from Cape Canaveral
using ULA
Atlas V
launch vehicles.
In addition to the Atlas launches for the expandable modules, Bigelow has reserved a single 2014 launch on the SpaceX
Falcon 9
rocket, but has not yet announced the payload. The Falcon 9 may be rated for crew launches by 2014.
, press reports indicate that Bigelow will launch at least some of their crews to the station on the human-rated Atlas V
utilizing the Boeing
CST-100 seven-person space capsule
.
and go into commercial operation in 2017.
This complex would consist of four BA 330 modules.
Bigelow has publicly shown space station design configurations with up to nine BA-330 modules containing 100000 cu ft (2,831.7 m³) of habitable space The conceptual configurations are listed below.
Private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...
orbital space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
complex currently under development by Bigelow Aerospace
Bigelow Aerospace
Bigelow Aerospace is a North Las Vegas, Nevada space technology startup company that is pioneering work on expandable space station modules. Bigelow Aerospace was founded by Robert Bigelow in 1998...
. The space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
will be constructed of both Sundancer
Sundancer
Sundancer is the proposed third prototype space habitat to be launched by Bigelow Aerospace and the first human-rated expandable module based on TransHab technology acquired from NASA...
and BA 330 expandable spacecraft modules as well as a central docking node
Docking Compartment
International Space Station modules:* Docking Compartment 1 * Docking Compartment 2 Other docking modules of the Russian Orbital Segment:* Docking and Cargo Module , implementing the Docking and Stowage Module...
, propulsion
Spacecraft propulsion
Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. There are many different methods. Each method has drawbacks and advantages, and spacecraft propulsion is an active area of research. However, most spacecraft today are propelled by forcing a gas from the...
, solar arrays
Solar panels on spacecraft
Spacecraft operating in the inner solar system usually rely on the use of photovoltaic solar panels to derive electricity from sunlight. In the outer solar system, where the sunlight is too weak to produce sufficient power, radioisotope thermal generators are used as a power source.-History:The...
, and attached crew capsules
Space capsule
A space capsule is an often manned spacecraft which has a simple shape for the main section, without any wings or other features to create lift during atmospheric reentry....
. Initial launch of space station components is planned for 2014, with portions of the station available for leased use as early as 2015.
History
Early work at Bigelow Aerospace on expandable space habitats, with plans to eventually assemble them into on-orbit space stations, began in the early years after the company was formed in 1999. By 2004, plans made public included assembly of multiple modules "into a manned space facility in low Earth orbit for both privately- and publicly-funded research and for space tourism."Two more formal concepts have since been put forward and made public. By 2005, Bigelow space station plans had been further conceptualized into Commercial Space Station Skywalker, or CSS Skywalker. In mid-2010, Bigelow announced their Next-Generation Commercial Space Station—later named "Space Complex Alpha"—with projected launch dates beginning in 2014 and availability for commercial leasing beginning in 2015.
, a second Bigelow Commercial Space Station—Space Complex Bravo—was scheduled to begin launches in 2016.
CSS Skywalker
The CSS Skywalker (Commercial Space Station Skywalker) was a 2005 concept for the first "space hotel" by Bigelow Aerospace.The Skywalker was designed to be composed of multiple Nautilus habitat modules, which would be inflated and connected upon reaching orbit. An MDPM (Multi-Directional Propulsion Module) would allow the Skywalker to be moved into interplanetary or lunar trajectories.
In short, CSS Skywalker was "an effort to build the planet’s first orbiting space hotel, [with a projected] room rate of $1 million a night", and a hoped-for launch date for the first Nautilus module of 2010.
Company success
Early assessments of the probability of success of the technology development and challenges of a commercial space station pointed to the importance of factors largely beyond Bigelow's control. For example, in 2005, John M. Logsdon, director of George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
’s Space Policy Institute said "I have little doubt that the basic technology is likely to work ... The issue is whether there’s a transportation system that can get people or things, or both, up there."
In the event, orbital launch plans were significantly delayed, first when, after the Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...
accident
Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
in 2003, Bigelow had to compete with NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
for rides on the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Soyuz three-person rocket — "a distinctly untenable position."
Later, commercial launch provider
Private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...
SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
's efforts to achieve the first launch of the Falcon 9
Falcon 9
Falcon 9 is a rocket-powered spaceflight launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit vehicle use liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene propellants...
medium-lift rocket were delayed from 2008 to 2010.
In mid-2009, Bigelow announced they were continuing to develop a variety of space habitat architectures.
The Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station was announced in mid-2010. The initial configuration for the 2014/2015 space assembly is two Sundancer modules and one BA-330 module,
named Space Complex Alpha after October 2010.
Space transport
In 2008, Bigelow began talks with Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
to potentially contract launch services on its Atlas V
Atlas V
Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
-401 vehicle for both crew and cargo launches.
By mid-2010, Bigelow was actively pursuing launch options for its space station modules and crew capsules from two launch systems: the Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
CST-100 capsule on a ULA
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. U.S...
Atlas V
Atlas V
Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
launcher and also the SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
Dragon
Dragon (spacecraft)
The Dragon is a reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX, a private space transportation company based in Hawthorne, California. During its unmanned maiden flight in December 2010, it became the first commercially-built and -operated spacecraft to ever be successfully recovered from orbit.The Dragon...
/Falcon 9
Falcon 9
Falcon 9 is a rocket-powered spaceflight launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit vehicle use liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene propellants...
capsule/launcher combination.
"Bigelow offers Boeing, SpaceX, and other vehicle developers ... the promise of a sustained, large market for space transportation services."
With the initial Space Complex Alpha, Bigelow "would need six flights a year; with the launch of a second, larger station, that number would grow to 24, or two a month."
Space Complex Alpha
Bigelow began to publicly refer to the initial configuration—two Sundancer modules and one BA-330 module— of the first Bigelow station as "Space Complex Alpha" in October 2010. If the entire station is leased out, it could mean up to 25 launches per year for crew and cargo.In October 2010, Bigelow announced that it has agreements with six sovereign nation
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
s to utilize the on-orbit facilities of the commercial space station: United Kingdom
UK Astronomy Technology Centre
The UK Astronomy Technology Centre is based at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council....
, Netherlands
Netherlands Space Office
The Netherlands Space Office is a space-exploration governmental agency of the Netherlands.-Creation:Three Dutch government ministries—the Ministry of Economic Affairs; the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; and the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management—along with the...
, Australia
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
, Singapore
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
, Japan
Ministry of International Trade and Industry
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry was one of the most powerful agencies of the Government of Japan. At the height of its influence, it effectively ran much of Japanese industrial policy, funding research and directing investment...
and Sweden
Swedish National Space Board
The Swedish National Space Board is a Swedish government agency operating under the Swedish Ministry of Education and Science. SNSB distributes government grants to research and development, initiates research and development in space and remote sensing, and is the Swedish contact in international...
.
A seventh country signed on in February 2011: the United Arab Emirate of Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
.
Orbital complex construction
In 2010, Bigelow Aerospace began building a large production facility in North Las Vegas, NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
to produce the space modules. The 181000 ft2 facility will include three production line
Production line
A production line is a set of sequential operations established in a factory whereby materials are put through a refining process to produce an end-product that is suitable for onward consumption; or components are assembled to make a finished article....
s for three distinct spacecraft, doubling the amount of floor space at Bigelow and transitioning the focus from research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
to production
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
. Bigelow expects to hire approximately 1200 new employees to staff the plant, with production commencing in early 2012. Construction would require three medium lift launches and one heavy lift launch.
In October 2011 Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
reported that Bigelow had, "pared its 115-member workforce to 51 [...] because of delays developing space taxis needed to fly people to the outposts."
On-orbit assembly of the Bigelow Next-Generation Commercial Space Station components will begin in 2014. , construction of the orbital complex is projected to occur in seven principal steps.
- Unit 1: Sundancer-oneSundancerSundancer is the proposed third prototype space habitat to be launched by Bigelow Aerospace and the first human-rated expandable module based on TransHab technology acquired from NASA...
module, with a pressurized volume of 180 cubic meters (m3), (early 2014 launch, unoccupied) - Unit 2: Commercial crew capsule arrives with Bigelow Aerospace astronauts to set up Sundancer-one and carry additional supplies
- Unit 3: Supplemental power bus and docking node
- Unit 4: Sundancer-twoSundancerSundancer is the proposed third prototype space habitat to be launched by Bigelow Aerospace and the first human-rated expandable module based on TransHab technology acquired from NASA...
- Unit 5: Second commercial crew capsule brings additional crew and supplies, and provides a redundant method for crew return to Earth.
- Unit 6: BA 330 larger-volume module (330 m3)
- Unit 7: Third commercial crew capsule brings additional supplies and provides a double-redundant, robust solution for astronaut re-entry.
Docking system
Bigelow was planning to equip its expandable space modules with both a Soyuz-style docking systemKurs (docking system)
Kurs is a radio telemetry system used by the Soviet and later Russian space program.Kurs was developed by the Research Institute of Precision Instruments before 1985 and manufactured by the Kiev Radio Factory .- History :...
on one end and a NASA-standard Low-impact Docking System
Low Impact Docking System
The NASA Docking System or international Low Impact Docking System is a spacecraft docking and berthing mechanism being developed by NASA for the next generation of space exploration vehicles, such as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and the Commercial Crew vehicles...
on the other.
The available docking port options for the Next Generation Commercial Space Station have not yet been released.
Test program
, "human-in-the-loopHuman-in-the-Loop
Human-in-the-Loop is defined as a model that requires human interaction. HITL is associated with Virtual Modeling & Simulation in the Live, Virtual, and Constructive taxonomy. HITL models may conform to Human factors requirements as is the case of a Mockup...
testing of the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS)" for Sundancer has begun.
Launch planning
Potential launch options are in the mid-heavy lift launch system class of launch vehicles, where Bigelow has negotiated arrangements with two commercial launch providers. The detailed plans for transporting the space station components and personnel to low-Earth orbit are not yet complete.In February 2011, Bigelow announced that it would begin launching its unmanned space station modules in 2014 from Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
using ULA
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. U.S...
Atlas V
Atlas V
Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
launch vehicles.
In addition to the Atlas launches for the expandable modules, Bigelow has reserved a single 2014 launch on the SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
Falcon 9
Falcon 9
Falcon 9 is a rocket-powered spaceflight launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit vehicle use liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene propellants...
rocket, but has not yet announced the payload. The Falcon 9 may be rated for crew launches by 2014.
, press reports indicate that Bigelow will launch at least some of their crews to the station on the human-rated Atlas V
Atlas V
Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
utilizing the Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
CST-100 seven-person space capsule
Space capsule
A space capsule is an often manned spacecraft which has a simple shape for the main section, without any wings or other features to create lift during atmospheric reentry....
.
Long-term plans
In late-2010, Bigelow indicated that the company would like to construct ten or more space stations and that there is a substantial commercial market to support such growth.Future space station concepts
A second orbital station—Space Complex Bravo—is scheduled to begin launches in 2016and go into commercial operation in 2017.
This complex would consist of four BA 330 modules.
Bigelow has publicly shown space station design configurations with up to nine BA-330 modules containing 100000 cu ft (2,831.7 m³) of habitable space The conceptual configurations are listed below.
- Advanced Medical Facility (3000 m3) - Nine BA 330 modules, three propulsion buses with docking node, three crew capsules.
- Biological Containment Station Low Earth Orbit (2800 m3 habitable, 660 m3 remotely controlled)
- Biological Research Station Low Earth Orbit (2000 m3)
- Deep Space Complex (1320 m3) - Four BA 330 modules, nine propulsion buses with docking node and three docking ports.
- Lunar Depot Ares (990 m3) - Three BA 330 modules, four propulsion buses with docking nodes. The entire station would land directly onto the moon. It is intended to hold 12 astronauts but is capable of holding 18. Near the lunar base there would be a solar array field. A model of this concept has been built.
- Mars Exploration (1320 m3) - Four BA 330 modules, three propulsion buses with docking node.
- Resupply Depot Hercules (8300 m3) - Six BA 330 modules, three BA 2100 modules, nine propulsion buses with docking node and three crew capsules.
See also
- TransHabTranshabTransHab was a concept pursued by NASA to develop the technology for expandable habitats inflated by air in space. Specifically, TransHab was intended as a replacement for the already existing rigid International Space Station crew Habitation Module. When deflated, inflatable modules provide an...
- International Space StationInternational Space StationThe International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
- Orbital Technologies Commercial Space StationOrbital Technologies Commercial Space StationThe Orbital Technologies Commercial Space Station is an orbital space station intended for commercial clients. The station was proposed in 2010 by Orbital Technologies, a Russian aerospace firm, who is collaborating to develop the station with Rocket and Space Corporation Energia .As proposed, the...
- CST-100
External links
- Boeing promotional video of CST-100 capsule docking with the Bigelow Commercial Space Station
- UK Astronomy Technology Centre space telescope MOU with Bigelow