American aerospace company SpaceX will deliver the very first inflatable space module called Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 8. The two-day mission will carry scientific equipment to the space station and deliver BEAM for testing.
Space technology startup Bigelow Aerospace designed the very first inflatable space module that can be attached to the ISS. BEAM could revolutionize future space habitats, such as space hotels for private customers, and make them more affordable and lighter.
BEAM works by injecting air that will expand the 8-foot spacecraft bundle into a garage-like area that can accommodate at least one medium-sized car.
"It's a big step for us, because inflatables can be a big multiplier for us as we move further out into space," said Johnson Space Center Deputy Director Mark Geyer.
When BEAM reaches the ISS, it will undergo a series of tests to see how the inflatable module can handle radiation in space. The on-board team will also measure BEAM's thermal properties and analyze how it handles other conditions such as noise.
If BEAM passes the tests, NASA will allow astronauts to go inside the new inflatable living space. Mike Gold, Bigelow's director of DC operations and business growth, said astronauts stepping into the inflatable space module would be a big moment for the company.
Inflatable Advantages
BEAM's portability as an inflatable small bundle can help save both money and room dedicated for hauling it into space. Moreover, it provides a lighter and larger living spaces for astronauts and future human populations in space.
For instance, NASA sends numerous space shuttle missions for the ISS' piece by piece assembly. Since BEAM doesn't have stiff constructions, it can easily be folded, fitted within a small payload fairing and then inflate in space.
The ISS' metallic shell distributes radiation coming from solar flames. BEAM has a non-metallic skin, which means it can help limit radiation.
However, the biggest elephant in the room is this: since BEAM is, in essence, a balloon, will it pop when hit by space debris? Gold said BEAM has a Kevlar-like weave that is at least as strong as the ISS' aluminum body.
