Model of Inflatable Space Station to Launch Feb 16

alex writes "A Russian rocket will launch a 1/3 scale model of of the Bigelow inflatable space station a week from Friday, according to The Space Fellowship. This prototype will carry a thousand personal objects donated by Bigelow Aerospace employees. If all goes well, another prototype should go up by September, and non-Bigelow-employee enthusiasts might be able to contribute their own garbage--err, personal items--to the project. (Via Futurismic)"

Comments

Replace "February 16th" with "June 16th"

[benhocking]

According to TFA.

Re:Replace "February 16th" with "June 16th"

[nizo]

They would have launched it sooner, but it took longer than they expected to blow up all the little inflatable astronauts.

Oh, this is actually happening?

[ZSpade]

That's awesome. And here I thought it was just a lot more talk like usual. You know what's funny is how much of a joke these simplistic little devices are going to make the ISS look like an over funded joke. That said, with out the ISS's prior existance, we probably wouldn't have enough data about how space effects humans to even be doing this. Truly amazing. The one thing I would fear, staying in a giant "bubble" like this... One micrometeorite and pop...

Re:Oh, this is actually happening?

[iamlucky13]

First of all, they are hardly simplistic little devices. NASA spent a fair bit of money and several years researching and development of the concept. No doubt Heinlein, Clark, or Asimov also discussed the idea of inflatable modules long before Bigelow heard about them.

NASA's Transhab project was originally intended to utilize inflatable modules for the ISS. Like most aerospace projects, it ran over budget and the program was cancelled before all of the technical challenges like reliable inflation (these are much more complex than a balloon) were solved. Bigelow bought rights on the NASA patents when he started his aerospace company, and has been working on ironing out the remaining design details and figuring how to reliably manufacture them for several years now.

Second, these are not quite as revolutionary as they sound. They do offer significantly more internal volume for the weight, but not a huge amount. I think it's about double for Bigelow's layouts. There is a lot of core framework, life support, etc equipment associated with each module. They also only address the issue of creating interior volume, not fueling, power, temperature control, docking, and all the other major parts of a space station. They also don't offer much benefit for certain ISS modules like Columbus, which has built in experimental stations that can't realistically be inflated and would be difficult at best to install in a SpaceHab module after inflation. However, the technology may later be applied in areas other than habitation. One proposal is replacing the aluminum trusses that support solar panels with inflatable tubes that become sufficiently rigid when pressurized. Third, they may actually be safer than current aluminum modules. The synthetic materials they are made from are even stronger than Kevlar, and layered just like the aluminum/mylar/whatever else currently used. The difference is that these are elastic, so they can be folded up conveniently for launch, and they maintain their outer shape via pressure rather than framing. The same radiation protection would be offered. When a micrometeorites do hit they will probably not be massive enough to penetrate the skin. If one does, you would have a slow leak that could be located and repaired. They aren't inflated to near their ultimate yield strength like balloons are, so a small breach would not immediately grow into a tear that would cause them to "pop."

Check out some of NASA's conceptual drawings for a better idea what these modules are really like.

Did anyone else read

[blueZ3]

Inflatable model to be launched to space station?

cool!

[bigattichouse]

Can I put my collection of 19th century sewing needles in it? :)

Finally...

[KodeJockey]

Its the dream home my inflatable doll always wanted.

no armor necessary

[m874t232]

If the thing is properly constructed, the effect of a micrometeorite is no worse than with other constructions. Basically, don't think of an elastic skin that snaps, but something more akin to airtight canvas. If you punch a hole in that, you just get a small hole, nothing more. If anything, inflatable space stations are easier to repair than other constructions.

Re:Would it work in the (near) vacuum of space?

[david.given]

Will the goo harden in orbit, or does it need an oxidizing agent?

Vacuum has amazing evaporative power --- some substance with a volatile solvent in it should work fine. Exposed to vacuum, the solvent will evaporate off in practically no time. Plain PVA glue would most likely work, although you might need some thickener to reduce the flow rate.

I don't know what the Bigelow hab is using; from the very limited information available, I don't think they're going for this approach. I suspect they're just using an ordinary tough skin.

(The Apollo spacesuits had cooling systems that worked by evaporating water. The water evaporated so quickly that they had to keep the coolers turned all the way down, or the astronauts got far too cold...)

Re:Solid Surface

[iamlucky13]

Astute questions, but ones which the engineers have already thought of.

The Spacehab modules aren't quite as simple as they sound (otherwise they would have been included on the ISS). I believe they are to be built with mounting features included on the walls for things such as dividers and lockers. The trick is making sure these don't interfere with a smooth inflation. Additionally, the core of the module, which provides longitudinal rigidity and holds the inflating and related equipment will offer more rigid mounts for items where that may be important, like exercise gear. Also, EVA's would not be handled directly from these modules. You would still need airlocks for that, which could possibly be added onto the end, or else included in a traditional module. And yes, windows can be included in the spacehab modules.

"anybody" can have their stuff in there?

[RealGrouchy]

FTA: "If you log onto the Bigelow Aerospace Web portal, you will have a chance to actually see your item floating by!"

I think that what they really mean is:

"If you log onto the Bigelow Aerospace Web portal, you will have a chance to actually see a whole bunch of GoldenPalace.com merchandise floating by!"

- RG>

"Brilliant Condoms" redux

[IAN]

The inflatable spacecraft idea has been floated (heh) in the 80s by a scientist at LLNL who previously came up with the idea of using gobs of small interceptors for strategic missile defense -- the concept known as Brilliant Pebbles. His rather aggressive promotion of inflatables attracted a lot of criticism, and someone called the scheme "Brilliant Condoms". With a moniker like that, it's no wonder that support and funds have been scarce.

The idea has its merits, as mentioned elsewhere in the comments... Volume to mass ratio is much better than that of a solid structure, and micrometeorite shielding can be provided adequately.