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| Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) [Image: NASA] |
Las Vegas: NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver has announced a
newly planned addition to the International Space Station that will use the
orbiting laboratory to test expandable space habitat technology. NASA has
awarded a $17.8 million contract to Bigelow Aerospace to provide a Bigelow
Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which is scheduled to arrive at the space
station in 2015 for a two-year technology demonstration.
"Today we're
demonstrating progress on a technology that will advance important
long-duration human spaceflight goals," Garver said. "NASA's
partnership with Bigelow opens a new chapter in our continuing work to bring
the innovation of industry to space, heralding cutting-edge technology that can
allow humans to thrive in space safely and affordably."
The BEAM is scheduled
to launch aboard the eighth SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the station
contracted by NASA, currently planned for 2015. Following the arrival of the
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the BEAM to the station, astronauts will use
the station's robotic arm to install the module on the aft port of the
Tranquility node.
After the module is
berthed to the Tranquility node, the station crew will activate a
pressurization system to expand the structure to its full size using air stored
within the packed module.
During the two-year
test period, station crew members and ground-based engineers will gather
performance data on the module, including its structural integrity and leak
rate. An assortment of instruments embedded within module also will provide
important insights on its response to the space environment. This includes
radiation and temperature changes compared with traditional aluminum modules.
"The
International Space Station is a uniquely suited test bed to demonstrate
innovative exploration technologies like the BEAM," said William
Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for human exploration and operations at
NASA Headquarters in Washington. "As we venture deeper into space on the
path to Mars, habitats that allow for long-duration stays in space will be a
critical capability. Using the station's resources, we'll learn how humans can
work effectively with this technology in space, as we continue to advance our
understanding in all aspects for long-duration spaceflight aboard the orbiting
laboratory."
Astronauts
periodically will enter the module to gather performance data and perform
inspections. Following the test period, the module will be jettisoned from the
station, burning up on re-entry.