February 1, 2013. Copyright 2013, Graphic News. All rights reserved 

Space station to get inflatable habitat

LONDON, February 1, Graphic News: NASA plans to add a privately developed inflatable module to the International Space Station in 2015. Designed by Bigelow Aerospace, the inflatable room will stay attached to the station for two years before being jettisoned.

If the skin of the test module proves resilient to impacts from micro-meteorites and space debris, as well as cosmic radiation, it could open the door to private space stations, or possibly fit into NASAÕs exploration plans to the moon and Mars.

On January 16, Bigelow AerospaceÕs founder and president, Robert Bigelow, and NASA Deputy Director, Lori Garver, announced a $17.8 million contract to develop the concept. The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM, is slated to fly on SpaceXÕs eighth station resupply mission, packed in a Dragon capsuleÕs unpressurized cargo hold.

The space stationÕs robotic arm will attach the module to an air lock on the Tranquility node, and a pressurization system will inflate it, until it measures about 4 metres (13ft) long by 3.2 metres (10.5ft) in diameter.

The BEAMÕs skin is made up of several layers of Nextel ceramic fabric sandwiched with open-cell foam -- similar to foam found in a sofa. This is dedicated to debris resistance and provides insulation from temperatures that range from +121¡C in sunlight to -128¡C in shade.

A layer of super-strong woven Kevlar and Vectran holds the moduleÕs shape, while water bladders provide radiation protection, and an innermost layer of fireproof Nomex material protects the skin from scuffs and scratches.

The BEAM skinÕs effectiveness against radiation will be carefully monitored throughout its two-year mission, but BigelowÕs skins have already racked years of success on unmanned Genesis I and II capsules, launched from Russia in 2006 and 2007.
/ENDS