Bigelow Aerospace

Bigelow Aerospace Owned by billionaire Robert Bigelow

Founded in 1999 by visionary entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, the goal of Bigelow Aerospace is to create a new paradigm in space commerce and exploration via the development and use of revolutionary expandable habitat technology. Expandable habitats offer dramatically larger volumes than rigid, metallic structures as well as enhanced protection against both radiation and physical debris. Additionally, expandable habitats are lighter than traditional systems, take up less rocket fairing space, and most important of all in today’s fiscally constrained environment, Bigelow habitats are extremely affordable.

Bigelow Aerospace has already fabricated and deployed two subscale pathfinder spacecraft, Genesis I and Genesis II, which were launched in 2006 and 2007, respectively. A third prototype spacecraft, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (“BEAM”) launched to the International Space Station (“ISS”) by NASA in April 2016. The BEAM is attached to the ISS demonstrating the value of expandable habitats as part of a crewed system.

As of 2014, plans call for transport of humans and resupply cargo to the station to be via a SpaceX Dragon V2, with a round-trip seat priced at US$26.5 million. Lease of the on-orbit stations is priced at US$25 million to rent one-third of a BA-330 module for 60 days. The BA-330 modules and any of several tugs are planned for launch aboard a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.

Bigelow has plans to launch its B330 that is 20 times larger than the BEAM by 2020 with the United Launch Alliance (ULA)

Bigelow Aerospace Is Building The World's First Space Hotel

Moon

In addition to the BEAM, Bigelow Aerospace is aggressively pursuing the development of its full-scale system, the BA 330. As the name indicates, the BA 330 will provide approximately 330 cubic meters of internal volume and will support a crew of up to six. BA 330s will be used to support a variety of public and private activities in and beyond Low Earth Orbit (“LEO”). Bigelow Aerospace is also working on even larger spacecraft, such as its ‘Olympus’ module, which will provide a massive 2,250 cubic meters of internal volume.

Regardless of the destination, LEO, the Moon, or Mars, Bigelow Aerospace’s expandable habitats will enable a new era in space commerce and exploration.

B2100 Conceptual Space station link

Alpha Station

Bigelow's sister company called Bigelow Space Operations (BSO) has as Its mission to “market and operate space stations developed by Bigelow Aerospace"

The station initially would consist of two BA 330s.