Bigelow Expandable Activity Module: Difference between revisions

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During a press event on 12 March 2015, at the Bigelow Aerospace facility in [[North Las Vegas, Nevada]], the completed ISS flight unit, compacted and with two [[Mobile Servicing System|Canadarm2]] grapple fixtures attached, was displayed for the media.<ref name="BEAMPress20150312"/>

In December 2021, Bigelow transferred ownership of BEAM to NASA's Johnson Space Center.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2021|title=Engineering Services for the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM)|url=https://sam.gov/opp/220ac7db7bef4b4085636f3cd65dc5c2/view|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-12|website=sam.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212192929/https://sam.gov/opp/220ac7db7bef4b4085636f3cd65dc5c2/view |archive-date=12 December 2021 }}</ref> With the cessacioncessation of Bigelow Aerospace activities, NASA contracted [[ATA Engineering]], a former Bigelow subcontractor, for engineering support on the BEAM.<ref name=SpaceNews-20220121> {{cite news |url= https://spacenews.com/bigelow-aerospace-transfers-beam-space-station-module-to-nasa/ |title= Bigelow Aerospace transfers BEAM space station module to NASA |author= Jeff Foust |date= 21 January 2022 |publisher= Space News }} </ref>

== Deployment and status ==

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[[File:ISS-47 BEAM installation (1).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|BEAM in the process of being moved to the rear port of ''Tranquility'' in April 2016]]

BEAM is composed of two metal bulkheads, an [[Aluminium|aluminium]] structure, and multiple layers of soft fabric with spacing between layers, protecting an internal restraint and bladder system;<ref name="FAQ NASA"/> it has neither windows nor internal power.<ref name="airspace201509"/> The module was expanded about a month after being attached by its [[Common Berthing Mechanism]] to the space station. It was inflated from its packed dimensions of {{cvt|2.16|m}} long and {{cvt|2.36|m}} in diameter to its pressurized dimensions of {{cvt|4.01|m}} long and {{cvt|3.23|m}} in diameter.<ref name="verge20160405"/> The module has a mass of {{cvt|1413|kg}},<ref name="nasa-overview"/> and its interior pressure is {{cvt|101.3|kPa}}, the same as inside of the ISS.<ref name="engadget20160325"/>

BEAM's internal dimensions provide {{cvt|16.0|m3}} of volume where a crew member will enter the module three to four times per year to collect sensor data, perform microbial surface sampling, conduct periodic change-out of the radiation area monitors, and inspect the general condition of the module.<ref name="lvrj20130116"/><ref name="FAQ NASA"/> The hatch to the module will otherwise remain closed.<ref name="wapo20130116"/> Its interior is described as being "a large closet with padded white walls", with various equipment and sensors attached to two central supports.<ref name="ap20130117"/>

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<ref name="nasa2000conf">{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr843&dbname=106&|title=National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2000, Conference Report|publisher=Library of Congress|agency=106th Congress|first=F. James|last=Sensenbrenner|date=September 12, 2000|access-date=June 10, 2007|archive-date=2 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202173712/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr843&dbname=106&|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

<ref name="spaceref2261">{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=2261|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202212050/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=2261|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2013|title=Letter from NASA JSC Center Director: Actions Required to Address ISS Budget Challenges|publisher=NASA via SpaceRef.com|first=George W. S.|last=Abbey|date=February 27, 2001|access-date=June 10, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="Seedhouse2014-8">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9qigBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA8|title=Bigelow Aerospace: Colonizing Space One Module at a Time|publisher=Springer-Praxis|first=Erik |last=Seedhouse|page=8|date=2014|isbn=978-3-319-05197-0|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-05197-0}}</ref>