Bigelow Expandable Activity Module: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:01, 14 May 2020

Revision as of 01:54, 29 August 2020

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In early 2015, BEAM was scheduled for deployment on the next available ISS transport vehicle, [[SpaceX CRS-8]], which was scheduled for launch in September 2015. Due to a rocket failure during the SpaceX CRS-7 launch in June 2015, the delivery of BEAM was delayed.<ref name="nasasf20150907"/><ref name="launchlog"/> The successful launch of SpaceX CRS-8 took place on April 8, 2016,<ref name="nasasf20160408"/> and the Dragon cargo vehicle was berthed to the nadir port of ''[[Harmony (ISS module)|Harmony]]'' node on April 10.<ref name="unitoday20160411"/> On April 16, British astronaut [[Tim Peake]] extracted BEAM from Dragon's trunk using Canadarm2, and installed it on the aft port of ''[[Tranquility (ISS module)|Tranquility]]'' node.<ref name="sfnow20160416"/>

The first attempt at module inflation took place on May 26, 2016, and was suspended after higher-than-expected air pressure inside BEAM was detected with minimal expansion of the module.<ref name="space20160527"/> The attempt was called offterminated after two hours.<ref name="verge20160527"/> The failure to expand and unfold is thought to have beenmay thebe result of the unanticipated 10-month delay in module inflation, which may have caused the fabric layers to stick together.<ref name="space20160527" /> The module was expanded on May 28 over the course of seven hours, with air being injected 25 times for a total of 2 minutes 27 seconds.<ref name="nasa20160528"/> Its length was extended {{convert|67|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}} from its stowed configuration, {{convert|1|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}} less than expected.<ref name="spacepol20160528"/> After expansion was complete, air tanks aboard BEAM were opened to equalize air pressure in the module with that of the ISS.<ref name="spacenews20160528"/> The module will be monitored for two years.<ref name="spacepol20160528" /><ref name="spacenews20160528" />

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On June 6, 2016, astronaut [[Jeffrey Williams (astronaut)|Jeff Williams]] and cosmonaut [[Oleg Skripochka]] opened the hatch to BEAM and entered to collect an air sample, download expansion data from sensors, and install monitoring equipment. The hatch to BEAM was re-sealed on June 8 after three days of tests.<ref name="nasa20160606"/><ref name="nasa20160608"/> A second round of tests took place on September 29 of that same year when astronaut [[Kathleen Rubins]] entered the module to install temporary monitoring equipment.<ref name="nasa20160929"/>

NASA noted in May 2017 that, after spending one year in space, the BEAM instrumentation had recorded "a few probable micrometeoroid debris impacts" but that the module's protective layers had resisted any penetration. Early results from monitors inside the module have shown that [[galactic cosmic radiation]] levels are comparable to those in the rest of the space station. Further testing will try to characterize whether the inflatable structure is any more resilient to radiation than traditional metal modules.<ref name="nasa20170526"/><ref name="arstech20170528"/>

In October 2017, it was announced that the module would stay attached to the ISS until 2020, with options for two further one-year extensions. The module will be used to store up to 130 cargo transfer bags in an effort to free upmake additionalavailable space aboard the station.<ref name="arstech20171003"/> The ISS crew began work in November 2017 to prepare BEAM for use as storage space.<ref name="nasa20171121">{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2017/11/21/beam-work-and-vision-checks-for-crew-today/ |title=BEAM Work and Vision Checks for Crew Today |publisher=NASA |first=Mark |last=Garcia |date=November 21, 2017 |accessdate=January 29, 2018}}</ref>

In July 2019, an engineering assessment certified BEAM's ability to remain attached to the station until 2028, as it has exceeded performance expectations and become a core cargo storage module on the volume-constrained station. A contract extension will still be required to allow BEAM to serve out its extended operational lifetime.<ref name="sn20190812"/>

At the end of BEAM's mission, it will be removed from the ISS and burn up during reentry.<ref name="ns20130116"/>