1. Features

2. Technology

3. History

4. XBASE

5. See also

6. Notes

7. References

8. External links

The B330 (previously known as the Nautilus space complex module and BA 330) is an inflatable space habitat being privately developed by Bigelow Aerospace. The design was evolved from NASA's TransHab habitat concept. B330 will have {{convert|330|m3|sp=us}} of internal volume, hence its numeric designation.

The craft is intended to support zero-gravity research including scientific missions and manufacturing processes. Beyond its industrial and scientific purposes, however, it has potential as a destination for space tourism and a craft for missions destined for the Moon and Mars.

Features

Compared to their volume-mass ratio, expandable modules offer more living space than traditional rigid modules. For example, the pressurised volume of a {{convert|50000|lb|tonne|disp=out|abbr=off|adj=on}} B330 module is {{val|330|u=m3}}, compared to {{val|106|u=m3}} of the 15-tonne ISS Destiny module. Thus B330 offers 210% more habitable space, with an increase in mass of only 33%.

Bigelow also claims that the module provides radiation protection equivalent to, and ballistic protection superior to, the International Space Station.^[5]

The exterior of the craft is intended to be {{convert|16.88|m|ft|0|sp=us}} long by {{convert|6.7|m|ft|0|sp=us}} in diameter^[4] and the module will weigh at least {{convert|50000|lb|order=flip}}.^[3]

The habitat is designed to have two solar arrays and two thermal radiator arrays for heat dissipation, as well as life support systems to sustain a crew of up to six astronauts. It will also have "a zero-g toilet with solid and liquid waste collection, semi-private berths for each crew member, exercise equipment, a food storage and preparation station, lighting, and a personal hygiene station."^[11]

The wall thickness will be approximately {{convert|18|in|m|order=flip}} when the module is fully expanded. The walls are made up of 24 to 36 layers for ballistic protection, thermal protection, radiation protection^[6] and will be as hard as concrete once the craft is fully expanded.^[7] The exterior will also feature four large windows coated with a UV protection film.

Dual-redundant control thruster systems are to be used, one using mono-propellant hydrazine and the other using gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen. The latter system is refillable from the on-board environmental control system.^[11] Module-specific avionics will be provided for navigation, re-boost, docking, and other on-orbit maneuvering.

Bigelow Aerospace is developing the B330 module to be compatible to mate with other spacecraft such as Russian Soyuz spacecraft, SpaceX's Dragon V2, Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, and NASA's Orion spacecraft. The module's large size is particularly beneficial for lunar astronauts or the crews of other long-duration space missions,^[8] which until now have been restricted to fairly cramped quarters for the several-day flight.

Technology

While details on the purchased TransHab technology have not been published, NASA states the following about the structure of the module that Bigelow adopted as a starting point:

The key to the debris protection is successive layers of Nextel, a material commonly used as insulation under the hoods of many cars, spaced between several-inches-thick layers of open cell foam, similar to foam used for chair cushions on Earth. The Nextel and foam layers cause a particle to shatter as it hits, losing more and more of its energy as it penetrates deeper.

Many layers into the shell is a layer of super-strong woven Kevlar that holds the module's shape. The air is held inside by three bladders of Combitherm,^[9] material commonly used in the food-packing industry. The innermost layer, forming the inside wall of the module, is Nomex cloth, a fireproof material that also protects the bladder from scuffs and scratches.|sign=NASA TransHab Concept| source=^[10]}}

Bigelow has described their technology to news media^[11] and have indicated that their proprietary technology inflatable shell, now in validation test in low-Earth orbit in two subscale spacecraft, incorporates a layer of Vectran, along with the Kevlar, etc. of the NASA technology.^[12]

History

Its design is based on the cancelled NASA TransHab program. Bigelow gained access to TransHab engineers and workers,{{When|date=August 2009}} some of whom later went on to advise Bigelow's project.^[13][14]{{update after|2010|12|30}}

The module follows the launch of two demonstration modules successfully tested in Earth orbit, Genesis I in 2006^[15] and Genesis II in 2007.

In early 2010, Bigelow selected^[17] Orbitec as the supplier for environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS).^[18]

In February 2014, some pricing and other lease details were made public. The B330 lease rate will be {{USD|25 million}} for one-third of the station—{{convert|110|m3}}—for a 60-day lease and a round-trip taxi-seat to the B330 in low Earth orbit (LEO) on a SpaceX Dragon V2 was projected to be {{USD|26.5 million}} per seat. At the time, Bigelow indicated that the habitat could be launch-ready by 2017.^[22]

Also in 2014, Bigelow announced notional designs for two enhanced B330s,^[22] but has explicitly stated that it would need to secure an anchor customer to go forward with building and launching any systems beyond low Earth orbit (BLEO).^[21]

• B330-DS for deep space missions to Earth/Moon Lagrange points or for lunar orbital destinations.^[22]
• B330-MDS for use on the surface of the Moon or other inner Solar System bodies.^[22]

In April 2016, Bigelow signed an agreement with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch the first B330 module in 2020 using an Atlas V rocket.^[2] In October 2017, Bigelow and ULA announced they are working together to launch a B330 expandable module on ULA's Vulcan launch vehicle. After outfitting in Earth orbit, the B330 will be boosted to low lunar orbit by two further Vulcan ACES launches by the end of 2022 to serve as a lunar depot.^[23] The first B330 launch was originally planned to be launched aboard an Atlas V rocket,^[2] but ULA stated in October 2017 that its in-development Vulcan rocket was the only launch vehicle available with the performance and fairing capacity to carry the module.^[23] The timeline may be 'aspirational' as ULA have indicated that the Vulcan will transition to using ACES upper stage around 2024.^[24]

XBASE

In August 2016 Bigelow negotiated an agreement with NASA to develop a full-sized ground prototype Deep Space Habitation based on the B330 under the second phase of Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships. The module is called the Expandable Bigelow Advanced Station Enhancement (XBASE), as Bigelow hopes to test the module by attaching it to the International Space Station.^[25][26]

See also

• B2100 (concept)
• Bigelow Aerospace
• Bigelow Expandable Activity Module
• Genesis I
• Genesis II
• Sundancer (cancelled)
• TransHab (concept, never built)

Notes

References

External links

• B330 at Bigelow Aerospace
• NASA page dedicated to the older Transhab concept
• [https://ac.arc.nasa.gov/p5uwr8gcebb/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal&archiveOffset=2510000 Bigelow presentation at the NASA workshop on the Global Exploration Roadmap], 10 April 2014, video, 41:58–57:05, B330 footage at 53:30.
• Touring the Bigelow Aerospace BA-330 Space Habitat Mock Up, Airline Reporter, 16 June 2014.

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