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Astronauts open expandable space station room Flexi-space room expansion suspended
(about 1 hour later)
Astronauts have begun opening up a new, expandable "room" on the International Space Station (ISS). The deployment of a new, expandable "room" on the International Space Station was suspended on Thursday when it failed to open up as expected.
The module, which has a deployed volume of 16 cubic metres, is a demonstrator for the type of habitats that may be used to build future orbiting labs. Astronaut Jeff Williams began inflating the module, but controllers eventually told him to stand down after 3.5 hours of extremely slow progress.
It is possible "inflatable" rooms could even make for more living space during the many months it would take humans to travel to Mars. Installed in a compact form, the vessel is supposed to stretch to 4m in length with a volume of 16 cu m.
The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module will be tested over the next two years. But as Williams squirted air into the module, it stretched only a few cm.
Astronauts will only rarely go inside, given the room's experimental nature. And when they do, it will be to have a quick look around and check its integrity. Nothing will be stored in the room. Engineers on the ground will now review the data with a view to resuming the expansion on Friday.
The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module is a demonstrator for the type of habitats that may be used to build future orbiting labs.
It is possible such rooms could even make for more living space during the many months it would take humans to travel to Mars.
The Beam was taken up to the station last month and connected to a berthing point on the Tranquility module.
If and when the astronauts can get the new room filled out, it will undergo two years of tests.
Engineers want to know if the structure is as robust as traditional metal modules.
Astronauts will not actually go in the Beam that often, given its experimental nature. And when they do, it will be to have a quick look around to check its integrity. Nothing will be stored in the room, either.
Most of the time, the hatch to the Beam will remain closed and controllers on the ground will monitor its status through a series of embedded sensors. These will track temperature, pressure, radiation and impacts.Most of the time, the hatch to the Beam will remain closed and controllers on the ground will monitor its status through a series of embedded sensors. These will track temperature, pressure, radiation and impacts.
Engineers want to know if the structure is as robust a traditional metal modules.
ISS crewman Jeff Williams is opening up the room, introducing air into bladders between the several layers of super-tough polymer that form the Beam's flexible skin.
It is a slow process. If done too fast it could damage the Beam. At one point, the astronaut heard what he described as a bang. Controllers then commanded him to halt the bladder inflation process temporarily to have time to review the situation. They concluded the noise was of the type that might be heard as latching pins were released during the expansion.
If and when fully expanded, the volume within the module itself will have to be filled with air.
The first interior inspection is scheduled to take place next week.
The Beam has been produced in a partnership between the US space agency (Nasa) and American entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, who built his fortune on the back of a budget hotel chain.The Beam has been produced in a partnership between the US space agency (Nasa) and American entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, who built his fortune on the back of a budget hotel chain.
His ambition now is to take that accommodation experience into orbit.His ambition now is to take that accommodation experience into orbit.
Although the vessel attached to the space station is only a little bigger than a broom cupboard, the businessman has plans for expandable modules that are substantially bigger.Although the vessel attached to the space station is only a little bigger than a broom cupboard, the businessman has plans for expandable modules that are substantially bigger.
He hopes to rent these out to anyone who wants to use them for science and even tourism - as hotels in space.He hopes to rent these out to anyone who wants to use them for science and even tourism - as hotels in space.
Already, Robert Bigelow has a rocket booked for 2020, to take up his BA-330 model, which, as the designation intimates, has a volume of 330 cubic metres (12,000 cu ft).Already, Robert Bigelow has a rocket booked for 2020, to take up his BA-330 model, which, as the designation intimates, has a volume of 330 cubic metres (12,000 cu ft).