The company Bigelow Aerospace will produce for NASA experimental inflatable module BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Modul), which is planned to send to the ISS.



The sum of the contract a private company and American space Agency is 17.8 million dollars. The module was named BA 330, and its main feature is a technology that allows to expand the inhabited modules of the International space station.

In this space the module can grow like a balloon.

According to one of the variants of the project the volume of internal space BEAM will amount to 300 cubic meters, weight about 65 thousand pounds. Overall dimensions of the machine will reach 12.6 meters in diameter, while the length of the module straightened as will amount to 17.8 metres.



Bigelow Aerospace has tested technology, after a successful test of an inflatable spacecraft Genesis Genesis I and II placed on orbit in 2006 and 2007, the Russian rocket "Dnepr".

According to the authors of the project, the use of innovative materials provides effective protection from space radiation and collision with a meteorite.

The module is equipped with all the necessary life-support systems as well as navigation and maneuvering, so it can be used not only as a compartment station, but also as a standalone device.



It is assumed that later module can become orbital hotel.