Gold told that space entrepreneur and company head, Robert Bigelow, has invested $215 million of his own money to date "to bring the promise of expandable habitats to fruition." "Most of all," Gold told, "we're excited to see the substantial technological progress made by Bigelow Aerospace via the successful Genesis I and Genesis II missions utilized to take expandable habitat technology to the next level by incorporating such a module into a crewed environment." ![]() Moreover, the space agency is anxious to work with other agencies and organizations to pursue applications. NASA considers the ISS a unique and highly visible national asset with surplus capacity available for a wide spectrum of applications. economy in space-based research, applications and operations. National Laboratory with the goal of expanding the U.S. In 2005, Congress designated the station a U.S. Officials in these offices "have supported and encouraged this initiative," Gold said. Gold said Bigelow Aerospace is working with the ISS National Laboratory program, as well as the space agency's Space Operations Mission Directorate, the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and the Office of Chief Technologist. "But we're looking forward to doing so in the near future and we're pleased about the progress." No agreement has been signed yet, said Michael Gold, director of Washington, D.C., operations and business growth for Bigelow Aerospace LLC, based in Chevy Chase, Md. ![]() The BEAM module that could attach to the International Space Station is sized tobe a larger version of the already-flown Genesis module. Lately, the company has focused on ever-larger expandable modules, notably the Sundancer and BA330 modules.īigelow Aerospace sits on a 50-acre plot of land, with an expansion of the company factory now under way that doubles the amount of floor space as the business begins the transition from research and development to module production. Using the firm's patented expandable habitats, NASA hoped to greatly exceed the usable space of the International Space Station at a fraction of the usual cost.
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