NASA pioneers leisure space for astronauts with launch of expandable habitats
POSTED 05 Apr 2016 . BY Kim Megson
The inflatable Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) will be attached to the International Space Station for testing, and could be the leisure space of the future Credit: Bigelow Aerospace
US space agency NASA is preparing to explore the feasibility of expandable habitats, or inflatable ‘space houses’, in a new mission that launches this Friday (8 April).
A spacecraft supplying the International Space Station (ISS) will take off at 4.43pm ET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, loaded with research, hardware, supplies and a Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which will be thoroughly tested over the coming years.
The module – which will be filled with air and attached to ISS for a two-year test period – could be a means of providing valuable extra space for astronauts to kick back, relax and enjoy some leisure time during missions which take them further into space than ever before.
Expandable habitats greatly decrease the amount of transport volume for future space missions, as they are lightweight and require minimal payload volume on a rocket. Once they are deployed they can create a comfortable areas protected from solar and cosmic radiation, space debris, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation and other elements of the harsh space environment.
The technology is likely to play an important role in future missions to Mars, as NASA seeks cost-effective and sustainable ways to bring an astronaut onto the surface of the Red Planet.
In a statement, the agency said: “NASA is looking at expandable habitats as one of the potential concepts for habitation capability in cis-lunar space. A successful BEAM demonstration on ISS will certainly be a giant stepping stone to understanding the role expandable structures could have for future space habitats.”
The concept has been funded through public-private partnerships with US industry and is co-sponsored by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Division and Bigelow Aerospace, which pioneers innovative approaches to develop prototype systems for future human exploration missions.
If testing is successful, the BEAM could catch the interest of designers and developers determined to bring the leisure realm to the final frontier.
Ohio planetarium gets NASA funding to develop free-to-share content for planetariums worldwide POSTED 01 Apr 2016. BY Tom Anstey The Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State
University (YSU) in Ohio, US, has
been awarded US$650,000 (€584,600, £455,300) in
funding by NASA to support
development of 3D animation and fulldome visual
materials to be distributed for free to
planetariums worldwide.
US Astronaut Hall of Fame closes ahead of move to Kennedy Space Center POSTED 02 Nov 2015. BY Tom Anstey The Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, has closed its
doors 25 years after it first opened to the public, with the standalone attraction being
incorporated into the new Heroes and Legends exhibit.
Russian Space Agency plans on sending tourists to ISS by 2018 POSTED 26 Mar 2015. BY Tom Anstey The Russian Space Agency is planning on taking tourists to the International Space
Station (ISS) to cover a funding deficit, which will be made when Nasa stops paying
Russia to carry astronauts to the orbiting satellite.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
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NASA pioneers leisure space for astronauts with launch of expandable habitats
POSTED 05 Apr 2016 . BY Kim Megson
The inflatable Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) will be attached to the International Space Station for testing, and could be the leisure space of the future Credit: Bigelow Aerospace
US space agency NASA is preparing to explore the feasibility of expandable habitats, or inflatable ‘space houses’, in a new mission that launches this Friday (8 April).
A spacecraft supplying the International Space Station (ISS) will take off at 4.43pm ET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, loaded with research, hardware, supplies and a Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which will be thoroughly tested over the coming years.
The module – which will be filled with air and attached to ISS for a two-year test period – could be a means of providing valuable extra space for astronauts to kick back, relax and enjoy some leisure time during missions which take them further into space than ever before.
Expandable habitats greatly decrease the amount of transport volume for future space missions, as they are lightweight and require minimal payload volume on a rocket. Once they are deployed they can create a comfortable areas protected from solar and cosmic radiation, space debris, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation and other elements of the harsh space environment.
The technology is likely to play an important role in future missions to Mars, as NASA seeks cost-effective and sustainable ways to bring an astronaut onto the surface of the Red Planet.
In a statement, the agency said: “NASA is looking at expandable habitats as one of the potential concepts for habitation capability in cis-lunar space. A successful BEAM demonstration on ISS will certainly be a giant stepping stone to understanding the role expandable structures could have for future space habitats.”
The concept has been funded through public-private partnerships with US industry and is co-sponsored by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Division and Bigelow Aerospace, which pioneers innovative approaches to develop prototype systems for future human exploration missions.
If testing is successful, the BEAM could catch the interest of designers and developers determined to bring the leisure realm to the final frontier.
Ohio planetarium gets NASA funding to develop free-to-share content for planetariums worldwide POSTED 01 Apr 2016. BY Tom Anstey The Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State
University (YSU) in Ohio, US, has
been awarded US$650,000 (€584,600, £455,300) in
funding by NASA to support
development of 3D animation and fulldome visual
materials to be distributed for free to
planetariums worldwide.
US Astronaut Hall of Fame closes ahead of move to Kennedy Space Center POSTED 02 Nov 2015. BY Tom Anstey The Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, has closed its
doors 25 years after it first opened to the public, with the standalone attraction being
incorporated into the new Heroes and Legends exhibit.
Russian Space Agency plans on sending tourists to ISS by 2018 POSTED 26 Mar 2015. BY Tom Anstey The Russian Space Agency is planning on taking tourists to the International Space
Station (ISS) to cover a funding deficit, which will be made when Nasa stops paying
Russia to carry astronauts to the orbiting satellite.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
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COMPANY PROFILES
IDEATTACK IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and
design company with headquarters in
Los Angeles. [more...]
QubicaAMF UK QubicaAMF is the largest and most
innovative bowling equipment provider with
600 employees worldwi [more...]
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
