Bigelows BEAM aboard ISS is a success

[Hog]

Bigalows Expandable Activity Module (BEAM)  was expanded at the end of May 28, 2016 aboard the almost 1 million pound International Space Station.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxzCCrj5ssE

Expandable modules like this will revolutionize the way in which humans live and travel in space.  You can launch a small package and expand it in space.  It was lifted to ISS in a SPace Explorations Falcon 9 rockets trunk.

From its stowed length to expanded length, was a difference of 67" or 170cm.

Packed dimensions 2.16 m (7.1 ft) long and 2.36 m (7.7 ft) in diameter
Expanded dimensions 4.01 m (13.2 ft) long and 3.23 m (10.6 ft) in diameter.  So its volume "grew" from 5.26 cubic meters to 17.8 cubic  meters.

This BEAM is a multi layer fabric with interwoven Kevlar like materials and vinyl foam. This layer provides radiation shielding and micro meteor protection which is equal or better than the rest of the ISS structure.  The BEAM was tested using the same testing procedures that the ISS structure was tested with and provided protection that equaled or was better than the rest of the ISS structure.

Yet another private company committed to space.

peace
Hog