BA 2100

BA 2100
Model of the BA 2100
Station statistics
Crew16[1]
Mission statusProposed
Mass65–70 tonnes (143,000–154,000 lb)[1][2]
Length17.8 m (58.4 ft)[1]
Diameter12.6 m (41.3 ft)[1]
Pressurised volume2,250 m3 (79,000 cu ft)[3]

The BA 2100, or Olympus,[3] is a conceptual design for a larger, heavier, and more capable expandable space station module, or interplanetary human transport module,[2] by Bigelow Aerospace. The larger BA 2100 would extend the volume and capabilities of the BA 330 module, which is under development for deployment in 2015 as part of the Bigelow Commercial Space Station.[4] As with the BA 330 module, the number in the name refers to the number of cubic meters of space offered by the module when fully expanded in space.[5]

The weight of the BA 2100 could be as low as 65 to 70 tonnes (143,000 to 154,000 lb),[1][2] but would more likely be "in the range of 100 metric tons".[6] It is substantially larger than the BA 330, with the docking ends of the module alone estimated at approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) in diameter.[2] The concept model showed the docking ports at both ends.[5] The BA 2100 would require the use of a super-heavy-lift launch vehicle–and would require an 8-meter (26 ft) fairing for launch, such as the proposed Space Launch System, the Block II version of which would have a 130-tonne (290,000 lb) payload capacity.[6]

Pressurized volume of single BA 2100 module is 2,250 cubic metres (79,000 cu ft),[3] compared to 837 cubic metres (29,600 cu ft) volume of the whole International Space Station as of April 2013.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Bigelow Aerospace (May 24, 2011). "International Space Development Conference - Bigelow Slideshow". Spaceref.com. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Simberg, Rand (October 28, 2010). "Bigelow Aerospace Shows Off Bigger, Badder Space Real Estate". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Higginbotham, Adam (May 2, 2013). "Robert Bigelow Plans a Real Estate Empire in Space". Business Week.
  4. ↑ "Bigelow Marketing Inflatable Space Stations". Aviation Week. May 6, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wang, Brian (October 29, 2010). "BA-2100 module and other Bigelow Aerospace news". Nextbigfuture.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Messier, Douglas; Ingham, Jay (October 21, 2010). "Bigelow Aerospace's Space Station". YouTube.com. International Symposium for Private and Commercial Spaceflight. Event occurs at 2:45. Retrieved December 11, 2010. ...if a super-heavy-lift launch vehicle ever did exist ... would require an 8-meter fairing to launch this ... BA-2100 ... probably in the range of around 100 metric tons. ... We have concepts of slightly smaller modules that would fit on the modified Delta IV ... 70 metric tons, six- or seven-meter fairing ... about 1150 cubic meters ... equivalent to the existing space station.