Private Space Stations: Hotels in Space
Department:
Privatizing Spaceflight
Teaser:
Bigelow Aerospace is continuing with its efforts to develop inflatable modules for the construction of private space stations and hotels in space. Bigelow is partnered with Boeing in the NASA's Commercial Crew Development initiative.
Source:
SPACE.com Download time: Jan 20 2010 8:15 AM ET
With two prototype modules for a commercial space station already circling the Earth, Bigelow Aerospace is gearing up for a full-scale assault on space.
For the upstart firm, it's about volume — and not entirely in the sense of quantity or number of items sold. The company's expandable module designs are designed to offer low-cost commercial volume in space — for rent or lease — not only to private sector interests, but also to national space agencies.
Entrepreneur Robert Bigelow founded Bigelow Aerospace in 1999. Over the years, the space businessman has invested some $180 million in his vision, drawing from a bank account built on construction and real estate deals, along with money gleaned from his hotel chain, Budget Suites of America.…
