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Babylon 0.5 ?

In BetweenIn Between The Ultimate Lurker
in Zocalo v2.0
Got this off the BBC.

A prototype Space Hotel using inflation technology :D

[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6253054.stm[/url]

The picture looks vaguely familiar.



Thoughts ????

Comments

  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    Interesting concept, I'd go just as long as nobody took any knives or other sharp objects.

    Worf
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    Didnt they launch something similar a little while ago to test this idea of inflatable habitats?
  • EclecticonautEclecticonaut Elite Ranger
    "Genesis II is a 15 ft (4.5m) module designed to expand to a diameter of 8ft (2.4m)."

    Isn't that a pretty tight space?
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    Only if you are overweight
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    I wonder what material those inflatable sections are made of to protect the people inside from the hostile environment outside?
  • ChaosedChaosed Ranger
    Are the solar panels to change into loading docks once the seres takes off?
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE=ShadowDancer;161970]Didnt they launch something similar a little while ago to test this idea of inflatable habitats?[/QUOTE]

    Bigelow Aerospace sent up a small test vehicle last year, which was successful. This recent launch is their second test vehicle.
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    I think they'll be the cobra bays ;)
  • Space GhostSpace Ghost Elite Ranger
    I hope they bring duct tape... lots and lots of duct tape. ;)
  • MungrelMungrel Earthforce Officer
    They will need it with all that space junk floating about. [url]http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4218443.html?page=3[/url]
  • CurZCurZ Resident Hippy
    The ascension of the common man.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Ordinary! Ordinary! ORDINARY!
  • sataicallistasataicallista High Priestess of Squeee!
    My first thought was how can an inflatable structure be safe in space? Forget knives on the inside, there's so much debris floating around, rocks and such things. How does it deflect them? Or would one single puncture destroy the seal?
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    Didn't part of the apollo lander have paper thin sections as well?
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    Update on Yahoo! There are a few links to pictures too!! :)

    [URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20070701/sc_space/privatespacestationprototypebeamsdownnewimages"]http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20070701/sc_space/privatespacestationprototypebeamsdownnewimages[/URL]

    Looks completely ludicrous... I mean... it's a frakking balloon... I suppose as a temporary solution to build something more solid inside, I guess.
  • ChaosedChaosed Ranger
    Kevlar is used in bullet proof vest. Thats just cloth.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE=sataicallista;162108]My first thought was how can an inflatable structure be safe in space? Forget knives on the inside, there's so much debris floating around, rocks and such things. How does it deflect them? Or would one single puncture destroy the seal?[/QUOTE]

    There actually isn't [i]that[/i] much stuff floating around up there once you get passed LEO. Even LEO isn't [i]that[/i] crowded.

    [QUOTE=croxis;162114]Didn't part of the apollo lander have paper thin sections as well?[/QUOTE]

    Yes, it did.
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    More info at [URL="http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/"]their web site[/URL]. He appears to be sincere about this. He's offered a [URL="http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/multiverse/space_prize.php"]separate prize of $50M[/URL] to createe a launcher to these hotels in space.
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    More information on the contruction:
    [QUOTE]The skin is made of several layers that include proprietary impact-resistant materials. Testing on the ground has shown that the expandable shells of a Bigelow module are much more resistant to space debris than the modules on the International Space Station.[/QUOTE]
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    And finally more info on the first launch [URL="http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/out_there/genesis_I_vehicle_performance.php"]here[/URL]. Really interesting counter part to the X-prize part of the spaze biz today.
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