11 thoughts on “Bigelow’s BEAM”

    1. I wonder if some billionaires would be tempted to purchase their own modules for the ultimate holiday retreat. Seems it could be done for the price of a few hundred million.

      1. Lease them and then sublease when they are not in space visiting them. Like they do with their mega yatchs.

  1. I think the bigger problem is their marketing department. This felt like a high school video with the teacher narrating.

    1. Consider the audience. They’re not looking to sell or lease many of these to private individuals. Their target is foreign governments.

      1. Which foreign government?
        I say Brazil.
        “The world’s sixth largest economy is making giant leaps to bolster their launch capabilities and joining with several countries to aid in their space efforts. ..
        Additionally, Brazil’s Science without Borders programs aims to spend two billion dollars to educate 75,000 students pursuing advanced degrees in engineering and physical sciences at home and abroad, with hope that some of those students will return to work in Brazil. ”

        So Brazil has higher GDP than Russia, it’s at equator. It could be leader in regards to space for South America and/or South hemisphere. So a world leader in terms of space, but the leader for South America.
        It’s got Israel using it at launch site, and potential site for Russian proton- and I think continue to draw in existing rocket launchers. And rather than putting much effort making national rocket [or don’t repeat NASA’s SLS mistake] and focus on launch site and station in LEO.
        If Brazil can establish a depot for satellites going to GEO, then it’s launch site will be able to lift largest satellites to GEO.

        1. Last time I heard Brazil were doing some hypergolic fueled rocket with the aid of Ukraine. But that did not seem to be working so well.

          They do have a large aerospace industry namely for constructing regional jets so it is not like they cannot improve.

        2. “Which foreign government?
          I say Brazil.”

          Brazil is one likely target. So are about 80 other countries. None of them is necessarily able or willing to replicate the 1960’s version of NASA, and with Bigelow in partnership with SpaceX and Orbital and whomever else starts launching passengers to space, they won’t have to.

          Malaysia just lost two jumbo jets full of passengers, and with them they lost a lot of face on the world stage. For less than the cost of one replacement jet, Malaysia will be able to send a couple of astronauts to work in space for several months. And those astronauts would be able to work full-time on science, possibly accomplishing more in those few months than all the science done on the high-maintenance ISS so far.

          Australia would gladly send Trent Waddington, just to keep him out of their hair. 😉

  2. Yes, I thought more focus on fewer points would have been helpful. It actually mentioned something like mpthompson’s point. If they had just focused on business applications (I like the idea of renting one out as a sound stage for movies… take that, special effects departments!)

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