Boarding the BEAM

Bigelow has posted a number of photos of its Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), including an astronaut's entry of the module on the International Space Station last week. Take a look.

Picture Quote:  "NASA astronaut Jeff Williams successfully entered the BEAM, the first human rated expandable structure in space."

Early Report: BEAM Not Inflating

This week NASA started to inflate the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) while attached to the International Space Station. It should have looked like the image above, but early reports indicate the pressurization has not gone well.

NASA has a press conference at noon ET today to discuss the status of BEAM.  We shall learn more, yet I am not surprised with a few glitches at the start of a new approach to space habitation. Overall, I expect Bigelow's habitat will be a solid addition to the space program. 

Update:  Per NASA:

NASA and Bigelow Aerospace will make a second attempt at 9 a.m. EDT Saturday, May 28, to expand the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), currently attached to the International Space Station. NASA Television coverage will begin at 8:45 a.m.

Second Update:  All is well. Yesterday the BEAM successfully inflated (as shows below).  Engineers believe the 15 months of storage may have made the pressurization process more difficult.