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Bigelow Aerospace factory progressing

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  • Bigelow Aerospace factory progressing

    Their new assembly/integration facility outside of Las Vegas will be 180,572 sq/ft (16,775.69 sq/m) for the mass production of Sundancer & BA-330 Space Complex modules, berthing/docking hubs and at least 2 sizes of propulsion/orbital maneuvering units. Avionics and life support are being built by contractors with long histories in the industry. Should be completed Q2-Q3 2011.

    The first Sundancer is scheduled for launch in 2014 on a Falcon 9 and the BA-330's will launch after on Atlas V and, likely, Falcon Heavy boosters. NASA is also looking at modules for the ISS and on future cis-lunar and deep space cruisers like NAUTILUS-X.

    This site is about 1/4 mile by 1/3 mile and includes a huge submersion tank for testing the modules for leaks. Plenty of room for expansion at this site, and there is talk of another facility similar to this on the east coast. This would allow one facility to supply modules for launch at Vandenberg AFB in California, and the other for launches at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.









    Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 15 March 2011, 19:51.
    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps
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