The Bigelow test article has reportedly inflated and deployed its solar panels.

[Update before bed]

Here's the story.

And Clark Lindsey has a brief roundup of the state of the alt-space industry.

Congrats! I'm sure there's a lot of things that still need checking, but at this juncture, it looks like a resounding success.

Mac

$75M spent so far sounds about right. Roughly the same cost as a Lockmart A-2100 geo commsat. Before you know it, Bigelow will be able to offer space services at the same price as all the other aerospace companies.

$75M spent so far sounds about right. Roughly the same cost as a Lockmart A-2100 geo commsat. Before you know it, Bigelow will be able to offer space services at the same price as all the other aerospace companies.

What an aburd comparison. The $75M is not the cost of this payload. It includes all of the money that Bigelow has spent since its inception in the 1990s, and the cost of the launch.

But keep throwing your pathetic little pebbles.

I have to agree with Rand here. Also, an A-2100 cost much closer to $200M than $75M dollars and that is BEFORE launch costs or insurance is figured in. The total cost of an A2100 is closer to $400M dollars after all is said and done.

Perspective

Dennis

All true but an A-2100 is more than a balloon.

I wonder if it has reaction wheels, a propulsion system, C&DH, star tracker, sun sensor, thermal control, 20kW, batteries, and gigabit telecom? I wonder how much that stuff would cost?

Not to get back to the topic or anything, but this is really good news for the whole of the American space industry. Congratulations to the Bigelow corporation and its founder.

Brian, I think you're confused.

This is a habitat module, not a communications satellite.

This flight, and Mr. Bigelow and Mike Gold have stated, is a test of the inflation system and the durability of the inflated module. As I worked for BA for several months I can't say much more but I for one think that it is an incredible achievement to get even this far.

I can say this, Bigelow did a LOT of heavy duty testing to get to this point, not a bunch of simulations and hope for the best. Test engineering is the most under appreciated yet most important part of any successful commercial space enterprise.

Dennis

Check the link and watch the video.

http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5143575&nav=168Y

This will show a very small sample of the testing that went on on the materials for the module.

Dennis

Um, brian. To take Ed's point a little further...

My house is not a cell tower, and yet, it seems to do a decent job of housing me. Can't speak to its ability to relay thousands of cell phone calls simultaneously. Not so hot, I expect.

What will you be comparing next, bedroom suites and motocross bikes?