Bigelow Aerospace

Bigelow Aerospace Division, LLC

Bigelow Development Aerospace

Bigelow Development Aerospace Division, Limited Liability Company

Robert T Bigelow

Martin S Piltch

John Mezits

Russell J Common

Aiken Brian

David A Cavaleri

A docking node transporter tug is disclosed. The tug can dock with various spacecraft to allow access by people between the spacecraft. Further, the tug may dock with other specialty tugs to form a custom system.

Docking node transporter tug

A spacecraft capture tug is disclosed. The tug can capture objects in space, including spacecraft and satellites, using an engagement system and provide propulsion for the object to a point of servicing, repair, or other desired operations. Further, the tug may dock with other specialty tugs to form a custom transport system.

Spacecraft capture tug

A shield comprised of carbon nanotube materials is used to provide a level of protection to a spacecraft. Shield segments are produced in a facility in space. The segments are transported from the facility to a vicinity of a spacecraft hull. The segments are assembled over the hull to substantially cover an area of the hull.

Method of deploying a spacecraft shield in space

A transport landing vehicle for transferring an astronaut to and from an extraterrestrial mass such as a moon, asteroid, or small planet is disclosed. The transport landing vehicle has a cage that is substantially open to the outside environment.

Transport landing vehicle

A solar generator tug is disclosed. The tug can dock with spacecraft to provide power for the spacecraft. Further, the tug may dock with other specialty tugs to form a custom transport system.

Solar generator tug

A standard transit tug is disclosed. The tug can dock with spacecraft to provide propulsion for the spacecraft. Further, the tug may dock with other specialty tugs to form a custom transport system.

Standard transit tug

A spacecraft carrier is disclosed. The carrier has a large internal volume for housing at least one spacecraft. The carrier can be used as a repair and maintenance facility in space for spacecraft. Manned and unmanned devices can be stored, repaired and resupplied. The carrier can also transport a number of spacecraft to other locations allowing for an efficient coordinated movement of many spacecraft.

Carrier for space craft

A cover for an inflatable modular structure is claimed. A plurality of covers fit on the core of an inflatable module. An inflatable shell is attached to the core enclosing the covers and the core. In the pre-deployed configuration, the inflatable shell is folded over the covers and the covers provide a measure of protection for the shell. In the deployed state, the inflatable shell is filled with air and expands to its deployed configuration. The covers can be removed from core and attached to the inside of the shell. The covers then function as a platform to secure items in place.

Cover for use with an inflatable modular structure

A spacecraft magnetic shield apparatus is disclosed. One embodiment has an armature attached at one end of a spacecraft and an electromagnet attached to the other end. A computer determines the position of the armature and electromagnet in relation to the spacecraft, and a power source powers the electromagnet. In operation, the positioning of the electromagnet is generally in line with incoming charged particles or ion radiation and powering of the electromagnet creates a magnetic field that deflects a percentage of the incoming charged particles or ion radiation from directly impacting the spacecraft.

Spacecraft magnetic shield

An air barrier having a scuff coating is used in connection with the core of a spacecraft to form an inflatable, or expandable, human habitat module. The air barrier is comprised of a number of segments joined together to form a enclosure that has at least one opening. The joined segments are generally gas impermeable, flexible, and have a scuff coating on both sides of the segments.

Air barrier for use with an expandable structure

A radiation shield for use with a manned spacecraft is claimed. The shield has a container that is substantially filled with a substantially radiation absorbing material. The container has attachment members that cooperate with corresponding attachment members on the inner surface of a spacecraft. The radiation absorbing material provides a measure of protection to crewmembers and equipment against particle radiation that is present in space.

Radiation shield

A regolith container for use with regolith on an extraterrestrial mass is disclosed. The filled container covers a portion of a spacecraft to provide the spacecraft with a measure of protection against space debris and radiation. The container can be compartmentalized to reduce the loss of regolith should from the container if a single compartment is penetrated.

Regolith container for use with a structure on an extraterrestrial mass

A method for assembling and landing a habitable module on an extraterrestrial mass is claimed. At least one inflatable module and a second module are placed into orbit about an extraterrestrial mass. Connecting nodes, propulsion busses, and landing pads are also placed into orbit. A habitable structure is constructed from the modules, busses, pads, and nodes. The structure can be robotically constructed. The habitable structure is then landed onto the surface of the extraterrestrial mass. The landing can be remotely controlled and the modules can be non-occupied.

Method for assemblying and landing a habitable structure on an extraterrestrial body

A modular human habitat simulator for providing an environment on Earth that approximates, in a controlled test situation, a number of conditions expected to exist when an inflatable modular habitat is deployed into Earth orbit. The simulator has a housing with a rigid wall defining an internal volume, a longitudinal axis, a first and second opposing openings along the longitudinal axis, the rigid wall having an exterior surface, and an interior surface where the interior surface is generally the shape of an interior surface of a deployed inflatable shell of a modular human habitat, and the internal volume is substantially that of a deployed inflatable modular human habitat volume.

Modular human habitat simulator

An orbital debris shield for protecting the hull of a spacecraft. The shield is comprised of a number of flexible and releasably attached gores that substantially cover the hull. Interleafed between layers of the gores are layers of a spacing material. As debris collides with the gores, the material is shocked and breaks up to some degree. As the shocked debris disperses through a layer of the gore, the spacing material interacts with the debris. After dispersing through a number of layers of the gores and the spacing material, the debris transfers a significant portion of kinetic energy and the probability of the remaining particles piercing the hull is significantly decreased.

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Las Vegas, NV, United States of America

Robert T Bigelow