NASA Administrator Charles Bolden describes the module on his blog: "The 'Bigelow Expandable Activity Module,' or the BEAM, is an expandable habitat that will be used to investigate technology and understand the potential benefits of such habitats for human missions to deep space. The ISS is an excellent platform to test and demonstrate exploration systems such as the BEAM. and NASA expects that the BEAM project will gather critical data related to structural, thermal, and acoustic performance, as well as radiation and micro-meteoroid protection. All of these data are essential to understanding the technology for future astronaut habitats for use in long-duration space travel."
BEAM will provide another 565 cubic feet of volume - the size of a large family camping tent - to the space station, according to NASA, to be used as a recreational space. The module will be launched on the SpaceX Dragon rocket, along with other supplies for the orbiting laboratory during SpaceX's eighth cargo resupply mission.
"We're fortunate to have the space station to demonstrate potential habitation capabilities like BEAM," said Jason Crusan, director of Advanced Exploration Systems at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., according to NASA. "Station provides us with a long-duration microgravity platform with constant crew access to evaluate systems and technologies we are considering for future missions farther into deep space.
BEAM will be attached to the Tranquility Node and space station crew will monitor the habitat with a series of tests and checks. The test period will last - at a minimum - two years. Data will be gathered regarding how the expandable habitat stands up to radiation, micrometeroids and orbital debris.
"This could be a very nice module potentially for the crews to go hang out in ... It may become a very popular place," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations, according to NBC News.
Bolden wrote: "Today's NASA understands that the agency can generate more innovation and attract more investment in space by partnering with America's commercial space industry and its entrepreneurs. Our plans for exploration in the 21st century intentionally rely on American commercial partners in every aspect of what we do, whether it is rockets to get to space or new technologies such as the BEAM expandable habitat for living in space.
"The United States continues to lead the world in space exploration. We are successful because we are a nation of innovative scientists, engineers, technologists, educators, and dreamers. We are a nation of unlimited potential, where individuals and businesses, small and large, can contribute to our critical work in space. Thanks to that, America's space program is not just alive, it is thriving."
