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Sundancer

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Sundancer
Concept art of the Sundancer module
Station statistics
Crew3 (1)
Launch2014 or 2015 (2,3)
Mission statusProposed
Mass8,618.4 kg (19,000 lb) (1)
Length8.7 m (28.5 ft) (4)
Diameter6.3 m (20.7 ft) (4)
Pressurised volume180 m3 (6,357 cu ft) (1)
Orbital inclination40.0 degrees (1)
Typical orbit altitude463 km (288 mi) (1)
References:1[1], 2[2], 3[3], 4[4]

Sundancer is the proposed third prototype space habitat to be launched by Bigelow Aerospace and the first human-rated inflatable module based on TransHab technology acquired from NASA. It will be used to test and confirm systems used in the company's commercial space station efforts, and if successful, will form the first piece of the proposed commercial space station.

As of March 2010, Sundancer is being assembled in Las Vegas, Nevada.[5]

Spacecraft history and future

Upon its original announcement, Sundancer was intended to be the fourth module orbited by Bigelow Aerospace. In August 2007, however, it was announced that due to rising space launch costs and the level of success of the first two Bigelow modules launched, the third development module, Galaxy, would not be put into space and the Sundancer program would be accelerated. The life support and other advanced systems intended for space testing on Galaxy, and potentially the spacecraft itself, would still be built and used for ground testing.[6]

Sundancer is intended for launch aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, but a launch date has been continuously pushed back. In 2007, it was reported that Sundancer would be in orbit by 2010, with such a date confirmed by SpaceX.[7][8] By March 2008 this launch slot had slipped to 2011, and by 2010 had again slipped to 2014.[9][2]

Sundancer will spend its first six to nine months on-orbit in a checkout configuration to test systems, followed by manned shakedown missions when transport vehicles become available. If these manned missions prove successful, Bigelow plans to use Sundancer as the starting point of the first commercial space complex. The company intends to launch a combined propulsion bus and central node to dock with Sundancer, followed by two full-size BA 330 modules which would connect to the central node. This station would potentially be followed by several more similar stations.[4][5] As of 2005, it was estimated that a one-week trip to the complex would be priced at US$7.9 million.[10]

Systems and configuration

Sundancer will be equipped with full life support systems, attitude control, orbital maneuvering systems, and will be capable of reboost and deorbit burns.[1] Like the Genesis pathfinders, Sundancer will launch with its outer surface compacted around its central core, with air expanding it to its full size after entering orbit. After expansion, the module will measure 8.7 metres (28.5 ft) in length and 6.3 metres (20.7 ft) in diameter, with 180 cubic metres (6,357 cu ft) of habitable interior volume.[4] Unlike previous Bigelow craft, it will feature three observation windows,[1] and will be equipped with a Soyuz-type docking system on one end of the craft and a NASA-developed Low Impact Docking System on the other.[4]

Sundancer's propulsion system will initially be used to boost the module into a high orbit for long duration testing and will later lower it back into an orbit reachable by manned spacecraft.[4] The module utilizes a redundant propulsion design for its attitude control and de-orbit systems, with each propulsion system featuring a different form of propellant. Aerojet will provide the hypergolic Aft Propulsion System (APS), with Andrews Space building the APS electronic controllers.[11] Orion Propulsion will contribute the Forward Propulsion System (FPS), which uses hydrogen and oxygen by-products from the Sundancer life support system.[12]

Bigelow Aerospace is also considering an option to include lights on the exterior of the spacecraft, potentially visible from Earth, which would be a furtherance of the projection system currently flying aboard Genesis II. Robert Bigelow noted in an interview that "if you have some blue and green and amber-colored lighting going on, you would have something that really has a lot of blink to it."[13]

Launch vehicle

Due to the added size and mass of Sundancer over previous modules, the craft will require a medium lift launch vehicle to take it into orbit. SpaceX has been contracted to provide a Falcon 9 vehicle for a launch in 2014.[2] Bigelow has also entered discussion with Lockheed Martin regarding the possible use of the Atlas V as a launch vehicle for manned space capsules, which would be required to deliver crew, tourists and materiel to the new habitat.[1][14]

As of 2010, no commercial spacecraft exists to deliver humans into orbit, effectively leaving Sundancer as "a destination waiting for a means to get there".[1] SpaceX is in the process of human-rating the Falcon 9 vehicle and its Dragon crew capsule for carrying privately-contracted and NASA passengers into earth orbit [15] and Bigelow Aerospace develops its own capsule, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, "Orion Lite".

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Ferster, Warren (September 21, 2006). "Private Space Habitat Could Launch by 2010". Space.com. Retrieved July 28, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c "Launch Manifest". SpaceX.com. 2010. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010.
  3. ^ David, Leonard (January 20, 2010). "Private Space Stations Edge Closer to Reality". Space.com. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e Covault, Craig (April 8, 2007). "Bigelow Reveals Business Plan". Aviation Week. Retrieved July 28, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Marks, Paul (March 3, 2010). "NASA turned on by blow-up space stations". New Scientist. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  6. ^ Bigelow, Robert (August 13, 2007). "Special Announcement". BigelowAerospace.com. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
  7. ^ David, Leonard (April 10, 2007). "Space Station Builder Lays Out Business Plan". Space.com via MSNBC. Retrieved February 23, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  8. ^ "Launch Manifest". SpaceX.com. 2007. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007.
  9. ^ "Launch Manifest". SpaceX.com. 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008.
  10. ^ Belfiore, Michael (2005). "The Five-Billion-Star Hotel". Popular Science. Retrieved August 3, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  11. ^ "Andrews Awarded Aerojet Contract to Build Hardware for Sundancer" (Press release). Andrews Space. August 19, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  12. ^ "Bigelow Aerospace Sundancer". OrionPropulsion.com. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  13. ^ Boyle, Alan (August 3, 2007). "Orbital Billboard Lights Up". MSNBC Cosmic Log. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  14. ^ Shiga, David (February 7, 2008). "No major hurdles to upgrade Atlas V rockets for people". New Scientist. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  15. ^ Morgan, Lonnie (December 8, 2009). "What Will Happen When Astronauts No Longer Fly On The Space Shuttle?". Wired News. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
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