The present moment that Sierra Space ’s LIFE module explodes . Sierra Space
With the mature International Space Station ( ISS)facing a fiery endabout seven years from now , attention has been turning to new conception to exchange the orbital outpost .
One such company exploring various solutions is space technologies - focused Sierra Space . The Colorado - found squad has been develop the inflatable LIFE ( Large Integrated Flexible Environment ) habitat for commercial-grade blank space Stations of the Cross and recently worked with NASA to conduct a pressure level test on a full - scale life sentence mental faculty that terminate with a dramatic — but expected — blowup .
The moment that Sierra Space’s LIFE module explodes.Sierra Space
The plan was to prove how much imperativeness the habitat ’s shell can handle — an important process if it ’s ever to face the harsh environs of space . And the good news is that it start right smart beyond what ’s require .
The television below offer some insight into the design of LIFE and present test preparations and the explosion itself , which bring lieu at the 5:55 brand .
Sierra Space also partake some striking slow - movement footage of the consequence the LIFE home ground give away apart .
The full - scale UBP test unit reached 77 psi before it burst , which well go past ( +27%)#NASA ’s recommend level of 60.8 psi ( maximum operating pressure sensation of 15.2 psi multiplied by a safety factor of four ) .
Full video:https://t.co/5XumopCb0H@NASA_Marshallpic.twitter.com/WO4YyPUA05
& mdash ; Sierra Space ( @SierraSpaceCo)January 22 , 2024
The habitat ’s insistence shell is made of expansible “ softgoods , ” or woven fabrics that perform like a rigid social organization once inflated , Sierra Space explains on its web site .
The full - scale leaf social unit used in the trial gain 77 psi ( pounds per square column inch ) before it abound , well beyond NASA ’s recommended stage of 60.8 psi .
The exciting matter about LIFE is that its inflatable blueprint means it postulate very little space to launch into space , as it only need to be inflated once it ’s in electron orbit .
Notably , life sentence is able-bodied to achieve one - third of the volume of the ISS in a unmarried launching . The blank station took more than 40 flying to assemble , and so far , few missions would be required if a space station were built using multiple inflatable habitat . This would have in mind a striking simplification in construction costs .
“ We are driving the reinvention of the space place that will shape a new epoch of humanity ’s geographic expedition and discovery in low - Earth orbit and beyond , ” Sierra Space CEO Tom Vicesaidafter the successful test .
“ Sierra Space ’s inflatable blank space station engineering science offers the downright largest in - space pressured loudness , the near unit economics per on - compass volume , and dispirited launch and total operating cost . Having the estimable unit political economy positions Sierra Space as the category loss leader in microgravity research and product development , providing customer with the most attractive retort on their investment . ”
Sierra Space is n’t the only company looking at build a commercial space post , with SpaceX and LA - based Vast , among others , partnering in a planto send their own design to spacein the come years .
