NASA and Sierra Space successfully conducted full-scale burst tests of an inflatable module prototype for its expandable LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) space station technology, exceeding NASA's recommended safety level by 22%, reaching 510 kilopascals (74 psi) before bursting.
Sierra Space aims to lead the development of the first commercial space station with its LIFE technology, providing space for astronauts, experiments, and facilities. The company plans to surpass the International Space Station's habitable volume in a single launch.
The LIFE habitats, made of high-strength Vectran material, can expand in microgravity, offering larger living areas and efficient use of space. The recent tests demonstrated exceptional durability.
The LIFE 285 prototype offers about one-third of the interior space of the ISS, with a volume of 285 cubic meters, a length of approximately 6 meters, and a diameter of 9 meters when inflated. Sierra Space plans to develop larger versions, with the goal of creating habitats with volumes of 1,400 or even 5,000 cubic meters for future space stations.
The company is collaborating with Blue Origin for the Orbital Reef project, with plans to launch LIFE habitats into a space station by 2026.
NASA sees great potential in LIFE and is working with Sierra Space to prepare the inflatable habitat for future space stations, as NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2031.
Sierra Space plans to test a larger 500 m version with eight blanking plates next year.
NASA is searching for companies to develop the next International Space Station, as plans to decommission the current ISS are underway. Airbus, Voyager Space, and Blue Origin have presented their concepts for futuristic space stations. SpaceX has been awarded a contract by NASA to deorbit the ISS at the beginning of the next decade.
Sources: USA Today, The Verge, The Hindu, Phys.org, Tech Times, ExecutiveBiz, Techeblog, Habr, Lenta, Geekweek Interia, Digital Trends, IXBT, Universe Magazine, HeadTopics, Payload Space.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
