The American company Sierra Space has just conducted a new pressure test of the inflatable module. Tested on January 22 successfully. This is an important advance for building future space stations.
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Sierra Space is one of the participating manufacturers buildingbuilding to Space stationsSpace stations Private companies in low orbit, which over the next decade will take over the International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled to end its operation in 2032 (at best) by NASA. unity of life (Great integrated flexible environment) from Sierra Space is supposed to equip the future station Tropical coral reefs From Blue Origin.
Impressive explosion
The January 22 test was conducted at NASA's Marshall Site. Space Sierra Tested the pressure capacity of a prototype of the future inflatable life unit. This was the first test of a full-sized model, and it was a success. Unit A was held pressurepressure Internal pressure of 77 psi before explosion.
The Life Prototype therefore carries an internal pressure 27% higher than the NASA-mandated minimum of 60.8 psi. This new success comes after a test conducted in September 2023 of a small-sized model, equipped with a panel that simulates the presence of a porthole.
The test is impressive, as is the size of the unit! © Sierra Space
Inflatable unit for more space
The International Space Station is already equipped with an inflatable experimental module called Beam (Bigelow expandable activity module) has been moored at the station since 2016 and is currently used for storage. Once placed in orbit and inflated, Sierra Space's Life Module will be able to reach the distance amountamount 300 cubic meters, or one-third of the habitable volume of the International Space Station.
A version capable of holding 1,400 cubic meters was proposed.
