BA 330

The BA 330 (previously known as the Nautilus space complex module) is an inflatable space habitat privately manufactured by Bigelow Aerospace. The design was evolved from NASA's TransHab habitat concept. BA 330 will have 330 cubic meters (12,000 cu ft) of internal space, hence its numeric designation.

The craft will support zero-gravity research including scientific missions and manufacturing processes. Beyond its industrial and scientific purposes, however, it has potential as a destination for space tourism and a craft for missions destined for the Moon and Mars.

Bigelow indicated that the habitat could be launch-ready by 2017.

Features

Compared to their own weight, expandable modules offer more living space than traditional rigid modules. For example, the pressurised volume of a 20-ton BA 330 module is 330 m³, compared to 106 m³ of the 15 ton ISS Destiny module. Thus BA 330 offers 210% more habitable space, with an increase of only 33% in mass.

Bigelow also claims that the module provides radiation protection equivalent to, and ballistic protection superior to, the International Space Station.