Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) has finally reached its goal. Following a failed first attempt, NASA has successfully inflated a new experimental pump-powered inflatable room at the International Space Station which took around 7 full hours to fully finish.
The inflatable ISS fitted module was slowly brought to life by opening and closing an air valve from internal air tanks to expand the compartment. SpaceX delivered BEAM to the Space Station early last month. The module was attached to NASA’s $100-billion orbiting lab where it will remain for the next two years. Stretched to its full the room offers an extra 4 meters (13 feet) in length and 3.2 meters (10.5 feet) in diameter for scientists to conduct experiments.
Short time-lapse video shows complete @BigelowSpace #BEAM expansion to full expanded, pressurized volume.https://t.co/xsRoOinmBf
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) May 28, 2016