SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace team up to push private space missions
The Dragon spacecraft that will be used to take passengers to the orbiting Bigelow habitats
SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace (BA) have joined forces in an attempt to
woo international customers looking to enjoy some extended periods of
microgravity. The joint marketing effort will push trips to orbiting
Bigelow habitats on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft using the Falcon launch vehicle.
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will be able to carry up to seven
passengers to Bigelow habitats in orbit that will be comprised of two or
more BA 330 habitats. Each BA 330 habitat provides around 330 cubic
meters of usable volume and can support a crew of up to six. These
habitats will be leased to groups such as national space agencies,
companies, and universities, and SpaceX will provide the means to get
them there.
The marketing effort will kick off in Asia, where representatives
from BA and SpaceX will meet with officials in Japan after the next
launch of the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft, which is scheduled for May
19, 2012.
Source: SpaceX
