Bigelow Expandable Activity Module

Bigelow Expandable Activity Module
Full-scale mock-up of BEAM at Johnson Space Center
Module statistics
COSPAR ID2016-024A [1]
Launch date8 April 2016, 20:43:31 UTC[2]
Launch vehicleFalcon 9 Full Thrust
(SpaceX CRS-8)
Berthed16 April 2016, 09:36 UTC [3]
Tranquility aft
Unberthed2028 (planned)
Mass1,413 kg (3,115 lb) [4]
Length4.01 m (13.2 ft) [5]
Diameter3.23 m (10.6 ft)
Pressurised volume16.0 m3 (570 cu ft)

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is an experimental expandable space station module developed by Bigelow Aerospace, under contract to NASA, for testing as a temporary module on the International Space Station (ISS) from 2016 to at most 2028, when the contract can not be further extended. It arrived at the ISS on 10 April 2016,[6] was berthed to the station on 16 April 2016, and was expanded and pressurized on 28 May 2016. Although originally planned to be a two year test, it has exceeded expectations and is used as additional cargo storage. The module is under ownership of NASA after Bigelow Aerospace suspended operations in 2021.

  1. ^ "Display: SpaceX CRS-8 2026-024A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ISS tweet 20160416 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference nasa-overview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference verge20160405 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference space20160410 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).