With the space agency eyeing deep space destinations such as an asteroid and perhaps one day Mars – the systems could enable crews to travel deeper into the solar system than humans have ever been to do before.

Using a NextStep contract, Bigelow will work with NASA to investigate how the B330 platform might be used to support robust, safe and affordable human space flight to the Moon and Mars.

Mockups of Bigelow Aerospace inflatable spacecraft at the company's facilities. Photo Credit: Bigelow

"We're eager to work with NASA to show how B330s can support historic human spaceflight missions to the Moon and other destinations in cislunar space while still staying within the bounds of the Agency's existing budget," said Bigelow Aerospace's President and founder, Robert T. Bigelow. "NASA originally conceived of expandable habitats decades ago to perform beyond LEO missions, and we at Bigelow Aerospace look forward to finally bringing that vision to fruition."

What is NextSTEP?:

NextStep or Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships is a program that allows NASA to help promote the development of the private space sector while developing technologies it finds critical to further human spaceflight operations. These public-private partnerships seek to expand capabilities and opportunities in space. They are also designed, as NASA's website says, "…to expand the frontiers of knowledge…"

The B330:

The B330, unlike traditional space station habitats, is an inflatable design. The advantage is you gain more volume for a given mass. For example the Destiny module on the International Space Station (ISS) is a 15 ton section with a volume of 3,743 cubic feet (106 cubic meters). The B330 has a mass of approximately 20 tons but has a gigantic 11,654 cubic feet (330 cubic meters) of interior volume.

Artist's depiction of Bigelow Aerospace B330 inflatable habitat in orbit above the Moon. Image Credit Bigelow Aerospace