VIDEO: NASA Finally Completed BEAM Expansion After Failed Attempt

NASA and Bigelow Aerospace's monumental project, the first expandable module in space, was finally inflated after a failed attempt at pressurizing the balloon-like structure.

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) was sent to the International Space Station last April aboard the resupply rocket of SpaceX. The state-of-the-art inflatable balloon is the first of its kind. It will offer additional working and living space for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). And because it was sent to space deflated, it drastically lessened the cargo load of the resupply rocket.

Makers of the module, Bigelow Aerospace, is looking at developing more expandable living spaces on space and are hopeful on creating 'space hotels'.

 

BEAM was supposed to be inflated last May 26, with the whole world watching in a televised live streaming by NASA TV. But the operation was halted as NASA engineers observed that the module stopped expanding despite continuous pressurization.

Astronaut Jeffrey Williams led the team and was also responsible for initiating the inflation of the module. The team believes that the delay on the first attempt was because the module was packed too tightly making it harder to expand said a report by Telegraph.

BEAM finished the inflation last May 28 at exactly 4:44 pm, 10 minutes after the pressurization started. After the process was complete, it was then equalized with the pressure of the ISS. BEAM is under a test period of two years in space. The inflation went smoothly despite the popping sound during the process as reported by Space.Com.

According to NASA, leak checks will be performed on BEAM to affirm its 'structural integrity'. NASA astronaut Jeff Williams will be the first man to step inside the expandable module, which is set to happen within the week.

The successful procedure was greeted with excitement by former astronaut Scott Kelly.

"Congratulations to the @BigelowSpace and @NASA team! Great possibilities for future spacecraft!" said Kelly in a tweet.

BEAM is a proof of NASA's commitment to enabling the use of space for commercial purposes. Future commercial space travels may indeed occur because of the involvement of space agencies and private space technology companies, in this cause including NASA and ESA who expressed its intent to build a moon village.