First Expandable Space Habitat is 'Cold," Astronaut Jeff Williams Says

The journey to install and operate the first expandable habitat in space is no easy feat. NASA and Bigelow Aerospace have encountered obstacles along the way before finally inflating the module. And after months of waiting, astronaut Jeff Williams finally set foot inside the expandable module docked to the ISS since April this year.

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) was successfully delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) in April this year. BEAM, although attached to the ISS, remains independent from the spacecraft to ensure the safety of the crew on board. To access it, the latches had to be opened from inside the ISS.

BEAM was the first expandable space habitat deployed; it was developed by Bigelow Aerospace. Using inflatable modules will change the standards of space living in the future because the modules are smaller when transported and can expand into bigger habitable space.

It was inflated by using calculated pressurization on May 28 but not without a failed attempt on May 26. Astronaut Jeff Williams opened and entered the BEAM for the first time on June 6 which marks the beginning of the new frontiers of space habitats.

According to NASA, Astronaut Jeff Williams had the honor of being the first person to step inside the inflatable module to check the sensors and install equipment inside BEAM. Being the pioneer human being to step inside BEAM, Williams got to experience first what it is like to be inside the balloon-like module. Mission control recorded a 44 degrees temperature inside the 13-foot chamber. Although there is no evidence of condensation, Williams was quoted saying that the interior was "pristine" and "cold".

Cosmonaut Oleg Skipochka assisted during the opening of BEAM using headlamps since BEAM is still dark and empty. In the coming days, the ISS crew will install more sensors and equipment inside the module.

The expandable module, BEAM, will stay docked to the ISS for a two-year experimental period. NASA and Bigelow aerospace are seriously looking at developing this technology for future deep space explorations including the mission to Mars.

"This technology can be used in future designs for a mission to Mars," said Gary Jordan in a statement published by Japan Times.