LONGECITY

The first room was launched for the planned human space complex that is planned to be accessible to the commercial sector by 2015. (link) Evidently, Bigelow Aeorspace began operations in 1999 and is mostly funded by its founder, Robert T. Bigelow, who has invested almost $75 million of his own money--about 95 percent of the total expenditures as of April 2006, and expects to spend up to $500 million from his own pocket to get his space complex off the ground by 2015. Bigelow hopes to recoup some of its costs by winning America's Space Prize of $50 million, which rewards the first private spacecraft to send a crew of at least five people on a journey of at least two orbits and return them safely back to Earth by January 10, 2010. (same type of concept at the X Prize)









"Bigelow plans to launch its space complex into orbit in sections that will be powered by large solar cells."



"While in orbit, the sections will inflate to their full size."



"The sections will be assembled into a space complex that will have room for rockets to dock and return to Earth."



"Here, this artist's model shows supply rockets on three sides of the space complex."

I wish this man the best luck. The BEST thing that could happen is that this man develops a customer base. Consumer power is one of THE driving forces of progress in our society (so spending you money on progress is the best way to spend it, and spending it on something wasteful not only has opportunity cost but also impedes progress), and as soon as private innovation starts working in space, the faster we'll see dividends.

If you can get people to start putting pennies away now, with the intention of purchasing a trip, you'll kick-start these efforts.

(Nice pictures, btw)

Edit: people may not think they can afford the early trips; and they're right. However, with compounding interest on savings and the fact that innovation will bring prices down, if they put money aside regularly they will eventually be guaranteed to be able to afford a trip.

http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/

Too bad the real pictures of the test module are not so great. I thought they would have some nicer pictures or better cameras on board.

Yeah, they are a bit grainy, but still cool!











I wouldn't mind taking a trip into space if the price comes down sufficiently.

Actually, Bigelow isn't interested in winning America's Space Prize, he is its sponsor. He needs someone to develop reliable reusable passenger launch capabilities in the US private sector to deliver passengers to his planned orbital hotel and planned lunar cruiser.