ISS crew was unable to deploy an inflatable module BEAM – Interfax

Moscow. 26 of May. INTERFAX.RU – When deploying an inflatable module BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, “Bim”), an American company Bigelow Aerospace ( “Bigelow Aerospace”) on the International Space Station, experience a problem with one of the systems, “Interfax” a source in the rocket and space . industry

“Astronauts on the ISS are faced with the problem before filling air inflatable module BEAM on the supercharged control panel appeared refusal signal indicating that there is no evidence tape cutting, holding the module housing in the folded state.” – the source said.

He said that after a while the problem was solved. “Astronaut Jeffrey Williams, along with ground specialists are working to resolve the problem As a result, the astronauts managed to get confirmation ribbon cutting.” – He said,

Earlier, NASA reported that the deployment of the inflatable BEAM module has been postponed until May 27 <.. / p>

The module BEAM docked with the International space station (ISS) on April 16.

Earlier, some media reported referring to the director of programs of manned NASA space flight in Russia, Sean Fuller that NASA received Russia’s permission to launch to the ISS commercial inflatable module BEAM company Bigelow Aerospace.

The module weighing 1360 kg was created under a contract with NASA worth $ 17.8 million. It was delivered to the ISS on April 10 by a cargo ship Dragon private company SpaceX.

Earlier, Bigelow aerospace has fulfilled technology of transformable module by means of two experimental spacecrafts such as Genesis, which have been run by a Russian carrier rocket “Dnepr”.

BEAM is a hollow chamber volume of 3.6 cubic meters, which is inflated with air injection in 4.5 times up to 16 cubic meters. The module is designed for living and working of the future ISS crews. It is planned to attach to the gateway of a residential unit the Tranquility, cheat and use in an experimental mode for two years.

of the crew will have to visit members in it a few times to determine how reliable the outer shell of the inflatable compartment protects against radiation and space debris.

Russian cosmonauts will visit the US private inflatable BEAM module after it is fully deployed and activated.

The Rocket and space Corporation (RSC) “energy” plan to send inflatable module to the ISS Russian segment in the framework of the current federal space program up to 2025.