Tue, Nov 26, 2024
Inflatable Space Platform Moves Towards Certification
Sierra Space recently announced that its Large Integrated Flexible Environment 10 (LIFE 10) technology has completed its sixth successful stress test and fourth Ultimate Burst Pressure (UBP) test. This moves the platform one step closer to certification for human habitation.
LIFE 10 is Sierra Space’s new inflatable commercial space station structure. It is the one-third scale prototype of Sierra’s LIFE 285 habitat, which will inflate to a 27-foot wide, three-story structure meant to sleep four astronauts and house scientific experiments, a gym area, a medical center, and a gardening system. The device is meant to launch on a conventional locket and inflate once in low-earth orbit (LEO).
Sierra Space began the LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) test campaign in mid-2022. These initial tests were crucial for validating the inflatable habitat's design and meeting NASA's certification standards.
The latest test marked LIFE 10’s sixth stress test and fourth UBP test. It was held on October 29th at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The structure was able to withstand 255 psi of pressure before rupturing, far exceeding its previous 77 psi record. It also endured the highest load of any test so far.
The failure point of 255 psi is significantly higher than any NASA factor of safety guideline. The agency recommends a 4x factor of safety capability for LEO and lunar conditions, putting the minimum allowance at around 60.8 in LEO and 43.2 on the moon. The LIFE 10 has proven that it can withstand more than 16 times LEO pressure and 23 times for lunar environments. This allows Sierra Space to conclude UBP testing and begin work to certify the LIFE 10 for human habitation.
“Our company is fully committed to developing the necessary technology to ensure there is no gap in LEO when the International Space Station is decommissioned,” said Sierra Space CEO, Tom Vice. “We are leading the industry in the development of revolutionary expandable structures that will bring to life the world’s first end-to-end business and technology platform in Low Earth Orbit, enabling humanity to find the answers to some of the toughest problems faced on Earth.”
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