An Inflatable Space Room: The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module in Pictures

Expansion Scenarios

This animated image shows four ways BEAM may expand in orbit once it has been attached to the International Space Station.

BEAM Facts and Figures

This infographic gives facts about the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on April 8, 2016.

Bigelow Expandable Activity Module Image

William Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations, and Jason Crusan, director of the agency's advanced exploration systems division, view the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) in its compressed form at Bigelow’s facility in Las Vegas on March 12, 2015. BEAM will expand to just over 13 feet (4.01 meters) long and 10.5 feet (3.23 m) wide once it is attached to the International Space Station.

Inflatable Space Stations Explained (Infographic)

Bigelow Aerospace's BEAM expandable module will enhance the living area of the International Space Station. See how the BEAM module works in our full infographic.

Bigelow Aerospace's BEAM module

A mockup of Bigelow Aerospace's inflatable BEAM module is seen at the company's Las Vegas headquarters. BEAM, or the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, will be delivered to the International Space Station in 2015.

Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM)

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is seen during a media briefing where then-NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and President and founder of Bigelow Aerospace Robert T. Bigelow announced that BEAM will join the International Space Station to test expandable space habitat technology, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at Bigelow Aerospace in Las Vegas.

The BEAM on ISS

This image shows how Bigelow Aerospace's Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) will look after its arrival at the International Space Station.

Bigelow Module

NASA's then-Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and President and founder of Bigelow Aerospace Robert T. Bigelow talk while standing next to the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) during a media briefing where it is was announced that the BEAM expandable space habitat technology will be tested on the International Space Station, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 in Las Vegas.

Beam at the Space Station

New addition to the International Space Station, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) attached to Node 3 of the orbital complex.

Bigelow BEAM Contract

NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and President and founder of Bigelow Aerospace Robert T. Bigelow talk while standing next to the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) during a media briefing where is was announced that the BEAM expandable space habitat technology will be tested on the International Space Station, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 in Las Vegas.