Explosive Tests and Affordable Infrastructure: The Future of Inflatable Space Stations

Sierra Space, a Colorado company, conducted a burst test on an inflatable module design for the Orbital Reef space station. The test involved deliberately exploding the module, which included a metal plate, to test its limits. The module, called LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment), showed a 33% margin over the certification standard for a full-scale module, marking a nearly 20% improvement over previous designs. Sierra aims to have the module ready by 2030 for the Orbital Reef space station led by Blue Origin. NASA is also laying the groundwork for future commercial space stations to replace the International Space Station, with plans for a two-year transition period.