Spaceflight

Bigelow Aerospace founder Robert Bigelow has unveiled his business plan and prices for providing transportation to and from his planned low Earth orbit space complex and the leasing of sections of that private space station.

Speaking on 10 April at the Space Foundation's National Space Symposium Bigelow expects to offer four week stays in low Earth orbit for $11,950,000 in 2007 dollars, or $14, 950,000 in 2012 dollars. This will cover pre-flight training and transportation there and back. Interested parties can place a fully refundable deposit of 10% of the cost of the trip now.

Bigelow wants to have 14 professional astronauts working for him, providing training and taking the customers to the space complex. The space modules, which are based on the inflatable technology Bigelow has tested with his Genesis I spacecraft, will be outfitted with a galley, a life support system for six people and exercise equipment. There could also be private cabins. He is offering an extra four weeks at the space station for another $2,950,000 in 2012 dollars.

"We will offer a free [extra vehiclar activity] experience to our customers," Bigelow said at his 10 April symposium presentation.

As well as private individuals or groups Bigelow expects to have what he calls Sovereign Clients. They are governments and he wants to offer his space complex to the countries that have already visited the International Space Station. As well as governments Bigelow is aiming for a range of industries to use his space station. Those industries range from biotechnology to automotive. 

These governments and corporations could lease sections of the space station for confidential research work. Bigelow's leasing prices for the station modules are divided into full or half use of a module for a year or a month. To lease a module for a full year the lease price is $88 million. To lease half a module for a month the cost is $4.5 million.