Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: Sierra Space

Expandable space structure development has entered a new milestone at Sierra Space, a commercial firm working on their Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat.

The LIFE 10 article underwent burst testing on October 29th at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The structure ruptured at the highest pressure yet, 255 psi, and was the highest loading to date of any test article in the three-year restraint layer certification test campaign, Sierra Space announced today.

Moment of burst.
Image credit: Sierra Space

This sixth successful stress test was also the fourth Ultimate Burst Pressure test showcasing its Factor of Safety recommendations ahead of certifying the structure for human habitation.

Dream weaving

A key aspect of the work is evaluating and testing the use of “softgoods” to fashion expandable structures using Vectran, a weave of high-performance liquid crystal polymer fiber that’s stronger than steel when inflated.

Chief “dream weaver,” Shawn Buckley, vice president of Space Destinations and In-Space Infrastructure at Sierra Space, said that the inflatable habitat design is part of a roadmap to fabricate larger and larger expandable structures.

For more information on the LIFE expandable structure activities, go to my recent SpaceNews story – “Dream Chaser Space Plane and Inflatable Space Structures – Sierra Space Advances Agenda” – at:

https://www.leonarddavid.com/dream-chaser-space-plane-and-inflatable-space-structures-sierra-space-advances-agenda/