Bigelow Aerospace, LLC

Robert Bigelow’s dream of commercial space stations took root right here, at Bigelow Aerospace, LLC in North Las Vegas. Founded in 1999, Bigelow Aerospace isn’t just another company; it’s the embodiment of a singular vision. Robert Bigelow, the founder and president, poured his personal fortune, over $350 million, into this venture. He envisioned inflatable space modules, a technology initially developed by NASA’s TransHab project, as the key to affordable space habitation. Bigelow Aerospace secured exclusive commercial rights to this technology, setting the stage for a new era of space exploration. Imagine, inflatable modules compact enough for launch, expanding in orbit to create voluminous living and working spaces. Bigelow Aerospace didn’t just dream; they built. Two prototype modules, Genesis I and II, were launched in 2006 and 2007. These were followed by the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), which was attached to the International Space Station in 2016. Here in North Las Vegas, a team of roughly 150 employees worked tirelessly to make these projects a reality. Bigelow Aerospace aimed to be more than just a manufacturer. They envisioned a future where space becomes accessible to private individuals, researchers, and businesses. The company even developed pricing schemes for stays on their planned B330 space station, offering everything from transportation and training to essential consumables. Bigelow Aerospace, LLC, a place where the dream of space travel meets innovative engineering. This is the place where the future of space habitation was being designed.