I am sure if you read my blog routinely (What?  You don’t?  Shame on you!), you can recall I often say that science fiction is just science and/or technology that hasn’t happened yet.

And, one of my favorite reads on the web was “The Martian” by Andy Weir. And, when the book came out, my friend Jon Gelber passed it along to me.  The book demonstrated the capabilities of a good editor.  Since the story went from being interesting and good to being fantastic.  The movie, starring Matt Damon, was also good. (Trust me- the book was MUCH better.)   [Here’s the story how it went from blog to book to blockbuster movie.]

But, that just sets the stage for today’s blog.  In Andy’s story, Mark Watney gets abandoned on Mars.  Who has to deal with all sorts of trials.  And, demonstrates the “can do” attitude that we think is inimical- but actually severely lacking- in many of us.

The “home” Mark lives in on Mars is a semi-inflatable system.  And, now, at least that part isn’t science fiction anymore.   Robert Bigelow, an extended stay hotel magnate, is going to be sending his expandable space habitat to the International Space Station.   After spending some $ 290 million of his own money to develop the system.

The unit will be  (ok, now, after sitting in my queue, it HAS BEEN) flown by Elon Musk’s SpaceX  ferry into space, where it will be attached to the space station, inflated, and examined over the next two years to determine its capabilities for future missions.  This BEAM- the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module- is comprised of a “bulletproof” type material that will be inflated with air.

The tests will be examine its radiation resistance, temperature compatibility, and its ability to withstand space junk hitting it at some 8000 m/s (about 17500 mph).

Bigelow is counting on this module.  Because he is already constructing the B330, which is 20X as big.  Which Bigelow Aerospace expects to test before 2020.

NASA is hoping it works, too.  Because these habitats can be squished into tiny spaces for launches- and then expanded to full size use in space.   Without taking up much space or weight during transport.

This is starting to get very interesting.

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