SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace Join Forces to Offer Crewed Missions to Private Space Stations

Share:

Facebook
X
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Bigelow Aerospace (BA) have agreed to conduct a joint marketing effort focused on international customers. The two companies will offer rides on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, using the Falcon launch vehicle to carry passengers to Bigelow habitats orbiting the Earth.

According to Bigelow Aerospace’s President and Founder, Robert T. Bigelow, “We’re very excited to be working with our colleagues at SpaceX to present the unique services that our two companies can offer to international clientele. We’re eager to join them overseas to discuss the substantial benefits that BA 330 leasing can offer in combination with SpaceX transportation capabilities.”

The BA 330 is a habitat that will provide roughly 330 cubic meters of usable volume and can support a crew of up to six. Bigelow Aerospace plans to connect two or more BA 330s in orbit to provide national space agencies, companies, and universities with unparalleled access to the microgravity environment.

“SpaceX and BA have a lot in common. Both companies were founded to help create a new era in space enterprise,” said SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell. “Together we will provide unique opportunities to entities — whether nations or corporations — wishing to have crewed access to the space environment for extended periods. I’m looking forward to working with Bigelow Aerospace and engaging with international customers,” Shotwell explained.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will be capable of carrying seven passengers to orbit. With the company’s Falcon family of rockets, SpaceX says it is working to create the world’s safest human spaceflight system.

The companies will kick off their marketing effort in Asia. Representatives from Bigelow and SpaceX will meet with officials in Japan shortly after the next launch of the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft. That launch has a May 19th target date with a backup on May 22nd.

Share:

Facebook
X
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Picture of By National Space Society

By National Space Society

3 thoughts on “SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace Join Forces to Offer Crewed Missions to Private Space Stations”

  1. The BA 330 is to space stations what the IBM 360 was to mainframe computers. Originally, computers were so expensive that only powerful nations could build and operate them. With the introduction of the IBM 360 in 1965, even companies and universities could afford their own computer.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Don't Miss a Beat!

Be the first to know when new articles are posted!

Search
Categories

Follow Us On Social Media

JOIN THE
GREATEST ADVENTURE

Give The Gift Of Space: Membership For Friends and Family

Book Review

Archives


Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia
June 4 - 7, 2026

Recent Blog Posts

For the first time, the space elevator track at ISDC expanded to two sessions: the morning dedicated to powering the space elevator and the afternoon...
The energy around the National Space Society’s Young Professionals (YP) initiative was on full display at this year’s International Space Development Conference® (ISDC®), with strong...
At the Johnson Space Center today, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman symbolically handed the baton to Randy Bresnik, who will lead the four-person Artemis III...

NASA announces prime crew for critical orbital test flight of lunar landers The National Space Society congratulates the four-person prime crew and backup astronaut selected...

The National Space Society urges NASA to move swiftly on the Commercial LEO Destinations RFP and commit to immediately fly astronauts on commercial stations upon...

We are at the cusp of building an orbital industrial infrastructure and establishing human settlements in space. This book investigates what it takes to do...

Opinion By Burt Dicht NSS Space Coast Correspondent On April 19, I was at Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral and watched Blue Origin’s New Glenn...

From flags and footprints to foundations, NASA’s Moon Base is our Space Station moment: A report on the May 26 NASA press conference By Burt...

Your Doorway to New Worlds