Robert Bigelow
From The Space Library
Robert Bigelow
Robert Bigelow is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada with a background in real estate, banking and construction. In 1999, he founded Bigelow Aerospace and serves as its president. Bigelow Aerospace is a research and development company that concentrates on achieving economic breakthroughs associated with design, development and construction of habitable space stations. Personally holding six space-related patents, Mr. Bigelow has several more submitted and awaiting approval. Through his efforts, Bigelow Aerospace has acquired exclusive licenses for seventeen years on all NASA expandable technologies and docking systems. Under the guidance of Mr. Bigelow, Bigelow Aerospace is developing prototype inflatable spacecrafts, with the first flight scheduled in 2006. Deployment of full scale habitable space station modules could occur in 2009. Robert Bigelow is considered a pioneer with a dream of making space affordable for private enterprise.