NASA Astronaut Takes First Steps Inside Inflatable Habitat Attached To The ISS

The module will stay attached to the ISS for two years.
NASA/BEAM

NASA astronaut Jeff Williams has become the first person to bravely step inside the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM as it's known for short.

BEAM is a large inflatable habitat module that has recently arrived at the International Space Station.

BEAM/NASA

It's the first of its kind and the hope is that in the future these 'flat packed' rooms can become the basis of future space stations.

The BEAM was launched to the ISS a few weeks ago and then slowly inflated once attached to one of the ISS's docking hatches.

There were some problems reported at first when opening the room but NASA later reported that the expansion had ended successfully.

BEAM/NASA

Of course the next step is actually going inside the room.This unenvious task was given to Jeff Williams who would, rather bravely, be the first to see if an inflatable room can protect a person as much as the International Space Station's conventionally rigid modules.

So what did Williams think? Well he reported that while the BEAM looked "pristine" the habitat was very cold inside.

While the team have full confidence in BEAM's ability to stay airtight the module will be sealed each time the crew are finished, just to be sure.

BEAM will be sticking around for a while too, the module has a planned life on the ISS of two years.

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