for rent by governments, scientists, and tourists (see issue 15.11). Don’t laugh — he already has two prototypes in orbit. But max altitude of the Virgin Galactics of the world (this world, anyway) is only 68 miles. And with his stations 235 miles up, that’s not enough for Bigelow.

Thankfully, these crazy kids got together. In February, Boeing announced that it was partnering with Bigelow to design and build a capsule called the CST-100. And in September, Boeing teamed up with Space Adventures, a company that arranges civilian space flights. ($20 million! Cheap!) The Obama administration wants to encourage commercial crewed spaceflight, but without a guaranteed customer other than NASA, it’s been hard to attract big shots like Boeing. As the primary contractor for the ISS, Boeing already knows a lot about heavy-lift rocketry; throw in Bigelow’s knack for orbital facilities and Space Adventures’ experience training space cadets, and you’ve got the skill set necessary for building a business on the high frontier. Boeing is supposed to launch a CST-100 by 2015 — and Bigelow says he’ll launch his first full-size, six-person outpost soon thereafter. “If the ISS were the only destination, it wouldn’t make sense to develop this transport system as a business,” says John Elbon, Boeing’s vice president for commercial space programs. “If Bigelow succeeds, there will be a significant market.” If they take United Miles, we’re in.

Authors: Vince Beiser

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