Sierra Space’s LIFE Habitat Successfully Completes Ultimate Burst Pressure Test

After successful completion of the Ultimate Burst Pressure Test with a one-third scale test article, Sierra Space becomes the only active commercial space company to meet threshold.

The test, which is the first of two sub-scale burst tests scheduled for 2022 in support of Sierra Space’s softgoods certification, used a one-third scale of Sierra Space’s LIFE inflatable habitat – which burst at 192 psi – exceeding the safety requirement of 182.4 psi. As a result, this stress test is among the highest publicly released data points for a softgoods UBP test at any scale.

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[Trex]

This looks as a very promising technology for future space habitats. Sierra Space, you're in the right path. Hope to see this module on future space stations, well done! 👍

[glipiglupi]

For those wondering about micrometeorites and radiation shielding:

Per the FAQ on their site:

If the LIFE habitat is made of fabric, what protects it from things like radiation, space debris, asteroids, etc.?

The LIFE habitat has a woven structural layer (pressure shell), called the restraint layer, which is strong enough to withstand the internal pressure required for the crew to live and work. It is protected by an MMOD multi-layer soft-goods shield that guards the habitat from space debris such as micrometeoroids. The layers of fabric, plus the internal outfitting, create ample safeguards against radiation.

[AndreyK]

Excited for this tech however many major questions remain as to its viability beyond getting pressurized like:
1. What is the long term over-pressure holding ability?
2. How many micrometeorite impacts can it withstand at different pressures?
3. All of the above questions under space condition temperatures, hot/cold?
4. Radiation shielding capability and effects of radiation on the fabric's strength derating?

[raptor]

To those who might not fully grasp just how impressive the strength of this module is, let's put it in perspective:
The air pressure at sea level on Earth, which is roughly around where they would keep the habitat inflated at, is 14.7 PSI.
By getting up to 192 PSI, the test article was able to withstand *_Thirteen times_* the amount of pressure it would need to hold under normal operating conditions. Any system that can withstand 1000% its normal load is impressive, but 1300% before failure is phenomenal!

[DestroyerWill]

In 10 years time I want to be able to say I was a subscriber to Sierra Space since 2022 when it had less than 10, 000 followers. It’s the future right here. Can I ask with 9m diameter how to you deal with someone being floating away from a wall and being marooned within the hab?

[AlikVolkov]

This is so awesome. Can't wait to see this in space!!

[therichieboy]

I can't wait to see this up and running!

[deanlawson]

This is amazing! Congrats and Great Job to Sierra Space engineers!!

[DSlyde]

Even if it is partially just PR its still awesome to see these behind the scenes snippets. I'm so glad this channel exists and I'm excited to see things progress.

[CorrelatedSolutions]

Nice work, everyone! We are super excited when we see digital image correlation (DIC) deployed to experimentally validate computational models in applications like these. DIC is the only technology that can provide full-field deformation measurements on soft materials like Vectran and other high-tech fabrics. Traditional strain gauges just can't do it. By identifying and measuring peak strains at the precise failure location in real-world tests, DIC becomes essential to researchers using FEA to develop new technologies. We can’t wait to see the DIC data from this important research!

[sum_rye_hash_]

I hope they start launching these soon, The Biglow module on the ISS has apparently doing great!

[Daniel_cheems]

Magnificent!
Congratulations to everyone involved!

[michaelreid]

Great result, thanks for sharing. For Mars or especially lunar habitats do you foresee additional surface layers or other protection such as rigid covers to protect against abrasive particle damage? Those Apollo era suits got destroyed pretty quickly on lunar EVA'S.

[markoreilly]

Did it actually "hold pressure" 100%, for a long period if time, before pushing it to destruction ?

[TheTarGonn]

Need to expose to the space level UV light and retest. Fabrics deteriorate quickly when exposed to sun.

[gregknipe]

this would be a meaningful presentation if there was an explanation for how the high pressure will be *maintained on the space station*, air locks involved, etc. pretty pictures though.

[MichaelSkinner-ej]

Is it possible to design an inflatable like a pipe fitting (tunnel), so that each module goes on like a bead on a bracelet- with each segment being twisted, bolted, and wrapped on To make a 25, 000 foot long diameter ring? After that, it would be nice to put carbon fiber plates on the outside to further increase its durability and stiffness, along with attachments for modules that can be detached when the time comes?

I understand each end has a smaller ring hatch, but would it be possible to make it wider like a tunnel so you can put scaffolding to walk continuously around the entire ring? And is it possible to design each hatch like a sphincter and an iris with a plug in the middle so each segment can be opened and closed off relatively easily?

After that, you could put lines across to each opposite end, stabilizing it, along with carbon fiber plating.

The idea is that once it’s inflated and plated, you have a hatch/corridor at either end to go around the ring continuously, and hatches/ attachments (on the plating) perpendicular to lay modules to build out an O Neil Cylinder.

After the initial stainless steel ring is made and you have crew quarters/warehousing setup, the inflatable ring can detach and drag chains/cables to the other end 200, 000 feet in the opposite direction and then you can travel along the lines and fill in the stainless steel tube with relative ease.

[avraam]

It's harder than steel when inflated? But can it stop a 50 BMG?

[hadleymanmusic]

Polyurethane filled inner wall cells? Like inflate it then fill it with A B poly urethane ??? Possibly even dope it with barium for ray repellant or ceramic for emegency shuttle wing cracks

[FlyXenonRC]

Isn’t 1 atm 15 psi? It’s awesome that the module can make it to 190 psi but that’s more than 10x what it needs to be