LIFE Habitat
Inflatable space station module with a shell of layered high-strength fabric. It launches packed small and expands in orbit into a much larger living and working space.
Why it matters
Rigid metal modules are limited by the width of a rocket fairing. A soft-goods module that inflates in orbit can give a private station far more volume per launch, which matters as NASA plans to retire the ISS.
How the technology works
The shell is a woven fabric that packs tightly for launch and is pressurized once in orbit. Sierra Space has burst-tested the fabric shell to check its strength, and the module is part of its work with Blue Origin on the Orbital Reef station concept.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction