NASA blew up this inflatable space station structure on purpose

Image: NASA

NASA and Sierra Space blew up another space habitat in June, and everyone is smiling about it. That’s because the full-size inflatable structure in this Ultimate Burst Pressure test only failed after exceeding NASA’s recommended x4 safety levels by 22 percent.

Sierra Space’s inflatable structure, known as a Large Integrated Flexible Environment, or LIFE, had its last stress test in January. LIFE is built from “basket-weaved Vectran fabrics” that strengthen once inflated. It’s intended as a component in the

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