Robert Bigelow is an American entrepreneur and space enthusiast known for his significant contributions to the aerospace industry. He is the founder of Bigelow Aerospace, a private space technology company that focuses on the development and manufacture of expandable space habitats.
Born on May 12, 1945, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Robert T. Bigelow has made remarkable strides in advancing space exploration and fostering the development of commercial space habitats. He is known for his research on paranormal phenomena, including the investigation of various ranches.
Skinwalker Ranch in Utah gained prominence for its alleged paranormal and unexplained activities. Robert Bigelow’s interest in paranormal research led him to acquire the ranch in 1996. Through his research organization, the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS)[1], Bigelow conducted investigations into the reported phenomena occurring at the ranch. NIDS collected data and documented numerous accounts of UFO sightings, strange creatures, crop circles, and other anomalous occurrences.
Although Bigelow sold the ranch in 2016, his involvement played a significant role in bringing attention to Skinwalker Ranch and the paranormal phenomena associated with it. Apart from Skinwalker Ranch, Robert Bigelow and his team at NIDS explored other locations believed to be hotspots for paranormal activities. Located in Arizona, Stardust Ranch gained attention for its purported encounters with extraterrestrial beings, UFO sightings, and battles with aggressive alien entities.
Bigelow and NIDS investigated the ranch to gather data and investigate the claims made by the property’s owners. Sherman Ranch (also known as the UFO Ranch or the Uintah Basin Ranch) is situated in Utah near Skinwalker Ranch, another site of interest for paranormal research.
It reportedly experienced similar phenomena, including UFO sightings, strange creatures, and unexplained events. NIDS conducted investigations at this ranch as well. Mt. Wilson is a property once owned by Robert Bigelow. It is near the Nevada Test Site and Area 51[2]. It was investigated by Bigelow’s team for ten years and thought to contain mysterious tunnels that lead to a buried UFO.
Bigelow’s journey in the aerospace industry began in the 1990s when he founded Bigelow Aerospace in 1999. The company’s main objective was to develop expandable habitats for use in space.
Bigelow recognized the potential of expandable modules due to their reduced launch volume and increased habitable space when compared to traditional rigid structures. These modules could be used for a variety of purposes, including research, tourism, and potentially supporting long-duration space missions. One of the notable achievements of Bigelow Aerospace was the successful deployment of its first two experimental modules, Genesis I, and Genesis II. Launched in 2006 and 2007, respectively, these inflatable habitats demonstrated the feasibility of expandable modules in space.
They served as test beds for various technologies and provided valuable data for future developments. In 2010, Bigelow Aerospace partnered with NASA to demonstrate the concept of expandable habitats on the International Space Station (ISS).
The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM)[3] was launched in 2016 and attached to the ISS for a two-year testing phase. This collaboration aimed to validate the performance and durability of expandable habitats in the harsh environment of space.
Apart from his involvement in space technology, Robert Bigelow has also expressed a strong interest in the study of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and extraterrestrial life. More recently, Bigelow founded Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS)[4] in 2020, which aims to explore the nature of consciousness and its relationship to the physical world.
Throughout his career, Robert Bigelow has been a proponent of the commercialization of space and has emphasized the importance of private sector involvement in space exploration.
He has been actively advocating for the establishment of commercial space stations and habitats, foreseeing a future where space is not solely the domain of government agencies.
Footnotes
- The National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) was a research organization founded by Robert Bigelow in 1995. NIDS focused on investigating various paranormal and unconventional phenomena, including UFO sightings, cattle mutilations, and other unexplained occurrences. The institute conducted scientific research, collected data, and documented cases through field investigations and collaborations with experts in relevant fields. NIDS played a significant role in studying locations like Skinwalker Ranch and other sites associated with anomalous activity, aiming to advance our understanding of these phenomena. While NIDS ceased operations in 2004, its work and investigations have contributed to the exploration of paranormal and fringe scientific subjects. [Back]
- The Nevada Test Site, now known as the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), is a vast area of land located approximately 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. Established in 1951, it served as a primary testing ground for nuclear weapons by the United States during the Cold War era. Over 1,000 nuclear tests, including atmospheric and underground detonations, were conducted at the NTS until a comprehensive test ban treaty went into effect in 1992. Today, the Nevada National Security Site continues to be used for non-nuclear experiments, including research on nuclear materials, emergency response training, and the development of advanced technologies. Area 51, also known as Groom Lake, is a highly classified U.S. Air Force facility located within the Nevada Test and Training Range. Situated about 83 miles northwest of Las Vegas, it has been the subject of intense speculation and conspiracy theories, largely due to its secretive nature. Officially, Area 51 has served as a test facility for classified military aircraft and weapons systems. It is believed to have played a role in the development and testing of advanced aircraft, including experimental and reconnaissance planes like the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, and F-117 Nighthawk. Due to its restricted access and classified operations, Area 51 has captured the public imagination and has become synonymous with alleged UFO and extraterrestrial-related conspiracies. [Back]
- The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is an inflatable habitat module developed by Bigelow Aerospace that provides additional living and working space for astronauts in space missions. It is designed to be lightweight and compact for easy transportation to space, and once in orbit, it is inflated to create a pressurized environment. BEAM was attached to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016 as a demonstration project in collaboration with NASA, allowing for the evaluation of its performance and capabilities in the space environment. The data collected from BEAM’s deployment and usage contributes to the development of expandable habitat technologies for future space exploration and habitation. [Back]
- The Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) is an organization founded by Robert Bigelow in 2020 dedicated to the scientific exploration of consciousness. BICS focuses on studying the nature of consciousness, its relationship to the physical world, and its potential implications for human experiences. The institute aims to support and conduct research projects, collaborate with leading scientists and institutions in the field of consciousness studies, and promote a better understanding of this fascinating and complex aspect of human existence. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources
- Bigelow Aerospace Official Website: https://www.bigelowaerospace.com/
- Bigelow Aerospace – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigelow_Aerospace
- Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) – NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/beam.html
- Robert Bigelow – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bigelow
- The New York Times – Far-Out Entrepreneur’s Latest Frontier: House for Rent in Orbit: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/science/bigelow-aerospace-space-station.html
- Skinwalker Ranch – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinwalker_Ranch
- The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch – History Channel: https://www.history.com/shows/the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch
- The New York Times – Far-Out Entrepreneur’s Latest Frontier: House for Rent in Orbit: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/science/bigelow-aerospace-space-station.html
- Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah by Colm A. Kelleher and George Knapp (Book)
- Mysterious Skinwalker Ranch Investigation – National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/06/skinwalker-ranch-paranormal-ufos-science/
