Thence comes SkyFac

"SkyFac" (an orbiting factory) was a key element of Spider Robinson's Stardance. Private space stations capable of being a SkyFac are becoming a possibility for the future.

Private space stations edge closer to reality

Bigelow is now eying 2015 as the year when the larger human-rated habitats will be in Earth orbit, ready for boarding. All that is predicated, however, on launch availability — be it on an Atlas 5 or the yet-to-fly Falcon 9 rocket under development by private booster builder Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX). It will take seven rocket flights, he said, to hurl the elements for the first Bigelow Aerospace complex into space.