Is Robert Bigelow Still Alive
Robert Thomas Bigelow is alive and remains the founder and president of Bigelow Aerospace. He was born in 1944 or 1945 and built his wealth through hotel chains and real estate before shifting focus to space ventures according to Forbes. He has not issued any public statement confirming retirement or incapacity in recent filings.
Public records, company registrations, and recent interviews indicate he continues to direct the company and its research agenda. He remains the controlling figure behind the Bigelow Aerospace portfolio, which includes experimental expandable habitat concepts and related intellectual property.
Bigelow Aerospace Current Status
Bigelow Aerospace remains an active private space company focused on expandable space habitat technology. The company has collaborated with NASA on concepts such as the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module and continues to develop next-generation inflatable structures for low Earth orbit and deep space missions as noted by NASA.
The company has pursued partnerships with government agencies and commercial clients to advance its habitat technology. Its research pipeline includes designs for orbital platforms, lunar shelters, and potential in-space manufacturing modules, with ongoing testing of deployment mechanisms and radiation shielding approaches.
Robert Bigelow Net Worth and Investments
Robert Bigelow's net worth is estimated in the billions, derived largely from his earlier hotel and real estate ventures. He founded Budget Suites of America and expanded a portfolio of extended stay hotels, which generated the capital later directed toward aerospace research and development per Bloomberg.
He has allocated significant personal funds to Bigelow Aerospace and related research initiatives, including the National Institute for Discovery Science. His investment strategy focuses on long term, high risk aerospace development rather than short term returns, with the company retaining a lean operational structure centered on technology prototyping and intellectual property generation.