(CNN) May 28, 2016 – NASA successfully inflated its first expandable space habitat Saturday and now it’s almost ready for astronauts to step inside.
Scientists fully inflated the experimental habitat called BEAM, which is attached to the International Space Station. The pressurization process began at 4:34 p.m. ET and 10 minutes later, all eight tanks reached full pressurization, according to NASA.
NASA TV called it a “very successful day.”

The International Space Station now hosts the new fully expanded and pressurized Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM).

During the next week, NASA will conduct leak checks throughout the BEAM, which stands for Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. If all goes well, astronaut Jeff Williams is expected to make his first entry into the module in about a week.
BEAM looks like a bulbous, onion-like tent protruding from the space station.
But NASA has pinned hopes on expandable equipment such as BEAM because it is lighter and more compact than the metal structures that have been traditionally sent to orbit. Also, the space agency hopes such smaller loads can mean deeper exploration into space.
As NASA prepares for its journey to Mars in the 2030s, it’s looking for new technology that will help humans go to places they’ve never traveled to before.