Sierra Space and Max Space are competing in the inflatable-module, er, space. The pioneering work was done by Bigelow, with the Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) on the ISS. … but Bigelow haven’t updated their “news” since 2019.
It all seems a bit dangerous for LEO with all those Kessler shards flying about, even with better space-tugs. Luckily, buried in this EVA story, is coming an experiment to molniya out to 1400 km before pulling back to LEO.
For LEO I rate inflatable mods as best for nonhuman activity. The air should be low-pressure and no-oxygen. I can think of electronics and perishable storage. If the seal breaks, no-one gets hurt and the air we actually breathe isn't lost; if there's an electric short, no fires start. It's a bit of a pest to get over there and tweak something, but it won't need full EVA and, again, if there's a breach the mechanic can get reeled in quickly and won't, like, lose an eye.
Remote aeroponics are coming, also. Since this process gives off oxygen, I don't want it for electronics or storage. Here too, I don't rate as human-breathable; this is whither we dump as much CO2 as we can. We'll need, instead, circulation between this and the main station.
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