/technology
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- An aerospace company is negotiating to use a military rocket to ferry hardware, crew and cargo to a planned commercial space station, privately-held Bigelow Aerospace said Tuesday.
Bigelow plans to build and operate an expandable commercial orbital outpost in late 2011 but needs the use of a reusable launch vehicle.
The deal, if approved, would include six initial launches of an Atlas V rocket, said Mike Gold, Bigelow's corporate counsel.
The rocket is made by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co.
Lockheed offers commercial Atlas launch services through its subsidiary, Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services.
The talks began in December and a deal is expected soon, Lockheed spokesman Charles Manor said.
Since 2006, Bigelow Aerospace, founded by Las Vegas hotel magnate Robert Bigelow, has successfully launched two prototypes aboard Russian rockets to test the space station technology.
The company plans to build an expandable space complex made of several modules strung together like sausage links.
A four-week stay would cost about $15 million, the company said. E-mail to a friend 
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