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"The answer to the problem of information overload on the Net is reputations… engineer a system called a reputation server."
- Neal Stephenson

Inflatable Expansion Bubble  
  Inflatable chamber to provide temporary additional space for cramped space craft.  

Space travel in Niven's Known Space stories is best accomplished with one of the General Products hulls; however, space inside was typically very limited. Additional space for exercise or living was available in the form of inflatable expansion bubbles.

We were in the expansion bubble when it happened. The bubble had inflatable seats and an inflatable table and was there for exercise and killing time but it also provided a fine view; the surface was perfectly transparent.
From Crashlander, by Larry Niven.
Published by Del Rey in 1994
Additional resources -

The bubble itself could be unfolded without air pressure using an electromagnetic field (normally used to collapse the bubble after use).

(Thanks to Winchell Chung for suggesting this item.)

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Crashlander
  More Ideas and Technology by Larry Niven
  Tech news articles related to Crashlander
  Tech news articles related to works by Larry Niven

Inflatable Expansion Bubble-related news articles:
  - Genesis Pathfinder: Space Inflatable Module
  - Genesis Inflatable Space Module Gets Go-Ahead
  - Bigelow Genesis I Inflatable First Look
  - Genesis 2 Successfully Inflates Module

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