Genesis I space habitat launched

[Dr Mordrid]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060712/ap_on_sc/private_space_station

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigelow_Aerospace

http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/multiverse/news.php

Genesis 1 Pathfinder is a 1/3 size (3,000 lbs/1,400 kg; 15 ft (5 m) long & 12.4 ft (3.8m) diameter inflated) testbed of Bigelow Aerospace's inflatable space habitat based on NASA's TransHab. Genesis uses multiple fabric layers interwolven with Vectran (2x stronger than Kevlar) over an inflatable bladder. It was boosted by a Russian rocket, but control will be done from Bigelow's Nevada HQ.

Bigelow see's inflatable habitat modules as a faster/cheaper/lighter method for building sapce stations and providing habitats for long space missions, the moon, Mars etc. NASA must think so too as they are still involved with Bigelow's efforts.

Genesis 1 Pathfinder:


Full size Neptune module cutaway: (50,000 lb (23,000 kg); 45 ft (14m) x 22 ft (6.7m))


Bigelow's goal, a commercial space station:

Mission News Update

July 12, 2006

BREAKING NEWS

Genesis I Mission Update

4:15 PST

Bigelow Aerospace mission control has begun to acquire information from the Genesis I spacecraft. The ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket has flawlessly delivered the Genesis I into the target orbit of 550km altitude at 64 degrees inclination. The internal battery is reporting a full charge of 26 volts, which leads us to believe that the solar arrays have deployed.

The internal temperature of the spacecraft is reported to be 26 degrees Celsius and we have acquired the spacecraft's Global Positioning System (GPS) signal that will enable us to track the ship in flight.

We have initiated communication with the ship's onboard computers and expect to download more information over the next few hours.

5:20 PST

Bigelow Aerospace has received confirmation from the Genesis I spacecraft that it has successfully expanded.

We have also confirmed that all of the solar arrays have been deployed.

[Jessterw]

Haven't been following this that closely, and no doubt they've planned for this, but any idea how well the vectran fabric shell holds up to the standard debris that is present? Always heard it theoretically should be a good deal stronger (or less prone to critical damage) than the current hard shells.

Good to see they've gotten as far as testing it in situ.

[Dr Mordrid]

That's what the Pathfinder series is to find out. If it works and they can assemble 300 cu/m Nautilus modules into a space station using their hub tech it'll rock. You could use 'em for stations, ships....whatever with a very low launch weight.

[Dr Mordrid]

Update:

The U.S. Space Command has catalogued the Genesis-1 as object 29252, giving it an International Designation Code of 2006-029-A. Using their tracking network, they have listed the module in a 345 x 349 mile (555 x 561 kilometer) orbit, with a 64.5 degree inclination.

Orbit;

http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?Session=kebgcceipaklkbadmepcpaig&satid=29252

Realtime satellite tracking;

http://www.n2yo.com/?s=29252

Dr. Mordrid