Genesis II- Updates from Bigelow Aerospace

See original announcement of the successful Genesis II launch.

Las Vegas, NV 06/28/07 – Bigelow Aerospace has established contact with its second pathfinder spacecraft, Genesis II. Launched earlier Thursday from Yasny, Russia, Mission Control in North Las Vegas, Nev., made first contact at 2:20 p.m. PDT. Continue Reading...

Image taken outside of Genesis II. Source: BigelowAerospace.com

Not only has it made first contact already but it has also confirmed that it is successfully expanded and functioning correctly. During the past two days it was also able to send back some pictures of inside and outside of the module. (Two are on this page; the rest can be seen here). In the image of the inside you can see pictures of items that people paid to have sent into space through the "Fly Your Stuff" program. Also, in the coming weeks, Genesis 2 will start up its Bingo in Space game.

Difference Between Genesis I and Genesis II

Inside of inflated module; photos from
"Fly Your Stuff" program visible. Source: BigelowAerospace.com

Though identical in size and appearance on the outside--approximately 15 feet (4.4 meters) in length and 6.2 feet (1.9 meters) in diameter at launch, expanding to 2.54 meters (eight feet) in diameter after expansion in orbit--the two crafts differ substantially on the inside. One of the biggest upgrades has been the number, quality, and type of cameras on board. The Genesis 2 has 22 cameras compared to Genesis 1's 13. There are articulated cameras using dual FireWire and Ethernet camera interfaces and also a wireless camera for more exterior images.

Inside, sensors have been greatly improved with the addition of extra pressure, temperature, attitude control, and radiation detection sensors. With the added devices the craft will be sending back much more information in order to better characterize the low Earth orbit to prepare for an eventual manned spacecraft. The new improvements to the equipment will also help with the new habitat on board. Air and water-handling control systems, environmental sensors along with robotic manipulators are a part of the new additions aiding in preparation for the eventual accommodation of larger life systems.

The Genesis 2 also used a multi-tank inflation system as opposed to the single-tank method used on the previous Genesis. The multi-tank design increases the reliability of the inflation process and is testing methods for using multiple gas supplies that will be needed for future manned vehicles. Lastly, on the exterior, extra layers have been added to the outer shield in order to aid against micro-meteoroid damage and thermal management.
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It's truly amazing that Bigelow Aerospace has encountered almost no problems during their launch and deployment of their first two spacecraft. If this is any indication of the kind of success they will have with future manned vehicles it's difficult not to get excited and even harder not to be able to imagine a big demand for jumping on board Bigelow's inflatable space hotel modules. All I can say is that the future of Bigelow Aerospace looks incredibly promising right now and that I can't wait to see what they unveil next.

Related Articles:

• "Genesis I is About to Have Company"
  
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 3--Robert Bigelow
  
• Genesis I Completes Successful Launch into Space
• Bigelow Interviewed by MSNBC--Lunar Habitat in the Works
  
• The Top 10 Things to Experience in A Space Hotel
• About This Blog--My Purpose

"Genesis I is About to Have Company"

Note: Information on Genesis II has been updated.

Las Vegas, NV 06/28/07 – Genesis II, the second experimental pathfinder spacecraft by Bigelow Aerospace, has been successfully launched and inserted into orbit. The privately-funded space station module was launched atop a Dnepr rocket at 8:02 a.m. PDT from the ISC Kosmotras Yasny Cosmodrome located in the Orenburg region of Russia. Read More...

A Russian Dnepr rocket used for launching Genesis 2.
Actual photo is from the Genesis 1 launch. Source: BigelowAerospace.com

Just like its predecessor Genesis 1, Genesis 2 has also completed a successful launch into orbit. Barring any major mishaps during its deployment in space, the successful completion of this mission puts Bigelow Aerospace one step closer to launching a 'crew rated' spacecraft. The completion of Genesis 2 marks the halfway point to achieving this goal. Next in line is an entirely new model called Galaxy. Galaxy will have 45% more habitable space (16.7 cubic meters) than the two Genesis crafts. Bigelow plans to launch this sometime next year.

Following Galaxy is the Sundancer. The Sundancer will be the first 'crew rated' craft and is expected to be up and flying sometime in 2010. At a volume of 180 cubic meters, the craft will considerably dwarf all previous models and contain enough room for a crew of three. Once established in orbit, a connecting node and propulsion system is expected to be added in 2011 in preparation for Bigelow's final step in creating the first space hotel. The additions will eventually allow for the BA 330 module, a 330 cubic meter habitable volume craft, to dock with the Sundancer. Bigelow won't be wasting any time seeing as the two are to connect by 2012.

To compare the size of all of the planned (and current) modules the Bigelow Aerospace website has posted a growth chart. It really puts into perspective just how large this orbiting hotel will be.

With the launch of Genesis I and II, I believe we are in the midst of a very exciting time period that is about to unfold. Bigelow Aerospace corporate counsel Mike Gold, who was there to witness the launch, gave one of the best analogies describing this monumental moment in the private space industry. "With Genesis 1 we put one foot ahead of us. With Genesis 2 we put another foot ahead of us which means that we're walking," said Gold. "I look forward to running and what that's going to be like at Bigelow Aerospace."

The Bigelow Aerospace website will be posting updates soon as more information comes in once Genesis 2 passes over a SpaceQuest ground station in Fairfax, Virginia. Once they do I will soon likewise update with more information over their updates and the Genesis II module in general. Plus, I will definitely provide you all with some personal insight on the whole situation.

Related Articles:

• Genesis II- Updates from Bigelow Aerospace
  
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 3--Robert Bigelow (A look at one entrepeneur who has plans of putting hotels in orbit)
• Genesis I Completes Successful Launch into Space (1/3 scale model of space hotel launched)
• Bigelow Interviewed by MSNBC--Lunar Habitat in the Works
  
• The Top 10 Things to Experience in A Space Hotel
• About This Blog--My Purpose

New Player in the Game: European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company- Astrium

Inside of space jet cabin. Source: EADS.net

It seems that Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic are going to have some serious direct competition in the near future. The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, or EADS for short, has recently announced its plans to enter the suborbital space tourism race [see announcement]. The project leader, Marc Newsome, has said that they would like to begin the project in 2008 and if they are able to do so then a first commercial flight would possibly be available by 2012. Marc Newsome will be in charge of designing the interior cabin which is said to have "highly innovative seats [that will] balance themselves to minimize the effects of acceleration and deceleration, ensuring the greatest passenger comfort and safety." The Australian born designer has been named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. As Creative Director of Qantas Airways, he has also been responsible for the design of their entire fleet including the Airbus A380 and I can say from personal experience that Qantas has, by far, been the best airline with which I have traveled.

Space jet floating in suborbital space. Source: EADS.net

The Flight

The flight will consist of two stages on a space jet comparable to a business jet sized vehicle and will carry four passengers. The space jet will take off from a conventional airport and normal jet engines will carry the craft to an altitude of 12 km when the rocket engines will be ignited. In a mere 80 seconds the rockets will have propelled the space jet all the way up to an altitude of 60 km. The ship will receive enough boost from the rockets to lift it to its peak altitude of 100 km where it will hover weightlessly for 3 minutes and give tourists an incredible view of the Earth. Passengers will get plenty of opportunity to catch a view with the 15 windows, each 30% bigger than a standard jet window. The jet will then make its descent slowly until the jet engines can safely be initiated. The jet will then land at a standard airfield. In total, the entire trip will last between an hour and an hour and a half.

Below is the promotional video of a flight from EADS Astrium:

Financing

Estimated to cost around one billion euros, the project will largely be supported by private capital. Return on investment will from the emerging and very promising suborbital space tourism market. Astrium says that the price per ticket could be anywhere from €150,000 to €200,000. Following five years of operation, EADS Astrium hopes to have claimed 30% of the space tourism market.

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It seems that the private space industry is growing at an ever faster pace. I can only hope that this is just the beginning. My guess is that we will witness several other companies make announcements about entering the great private space race before 2012--especially if Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipOne and Bigewlow Aerospace's space hotels take-off (no pun intended). I do believe we are at the start of an exciting time period here.

Related Articles:

• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 3--Robert Bigelow
  
• The Manifest Destiny: Mark II (Essay on our destiny as humans to colonize space)
• Magnetic Launch System
• The Top 10 Things to Experience in A Space Hotel
• Summer Williams:The best cheerleader for space--Literally
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 2
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 1
• About This Blog--My Purpose

Bigelow Interviewed by MSNBC--Lunar Habitat in the Works!

It is a little late right now but here is a link to the awesome interview. Look for comments and analysis from me soon! In the meantime feel free to ask any questions about the article or mention anything that you feel should be addressed in my commentary.

Related Articles:

• Genesis II- Updates from Bigelow Aerospace
  
• "Genesis I is About to Have Company"
• Genesis I Completes Successful Launch into Space
• The Manifest Destiny: Mark II (Essay on our destiny as humans to colonize space)
• Lunar Dirt Factories? (A look at how lunar regolith could help us colonize the Moon)
• Recommended Space Blogs
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 3--Robert Bigelow
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 2
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 1
• About This Blog--My Purpose

Water Currently Flowing on Mars?!

"December 06, 2006
WASHINGTON - NASA photographs have revealed bright new deposits seen in two gullies on Mars that suggest water carried sediment through them sometime during the past seven years. "These observations give the strongest evidence to date that water still flows occasionally on the surface of Mars," said Dr. Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program continue reading..."

Before and after imagees depicting erosion. Source: NASA.gov

With liquid water this means there is an even greater possibility for life on Mars than previously thought. Other than potential life on Mars (and something the article fails to mention) is the potential of the situation.With liquid water underground the proposition of a permanent outpost doesn't seem so far fetched. The water could be used for fuel, energy, and obviously a water supply for humans. If there wasn't a reason to visit Mars with humans there certainly is one now.

This is also an interesting addition of knowledge concerning the possibility of terraforming parts of Mars or even all of it. There is already a tented city thats is going to be finished within the next year or two on Earth in Kazakhstan. Thats right, the same country that the character Borat is from... Now imagine for a moment, the 58th highest GDP country in the world with $125 billion in purchasing power [ref] ; what could a nation with $12.3 trillion [ref] accomplish? Building a tented outpost or colony on Mars doesn't seem that far fetched now. Imagine if another Paul Allen or Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic) decided to invest a better portion of their net worth into a similar tented outpost.

Projected images of the completed city of Astana. Source: BBC News
Take for example Robert Bigelow (previous post), he has spent a scant $75 million to research, develop, test, and launch Genesis I into orbit and it took him a mere 6 years to get to this point from absolutely nothing. Now look at NASA on the other hand... it has cost them over $100 billion since 1993 to get to the point where they are now with the ISS [ref]. And while Bigelow is prepared to spend a mere $500 million through 2015 to complete several space hotels and sell them for $100 million a piece NASA is estimating costs $300-500 billion. Keep in mind that this is only NASA's contribution to the ISS and doesn't include the 14 other countries involved. So, with the efficiency of private
companies a mission to Mars or even an establishment on Mars doesn't seem too far-fetched, especially with the recent interest from wealthy individuals.

Related Articles:

• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 3--Robert Bigelow (A look at one entrepreneur who has plans of putting hotels in orbit)
• Genesis I Completes Successful Launch into Space (1/3 scale model of space hotel launched)
• The Manifest Destiny: Mark II (Essay on our destiny as humans to colonize space)
• About This Blog--My Purpose

Genesis I Completes Successful Launch into Space

Inside Genesis I after successful inflation in space. Source: Bigelow Aerospace

The first huge step was completed in the Genesis project by Bigelow Aerospace. On July 12, 2006 the Genesis I module was launched on a Dnepr booster from the Yasny Launch Base in Siberia. According to the Bigelow Aerospace website (see page) the 1/3 scale model completed all its assigned tasks.





The exclusive article from Space.com reports,

"Thanks to a boost today from a Russian and Ukrainian rocket-for-hire company, a U.S. private space firm has sent a novel expandable module toward Earth orbit—and a step forward in providing commercial space habitats.

Bigelow Aerospace of North Las Vegas, Nevada is flying prototype hardware that the firm anticipates will advance habitable structures in space to carry out research and manufacturing, among other tasks. continue reading..."

Outside Genesis I after successful inflation in space. Source: Bigelow Aerospace

Genesis II has a launch date set for January 30, 2007 and looks to be on schedule. The Genesis II will run similar tests but will also allow non-employees to pay for small objects to be sent aboard the module for $295. Not too bad of a price to be able to brag that you sent a picture of yourself into space. I mean how many people can say they have a photo of themselves in space?

Anyways, the Genesis project is the precursor to the Nautilus space station module-- a 45 ft. X 22ft. inflatable SPACE HOTEL. It was initially a design concept by NASA that was inevitably trashed. That's where Robert Bigelow comes along and purchases the TransHab technology from them. Bigelow plans to produce several of the Nautilus Transhabs with a cool asking price of $100 million.


Related Articles:

• Genesis II- Updates from Bigelow Aerospace
  
• "Genesis I is About to Have Company"
• New Player in the Game: European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company--Astrium
• Money Backing the Private Space Industry.. Part 3--Robert Bigelow
  
• The Manifest Destiny: Mark II (Essay on our destiny as humans to colonize space)
• Bigelow Interviewed by MSNBC--Lunar Habitat in the Works
  
• The Top 10 Things to Experience in A Space Hotel
• About This Blog--My Purpose