Watermelons In Space!
The inflatable experimental spacecraft Genesis 1 has successfully sent pictures back to ground controllers and all systems appear to be operating better than anticipated. (Earlier post here).
Genesis I sent back several photos Thursday taken by its dozen cameras showing sections of the craft, according to its builder Bigelow Aerospace. The company declined to publicly release the images.
The experimental spacecraft rocketed into space Wednesday from Russia on a mission to test technology that could be used to build an inflatable commercial space station.
Genesis I was healthy with functional onboard computers, solar panels, battery power and pressure systems, said company founder Robert Bigelow.
"All systems are operating," Bigelow said in a brief statement posted on his Web site.
Bigelow, owner of the Budget Suites of America hotel chain, has lofty dreams of building an expandable orbital outpost by 2015 to be made up of several Genesis-like satellites tied together.
He has promised to invest $500 million to build a space habitat that could be used as a space hotel, science lab or sports arena.
But first, engineers must test the inflatable technology. Over the next five years, they will study how well Genesis I can withstand space radiation and micrometeoroids. Future missions will focus on docking between spacecraft — another key component to having a flexible commercial space station.
….
Seven hours after entering orbit, mission controllers confirmed the watermelon-shaped craft, which measured 14 feet long and 4 feet wide at launch, successfully inflated to twice that width.
I see an enormous advertising opportunity here for certain, ahem, products of a highly personal nature.
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Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » Genesis-1 Update — Friday, 21 July , 2006 @ 8:02 pm
