"GENESIS I: An inflatable satellite? Believe it. Genesis I, launched last week by Russia for a private aerospace firm, blew up like a balloon when it reached Earth orbit on July 12th. The mission tests an unorthodox idea, that inflatable modules might be used to build future space stations. So far so good," reports Bigelow offering this live image.
Bigelow, a low tech guy who never sent an e-mail, runs his space plant the way he built his fortune in real estate: On a tight leash, overseeing every little detail in person. Image of the Nautilus prototype in Las Vegas, courtesy of Bigelow Aerospace (click to enlarge). <br><br>
Robert Bigelow (left) parted briefly with his prototype space hotel to attend a space conference in May. Here with Rick Searfoss (right) Astronaut and Space Shuttle commander. Image ExplorersWeb (click to enlarge). <br><br>
People will enter Sundancer (based on scrubbed NASA project TransHab) through airlocks into a shirtsleeve environment. Image of TransHab courtesy of NASA. (Click to enlarge).
Hello from Bigelow's first inflatable Space Budget Suites prototype!

Posted: Jul 18, 2006 04:07 pm EDT
Genesis I blew up like a balloon when it reached Earth orbit on July 12th. Robert Bigelow reports that all systems are working well. Launched last week by Russia aboard a converted Cold War ballistic missile, the inflatable satellite is a remarkable step to future space hotels. The 30-ft balloon, testing inflatable modules for future space stations is now orbiting Earth and can even be seen from here (check SpaceWeather.com for flybys). <cutoff>

Bigelow's inflatable Space Station is the most interesting private space project right now. A self-made man, the Las Vegas Budget suites owner keeps a close eye on every detail including a close relationship with the inflatable space ship's original creator, NASA senior Engineer Schneider.

While waiting for Elon Musk's Falcon to take off, Bigelow contracted the Russian/Ukrainian rocket-for-hire company ISC Kosmotras, to launch the one-third scale version of the hotel dubbed Genesis into orbit.

Several pics and a brief report are available on Bigelow's website. The current mission will focus on the inflation process; next Bigelow missions will test docking among spacecraft and a full-scale mock-up is slated to launch in 2012.

<i>The most interesting private space project right now is perhaps Bigelow's inflatable Space Station. Robert is betting 500 million of his own money on the project. So far, $75 million has been spent.

If it works out, the Las Vegas Budget suites owner will not only be able to offer tickets at 8 million dollars, or rooms at 1 million per night - but he'll build a chain...on the Moon, Mars - and beyond.

TransHab inflatable space station was created by NASA in 1997. The work was abruptly cancelled in 2000, possibly for political reasons. Robert bought the entire setup including engineers and re-named the station Nautilus.

An inflatable station weigh much less than a regular one, and offers more space. After a rocket fires a Nautilus into space, explosive bolts will inflate the structure and release breathable air. Power comes from solar panels that unfold from bulkheads at each end of the module.

People will enter through airlocks into a shirtsleeve environment of living and working space. "Skywalker" - a docked rocket engine will allow the station to maneuver within Earths orbit or even leave it for a trip to the moon.

Although the project is far gone in terms of hardware, much of Robert's 500 million space budget still remains intact. Bigelow, a low tech guy who never sent an e-mail, runs his space plant on a tight leash controling everything, watching the work of the machinists like a hawk and signing off on all of his engineers designs. When engineers theorize about parts, Robert says, 'Build it. Lets see what it does.'

A self-made man, Bigelow builds his space hotel the way he runs his real estate: Hire the best people, use the best materials, and stay on time and on budget, using off-the-shelf components whenever possible. It's this approach that grants him a great chance of success among betting scientists.

He keeps a close relationship with NASA and TransHab's original creator, NASA senior Engineer Schneider visits the plant every few weeks to provide guidance.

Nautilus is being built on a 50-acre, three-building facility at the outskirts of Las Vegas, guarded by men wearing black shoulder patches, featuring an oval-eyed alien face outlined in silver and gold. Veteran space-travel engineers are perfecting the technology, and a $50-million prize is set up to find the best vehicles for the commute.

Much as the case is for his Las Vegas suites, Bigelow is in the hands of others when it comes to transportation to the hotel. Carrier bets are spread between American SpaceX, Russian launch vehicles - and/or winners of Robert's $50 million American Space Prize.

The Prize money will finally go to the first privately funded spacecraft that can send five people into orbit, dock with a Bigelow Aerospace habitat and stay there for 6 months. The deadline for the Prize is set for January 10, 2010.

Bigelow set up his goal to go to space already as a kid. To get the money needed, he went straight into real estate. By 1999 Bigelow had made a fortune, and was investing millions into UFO and paranormal research. His National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) was set up in 1995. (Bigelow Aerospace text adapted in part from PopularScience.com) </i>














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