inflatablespace habatit picture

[dragon]

Kind of cool picture from cameras mounted on the module. The word you see is Blair named after his daughter.

A day after launching into orbit, the privately-built Genesis 2 expandable module successfully relayed high-resolution images taken on June 29 during on-orbit checkout procedures.

The two pictures confirmed the operation of the inflatable module's camera system followed by download to the Mission Operations center for the Las Vegas, Nevada-based spaceflight firm Bigelow Aerospace. The testing will continue as the ground team perfects the acquisition of the Genesis 2 signal.

A camera on the interior of Genesis 2 captures a test image of the expansive space created by the inflation technology. In this early stage of checkout, this image was taken without all the spacecraft interior lighting turned on.

A picture on the end of one of the aft solar arrays looks toward the midsection of Genesis 2 as well as the forward solar panels.

Genesis 2 is the second inflatable module launched by Bigelow Aerospace as a prototype for future commercial space stations in Earth orbit. The U.S. firm launched its first spacecraft Genesis 1 in July 2006, which remains operational today.

An ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched Genesis 2 into space on June 28. The 15-foot (4.4-meter) module inflatable module is designed to expand to a diameter of about eight feet (2.54 meters) and carries 22 onboard cameras to relay scenes from both inside and outside the spacecraft. Personal items from paying customers, a "Biobox" with scorpions, ants and cockroaches, and a Space Bingo game are tucked inside the spacecraft as cargo.

Genesis 2 is also outfitted with two exterior projection systems designed to demonstrate the casting of messages onto the spacecraft's exterior "for ad purposes or just for fun," according to Robert Bigelow, head of the space company

link

[Mange]

Yeah, I saw the pics the other day. It'll be interesting to see the results of the Genesis module and then the final, production module.

[Mange]

Darn, that should be the Galaxy module.

[dragon]

Genesis, Galaxy don't care as long as the thing works. Because if it does it will open the door for a lot of commercial space stations, instead of relaying on the government and station such as the ISS, which is over budget, behind schedule and full of problems.

[Mange]

Genesis, Galaxy don't care as long as the thing works. Because if it does it will open the door for a lot of commercial space stations, instead of relaying on the government and station such as the ISS, which is over budget, behind schedule and full of problems.

Yes, but they also need to work (which both Genesis I and II has). The real field test seems to be the Galaxy module.

[Zixinus]

How much did the thing cost again?

[Resinence]

I think the real question is, how safe would you feel in an inflatable space station? I mean, it's pretty tough, but its hard to get over the whole "not solid metal" part.

[Enigma]

*wipes tear from eye* Dr. Schlock would be so proud.

How sturdy are those stations?

[AMX]

Genesis, Galaxy don't care as long as the thing works. Because if it does it will open the door for a lot of commercial space stations, instead of relaying on the government and station such as the ISS, which is over budget, behind schedule and full of problems.

Meh.
We don't need commercial space stations; we just need some common sense in the government programs.

[Howedar]

Genesis, Galaxy don't care as long as the thing works. Because if it does it will open the door for a lot of commercial space stations, instead of relaying on the government and station such as the ISS, which is over budget, behind schedule and full of problems.

Meh.
We don't need commercial space stations; we just need some common sense in the government programs.

Typical. What's wrong with governmental space programs? How don't they make sense? What would you do differently? How would you do it?

[Gil Hamilton]

What we need is Congress with common sense toward the Space Program. However, Michael Griffin is still a boob.

[Patrick Degan]

I think the real question is, how safe would you feel in an inflatable space station? I mean, it's pretty tough, but its hard to get over the whole "not solid metal" part.

Fairly safe. Let's face it: anything coming in at orbital velocity is going to punch through the shell whether it's made of metal or mylar. As long as it's not enough to open anything larger than a small hole, self-sealing chemical foam should do the job on it quite nicely.

[dragon]

I think the real question is, how safe would you feel in an inflatable space station? I mean, it's pretty tough, but its hard to get over the whole "not solid metal" part.

Fairly safe. Let's face it: anything coming in at orbital velocity is going to punch through the shell whether it's made of metal or mylar. As long as it's not enough to open anything larger than a small hole, self-sealing chemical foam should do the job on it quite nicely.

From what I've read in the research articles is actually more safe than a metal structure. Due to its multi layers of different materials, it's has better protection against radiation and micro debris.

[Lord Zentei]

*wipes tear from eye* Dr. Schlock would be so proud.

How sturdy are those stations?

Damn, you beat me to it.

And they're most probably sturdy: flexible materials include such stuff as kevlar, and the material doubtless has ripstops and suchlike. Consider modern car tyres with anti-blowout design.