Las Vegas-based developer Bigelow Aerospace's has released further images of its subscale inflatable habitable space complex technology demonstrator, Genesis I.
Taken from one of the seven exterior cameras aboard the unit that could pave the way for space accommodation, the two pictures were shot after the spacecraft's orbit had been stabilised using the spacecraft's attitude control system (ACS). The ACS slowed the rotation of the satellite from one revolution every six minutes, to less than 1rev/100min, or about once per orbit.
The spacecraft has also achieved a gravity gradient stabilized orbit, where the major axis of the vehicle is pointing at Earth throughout its orbit. This will help the duration and reliability of Bigelow's communication links with the spacecraft.
Showing its exterior and solar panels with the Earth and the Sun in the background, the company released the images on 14 August. The demonstrator is orbiting at 550km (350miles) altitude, at a 64˚ plane, after its launch by an International Space Company Kosmotras Dnepr rocket at 14:54 GMT on 12 July. Once in orbit the spacecraft, based on NASA-developed technology, inflated itself, deployed its solar arrays and transmitted data to Bigelow Aerospace’s mission control.
Bigelow's aim is to validate expandable structures as a certificated spaceflight technology to eventually provide a low-cost, low earth orbit (LEO) space complex that is accessible to the commercial sector.
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Above: Genesis 1 with Sun and Earth in background |
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Above: Genesis orbiting a cloudy Earth |
Genesis I was to be the first of 6-10 planned demonstrators that would have been flown by 2010. But a decision by the company to accelerate its plans, because of its success with Genesis I, means the company may fly its full-scale vehicle much earlier than the previous target date of 2012.
The company’s full size habitable complex is called BA-330. Suggested uses for the BA-330, which the company also calls a Commercial Space Complex, include a space hotel. The Moscow based International Space Company Kosmotras is a joint venture between Russia’s Federal Space Agency and the National Space Agency of the Ukraine. Created in 1997 its Dnepr Space Launch System uses converted SS-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
