The Bigelow company's Genesis 2 spacecraft was successfully launched on June 28, 2007 into space to test the possibility of building a hotel that would orbit the Earth
Genesis 2 is an inflatable modular spacecraft (a module - a unit of measurement used to create proportional relationships between the parts and the whole) designed and launched by Bigelow Aerospace, a private company owned by hotel magnate Robert Bigelow. The center of the spacecraft is flexible and inflatable, thus expanding into a larger structure after launch. It joins its sister Genesis 1. Genesis 1, a 1:3 scale prototype component that was launched on July 12, 2006 and weighs 1,360 kg, is 4.4 meters long and 1.6 meters in diameter. It expands to almost twice its diameter when it reaches the track. Genesis 2, which has the same dimensions as Genesis 1, was launched as mentioned on June 28, 2007, but compared to its predecessor, it contains additional devices for space experiments as well as items sent by private individuals for a fee.
Bigelow hopes to use inflatable technology to design a manned space station that will be launched into orbit by 2015. An inflatable spacecraft is considered a more attractive idea than a spacecraft made of solid components because it does not require much space in the launch vehicle, and therefore the cost of launching and placing it in orbit is cheap.
Genesis 2 was launched inside a Russian rocket, and was successfully separated from it after 14 minutes of launch time. Communication with the spacecraft began after a short delay, and it transmitted a series of images showing the solar panels unfolding. Spokespeople from the company said that the spacecraft is functioning properly, communication and air pressure data showed that these data are behaving as expected.
The Bigelow company wants to excite everyone in regards to space tourism - they hope to build hotels in space, which will house Nautilus, and will consist of a series of inflatable modular space structures reminiscent of a chain of hot dogs.
To cover the costs of the flight, the company's personnel sent inside the inflatable spaceship a collection of photos and items belonging to their enthusiastic customers, to be photographed in space. The company also hopes to run a bingo game in space in which players from Earth will participate. Another launch of a modular spacecraft, Galaxy, is planned later this year, which is described as halfway to a manned space modular home.
The company's founder, Robert Bigelow, invested about 500 million dollars in a project that competes with the space flight project of the Virgin Galactic company owned by Sir Richard Branson. before it becomes a success. As a result, Bigelow is offering a $50 million prize to anyone who can design a spacecraft that will fly five passengers to an altitude of 400 km before the year 2010.
The size of the Genesis 2 spacecraft is 4.5 meters and it is able to inflate and grow by another 2.4 meters. Let's recall that inflatable technology was tried by NASA back in the 60s.
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