Genesis Flight Scheduled

Just read of hobbyspace that the Genesis module is scheduled for flight on June 13th.

Full link and story here:
http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1402


And yeah the Bigelow website has also been updated.

Iain

nice post
wish we could find out more though!

The launch may be on a Dnepr. Bigelow wanted either the Kistler two-stage trashcan or Dnepr to place a prototype up with.

UR-100 is one of the smaller launch vehicles and is known as Rokot or Eurokot. This is good for a smaller payload.

If Bigelow goes for Dnepr--that is a Titan II/Delta II class rocket, based on the R-36M (SS-18 "SATAN") armoured ICBM, aka Voevoda. It is a re-engined version of the SS-9 "Scarp" (R-36, R-36-O) that is known as Tsyklon in civilian clothes.

In other words, it is a rough equivalent to the Gemini launch vehicles (LVs).

Here's some more info on Bigelow, big changes to their website coming soon and the launch is scheduled for the 16th.

http://michaelbelfiore.com/blog/2006/05 ... orbit.html

I am thinking of building a circular space hotel using multiple BA330s (docking them together on orbit) which will be almost as same as the space station in "2001 a space odyssey"
And we've got a futuristic and huge space hotel on orbit, that's cool

But it looks like the real issue may be political (Bigalow sounds quite worried about that one) and the number and cost of the launches. Alternatives are available and he isn't particularly wedded to the US launch providers although I imagine he was a bit disappointed that SpaceX didn't fly as they were offering a considerable reduction in cost.

It looks like the launch has been delayed to July 4th at the earliest.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13171475/

Yes I see it has been delayed till the 4th, there is also abit of a right up here at space.com

http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html

No real reason given why though.......
I guess we will find out closer to the time.


Iain
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www.kiwi2space.co.nz