Bigelow Aerospace, A new Genesis in space Options

[ljk4-1]

To quote:

On June 16, he'll use a Russian Dnepr rocket to launch a 1/3-scale Genesis model of his planned commercial orbital space station. That much has been public for a while. What I didn't learn until just now is what will be on that module.

Freefloating inside will be 1,000 photocards and small personal objects contributed by Bigelow employees. If all goes well, those items will be continuously blown throughout the pressurized module in a kind of space collage. Six onboard cameras will stream video to Bigelow's new website, which will launch tomorrow or Friday. Seven external cameras will provide views of the Earth from space and the outside of the module.

If that doesn't get even the most disinterested member of the public at least intrigued about the possibilities of space travel, I don't know what will.

But it gets better. Subject to a successful launch of the first module, Bigelow will launch a second Genesis module in September, and that one will contain photos and other small items contributed by anyone who cares to pony up $295.

Full article here:

http://michaelbelfiore.com/blog/2006/05/bi...s-to-orbit.html

[Guest_DonPMitchell_*]

There is a famous architecture book entitled Learning from Las Vegas, often praised for examining the interesting and original designs of its casinos and hotels without condescension. Kind of ironic that a Las Vegas company (Bigelow Aeorspace) is taking this step now.

I'm somewhat skeptical about this particular mission, but I applaud the general idea. If people can find a practical and economically viable reason for people to go into space, it could encourage private sector R&D and provide inncentives for the development of cheaper technology. More and more, I feel that organizations like NASA and ESA are a hinderence, planning the development of space around burocratic, politcial and academic goals that are often very short sighted. I think much more rapid and practical progress will be made if captialism can get a better toe hold in space.