[X] My Assistant

[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

[Jim from NSF.com]

How are you going to power it? Also, how do get rid of it at the end of the ISS? The additional habitable volume is insignificant

The orbiter would detiorate quickly. It would be worse that sitting on the ground.

"Symbol of the work"? It is an inanimate object, it doesn't need a "reward". Your "reward" would give it a fate like Columbia

[AndyG]

How are you going to power it? Also, how do get rid of it at the end of the ISS? The additional habitable volume is insignificant

Last issue first: it need not be. There's, what, ~300 cubic metres of payload bay not including the docking adapter. I can't believe that a small hab module - not a working volume, just additional space for the crew and/or tourists - couldn't be built in the next four years, providing more much-needed room. Power - for lighting, ventilation and heating - needn't be a huge amount.

"Symbol of the work"? It is an inanimate object, it doesn't need a "reward".

I'm reminded of military aircraft. They look ok in museums, but nothing is as inspirational as seeing them fly. Post 2010, to know there's a shuttle permanently berthed at the gleaming, magnitude minus whatever-it-is ISS, rather than slowly falling to pieces as a museum piece, would be a wonderful reminder to people around the planet regarding that "magnificent flying machine" - and maybe it could just spur peoples' memories to recall the second half of Tsiolkovsky's famous quote: "...man cannot stay in the cradle forever."

Andy

[Drkskywxlt]

Last issue first: it need not be. There's, what, ~300 cubic metres of payload bay not including the docking adapter. I can't believe that a small hab module - not a working volume, just additional space for the crew and/or tourists - couldn't be built in the next four years, providing more much-needed room. Power - for lighting, ventilation and heating - needn't be a huge amount.

The US Hab is fully completed, but won't be launched due to the additional cost after the ISS redesign a few years back.

If someone could foot the bill for the launch and attachment, then that would be plenty of room and facilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitation_Module

[AndyG]

Bah-humbug!

Ok, I can see that they're no takers for the Tsiolkovsky Orbital Museum. Indeed, there's a bit of hatred at the mere romanticism of it all. That, and the current 20M$ a ticket entrance fee.

Right - you asked for it. Here's the hard-engineering-headed side of me talking.

The orbiters have been operating as a fleet of space shuttles up until now. When the last two (Atlantis is to be a hangar queen, I think?) are on their last trip in one direction (given the crew can return in a safer capsule) and the vehicles are no-longer needing to shuttle anywhere, has anyone asked whether flying brakes, wheels, and TPS upstairs makes any sense at all? Think of the mass you could throw out of each orbiter, and the resultant payload you could get in...

Once you consider that, there's a <ahem> further option:

While the angle-grinders are out, if the wings and stabiliser were removed for two one-shot shuttle C-equivalents, NASA would be not be that far off getting a brace of orbital ETs as part of their future freelance LEO gas station. Or at least a bit of orbital real estate that Mr. Bigelow might fancy.

How's that for unromantic?

Andy

[djellison]

Think of the mass you could throw out of each orbiter, and the resultant payload you could get in...

And what payload are you intending to put in? The current last shuttle launch is volume packed with Node 3 and the Cupola.....

What you're talking about is all great for the pages of a Simon Baxter novel, but it has little relation to what is possible in reality.

You're making up a solution that isn't even slightly feasable for a problem that doesn't exist still.

Doug