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Blobrana · L

RE: Genesis II launch

Blobrana · L

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TLE Data

GENESIS 2
1 31789U 07028A   07180.21664167  .00001166  00000-0  10000-3 0    27
2 31789 064.5121 163.9424 0004855 154.3804 205.7566 15.02660047    85

Blobrana · L

Bigelow Aerospace has established contact with its second pathfinder spacecraft, Genesis II. Launched earlier Thursday from Yasny, Russia, Mission Control in North Las Vegas, Nev., made first contact at 2:20 p.m. PDT.
Initial data suggests sufficient voltage powering up Genesis IIs batteries as well as expected air pressure. While the actual confirmation of solar panel deployment and spacecraft expansion are expected later, the data suggests that deployment and expansion have been successful.
Before contact, successful communication was considered a long shot on Genesis IIs first pass over the ground station in Fairfax, Va. Elevation for the pass was considered low for a successful contact.

Bigelow Aerospace

Blobrana · L

Russia has successfully launched a Kosmotras Dnepr carrier rocket (RS-20 Voyevoda, converted SS-18 Satan intercontinental ballistic missile) from a silo in the Urals to launch Genesis 2, the second prototype inflatable space module for Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace. U.S. into orbit.

"The launch with the RS-20B was successful," said. "Genesis-2 has been placed into orbit at an altitude of 566 kilometres . This is a civilian satellite" - Col. Alexander Vovk, Strategic Missile Forces.

The RS-20 Voyevoda uses a third stage that also carries the spacecraft instead of a warhead.

Blobrana · L

The launch of a privately funded US space module, Genesis II, has been delayed by a month for testing, the second such delay for it, its American makers said Monday.
Genesis II was scheduled for launch in Russia by a civilian Dnepr rocket, based on a modified intercontinental ballistic missile. But a Dnepr launch vehicle crashed shortly after lift-off last year.
The Nevada company Bigelow Aerospace, which constructed Genesis II, said on its website: "The Russian authorities have requested additional tests on the Dnepr rocket and its ground equipment."

Source

Bigelow Aerospace has been informed by its launch provider ISC Kosmotras (Kosmotras) that additional testing of the Dnepr rocket and its ground equipment is being required by Russian authorities.

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