* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Genesis Pathfinder 1 Dnepr 1 Launch

Blobrana · L

The Genesis Pathfinder 1 payload is a one-third-scale model of a planned inflatable habitation module.

The Dnepr launch vehicle, is a commercialised version by the Kosmotras Corporation of the SS-18 Satan intercontinental ballistic missile, that has already made several successful satellite launches from the Russian main spaceport at Baikonur in Kazakhstan. The launch vehicle can carry up to 3 tons of cargo into orbit.

It is hoped that Genesis Pathfinder will be only the first of a long series of commercial satellite launches from Dombarovsky, a missile base just east of Orsk in the southwest corner of Siberia.

Blobrana · L

The first Genesis Pathfinder satellite is now scheduled for launch from Yasny cosmodrome, Russia, between 4 and 14 July. The spacecraft will be on board a silo-launched Dnepr-1 rocket.

Genesis Pathfinder is a technology demonstration for the inflatable Nautilus space station structure being developed by Bigelow Aerospace. Once in Earth orbit, the one-third scale hardware will produce important test data related to many of the features of a full-scale spacecraft. However, the first Genesis will be pressurised with nitrogen, whereas later units will use an oxygen/nitrogen mixture. Genesis will also include windows and an airlock simulator with key seal interfaces. It will measure 3 m x 2.4 m when inflated.

Bigelow Aerospace is an advocate of private ownership and use of space stations by making habitable space modules affordable for corporate communities. It is drawing upon NASA’s former TransHab inflatable structures programme, although the company is pioneering its own design. Two Genesis Pathfinder spacecraft are expected to be orbited by Russian Dnepr-1 launchers.

Following two Genesis spacecraft will be two Guardian spacecraft, which are almost half the size of the full Nautilus and will be used to test life support systems. The Genesis and Guardian spacecraft are designed to last for several years in orbit. Bigelow is offering free rides in them to any corporate or government research payload that would like to take advantage of flying in such a pressurised vehicle.

-- Edited by Blobrana at 14:55, 2006-06-29