Dnepr launches Genesis 2
Posted: Thu, Jun 28, 2007, 9:16 PM ET (0116 GMT)
A converted Russian ICBM successfully launched a prototype of an inflatable commercial habitat on Thursday. The Dnepr rocket, a converted SS-18 ICBM, lifted off from the Yasny launch site in southern Russia at 11:02 am EDT (1502 GMT) and placed the Genesis 2 spacecraft into low Earth orbit. Bigelow Aerospace, the developer of Genesis 2, made initial contact with the spacecraft later in the day and confirmed that the module had inflated and its solar panels had deployed. Genesis 2 is identical in size to Genesis 1, the company's first experimental spacecraft launched nearly a year ago, but features a number of upgraded sensors and additional cameras. The two spacecraft are the first in a series of spacecraft designed to verify the technology required for the later deployment of full-scale inflatable modules that could be used for a variety of commercial purposes.
A converted Russian ICBM successfully launched a prototype of an inflatable commercial habitat on Thursday. The Dnepr rocket, a converted SS-18 ICBM, lifted off from the Yasny launch site in southern Russia at 11:02 am EDT (1502 GMT) and placed the Genesis 2 spacecraft into low Earth orbit. Bigelow Aerospace, the developer of Genesis 2, made initial contact with the spacecraft later in the day and confirmed that the module had inflated and its solar panels had deployed. Genesis 2 is identical in size to Genesis 1, the company's first experimental spacecraft launched nearly a year ago, but features a number of upgraded sensors and additional cameras. The two spacecraft are the first in a series of spacecraft designed to verify the technology required for the later deployment of full-scale inflatable modules that could be used for a variety of commercial purposes.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Senate committee advances Isaacman nomination to lead NASA
Posted: Sun, May 4 10:23 AM ET (1423 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, May 5
Eutelsat Appoints Jean-François Fallacher as New CEO
Wall Street Journal — 6:25 am ET (1025 GMT) CT PR pro: Blue Origin’s space stunt fell flat
Hartford (CT) Business Journal — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) Elon Musk’s Starbase Is to be Texas’ Newest City. From Where It’s Located to Its Population, Here’s What to Know
Time — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) Residents of SpaceX’s Starbase launch site vote to incorporate as a city
TechCrunch — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) Elon Musk Wins Vote To Make SpaceX Site Into Its Own City
Vanity Fair — 6:20 am ET (1020 GMT) |
