BA Genesis up up and away!

[earth_bound_misfit]

So if it gets a puncture, will if go zipping around like a balloon? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

useful if you need to deorbit... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[crix]

This test module is hardly the ISS. It's full of nitrogen; there's no life support equipment on it (that I know of). I'm pretty sure they're saving that hardware for future tests. <br /><br />It would great to see Bigelow pay for the development of next-gen oxygen generators and work out a really efficient closed loop water/waste recycling architecture that's heavy duty enough for commercial operation. I can't believe there's an experiment coming up on the ISS to test whether some plant is attracted to red or blue light more. COME ON!!! Are you serious? I'm sure this test must have been performed within 20 years of the invention of the lightbulb. I'm sure this test has been done before and micro-g is not going to change the result! Pure science BS is not what we need now. Mike Griffin needs to get on the ball here and make sure all experimentation is leading to making off-world permanent living feasible. I'm referring to, of course, Moon and Mars outposts, a la Antarctic bases. <br /><br />Oh, and the Titanic comparisions... don't be so alarmist. Bigelow hasn't claimed that his modules are more famous than Jesus yet so I don't think Thor will blast them out of the Heavens. The BA inflatables are not invincible but they are reportedly tougher to pop than the ISS modules. I wonder how hard it would be to jam a big Rambo knife through the ISS walls. Easier I think than it would in a BA module.

 

[no_way]

i'd suppose for the final configuration they are developing a method of patching the puncture with adhesives or somesuch.

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

"Pressurised nitrogen tank."<br /><br />Hmmm, I reckon those cockroaches and moths won't last long in that environment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[subzero788]

"It's full of nitrogen; there's no life support equipment on it (that I know of)."<br /><br />Like Earth said , considering there are insects up there they must have some sort of basic lifesupport system onboard. Probably not one capable of supporting human beings though <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[crix]

That's true... can't say I know a whole lot about Mexican Jumping bean metabolism. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> 26C inside... sounds like a nice Mexican day! I wonder what the humidity is.

 

[josh_simonson]

Considering that the BA module is made of the same stuff used for bullet proof vests, and ISS modules are made of the same stuff as a soda can - there's a big difference.<br /><br />The module is very unlikely to hit any significant space debris, though they're probably hoping it'll survive a few small impacts. Their main concern is probably the integrity of the skin in the presence of radiation, atomic oxygen, extreme thermal cycling and vacuum.

 

[nacnud]

One option against puncture I have heard of is to put a layer of variouse sized beads in a gap between layers. In the event of a puncture the movement of air causes the beads to concragate at the hole and blocking it. It might not be completely air tight but would hopefuly give more time for an evacuation.

 

[tomnackid]

Considering that the BA module is made of the same stuff used for bullet proof vests, and ISS modules are made of the same stuff as a soda can - there's a big difference. <br />-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />That's just a tad misleading. You could just as easily say that the ISS is made of the same stuff as deep sea submersibles (Aluminaut, Alvin) and Genesis is made of that same stuff as a pair of 70s double knit bell bottoms! (Polyester and Kevlar are both aramid fibers.) But yes, the multilayer fabric walls should be plenty resistant to debris and micro-meteoroids. In fact the wall's flexibility might even give them a distinct advantage over rigid structures. Seeing how polymers withstand the LEO environment over the long run is the real test.

 

[josh_simonson]

Don't forget that their flexibility means they won't kink and leak like MIR did during docking. The lower rigidity should keep vibrations and shock from propagating through the entire station.

 

[JonClarke]

Did Mir kink and leak during docking? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[baktothemoon]

Latest update:<br /><br /><br />July 13, 2006<br /><br />Genesis I Mission Update <br /><br />4:30 PDT<br />All Systems are operating within expected parameters. Temperature, avionics, solar arrays and battery power all remain positive. All of our initial orbits have had direct sunlight, which has helped in charging the main battery to maximum capacity. <br /><br />Pressure onboard the spacecraft has remained constant at 7.5 pounds per square inch (PSI). <br /><br />We have had multiple contacts with the ship, and received several data streams. While most of these current communication streams are dedicated to command and control of the spacecraft, we have downloaded several small images from the onboard cameras and hope to get more as more bandwidth in the data stream becomes available. <br /><br />- Robert T. Bigelow <br /><br />

 

[docm]

http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/multiverse/news.php<br /><br />Bigelow must have one huge a** grin going <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /> <br />By the way: Genesis I's walls have multiple layers of Kevlar and a fragmentation resistant fabric; Vectran. Vectran is also UV resistant, moisture resistant and survives hostile environments.<br /><br />http://www.vectranfiber.com/applications.asp<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[tomnackid]

Are the full sized modules planned to operate at the same atmospheric pressure and composition as the ISS and shuttle (and presumable the CEV)?

 

[baktothemoon]

Anyone seen any images yet?

 

[gofer]

First image: http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/images/genesis_1_pic.jpg <br /><br />the module is being inflated, at the top you can see the solar arrays being deployed, my guess the camera that took the shot is hanging off one of the solar arrays

 

[baktothemoon]

Nice, hopefully we have a few high res soon.

 

[crix]

Agreed, although I have a feeling there's not any great picture-taking hardware on this Genesis-1 module.

 

[gofer]

From what I understand, this shot was downloaded via a telemetry/control transponder with low bandwidth prior to deployment of a higher gain/bandwidth data antenna (S-band?). Hence highly compressed low-res, and the cameras haven't been calibrated. Hopefully we'll see many more photos.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

It’s been a couple of years since I read this, but I do have a fair memory. The BA 330 module could take a strike from a baseball sized object & reseal itself. I do not remember how it does it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[nacnud]

I don't think there is an exoskeleton but there may be some internal structures.

 

[crix]

There's a rigid truss down the long axis centerline. This will ultimately support propulsive loads. <br /><br />I just had a vision of a spherical module with no initial internal structural elements. You'd get more internal volume with a sphere. If folding and packing size of an inflatable skin is proportional to its surface area then a spheroid should maximize the post inflation to pre inflation volume ratio.<br />

 

[crix]

I don't know about "much more difficult" but I agree that it takes a bit more thought. <br /><br />I can imagine a series of interlocking 20 to 30 degree aluminum arcs that could be assembled inside the spherical inflatable (post pressurized inflation) which could be transported through an average sized mating adaptor. These arcs could form a rigid, spherical, endoskeloton thus freeing up the whole middle volume which is used structurally in the cylindrical inflatable. <br /><br />You get more volume for your buck this way, although, yes, it's a bit more tricky.

 

[baktothemoon]

A thought just occured to me: if multiple Nautilus modules were linked together to form a space hotel, how would they be docked together? They don't have any kind of propulsion system on their own.