Genesis (satellite)
| Genesis I | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Experimental satellite |
| Country: | United States |
| Operator: | Messrs. Bigelow Aerospace |
| COSPAR-ID : | 2006-029A |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 1.360 kg |
| Size: | Length 4.4 m, diameter 2.54 m |
| Begin: | July 12, 2006, 14:53:30 UTC |
| Starting place: | Jasny Cosmodrome , Russia |
| Launcher: | Dnepr |
| Status: | in orbit |
| Orbit data | |
| Rotation time : | 95.8 min |
| Orbit inclination : | 64.51 ° |
| Apogee height : | 563 km |
| Perigee height : | 496 km |
| Eccentricity : | 3,6E-4 |
| Genesis II | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Experimental satellite |
| Country: | United States |
| Operator: | Messrs. Bigelow Aerospace |
| COSPAR-ID : | 2007-028A |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 1.360 kg |
| Size: | Length 4.4 m, diameter 2.54 m |
| Begin: | June 28, 2007, 15:02:00 UTC |
| Starting place: | Jasny Cosmodrome , Russia |
| Launcher: | Dnepr |
| Status: | in orbit |
| Orbit data | |
| Rotation time : | 95.8 min |
| Orbit inclination : | 64.51 ° |
| Apogee height : | 542 km |
| Perigee height : | 521 km |
Genesis is the name of a series of satellites built by Bigelow Aerospace to test deployable space habitat technologies. The series includes Genesis I (2006) and Genesis II (2007).
The long-term goal is to build a private space station for commercial use. This principle of the inflatable habitat was originally developed by NASA under the name Transhab , but was then abandoned because of excessive costs. Bigelow Aerospace acquired the licenses to the previous patents and continued the work.
Genesis I
Genesis 1 was launched on July 12, 2006 and is the company's first experimental satellite. This demonstrated the unfolding and packing techniques. The unfolding or "inflation" from 1.6 m to 2.54 m in diameter took place in 10 minutes using the compressed air tank that was carried along. After unfolding, the system has a usable volume of 11.5 m³. The outer skin is 15.24 cm thick and consists of several layers. To check the systems, 6 internal and 7 external cameras were installed on the experimental satellite to monitor the hardware and the payload carried. The mission data was sent to the Mission Control Center in northern Las Vegas, Nevada from the four ground stations. The four ground stations are in Na'alehu (Hawaii), North Pole (Alaska), at the MCC and the former Loring Air Force Base near Limestone (Maine) . The satellite was designed to a third of the later Nautilus space station dimensions. In addition to the deployment technologies, the compatibility with radiation, micrometeorites and space debris was checked. Successor is Genesis II.
Genesis II
The Genesis II module looks like its sister module Genesis I from the outside. That is, the dimensions and the obvious architecture are identical, but the modules differ in terms of technologies and payloads. In addition to the Genesis I sensors and actuators such as the magnetic torquer , the magnetometer , the GPS and sun sensors , further sensors for pressure, temperature, position determination and radiation detection were installed. New reaction wheels are intended to improve the speed of alignment and serve as a technology demonstration for the BA modules. Genesis II has nine additional photo cameras. The module-internal interfaces have been adapted in this regard. The data handling from the two experimental satellites (Genesis I and II) also represents a new challenge for the company in relation to data prioritization (overlapping of the communication slots). For a more precise pressure adjustment, the single tank in Genesis I was replaced by a multi-tank in Genesis II. For better protection against micrometeorides and better thermal control , the outer skin has been provided with additional layers.
In addition to the “Fly Your Stuff” (souvenirs / pictures), a biobox and a bingo game were also transported into space as payloads. While Genesis I transported cockroaches and jumping beans into space, Genesis II transported scorpions and ants in the bio box. The name Biobox indicates that in Genesis II the animal colonies had an atmosphere even before the development of the "habitat", in contrast to Genesis I. The cockroaches and jumbo beans survived the start and the short-term vacuum, whereas the status of the animal colonies in Genesis II is unknown.
Web links
- Bigelow Aerospace - Homepage (eng)
- Raumfahrer.net: An inflatable living module in orbit
- The current location of Genesis-1
Individual evidence
- ↑ Genesis I - Satellite information on: heavens above , accessed November 28, 2014
- ↑ Genesis II - Satellite information on: heavens above , accessed November 28, 2014
- ↑ Axel Orth: News from Genesis-1 at: raumfahrer.net. August 19, 2006, accessed February 22, 2011
- ↑ Leonard David: “EXCLUSIVE: Bigelow Orbital Module Launched into Space” (eng) on: space.com. July 12, 2006, accessed February 18, 2011
- ↑ Leonard David: “Bigelow Aerospace's Genesis-1 Performing Well” (eng) on: space.com. July 21, 2006, accessed February 18, 2011
- ↑ “Real Time Satellite Tracking” (eng) on: n2yo.com. accessed on February 18, 2011
- ↑ NASA: “National Space Science - Data Center - Genesis I” (eng) on: nasa.gov. accessed on February 18, 2011
- ↑ “Bigelow Aerospace, LCC - Homepage” (eng) on: bigelowaerospace.com. accessed on February 18, 2011
- ↑ NASA: "National Space Science - Data Center - Genesis II" (eng) on: nasa.gov. accessed on February 18, 2011
- ↑ Eric Haakonstad: Genesis II different from Genesis I (eng) ( Memento from May 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Heidi Ledford: Space hotel gets a check-up (eng) on: nature.com August 8, 2006, accessed on February 21, 2011
- ↑ Heidi Ledford: Second space 'hotel' model launched (eng) on nature.com 5 July 2007 called 21 February 2011
- ↑ Maijinn Chen: Thinking Outside the Bingo Box (eng) ( Memento from May 26, 2007 in the Internet Archive )