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An experimental inflatable spacecraft that blasted into space on Wednesday has successfully expanded.
Bigelow Aerospace, the commercial firm behind the Genesis 1 module, confirmed that the ship was in orbit and was beaming pictures back to Earth.
"All systems are operating within expected parameters," the company founder, hotel tycoon Robert Bigelow, said in a statement.
The water-melon shaped craft could form the basis of a future space hotel.
The craft will remain in orbit for the next five years while engineers test the durability of the design.
One of the key tests for the craft is whether it can maintain a constant temperature and pressure, suitable to support life, inside the inflatable hull.
Bigelow Aerospace, the commercial firm behind the Genesis 1 module, confirmed that the ship was in orbit and was beaming pictures back to Earth.
"All systems are operating within expected parameters," the company founder, hotel tycoon Robert Bigelow, said in a statement.
The water-melon shaped craft could form the basis of a future space hotel.
The craft will remain in orbit for the next five years while engineers test the durability of the design.
One of the key tests for the craft is whether it can maintain a constant temperature and pressure, suitable to support life, inside the inflatable hull.
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That's cool, it's apparently not the first time it's been done, NASA built a inflatable satalite too.
This design is better for two main reasons:
1. I takes up less space on launch vehicle
2. Leaves less space debris
It's cool how this material, which is essentially no more than a plastic polymer can withstand the pressures and temerature extremes of space, it's also very durable and puncture resistant. So no, it's not very likely it'll pop and end up on Mars
