Inflatable Private Space Station Launched

Anonymous_Space_Ranger writes "CNN is reporting that the first steps to have a private space station are underway in Russia. While today's launch is unmanned, it is designed to orbit the planet for 5 years while the durability of the design is tested and future flights are planned around it." From the article: "[Robert] Bigelow envisions building a private orbiting space complex by 2015 that would be made up of several expandable Genesis-like modules linked together and could be used as a hotel, or perhaps a science lab or college. He has committed $500 million toward the project."

Space college?

[andrewman327]

I wonder how well a beer bong works in zero gravity...

Inflatable space station?

[ScottLindner]

I hope they don't let go of the string and let it float away!

Mission Scrubbed

[lecithin]

"While today's launch is unmanned, it is designed to orbit the planet for 5 years while the durability of the design is tested and future flights are planned around it."

Unfortunatly, the mission ended almost as fast as it started when they couldn't figure out how to get the air pump to work while in orbit.

In almost related news, here is a cool pic taken today of the ISS transiting the sun during today's EVA:

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transit s/discoveryiss_single.jpg [wanadoo-members.co.uk]

Does this..

[Anonymous Coward]

iflatable space station come with inflatable space chicks?

Ahhhh, thank you!

kaaahhhhnnn!

[putch]

private orbiting space complex by 2015 that would be made up of several expandable Genesis-like modules

shit, didnt we learn ANYTHING from Star Trek 2 & 3?

Re:Inflatable?

[Ohreally_factor]

Cue the yo mama in space jokes . . .

Yo mama so inflatable, the shuttle tried to dock with her.

Sign me up for 12 hours of course work!

[El_Smack]

"could be used as a hotel, or perhaps a science lab or college."

Riiiight. They will send people to college... in space. Well technically LEO, but whatever. On the other hand, drinking and having sex in 0 G does sound fun.

Re:Space college?

[adamlazz]

Forget about beer! Does Linux work in zero-gravity?

Somebody Help!!!

[Quaoar]

The Russians just launched my girlfriend into space!

Re:Inflatable?

[susano_otter]

Your opinion makes sense to me, on account of:

1) All inflatable structures are essentially thin-walled latex balloons that will pop under the slightest stress.

2) Rigid structures in orbit are constantly stricken by space junk, but do not fail because of their thick armor plating.

3) Nobody is tracking the larger space junk.

4) Nobody has ever conducted experiments to learn more about the specific risk posed by the smaller space junk, meteoroids, etc.

5) And, of course, because the opinion of a random /.er always trumps the opinion of people studying a problem as part of a business plan to profit from successfully solving the problem.

great...

[mottie]

I can see the title now.. Robert Bigelow, Interplanetary Gigolo

Re:Inflatable?

[kfg]

If you're 100x as likely to blow up on the way up or burn up on the way down than to have your space station smashed by space junk, it's not worth worrying about the space junk.

The world is full up with fussbudgets. Perhaps we should take all the phone sanatizers and . . .

KFG

Re:Inflatable != weak

[GungaDan]

"designed to operate in enviroments that we can only dream of"

No, I think we all have firsthand experience with water.

Re:Sign me up for 12 hours of course work!

[hcob$]

having sex in 0 G does sound fun.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Think about it.

Or maybe you're into bondage.

since the walls are inflatable, just put her head into the wall and have fun... oh wait... how's that any different than on earth

Re:Space college?

[bmf*2]

"I wonder how well a beer bong works in zero gravity..."
I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that it tastes so good when it touches your lips!

Re:Inflatable != weak

[Hawthorne01]

"No, I think we all have firsthand experience with water."

This is /. Water implies showers and the outdoors...

Perhaps they....

[StressGuy]

Will put it in a different orbit from the bulk of the space junk...then there would be a great void between in and the orbiting debris that we could call the "star-chasm"?

Sincerely,

The A.S.S.
[Amazingly Stupendous Sarcasmo]

Darwin keeps on racking up the victories

[fastmike]

Gentlemen! What you are now travelling in, high above the comforting embrace of mother earth, is the pinnacle of inflatable technolo *pop*>FWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZ

Re:Perhaps they....

[susano_otter]

Brilliant!

This idea excited me so much I almost had a star-gasm.

Headache.

[darcling]

It's going to suck to be the one who has to blow that up...

That's not a moon...

[Billosaur]

...it's a balloon!

Prior art

[emurphy42]

"The inflatable time machine is ready to go!" [sluggy.com]

Re:Inflatable?

[susano_otter]

Summary of parent comment:

1) Summary of parent comment

2) Summary of parent comment:1) ... [Pop] Latex Balloons ...2) [Strike] rigid structures ... [with] space junk ...3) ... Track ... Larger Space Junk4) ??????5) ... profit [!!!1one!] ...

3) ???

4) Profit!

Re:Inflatable?

[Atzanteol]

I think most slashdotters have some sort of fantasy where a guy at NASA is reading his post and realizes a grave error has been made.

"Wait a minute. Space debris! *slap* Guys, hold off on that idea - you have to read this slashdot post first!"

16 inches is a thin wall?

[sxmjmae]

The specs indicate that the walls are 16 inches thick. The advantage is that the walls bend and you can fold it up for easy transportation into space. I guess the guys that are complaining the 16 inches is to thin are the same guys that brag to women that their 4 inches is really 8. They lack real perception.

Hotel huh?

[fishthegeek]

I can't wait to join the 22236 mile high club!!!!!!!!!

Obligatory...

[geobeck]

...several expandable Genesis-like modules...

KHAAANNN!!!

Only $500 million?

[tqk]

It continues to astonish me that there are people out there who have $500 million (half a billion dollars!) to throw at a project as speculative as this. Certainly it's cool and I'd love to have one myself. This guy's able to throw $500 million at something just to see if there's anything there. Woof!

I wish some (one!) of these guys would get it into their heads to toss me $100,000 to see if I might work/do something they might consider cool. I'd spend the rest of my life bouncing from country to country installing Free Software on every box I run across and teaching its owner how to use it. Wouldn't that be a lovely legacy to invest in? Or not sexy enough? Drat. Consider it anyway please, you Mark Shuttleworths of the world.

Re:Inflatable != weak

[Scrameustache]

This is /. Water implies showers and the outdoors...

Does sweat count?

Re:Hotel huh?

[StikyPad]

Easy cowboy.. work on getting into the Sea Level Club first.