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."

Comments

Space college?

[andrewman327]

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

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!

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

Does this..

[Anonymous Coward]

iflatable space station come with inflatable space chicks?

Ahhhh, thank you!

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: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!"

Obligatory...

[geobeck]

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

KHAAANNN!!!