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Inflatable Private Space Station Launched

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the springing-a-leak-a-real-bummer dept.

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."

6 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. Space college? by andrewman327 · · Score: 4, Funny

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

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    Information wants a fueled airplane waiting at the hangar and no one gets hurt.
  2. Mission Scrubbed by lecithin · · Score: 4, Funny

    "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

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    It could be worse, it could be Monday.
  3. Somebody Help!!! by Quaoar · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Russians just launched my girlfriend into space!

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    I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
  4. Re:Inflatable? by susano_otter · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

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    Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.

  5. Re:Inflatable? by Atzanteol · · Score: 5, Funny
    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!"

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    "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

    - Charles Darwin
  6. Obligatory... by geobeck · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    KHAAANNN!!!

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