Robert Bigelow, owner of Budget Suites of America hotels, has launched an experimental inflatable spacecraft that he hopes will be the first step towards a commercial space station.
The Genesis I spacecraft is a one-third scale prototype of the final space station that Bigelow believes could be used as a hotel, science lab, or college. In the end, several expandable Genesis-like modules would be linked together to form a private orbiting space complex.
Bigelow expects setbacks early on, but he hopes that the planned five year orbit of Genesis I will yield some useful information. “I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if we have a number of different systems fail,” he said. “I would hope that we have some success.”
Bigelow is hoping that the Genesis II will launch this fall carrying mementos provided by the public at $295 a pop. Subsequent years will see the launch of progressively larger spacecraft, culminating in a full-scale mock up slated for 2012.
It appears that Bigelow is looking at space in much the same way as Virgin CEO Richard Branson does – as an opportunity to make money.
More power to them.
Posted by Sean
