Genesis II

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This article is about the space station module. For the 1973 TV movie, see Genesis II (film).

Genesis II

Artist rendering of Genesis II
Station statistics
Call sign:	NORAD #31789 IDC #2007-028A ⁽¹⁾
Crew:	Unmanned
Launch:	June 28, 2007 15:02:00 UTC ⁽²⁾
Launch pad:	Dombarovskiy base, Russia ⁽²⁾
Mission status:	On orbit
Mass:	1,360 kg (3,000 lb) ⁽³⁾
Length:	4.4 m (14.4 ft) ⁽³⁾
Diameter:	2.54 m (8.3 ft) ⁽³⁾
Living volume:	11.5 m³ (406.1 ft³) ⁽³⁾
Atmospheric pressure:	69.6-72.4 kPa (10.1-10.5 psi) ⁽⁴⁾
Perigee:	548.0 km (340.5 mi) ⁽¹⁾
Apogee:	569.0 km (353.6 mi) ⁽¹⁾
Orbit inclination:	64.51 degrees ⁽¹⁾
Orbital period:	95.8 minutes ⁽¹⁾
Orbits per day:	15.03 ⁽¹⁾
Days in orbit:	>150 days ⁽⁴⁾
Number of orbits:	>2,300 ⁽⁴⁾
References: 1^[1], 2^[2], 3^[3], 4^[4]
Genesis II

Genesis II is the second experimental space habitat designed and built by the private American firm Bigelow Aerospace, and was launched in 2007. As the second module sent into orbit by the company, this spacecraft builds on the data and experience gleaned from its previously orbited sister-ship Genesis I to continue testing the viability of long-term inflatable space structures. Like its sister-ship and other modules being designed by Bigelow Aerospace, this spacecraft is based on the NASA Transhab design, which provides increased interior volume and reduced launch diameter along with potentially reduced mass compared to traditional rigid structures.

1 Spacecraft history
2 Systems
3 Payload
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Spacecraft history

Genesis II was launched on 28 June 2007 at 15:02 UTC. As with Genesis I, it was launched aboard an ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket from Dombarovskiy missile base near Yasniy, Russia. It successfully reached orbit after separation from the rocket at 15:16 UTC. Due to the mechanics of its orbit, first contact with the craft was established once it passed over SpaceQuest, Ltd.'s Fairfax, Virginia receiving station at 22:20 UTC, confirming that it was alive and functioning nominally with power and air pressure at expected levels.^[5]^[6] Externally, Genesis II is identical in size to Genesis I; as such, it is a one-third scale of the full-size BA 330 model, with on-orbit measurements of 4.4 metres (14.4 ft) in length and 2.54 m (8.3 ft) in diameter, with an interior habitable volume of 11.5 cubic metres (406.1 cu ft). As part of its inflatable design, Genesis II launched with a diameter of 1.6 m (5.25 ft), expanding to its full size after entering orbit.^[5]^[7] Within two days of launch, attitude control systems had dampened all rotation and oriented antennae toward Earth.^[4]

Similar to the process endured by Bigelow for Genesis I, transporting Genesis II to Russia for launch was the end result of nearly a year of regulatory processes due to restrictions imposted by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and other procedures, both in the United States and abroad. After leaving North Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States, the spacecraft made a stopover in Luxembourg before being flown on an Antonov An-124 to Orsk, Russia, and transported over ground to the Dombarovskiy base. Genesis II made its final move into the Assembly, Integration and Test Building on March 29, 2007.^[8]

Originally slated for a August 6, 2006 launch, ISC Kosmotras delayed the launch to January 30, 2007 due to the failure of a Dnepr rocket in July 2006. The launch was delayed an additional four times (April 1, April 19, April 26 and May 23) due to technical and scheduling concerns before its eventual launch on June 28.^[2]

On December 12, 2007, Bigelow Aerospace provided an update indicating that Genesis II was in good health. All cameras have been tested and more than 4,000 photographs have been captured. The craft is in a nearly circular orbit with an eccentricity of 0.028, and having lost only 5 kilometres (3 mi) since launch, current predictions indicate that it will remain in orbit for more than 12 years. Attitude control systems and all eight solar arrays are operational, and no damage to the outer surface of the craft has been observed. Internal pressure was noted as holding between 69.6 and 72.4 kilopascals (10.1 and 10.5 psi), with the variation caused by Genesis II moving in and out of sunlight during its orbit.^[4]

[edit] Systems

Genesis II features a number of improvements over the first pathfinder that was launched. In addition to the standard guidance control systems used on Genesis I, it has reaction wheel assemblies and a precision measurement system, which are used to affect the spacecraft's rotation rate and angular momentum without expending fuel. It carries 22 cameras—nine more than on Genesis I—for photographing and filming cargo and ship conditions both inside and out. Some of these are on articulated platforms, and one wireless camera will be capable of additional exterior shots. Instead of the single-tank inflation system used on the first craft, Genesis II employs multiple tanks for added reliability and to allow for more finely-tuned gas control. Additional layers have been added to the outer shield for increased protection and thermal management. Finally, the on-board sensor suite has been enhanced with additional sensors for pressure, temperature, attitude control and radiation detection, which will help determine the impact of the orbital environment on shipboard systems integrity.^[9]

[edit] Payload

On both the interior and exterior, Genesis II carries several non-critical systems for scientific, commercial and entertainment purposes.

For the science aspect, Genesis II carries an upgraded version of the original life-sciences module and is colloquially termed "Life in a Box". This module includes habitats for three organisms: the Madagascar hissing cockroach, previously carried aboard Genesis I; the South African flat rock scorpion, Hadogenes troglodytes; and a colony of seed-harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex californicus, along with the queen ant for long-term colonization possibilities. This biobox system includes automated food and water delivery systems, and fans keep fresh air available by circulating internal air with that inside the rest of the spacecraft. Sensors and cameras will monitor the health and activities of the biobox inhabitants, and images of the interior are intended for display on Bigelow's website.^[10]

There are two commercial payloads included on Genesis II. The first is the "Fly Your Stuff" program, which allowed individuals and customers to send photographs and other small items into orbit for a fee. Several dozen of these objects were launched, and were later photographed and filmed by cameras in the spacecraft and posted on the Bigelow website for the customers to view.^[11] By December 2007, all objects launched as part of this program had been photographed and distributed to customers.^[4] A secondary payload is the external image projection system that tested the capability for flashing images and messages on the spacecraft's hull. Two projectors and associated cameras are positioned on the tips of solar arrays, and the company has eventual plans for allowing the public to send images and video to be displayed. As of August 2007, there were no firm plans on how this would be handled due to current limits of uplink bandwidth, and was considered an experimental "fun" project.^[12]^[13]

For entertainment, Genesis II carries a "Space Bingo" game intended to foster public interest in the program. The game will be started several months into the mission and will be free to play, though no actual gambling is involved. The game module contains a full set of Bingo balls which are randomly manipulated one at a time by a system of fans and levers, resetting after forty balls have entered play. During play, images will be broadcast to those who are playing along.^[14]