bigelow aerospace presentation
- Paper number
IAC-08.E6.1.2
- Author
Mr. Michael Gold, Bigelow Aerospace, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
I am pleased to submit the following abstract for the Dynamics of Entrepreneurship, E6.1, under the Entrepreneurship and Investment Symposium. Founded in 1999, Bigelow Aerospace (“BA”) is dedicated to developing next-generation space habitat technology with the goal of dramatically lowering the cost of conducting commercial activities in Low Earth Orbit. Specifically, BA is focused on creating new opportunities in microgravity research and development, with an emphasis on bio-tech and pharmaceutical applications as well as advanced materials fabrication. Additionally, BA hopes to provide dramatically expanded opportunities for nations to fly their astronauts and gain experience in an on-orbit environment. Countries that cannot afford to participate in the International Space Station (“ISS”) program could gain access to space via BA’s initiative, and even those that do participate in the ISS can benefit greatly from additional opportunities to fly many more of their citizen astronauts. Bigelow Aerospace has already enjoyed a great deal of success in its efforts via the Genesis I and II launch campaigns. These missions involved the launch of sub-scale technology demonstrators designed to test and validate BA’s fundamental engineering concepts and overall capabilities. Although Genesis I and II were ‘sub-scale’ demonstrators, each is a substantial spacecraft, measuring 4.4 meters in length with a 2.54 meter diameter, and weighing nearly 1,300 kg. Genesis I was successfully launched on July 12, 2006 from the Yasny Space and Missile Complex in Russia. Genesis II followed on June 28, 2007, also from Yasny. Both spacecraft currently remain in orbit and operation providing invaluable data to Bigelow Aerospace on a daily basis. The Genesis missions were launched on a Dnepr launch vehicle which is a Russian SS-18 missile converted for commercial use. BA contracted with ISC Kosmotras a joint Russian-Ukrainian entity that runs the Dnepr program for both launches. The Dnepr literally represents a ‘swords into plowshares’ initiative and has met with great success. Utilizing the Dnepr and collaborating with Russian, Ukrainian, and Canadians in the course of both Genesis launch campaigns gave BA a great deal of exposure to the challenges and benefits of an entrepreneurial company participating in a program based on international cooperation. Assuming BA personnel are available, we look forward to presenting to IAC participants our plans for development, opportunities for collaboration, and experiences with international efforts, including our objection to America’s obsolete and broken export control system.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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