Ukrainian company launches space station prototype into space
The Genesis 1 inflatable space station prototype was launched last week with the help of Yuzhnoye Design Bureau. Yuzhnoye Design Bureau launched the station using a Dnepr Space Launch System based on SS-18 ICBM technology.
Bigelow Aerospace, who contracted Yuzhnoye Design Bureau has announced that the mission is so far a complete success. Their website has a detailed description of the launch, as well as the first picture from the craft.
Below is an excerpt from Bigelow,
"Bigelow Aerospace has received confirmation from the Genesis I spacecraft that it has successfully expanded.
Bigelow Aerospace mission control has begun to acquire information from the Genesis I spacecraft. The ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket has flawlessly delivered the Genesis I into the target orbit of 550km altitude at 64 degrees inclination. The internal battery is reporting a full charge of 26 volts, which leads us to believe that the solar arrays have deployed.
The internal temperature of the spacecraft is reported to be 26 degrees Celsius and we have acquired the spacecraft's Global Positioning System (GPS) signal that will enable us to track the ship in flight.
We have initiated communication with the ship's onboard computers and expect to download more information over the next few hours."