Bigelow Plans To Launch Genesis Pathfinder in Early 2006

摘要

Space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow has been making quiet inroads into the development of Earth orbiting inflatable modules. The privately built and financed habitable structures would be available for research, manufacturing and other uses, including lodging for future space tourists. Bigelow Aerospace of North Las Vegas, Nevada is now eyeing a launch early next year of its Genesis Pathfinder spacecraft - a shakeout of systems to be used for developing a full-scale inflatable space structure dubbed the Nautilus that is being designed to serve as an orbiting home for space tourists or for research and manufacturing facilities.