Bigelow Aerospace does rocket reality check

Expanding the technology
Sundancer is meant to form the foundation of a future Bigelow Aerospace space complex, one that ties separate modules together to form an even larger on-orbit facility. Moreover, the company has its sights set on beyond-Earth applications of expandable structures.

"I think it's widely acknowledged that expandable habitats are where we are heading, whether it's the moon, Mars or beyond," Gold emphasized. "Low Earth orbit is the first stage of that ... to test the systems prior to deploying anything on the moon or Mars. What we learn in Earth orbit will be absolutely vital to expanding the technology to future worlds."

Meanwhile, the two Genesis-class modules continue to rack up space mileage as they circle Earth. The intent is that the dual spacecraft will provide priceless data for years to come.

The "Fly Your Stuff" initiative — in which participants paid to fly items inside the Genesis spacecraft — is completed, Gold said. Engaging the public in future Bigelow Aerospace ventures will continue, he said, in one form or another.

Another idea being prototyped on Genesis 2 is the use of a projector on the tip of the craft's solar arrays. That equipment casts an uploadable image on the side of the orbiting module. The resolution and clarity of those images has proven the concept workable — and also bolsters the prospect of being a revenue-generating idea, Gold said.

Politics and financing
Operating two spacecraft through a telemetry network — with mission control sited in Las Vegas — has proven invaluable, Gold said, particularly in terms of sharpening the skills of ground control teams for future missions.

Expanding the company's communications network to handle humans on orbit is the next step, Gold continued, with plans for adding more ground stations on an annual basis.

Gold said that the great irony of space is that the technology has never been the limiting factor. "It's a matter of politics. It's a matter of financing. And those two challenges are much, much worse than any engineering issue that will arise."

"The success of Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 was not only technological ... it was proving that we could do it at the cost that we did," Gold stated. "I would be willing to gamble that the two missions will go down in history as the most cost-effective space operations in history. That's the paradigm shift ... that's what really needs to occur."

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