http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/ Engadget Comments for Experimental space hotel hurtled into orbit http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/
... only to be offset by the cost of duct tape needed to fix all the leaks.]]>Jun 29th 2007 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/
That one is really getting by me.]]>Jun 29th 2007 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/
It costs less to shoot something the size of a car into space than it does to send something the size of a tractor trailer.]]>Jun 29th 2007 4:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/
It costs less to shoot something the size of a car into space than it does to send something the size of a tractor trailer."

So can you explain to me how it will weigh any less? I dunno, I was thinking you'd have to haul the inflating air up there with it. Seems to me, it weighs the same.

Size is smaller, yes. But you are correct, weight=$$$$.

I promise you if the car and the tractor trailer were the same weight, the cost would be similar.

What weighs more? a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?

So, I ask again... how does it cost SUBSTANTIALLY less??? I could see it costing a LITTLE less... size DOES mean something, but weight -- or more appropriately MASS --- is king.

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They don't "haul" air up there. They have a couple of different devices used to generate oxygen in space, either by recycling used water, or by igniting chemical reactions in a replaceable cartridge/canister. I'm guessing the latter was used in this case, but I'm certainly not an expert. Point is, the package really does weigh less when you launch it than when it's in orbit, so money is saved.]]>Jun 29th 2007 5:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/
@tbone: I wasn't trying to say that the cost would be the same in both cases, just that mass is a more dominant parameter than size. I thought I was making it clear with my emphasis on substantial, but I'm nt paid to be a writer!

I would expect higher cost for the bigger ballon, just not a huge cost increase.

Anyway, have a beverage. We've beaten this one into the ground enough.

Besides, its a stupid idea anyway!!! ]]>Jun 29th 2007 5:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 5:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/
However, the cross-sectional area of the inflatable will be at least 1/4 (assuming expanded radius is twice uninflated). Most launch vehicles have very narrow payload fairings, and although it doesn't compare to the delta-V from gravity-loss and orbital velocity, air-drag can be fairly significant through the first 2 minutes of flight.

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It might actually be beneficial if the outer hull is flexible. If it's done right, small holes might not propagate, so you're left with a leak instead of a widening, catastrophic rupture.]]>Jun 29th 2007 3:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 3:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 4:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 4:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 11:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 4:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 4:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 4:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 11:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/
Air or whatever will be used to inflate it will intrinsically be able to exist as a solid or liquid, both of which will have a smaller volume. YES, conservation of mass will dictate that it weighs the same.

Basically, FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A HABITABLE STRUCTURE IN SPACE: an inflatable will be lighter and less bulky during lift-off than one which was built to size on earth and lifted up there.]]>Jun 29th 2007 5:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 8:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 29th 2007 9:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jun 30th 2007 2:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/experimental-space-hotel-hurtled-into-orbit/Jul 6th 2007 4:55PM