Bigelow Genesis Inflation and Comms are Good

According to Bigelow Aerospace, the Genesis I test module is communicating with the ground. It also finished expanding at 5:20 PST (7:20 CST). It is sitting at an altitude of about 334 miles. Everything looks good so far. I am waiting on the pictures with baited breath:

Genesis I Mission Update

5:20 PST
Bigelow Aerospace has received confirmation from the Genesis I spacecraft that it has successfully expanded.

We have also confirmed that all of the solar arrays have been deployed.

4:15 PST
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.

- Robert T. Bigelow