Genesis I Mission Update

Las Vegas, Nevada – August 10, 2006, 3 p.m. PDT One of the last major objectives of the Genesis I mission has been achieved, as we are nearing a full stabilization of the space module.

After discovering and fixing several minor glitches, the Genesis I Attitude Control System (ACS) has been activated. It has been active for the past several days and has dramatically slowed down the rotation of the spacecraft.

The rate has gone from one revolution per six minutes, to less than one revolution per orbit (approximately 100 minutes.) We expect to achieve a gravity gradient stabilized orbit, where the major axis of the vehicle is pointing at Earth throughout its orbit, in the next several days. This will give a substantial boost to the duration and reliability of our communication links with the spacecraft, and is another major achievement for the Genesis program.

- Robert T. Bigelow