By G.B. Leatherwood


Early in its history, Bigelow Aerospace was one of the more secretive and impenetrable companies in the space business. Calls from this intrepid reporter to their headquarters either went unanswered or were referred to public relations specialists whose standard reply was “no comment.” It was difficult to even find out where the work was going on, let along what was being done.

Times have changed. Now if you want to know what the buzz is on the Bigelow Aerospace factory floors, all you have to do is ask:

"Bigelow Aerospace has announced a new feature on its web site: Ask A Rocket Scientist. You can ask questions about the firm, its current projects, and the status of the Genesis I and II inflatable habitats.

You can also see the results of the Fly Your Stuff program, which flew personal items, such as photographs, into space and documented the flight to prove it had been done. Pictures taken inside Genesis II show dozens of items sent aloft and currently floating inside the habitat.

Fly Your Stuff has one other important benefit: now no one can claim that journeys to space are a hoax filmed on a Hollywood sound stage.