I'm still trying to let my schedule settle back to a more regular pace so I can post my regular insightful articles. Unfotunately today is not that day. But I've got a few links I've been saving.

AP News -- 'Robots take on social tasks', an article about the current hopeful market for robotics; Moving from the Roomba to more advanced household and hospital helpers.

Bigelow Aerospace successfully launched and deployed the Genesis II inflatable space station module. Once released by the Russian rocket carrying the cargo, Genesis II expanded from it's 6.2 ft diameter size to it's 8 ft diameter deployment size. The module was also able to successfully unfold it's solar panels to provide power to the inflatable module.

Bigelow Aerospace gets +2 points for deploying solar panels in space. This private company based in Nevada was able to do what NASA and China's aerospace program both failed to do successfully. (NASA's recent ISS snafu)(China's recent

Upgrade to all of the Russian Dnepr rockets will delay the launch of Genesis 2, the inflatable space hotel of Bigelow Aerospace. The launch will be delayed until the end of May.

Bigelow aerospace is getting ready to launch the second part of their inflatable orbiter. Genesis 2 shipped out to Russia at the end of March in preparation for the April launch. The inflatable segment to Bigelow's private space station will launch into orbit about a Russian Dnepr rocket.

MSNBC published a neat article outlining what is being done to design habitats for the moon colony. NASA's Constellation Program Office seems to be coordinating the effort.

The main thrust of the lunar habitat projects are inflatable dwellings. The reason for this is that the planned payload of the Orion ships are only 13,000 pounds. Space Station modules, which are apparently the only other option for lunar habitats, weigh up to 30,000 pounds.

Beyond talks with Lockheed and Boeing, NASA is talking with several other private contractors to help design and possibly build these inflatable habitats. One company is Bigelow Aerospace, who has already launched one of their inflatable habitat designs into orbit, and has a second test launch planned for April, 2007. The second company is ILC Dover. They have built a prototype for a NASA funded test in Antarctica.

Bigelow Aerospace's launch provider, Kosmotras is investigating a problem that they had with the SS-18 rockets used to launch the Genesis 2 inflatable space station. Kosmotras says that some of the Soviet rockets have a manufacturing defect that makes them blow up at bad times (at launch). While Kosmotras sorts this problem out, Bigelow has delayed the second test launch until April 1, 2007

It was a good year for the Earth's space programs. So good, that I jumped on the bandwagon. This article contains a lot of great information about the highlights of space exploration in 2006.

Here are a few of the big ones.
• Aceize is founded, 150 year business plan set in motion.
• Bigelow Aerospace launches their first inflatable module onboard a Russian SS-18 intercontinental ballistic missle
• Anousheh Ansari travels to space. The deal was brokers by Virginia Based 'Space Adventures'
• Several launch services promote international cooperation including; International Launch Services (a U.S.-Russian venture), and Europe’s Arianespace and United Launch Alliance.