NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A NASA shoebox-size payload, called 'GeneBox,' is now orbiting Earth as a passenger inside Bigelow Corporation's one-third scale, inflatable Genesis I test spacecraft.

On July 12, a Russian rocket lofted 'GeneBox' into Earth orbit within Bigelow Corporation's Genesis I test spacecraft. Attached to the large inflatable spacecraft's internal structure, GeneBox contains a miniature laboratory. In future flights, it will analyze how the near weightlessness of space affects genes in microscopic cells and other small life forms. +Read More

	Biology Test Platform in Micro Fluidics Lab N 240. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Biology Test Platform in Micro Fluidics Lab N 240. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Biology Test Platform in Micro Fluidics Lab N 240. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Gene Sat 1 payload assembly with Chris Beasley in Gene Sat Test and Integration Lab N 240. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Gene Sat 1 Payload Assembly. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Mark II P-POD. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Gene Sat 1 and Mark II P-POD. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Gene Sat 1 and Mark II P-POD. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Gene Sat 1 and Mark II P-POD. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Internal components similar to the NASA GeneBox payload. GeneBox is NASA shoebox-size payload is now orbiting Earth as a passenger inside Bigelow Corporation's one-third scale, inflatable Genesis I test spacecraft which was launched by a Russian rocket on July 12, 2006. Attached to the large inflatable spacecraft's internal structure, GeneBox contains a miniature laboratory. In future flights it will analyze how the near weightlessness of space affects genes in microscopic cells and other small life forms. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Close up, internal components similar to the NASA GeneBox payload. GeneBox is NASA shoebox-size payload is now orbiting Earth as a passenger inside of Bigelow Corporation's one-third scale, inflatable Genesis I test spacecraft which was launched by a Russian rocket on July 12, 2006. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Internal components, similar to the NASA GeneBox payload, being put in protective case. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Close-ups, internal components, similar to the NASA GeneBox payload. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	Closeups, internal components, similar to the NASA GeneBox payload. Click on the image for full-resolution.
	E.coli cultures in Petri dishes. E.coli are scheduled to launch in the first GeneSat on Nov. 13, 2006. Click on the image for full-resolution.

Image Credit: NASA/Ames