Something I didn’t see last week when looking at Blue Origin’s plans to begin flying experiments, although it is on the website:
Blue Origin expects the first opportunities for experiments requiring an accompanying researcher astronaut to be available in 2012. Flight opportunities in 2011 may be available for autonomous or remotely-controlled experiments on an uncrewed flight test.
The website also provides an overview of the vehicle’s capabilities and experiment payload:
| Accommodation | Description |
| Capacity | 3 or more positions to be used by astronauts or experiment racks |
| Experiment Mass Allocation | 120 kg available per position (including rack) |
| Windows | One per position |
| Power | 28 VDC provided |
| In-Flight Communications | Recorded voice communications with crew and ground; recorded low-data rate link for experiment telemetry and control |
| Data Recording | Experiment data storage provided for post-flight download with synchronized trajectory parameter measurements |
| Pointing Accuracy | +/- 5° per each of 3-axes during coast |
| Turning Capability | Available |
| Types of Investigations | Example Applications |
| Remote Sensing | Atmospheric science Earth observations |
| In-Situ Science | Atmospheric sampling, Magnetospheric measurements |
| Deployables | Under study |
| In-Cabin Science | Physiology, Gravitational biology, Microgravity physics |
| Instrument Test/ Demonstrations | Gain flight experience Raise TRL levels |
| Active Experiments | LIDAR, Coordinated operations with White Sands Missile Range launches |