News Summaries for November 22-25

NASA: Mars Surveyor Probably Lost in Space (Source: AIA)
The 10-year-old Mars Surveyor is probably lost in space, NASA scientists say. NASA has tried unsuccessfully to contact the probe for two weeks. "MGS was a fantastic mission. It has really revolutionized how we look at Mars," Mars exploration program manager Fuk Li says. "We haven't given up hope, but we are all ready to celebrate a long life and a job well done."

ESA/Italian Vega Rocket Test Firing Planned (Source: SpaceRef.com)
On 30 November, the main stage of Euope's new small launcher VEGA, will undergo a maiden test firing at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The test--during which the rocket stage will actually remain safely attached to the ground--is using a unique test pad that was already used for the Ariane 5 boosters. The firing will last about 100 seconds with the motor delivering some 200 tons of average thrust. Afterwards, more such static tests are planned to make sure Vega will be ready for its maiden flight into space, complementing Ariane 5 and Soyuz in the small satellite segment of the launch market.

George Abbey Weighs In on Exploration Plan (Source: Bay Area Citizen)
Not everybody in the space community is excited about NASAs new Orion vehicle. In fact, one credible man believes retiring the space shuttle fleet is a costly mistake. Former Johnson Space Center Director George Abbey was full of blunt opinions at a Space Advocates for (Congressional candidate) Nick Lampson, saying it was a mistake to retire the shuttle in 2010 and that NASA must shatter several barriers to move forward. Abbey is not so optimistic. The space program needs realism, Abbey said. Putting an end point on the shuttle forces NASA to focus all of its remaining missions on the space station, giving little leeway for other missions. The major difference between the two craft, Abbey said, is versatility a handy attribute when working in space.

Functionality aside, another major concern for Abbey is the four year gap between the shuttles slated retirement and Orions first scheduled flight, which will leave Americans grounded while other emerging nations navigate the final frontier. We are putting ourselves in a situation that ensures a gap that isnt the right thing to do, Abbey said, adding that Russia and China will assume Americas manned space and commercial satellite launching roles during this time period. Abbey feels there are several barriers currently tightening a noose around the space agencys neck, including export control policies and the U.S. education system. Lastly, he says Bush is not properly funding his own space initiative. NASA is slashing essential programs we will need if we are going to go to Mars.

Sky-High Hopes for Future of Wallops Spaceport (Source: Baltimore Sun)
The Dec. 11 blastoff of one of the most powerful rockets ever launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia could also boost the region's ambition to become a commercial spaceport. If it's successful, the spacecraft will be the first in 21 years to reach orbit from Wallops Island. The last attempt, in 1995, ended in a spectacular, explosive failure 48 seconds after liftoff. The December launch will also be the inaugural flight from the little-known Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS). The commercial launch pad was built on NASA property in 1998 by the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority. Maryland joined the venture in 2004 to help spur growth of the aerospace and launch service industries on both sides of the state line.

Cosmonaut Hits Golf Ball Into Orbit (Source: Reuters)
Cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin hit a golf ball into Earth's orbit from the International Space Station on Wednesday to raise money for the Russian space program at the start of a six-hour spacewalk. Tyurin, the station's flight engineer, made a one-armed swat with a gold-plated six-iron to send the lightweight ball on a journey estimated to take it around the Earth at least 48 times before it burns up in the atmosphere. He spent 16 minutes setting up the shot off a ladder on a Russian docking module with the help of U.S. astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria under the guidance of Russian flight controllers. Canadian golf club maker Element 21 Golf Co. paid the cash-strapped Russian space agency an undisclosed amount of money for Tyruin's golf demonstration, which was filmed by a video camera.

China to Build World's Largest Radio Telescope (Source: Xinhua) -
China has officially started the feasibility study on the construction of a 500 meter aperture spherical telescope (FAST), which will be the largest in the world. Senior officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top planning body, visited the proposed site of the project, a karst depression in Pingtang county, Guizhou Province in southwest China last week, the NDRC said on its website. FAST is among China's top nine mega facilities for science and technology research. FAST's main spherical reflector will be composed of 4,600 panels and occupy an area as large as 25 football fields.

Decatur Awaits United Launch Alliance (Source: Decatur Daily)
The Air Force's $674 million contract to build Delta IV rockets in Decatur will hopefully advance the creation of United Launch Alliance, a merger of Boeing and Lockheed Martin rocket programs. ULA still has government hoops through which it must jump to become official. When that happens the joint venture will more than double rocket production here as it takes on the building of Lockheed's Atlas rockets. Lockheed already received a $815 million 24-month contract that runs through Sept. 20, 2007. The merger means Decatur will be the only manufacturing site for these must-have expendable rockets for launching satellites. The deal would mean adding about 250 employees at the Decatur plant.

Bigelow Orbital Modules: Accelerated Space Plans (Source: Space.com)
The success of Bigelow Aerospace’s Genesis 1 module, which has been operating in orbit since July 12, has put the company well ahead in its plans for bigger and more capable modules that eventually will host visitors in orbit. “From a technological standpoint, we are years ahead of where we thought we would be at this time…due to the success of Genesis 1,” said Bigelow Aerospace Corporate Counsel, Mike Gold. “At this point, we feel we’re ready to move ahead and tackle what will be the largest challenge to date for Bigelow Aerospace…to develop a habitat that will actually be capable of supporting a crew.” At present, Bigelow Aerospace is readying the next space module mission and gearing up company plans to orbit a human-rated habitat—the Sundancer—at the firm’s ground control central in Las Vegas, Nevada.