News Summaries for December 22

Complaint About COTS Awards Dismissed (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has dismissed the complaint of a New Mexico company that protested NASA’s award of two contracts earlier this year under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Soyuz-2 Rocket Launch Postponed for 24 Hours (Source: RIA Novosti)
Russia has postponed the launch of a Soyuz-2 carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia for 24 hours. The launch of the carrier rocket with a Meridian reconnaissance satellite, originally scheduled for Friday, has been postponed until December 23 due to technical problems in the rocket's Fregat booster.

Agreements Signed for New Mexico Spaceport Land (Source: AP)
New Mexico’s spaceport has secured long-term access to 18,000 acres. The New Mexico Spaceport Authority signed 25-year agreements Thursday afternoon with the state Land Office, Sierra County and two private ranchers. The announcement came today from Economic Development Secretary Rick Homans, who is chairman of the space authority. Homans says the agreements make it possible for the state to proceed with its Spaceport America. He says they provide compensation for the Land Office and the ranchers and protect the spaceport from development that might interfere with its operation.

Energia Approves Kliper Plans For 2007 (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
A Scientific-Technical Board (STB) at RSC Energia this week considered the Advanced Space Transportation System (Kliper), intended to replace the Soyuz capsule system. The STB accepted the work plan on the Kliper advanced space transportation system for 2007. A full detailed description of Russia's proposed Soyuz replacement can be found at http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/news/news-2006/public_07-01.html.