News Summaries for February 14

Delta 2 Launch Delayed (Source: SpaceToday.net)
The launch of five space science satellites on a Delta 2 from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport has been pushed back a day when stormy weather hindered launch preparations. The Delta 2 carrying the five THEMIS satellites was scheduled to launch Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, but fueling operations on Tuesday were postponed by thunderstorms in the vicinity of the launch site. The launch has been rescheduled for 6:05 pm EST Friday. The THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) satellites will be used to study the development of large energy releases called "substorms" in the Earth's magnetosphere.

NM Spaceport Visionary Sumpter Dead at 58 (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
Lonnie Sumpter, executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority since October 2005, died Tuesday after a brief illness. Sumpter, 58, was praised by state officials for his vision and leadership in the development of the fledgling commercial aerospace industry. Sumpter's accomplishments during his tenure as executive director include the first launch from temporary facilities at Spaceport America in late September, significant progress toward Federal Aviation Administration licensing of the commercial spaceport near Upham, and recruiting and signing several important spaceport customers — most notably Virgin Galactic Corp.

NASA Can Help Area Businesses (Source: Pensacola News Journal)
In the small-business world, some problems really do require a rocket scientist, and NASA is ready to help. That was the message Tuesday when Chris Gilfriche, director of the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, spoke at the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce's monthly Economic Development, Government and Education luncheon. "NASA's goal is to transfer space technology to small businesses," Gilfriche said. "We're here to help you with challenges you've tried to solve, but you can't solve it yourself and you can't find anyone around you to help you."

The program matches small businesses -- companies with fewer than 500 employees -- with engineers and other experts who work for NASA or its contractors. The experts then spend up to 40 hours trying to find a solution to the business's problem. For example, the program has helped Panhandle Growers, a wholesale nursery in Allentown, Gilfriche said. An expert with ASRC Aerospace helped Panhandle Growers deal with problems caused by lightening strikes. In another case, the program helped a company that ships live ornamental fish decrease the number of fish that die in transit.