News Summaries for February 16

Delta Rocket Gets Green Light for Launch (Source: Florida Today)
NASA and United Launch Alliance are marching ahead with preparations for the planned launch Friday of a Delta 2 rocket at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. The 12-story rocket and its paylaod -- five NASA science satellites -- remain scheduled to blast off between 6:05 p.m. and 6:23 p.m. Friday. A launch readiness review was completed today, and mission managers gave a green light to proceed with the launch.

State Aerospace Alliance Plans Industry Summit on March 19 (Source: FAAA)
The Florida Aviation Aerospace Alliance (FAAA) will hold a summit for aerospace industry leaders who want to stay abreast of federal and state aerospace industry policy directions. The event will be sponsored jointly by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Florida Institute of Technology. The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Daytona Beach International Airport. There is limited seating for the event and there is no registration fee to attend. A complimentary lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in attending this event please contact the FAAA at mailto:bennett@executiveoffice.org no later than March 12. If you are not able to attend but would like to provide meaningful input on policy needs in Florida to help grow your business opportunities please visit http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2265824TZN2 to answer a few confidential survey questions that will help guide the summit process.

Louisiana, NASA Look at Ways to Collaborate (Source: AP)
Louisiana and NASA officials committed Thursday to wide-ranging discussions on ways to expand research and development at the space agency's Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans. State economic development leaders hope the agreement will help spur rebuilding and job growth in an area struggling to recover after Hurricane Katrina, while retaining 2,000 jobs at Michoud. The agreement does not commit NASA to further spending in Louisiana, but instead to exploring further options for the Michoud facility.

NASA COTS Partners Complete Milestones (Source: NASA)
Two companies that are receiving NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services funds achieved significant milestones this month in their efforts to develop and demonstrate space cargo launch and delivery systems. Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) completed a preliminary design review for its first orbital demonstration mission. Rocketplane Kistler completed a system requirements review for its cargo services system. The two companies want to offer commercial delivery services for cargo, and possibly crews, to the International Space Station in the future.

Pentagon Stepping Up Space Protection Efforts (Source: Aviation Week)
Prompted by China's recent demonstrations of its capability to attack orbiting satellites, the Defense Department is stepping up its space protection efforts. The Pentagon is setting up special analysis teams, similar to one it put together to solve avionic computer development issues with the F-22 Raptor, to study what can be done in response to the Chinese anti-satellite capabilities. U.S. military leaders have become increasingly concerned with Chinese anti-satellite capabilities. China has proved it can blind American satellites with lasers, as well as destroy orbiting spacecraft with more conventional kinetic weapons.

U.S. military leaders are not only concerned about the safety and operational capability of the satellites themselves, space defense sources say. There is also a fear that the Chinese are looking at ways to destroy or debilitate the communications capabilities of U.S. forces by attacking satellites, their sensors or equipment. With little on-the-ground intelligence coming from deep inside China, the sources say, satellites also often represent the only way to get information about the region - as was often the case during the Cold War when the United States needed data in inaccessible regions of the Soviet Union.

French Official Seeks European Military Space Push (Source: Space News)
The French Defense Minister is calling for a 50 percent increase in the country's military space spending and has proposed a Europe-wide effort based on reciprocal dependence on nationally owned military space assets.

SSTL Revenues and Profit Down Sharply (Source: Space News)
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) reported a sharp decline in revenue and profit for the year ending July 31 as expected new orders were delayed and the company’s work on a European navigation satellite was completed, Guildford, England-based SSTL said Feb. 15.

California Community Seeks Closure of Space Schools (Source: Oakland Tribune)
A state-appointed administrator for Oakland public schools decided to close two space-theme charter academies in West Oakland that opened just months ago. Citing low enrollment and sub-standard instruction, school district staff recommended that State Administrator Kimberly Statham revoke the charters for Space Exploration Academy and Junior Space Exploration Academy. A law that went into effect in January allows publicly funded, independently run charter schools to appeal contract revocations to the county and state boards of education — and to continue to receive funding until a determination is made.

Boeing to Revive Commercial Satellite Business (Source: Reuters)
Boeing is looking to revive its commercial satellite business, in part by introducing a smaller, more flexible line of spacecraft, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The new satellite model, a modified version of its 702 family, is expected to be completed this year. Even before the new design is formally offered to corporate and military customers, slated for 2008, Boeing plans to step up its presence in the commercial market.

Martian Ridges Point to Vanished Water (Source: MSNBC)
Light-colored ridges that run through one of Mars' biggest canyons appear to serve as the fossil record for liquid water that seeped through the rock long ago — and may well point to places where water still exists in liquid form deep underground, scientists reported. If life ever existed on Mars, such canyons would be a good place to look for the evidence, said Chris Okubo, a researcher at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. "These areas would be nice protected areas for biological processes to go on," he said.

Japan Postpones Spy Satellite Launch (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
Japan on Friday delayed due to poor weather the launch of its latest spy satellite, which would give Tokyo the ability to eavesdrop anywhere in the world each day. The liftoff of the H-2A rocket carrying the satellite was delayed for the second straight day due to the weather at the base in southern Kagoshima Prefecture. A new time was not immediately set. The rocket will also carry into space an experimental optical satellite to test operations for future espionage operations. Japan sees itself as the top target of North Korea, which tested an atom bomb last year but signed an agreement this week to shut down key nuclear facilities.

NASA Glenn is Seeking Makeover (Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer)
NASA's Glenn Research Center would look less like a jumble of Cold War-era buildings and more like a modern college campus or technology park if an ambitious $200 million redevelopment plan wins federal approval. The 20-year master plan proposes transforming the look and layout of the sprawling facility west of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The recommended improvements include an administration building and other office and research buildings clustered in a "downtown"; aerospace public education and visitors centers; a redesigned main entrance; and more room for contractors. Glenn also plans to upgrade its Plum Brook Station testing facility near Sandusky.

JPL Continues Battle of Budget (Source: Pasadena Independent)
The ongoing effort by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to maintain its financial status among the family of NASA Centers is once more an issue for local lawmakers. Under the president’s new budget, JPL's $1.5 billion budget includes the loss of two programs: SIM PlanetQuest and Terrestrial Planet Finder. Both are part of the ongoing effort to find earthlike planets as possible homes for life in some form. JPL officials believe the lab can absorb the personnel from the two programs without major cuts. An overall problem for NASA is the age of the workforce, with many essential personnel nearing retirement age and replacements increasingly more difficult to find.

3 Firms Vie to Lobby for Space Florida (Source: Florida Today)
Three lobbying firms are vying to represent Space Florida, the state's new aerospace development agency. But the real battle is between the teams each semifinalist firm has assembled. The GrayRobinson firm, for instance, has joined with the Sansom Group. Tidewater Consulting has brought on board former United Space Alliance consultant Chris Holland. Smith & Ballard offers firm principal Brian Ballard and Carol Bracey. Bracey was chief of staff to former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and worked as the lead staff member on the transition from previous agencies to the creation of Space Florida. A one-year lobbying contract, with an option to renew for two more years, is up for grabs as Space Florida creates and seeks to implement a strategic plan for building the state's space-related business. "Whoever gets it, there's a lot of work to do," said Jerry Sansom.

Arianespace And Astrium Sign Agreement On Ariane 5 Production Increase (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
A declaration signed in Germany confirmed the increase in Ariane 5 production rate to meet growing demand in the launch services marketplace. With this agreement, the production of Ariane 5 ECAs - the most powerful version - will be raised to seven launch vehicles per year beginning in February 2008. The agreement also provides for an additional mission annually in a specific Ariane 5 version - for instance to orbit the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which is to service the International Space Station.

ILS Proton To Launch Ciel-2 Satellite To Serve North America (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
International Launch Services (ILS) has signed a contract for the launch of the Ciel-2 satellite on a Proton Breeze M vehicle in late 2008. Financial details were not disclosed. The Ciel-2 satellite will be the inaugural launch undertaken by Canada's Ciel Satellite Group. SES Americom was the contracting agent for the launch. "This award is a very important win for us," said Frank McKenna, ILS president. Ciel 2 is a Spacebus 4000 C4 model satellite, the largest Spacebus class satellite built by Alcatel Alenia, with a mass of 5,575 kg. From its assigned orbital position of 129 degrees West longitude, the high-powered Ku-band spacecraft will deliver a variety of communications services throughout Canada and the larger North American market.

UAE Set to Witness Commercial "Space Race" (Source: Arabian Business)
The UAE could become home to one of Virgin Galactic's first commercial spaceports. Richard Branson, the British founder of Virgin and its myriad of business units, is a frequent visitor to the UAE and is rumoured to be in discussions to make it a hub for commercial space travel. Bahrain is also being considered, according to a report in Arabian Business magazine. The UAE, which is almost exactly the opposite side of the world to California, could be the second base. Branson believes that in the future, commercial passengers will be rocketed half way around the world in just 30 minutes.

The rumour has surfaced in the same week that Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost Emirate of the UAE, announced that it is setting up its own commercial spaceport in collaboration with Space Adventures, the first company in the world to have sent tourists into space. The total estimated cost of the plan, dubbed Global Spaceport Development Project, is $265 million, according to the Ras Al Khaimah government, which will co-fund the venture with Space Adventures.

Space Shuttle Moves to Launch Pad for March Liftoff (Source: Florida Today)
The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis was rolled out to its seaside launch pad on Thursday in preparation for a planned liftoff in March on the first of five missions NASA hopes to fly this year. Liftoff of the shuttle and a six-person crew is targeted for March 15. The shuttle will carry a new solar power module for the International Space Station. The power upgrade will enable modules built by Europe and Japan to be installed later this year.

General: Prolonged War Will Require Better Satcom (Source: Aviation Week)
Assuming that U.S. forces likely will be engaged in the Iraq region for at least another decade, one of the major acquisition needs for the U.S. Army will be the procurement of battle command and other communication equipment, said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson. Of special concern will be satellite communication capability, he said. The key to many proposed Army satellite network needs will be the U.S. Air Force's Transformational Satellite (TSAT) program - an estimated $18 billion constellation of laser-linked satellites that promises to provide the military with space-based Internet-like services.

But TSAT's first launch has been slipped another year to 2016, the Air Force recently confirmed. The service also has decided the first TSAT spacecraft will have less routing capability and fewer laser terminals. The TSAT slippage and program changes have caught the attention of Army acquisition officials, whose programs will rely on TSAT capabilities. That could be especially true in places like Iraq, where overhead systems are especially needed, should combat drag on there for another decade "It's a concern for us," Sorenson said.