News Summaries for February 21

Brazil-Ukraine Spaceport/Launch Company Gears Up (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
A joint venture company for rockets and satellites, established by Brazil and Ukraine, should begin operating this year. The partnership is aimed at launching rockets and satellites from the Alcantara Base, in the northeastern Brazilian state of Maranhao. The first launch should take place by 2009. Brazil will make available its launch area in Alcantara and the Ukrainians will provide the launching technology developed in Ukraine.

Space Radiation Could Be A Mars Mission-Killer (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
Among the many physical risks facing astronauts sent to the Moon or Mars, the biggest danger will also be the least visible: radiation. This is nuclear particles that are spewed out by the Sun -- and which in storms called solar flares can be potentially lethal -- or arrive at almost light speed from beyond the Solar System, a phenomenon called cosmic rays. The particles slice through strands of DNA, boosting the risk of cancer and other ailments.

New Mexico Lands Tesla Motors with X-Factor (Source: Spaceports blog)
Albuquerque, New Mexico will be one of the manufacturing facilities for rocketeer Elon Musk's new Tesla “WhiteStar” -- a four door, five passenger sports sedan which is 100 percent electric -- expected to roll of the assembly line in the Land of Enchantment in 2009. Tesla will produce at least 10,000 cars each year. The vehicle will cost $50,000 for the standard model or $65,000 for a preminum model with greater performance and range. New Mexico came into the Telsa Motors location deal late but because of Musk's membership on the board of directors of the X-Prize Foundation, the state was able to make a contact through Secretary of Economic Development Rick Homans to Musk to close the assembly plant location deal.

ISRO to Send Man Into Space (Source: The Hindu)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to send a man into space to orbit around the earth ahead of its more ambitious plans of moon and mars missions in future. "This is a step in the direction of future plans of ISRO to send man to the planetary targets like moon and mars," a top ISRO scientist said. "Currently, there is no plan to send a man to moon by ISRO. But we are preparing ourself to send a man to the space to orbit around earth and bring him back after few days," Mylswamy Annadurai, ISRO's Project Director said.

Bigelow Aerospace Looking for Astronauts-for-Hire Now (Source: Spaceports blog)
Bigelow Aerospace is looking to hire astronauts for potential commercial space duty in an ad posted on the company web site in an unusual job posting. Bigelow Areospace is planning larger private space stations in the years ahead that will require experienced astronauts to lead the way. With the space shuttle fleet set for retirement in 2010, a growing number of NASA-trained astronauts are moving into the commercial space launch firms for flight opportunities on new suborbital and orbital vehicles now being planned or set to soon be tested.

Are Human Beings The Biggest Risk Factor In Long-Term Space Missions (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
What's the biggest hurdle to setting up a colony on the Moon or getting mankind to Mars and beyond? Aliens? Asteroids? Money? Try: humans themselves. Experts poring over plans to return to the Moon by 2018 and later stride to Mars believe the greatest-ever gamble in the history of space may ultimately depend on keeping the mind and body sound.

NASA, Virgin Galactic to Explore Future Cooperation (Source: SpaceRef.com)
NASA officials signed a memorandum of understanding Virgin Galactic to explore the potential for collaborations on the development of space suits, heat shields for spaceships, hybrid rocket motors and hypersonic vehicles capable of traveling five or more times the speed of sound. NASA Ames Research Center will explore possible collaborations in several technical areas employing capabilities and facilities at the center.

Orbital Sciences 4Q Profit Edges Higher (Source: AP)
Orbital Sciences Corp., which makes small rockets and space systems, said its fourth-quarter profit edged up 4 percent, boosted by strong results from its commercial satellite business and missile defense programs. Net income grew to $7.8 million, from $7.5 million a year ago. Net income was $12.5 million. Revenue rose 8 percent to $215.8 million from $199.6 million last year.

Japanese Payload to be Launched on Rockot (Source: Eurockot)
Japan's Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer and Germany's Eurockot Launch Services signed a contract for the launch of the SERVIS-2 spacecraft on a Rockot launch vehicle following an international competition. SERVIS-2 will verify the performance of commercial off-the shelf-parts and technologies in the space environment. It is planned to be launched in 2009 from Plesetsk spaceport in Northern Russia.

Space Station Needs Help, Glenn Says (Sources: AP, NASA Watch)
John Glenn said he supports the president's moon and Mars goals but not at the expense of the space station, which is only two-thirds complete. Glenn, a Democrat who represented Ohio from 1975 to 1999, said the station shouldn't be abandoned, especially after costing taxpayers billions of dollars. "We will not even begin to realize its potential," he said.

McCain on Space Exploration (Source: NASA Watch)
[Republican presidential candidate John McCain] said he strongly supports missions to Mars and that Florida should continue to play a major role in space exploration. "There's too much invested there. There's infrastructure that's very expensive and very extensive there," he said.