March 30 News Items

FAA to Issue Regulations for Private Spacecraft Owners Soon (Source: AIA)
The FAA in the next few weeks will issue regulations for the "experimental permits" that private spacecraft owners will need to test their rockets. The permits are intended to accelerate research on spacecraft and specifically apply to reusable suborbital rockets.

US Military Wants $10 Million Space-Weapon Funding (Source: New Scientist)
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) wants $10 million to investigate space-based weapons over the next year. As Pentagon budgets go, it is small change, but it is also a red flag for critics who worry that such plans could turn space into a shooting gallery. Most of the $8.9 billion the Bush administration plans to spend on missile defense over the next year will go towards developing systems based on the ground, at sea, or in the air.

South Korea Plans Launching with Russia Assistance (Source: ITAR TASS)
South Korea plans launching its first rocket using Russia’s technological assistance at the end of 2008. The rocket is to deliver a satellite into orbit. The two countries’ governments have finished detailed talks on key issues of a technology safeguard agreement. After the Russian parliament ratifies a recent agreement with South Korea, South Korea will begin full-scale work to manufacture a carrier rocket that is to deliver a 100-kilogram satellite into orbit.

FAA Reveals Space Tourism Flight Test Permit Details (Source: Flight International)
The FAA has revealed elements of the experimental permit rules for space tourism vehicle development, expected to be published on April 3. It could take up to 120 days to approve a permit for a one-year unlimited flight program for a specific reusable suborbital rocket design. Applicants must provide a description of the test program, a flight test plan, operational safety documentation, including hazard analysis, and a plan for responding to a mishap.

Suborbital tourism company Virgin Galactic has declared an intention to test fly its SpaceShipTwo vehicle with its White Knight 2 carrier aircraft from May 2008. Under the expected rules it would have to start the experimental permit application process by January next year if FAA approval does require 120 days. Click here to view the article.

India's Space Sector Starts a Price War (Source: Asia Times)
With the space industry emerging as the next economic frontier to be explored, India's scientists aim to propel the South Asian country into stratospheric heights of profitability in a market dominated by the US, Russia, Europe and China. The key to success, they believe, is cutting costs. More than 60% of global satellite revenues now come from consumer-based video, radio and Internet services, and the 24-year-old satellite business journal SatNew says about 104 satellites launches are planned between now and 2008.

ISRO now plans to cut the cost of launch vehicles, including working to use purified kerosene as rocket fuel just as Russia and the US have been doing. Rockets swallow many tons of rocket fuel, which currently costs India $46 per kilogram. With purified kerosene, costs plummet to less than 50 cents per kilogram. Visit http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IC31Df04.html to view the article.

Vega Third Stage Engine Fails (Source: Flight International)
The exhaust nozzle of the Zefiro 9 solid rocket motor was damaged during its second firing test in Sardinia on 28 March. The Zefiro 9 will power the third stage of the European Space Agency’s future small Vega launcher, due to begin launching satellites in 2008. Sensors had detected an internal motor pressure drop 35s after ignition. ESA has set up an investigation and industry teams are analysing test data.

The 30m long Vega has three solid propellant stages and a liquid propellant upper module to launch 1,500kg (3,300lb) satellites into 700km (434 miles) polar orbits. The 1.92m (6.2ft) diameter Zefiro 9 contains 10,000kg of propellant and produces a maximum 68,500lb-thrust (305kN) in vacuumand is being developed by Avio. The first Zefiro 9 test took place successfully in December 2005.

Governor Richardson: 'No' Vote Means No Spaceport (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
There are many "what ifs" surrounding next week's spaceport election. None is bigger than "what if" Doña Ana County voters say no to a gross receipts tax hike to help fund Spaceport America. Gov. Bill Richardson didn't mince words Thursday afternoon. "It's dead," Richardson said if the tax is defeated. "We'll lose it to another state, to California, to Texas."

Florida Aerospace Group Meets in Vero Beach (Source: ERAU)
Embry-Riddle joined several other members of the Florida Aerospace Resource Center (ARC) at the Piper aircraft manufacturing facility in Vero Beach last week to discuss development and training requirements for the state's aerospace industry. ARC, hosted by the Florida Community College at Jacksonville, is sponsored by Workforce Florida to assist the industry's statewide aerospace workforce needs.

Next New Mexico Spaceport Launch Set (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
A Connecticut rocket firm hopes the second time is a charm in its attempt to reach space, and this time two men that have reached the final frontier — on TV and in real life — will be on board. UP Aerospace will attempt its second launch from Spaceport America on April 28. Celestis, a Houston, Texas, firm that specializes in sending cremated remains into space, will be putting the cremated remains of James "Scotty" Doohan — of Star Trek fame — and Mercury 7 astronaut Gordon Cooper on UP Aerospace's SpaceLoft SL II rocket.

RocketPlane Kistler and NASA Sign Agreement to Assemble Rockets in New Orleans (Source: SpaceRef.com)
Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) and NASA signed a Space Act Agreement (SAA) to use NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans for the assembly of the K-1 Space Transportation System. The agreement between NASA and RpK will employ up to 200 highly skilled workers at the Michoud facility, with another estimated 100 RpK subcontractor personnel residing in New Orleans during assembly and checkout phases.

Orbital Awarded Contract For Third Australian Satellite (Source: Orbital Sciences Corp.)
Orbital Sciences Corp. announced that Australia’s Optus Networks has placed a firm order for its third STAR communications satellite as an addition to its in-orbit fleet. The Optus D3 satellite will provide Ku-Band direct television broadcasting services to Australia and New Zealand. The new satellite, like Optus D1 and Optus D2, will be based on Orbital’s STAR platform and will carry a total of 32 transponders and is scheduled for delivery in 2009.

Bruce Melnick, Boeing Florida Operations VP, to Retire (Source: Boeing)
Former NASA astronaut and space shuttle flight engineer Bruce Melnick, vice president of Boeing Florida Operations, will retire from Boeing on April 1. Melnick led the company's Florida team for more than 10 years in providing engineering, facilities and maintenance support to NASA and DOD for the space shuttle, International Space Station (ISS) and Delta rocket programs. Boeing Space Exploration Vice President and Constellation Program Manager John Elbon has been named the acting Florida site senior executive and will continue to lead the company's pursuit of NASA's Constellation program elements from Houston, Texas.

Spacedev Wins US Navy Responsive Space Contract (Source: Flight International)
SpaceDev, developer of the Shuttle-like Dreamchaser transportation system, has been awarded a contract by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) tol design the Combined Optical, Radio and Radar Instrument. It’s designed for a small satellite to use a sensitive proximity radar and deliver high resolution optical, infra-red imagery with a high-gain broadband radio frequency datalink.

Rocketplane-Kistler Seeks K-1 Launcher Angel Investors (Source: Flight International)
Rocketplane-Kistler (RpK) president Randy Brinkley is to meet potential investors at the Space Commerce Roundtable’s Space Investment Summit in New York next month. Oklahoma based RpK is developing its two-stage fully reusable K-1 rocket for COTS. The sponsors of Space Commerce Roundtable, who expect to attract up to 100 investors to the event, are Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin, Alcatel Alenia Space, MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates and Honeywell. The event is being held on 16 and 17 April at the Ritz Carlton hotel and New York Information Technology Center.

Globalstar Announces 2006 Results (Source: Globalstar)
Globalstar announced results for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2006. Globalstar ended 2006 with 262,802 total subscribers and with operating income of $1.1 million for the fourth quarter and $15.7 million for the full year. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $0.7 million compared to net income of $8.0 million in the same period of 2005. Net income for 2006 increased to $23.6 million compared to $18.7 million for 2005. Fourth quarter and annual service revenue in 2006 were $22.2 million and $92.0 million, respectively, a decrease of nine percent and an increase of 13 percent, respectively, from service revenue for the same periods in 2005.

India Looking For Space Partnerships (Source: Aviation Week)
India is actively seeking international partners for its space industry, and plans to use the upcoming International Astronautical Congress in Hyderabad for some serious matchmaking. The Sept. 24-28 gathering will include a heavier-than-usual focus on space business, and Indian space leaders hope they parlay that into some new contracts for their industry. India developed its space infrastructure in relative isolation, frequently blocked from meaningful cooperation by missile-proliferation concerns and Cold War politics. But that is changing, with European industry attracted by the 20 percent advantage in engineering costs that India offers, and U.S. companies are beginning to follow suit.

A Giant Leap for Decatur? ULA May Play Role in Return to Moon (Source: Decatur Daily)
The next small step for man could be a giant leap for Decatur if Boeing has its way. In a bid Boeing announced Wednesday, United Launch Alliance would be a major player in developing the upper stage for the Ares I crew launch vehicle, NASA’s planned replacement for the space shuttle. The project’s goal is to place astronauts on the moon and, eventually, Mars. ULA’s sole production facility is in Decatur.

If Boeing Wins Bid, New Orleans Could Rocket (Source: The Advocate)
Part of the Ares I crew launch vehicle, represented against its ultimate destinations — the moon and Mars — would be built in New Orleans if NASA awards the contract to Boeing. Boeing’s space division will tap Northrop Grumman’s expertise in engineered materials to build upper-stage rocket units in New Orleans, if Boeing wins NASA's Ares Upper Stage contract. On Wednesday, Boeing announced a slate of eight suppliers, including Northrop Grumman, that will be part of its bid to be submitted to NASA in April. Boeing’s competition for the contract is a team led by Alliant Techsystems-Thiokol and includes Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Lockheed Martin.

Globalstar Realigns Constellation To Offset Satellite Power Problems (Source: Space News)
Globalstar will take another couple of months before the company can evaluate the extent of the degradation of its 40-satellite constellation following a technical review by outside experts. But they said two-way telephone service from the constellation has improved since a December realignment of the satellites in orbit.

Russian President Pledges To Strengthen Space Industry (Source: Space News)
President Vladimir Putin said Russia must bolster its once-formidable space industry, saying it was essential for national security and could yield wider economic benefits for the country, Russian news agencies reported.