April 28 News Items

Indian Rocket Gets Customers, Israeli Satellite Next (Source: Domain-B)
The 'core-alone' configuration of ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) seems to have attracted immediate international attention, with an Israeli observation satellite, Polaris, heading for an early launch in August this year. The satellite, weighing 300 kg, can take pictures of the earth through cloud and rain, 24 hours of the day. On Monday, the core-alone configured PSLV-C8 lifted off successfully from Sriharikota to put an Italian satellite, Agile, into orbit. In its normal set up, the PSLV has six strap-on booster motors around the first stage.

Meanwhile, ISRO has also bagged another contract from Israel. An Israeli ultra-violet astronomy telescope will travel on board the indigenously developed GSLV (Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) from Sriharikota in 2008. The GSLV launch is slated to carry the Indian GSAT-4 satellite. The Israeli ultra-violet astronomy telescope is called TAUVEX (Tel Aviv University Ultra-violet Experiment.)

A Taste of Space Could Boost Tourism (Source: Miami Herald)
Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking's zero-gravity flight was meant to send a message to the public at large: It could happen to you, too. "The allure is to do something that throughout history only very, very, very few people have been able to do," said former astronaut Winston Scott, a South Florida native. "Something that is exciting, something that is beyond the realm of imagination for most people."

"I want to demonstrate to the public that anybody can participate in this type of weightless experience," Hawking, 65, who suffers from the debilitating illness ALS, said during a news conference. Well, anyone can participate after paying $3,675 (including tax) for a flight like Hawking's aboard a plane operated by Zero Gravity Corp., which has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral and Las Vegas. Or $200,000 for an eventual hop along the edge of space. Or $25 million for a 13-day visit to the International Space Station.

Boeing's Delta IV May Get New Wings (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Nearly four years after Boeing took its Delta IV rocket off the commercial market, the company and the Air Force are looking to revive such contracts to help fill gaps among future government launches, according to Pentagon and industry officials. While no final decisions have been made, these officials said some Air Force program managers are prodding Boeing to resume limited commercial Delta IV launches in order to temper anticipated weak government launch schedules, particularly in 2009. In July 2003, when Boeing said commercial Delta IV launches weren't producing profits, so they decided to focus solely on meeting government launch needs.