April 6 News Items

NASTAR Partners With Incredible Adventures to Market Space Launch Experience (Source: ETC)
Environmental Tectonics Corp. announced an agreement with Incredible Adventures of Sarasota, Florida, to offer 1-, 2-, and 3-day Introduction to Space Flight courses at the NASTAR Center, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETC. These space launch courses are not as intense as training for a specific suborbital launch. However, these experiences will give prospective private space travelers the thrill of launching into space while not actually leaving the ground, and will help them decide whether or not they are prepared for and truly interested in a suborbital flight.

Harris Completes Tests on Navy Prototype System (Source: AIA)
Harris Corp. says it finished formal tests for its Advanced Extremely High Frequency Navy Multiband Terminal prototype system two weeks ahead of schedule. The company is competing for a Navy contract worth more than $1 billion.

Lockheed Completes Successful Review of Satellite System (Source: AIA)
A team led by Lockheed Martin successfully completed a review of its design for the next generation of satellites for the Air Force's Global Positioning System. The review found the design will meet the requirements of the system's military and civilian users.

NASA Plan Cuts Moon Lander, Boosts Mars Rover (Source: Aerospace Daily)
NASA's operating plan for fiscal 2007, still evolving as the agency struggles to accommodate a $528.1 million cut to its requested amount, kills a proposed robotic lunar lander as expected, and slips the initial operational capability of its planned Orion/Ares I follow-on to the space shuttle. But it adds funds to two high-profile (and high-cost) space science programs - the Mars Science Laboratory and the James Webb Space Telescope - to keep them on schedule for their planned launch dates in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

Fact Sheet: Commercial Human Space Flight (Source: FAA)
The United States' space program has three sectors: civilian, military, and commercial. The commercial sector was created in 1984 with the passage of the Commercial Space Launch Act. From this law, responsibility for licensing, regulating and promoting the private sector space industry was given to the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST), now within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). U.S. law challenges FAA to "encourage, facilitate, and promote" commercial space flight in a way that continuously improves safety. Newly released rules call for launch vehicle operators to provide certain safety-related information and identify what an operator must do to conduct a licensed launch with a human on board. In addition, launch providers will inform passengers of the risks of space travel in the operator’s vehicle in particular. The protocols also include training and general security requirements for space flight participants. Visit http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=8023 for information.

Space Travel: Only for Billionaires? (Source: NPR)
Billionaire Charles Simonyi recently spent around $25 million for a ticket to ride into Earth's orbit. But he thinks it won't be long before the rest of us can go, too. He sees his trip as just the latest step forward in the emerging industry of private space tourism. "The people who organize these tours, Space Adventures," Simonyi says, "suggested that I might be interested in actually flying on those rockets." Simonyi says at first, he couldn't believe it. Was he really qualified? Simonyi is the fifth paying customer to be sent up by Space Adventures.

So far, Space Adventures is the only company to put customers into space. Eric Anderson, founder of Space Adventures, plans to send a pair of tourists around the moon. "The price tag on the lunar expedition, which could launch as early as 2009, is $100 million per seat," Anderson says. He says the Russians have the technology, and he's got customers. "We are fairly certain who would go on the first mission," he says, "and we even have takers for the second mission, potentially."

Loretta and George Whitesides live in Washington, D.C., where they both work for organizations that promote space exploration. They couldn't afford a Russian flight. Instead, they bought tickets from Virgin Galactic. Starting in about two years, this company says it will be sending people more than 65 miles up. Loretta Whitesides says the trip will be brief but eventful. The cost? George Whitesides says it's about what they'd spend on a house. If that seems beyond your budget, there's no need to give up yet. For a mere $3,500, you can float like an astronaut without leaving Earth. Noah McMahon works with the Zero Gravity Corporation. "We offer a chance for anybody to experience weightlessness," he says. Visit http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9349511 to view the article.

Embry-Riddle Participates in National Space Symposium (Source: ERAU)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will participate in a State of Florida booth at the upcoming National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Together with booth sponsor Space Florida and other organizations, Embry-Riddle will be available to discuss collaborative space-related opportunities. Visit us in Booth 203.

New Mexico County Spaceport Tax Passed (Source: Las Cruces Sun)
Proponents of a New Mexico county's spaceport tax declared victory in a special election. We surpassed a 249-vote margin, and there's less than that to be counted," said spaceport tax supporter John Hummer. In a statement, Gov. Bill Richardson said, "Based on unofficial results, the spaceport ballot initiative has passed. This positive vote for the spaceport ballot initiative means America's New Frontier begins in southern New Mexico. I'm proud that the people of Doña Ana County chose a high-tech and high-wage future, with better math and science education, and expanded opportunities for young men and women right here in New Mexico."

Senator Questions NASA on Contract Award (Source: Hemscott.com)
NASA failed to follow through on its promise to rebid a $5.2 million software contract to Parametric Technology Corp. after inconsistencies were found in the procurement process more than a year ago, said Sen. Charles Grassley. He wants to know why NASA did not conduct a new competition.

NASA's Office of General Counsel in Nov. 2005 responded to a protest filed with the GAO by saying that NASA planned to conduct a new acquisition competition within three to six months. Based upon that finding, the GAO dismissed the procurement protest. But Grassley says NASA did not promptly begin the review, and instead created a work-around in Feb. 2006 to maintain the contract without notifying the GAO.

KSC Virtual Shuttle Ride Nears Liftoff (Source: Florida Today)
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex announced a $60 million simulator that will allow visitors to experience what an astronaut sees and feels during a shuttle launch. Shuttle Launch Experience, which has been in the works for three years, is set to open May 25. Visitors hear astronaut testimonials and a pre-launch briefing by veteran shuttle commander Charlie Bolden before they enter a crew pod that seats 44 people for the launch. The ride then takes passengers through the 8.5-minute launch into orbit, which includes the view of Earth from space.

ATK Buying Swales For $100M (Source: Aviation Week)
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) will spend about $100 million to buy employee-owned Swales Aerospace in a move designed to enhance ATK's capabilities in the small satellite and operationally responsive space arenas. ATK expects it will take about 30 days to close the deal. Upon closing, Mike Cerneck, the Swales CEO, will take over as chief of a new ATK Space Division headquartered at the Swales facility in Beltsville and operating within the company's Mission Systems Group.

ATK will fold its existing space structures and subsystems operations managed by the company's Space Systems and Sensors Division into the new Maryland-based division. The combination should give ATK a leg up in Swales' micro-satellite specialty, which in combination with its space-launch capabilities should help it find business opportunity in the Pentagon's operationally responsive space push. The acquisition also will bring expertise in spacecraft thermal management, systems engineering, and other engineering services. And it will increase the number of personnel with security clearances available to work on ATK efforts. Swales currently includes a staff of almost 900 in California, Virginia and Maryland.