April 9 News Items

Germany Hopes To Unveil EU Space Policy (Source: Defense News)
Despite recent setbacks and a two-year delay in getting an agreement among members, the European Union appears ready to unveil what kind of collective space policy its 27 member nations should pursue. Germany aims to show the first-time European space strategy before its six-month term as EU president expires in July. Though mainly geared to supporting Europe’s commercial space sector, the policy carries implications for the military use of space and whether national governments can forever continue with their separate military satellite programs. “I just don’t see the budgetary capability [of member states] to continue supporting their separate national programs. It’s hugely duplicative and costly.” One EU military source said, “We’ll take our intel from wherever we can get it, but it would be easier, operationally, if there was movement” in the direction of a common military satellite policy.

No Time to Waste (Source: Florida Today)
State lawmakers return to work this week after their Easter recess and one measure on the table is critical to Florida's space and high-tech future. It's the Florida Energy, Aerospace and Technology Fund, proposed by Rep. Bob Allen, that would establish a $500 million public-private partnership to attract and grow new jobs. Allen's attempt to create a similar fund failed last year. However, it was tied solely to space because of the shuttle program's coming end and thousands of expected job cuts at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. It's imperative the fund become reality this session. The fund would invest taxpayer dollars and private pension fund money to attract new space industries and the entrepreneurs who are changing the face of space exploration.

For instance, the funds could be used to try to turn KSC into a hub for NASA's moon program by luring facilities for the construction of lunar landers, lunar habitation modules and an array of other research. Money also could be targeted to snare commercial space tourism ventures that are taking off in New Mexico and California. The fund would be jointly managed by the state and private managers, and include strict criteria for ventures to quality and firm means of accountability. Allen wants the Legislature to ante-up $250 million that would be matched with $250 million from the private sector. That approach would be an important statement that Florida is serious, and deserves the full backing of Crist and the Legislature.

DSP Satellites See Aggressive New Chinese Missile Testing (Source: Aviation Week)
China is beginning an unprecedented surge in the flight test of new ballistic missiles at the same time that the U.S. is starting a lengthy transition of missile-warning satellite systems, critical for providing intelligence on this test activity. The current Defense Support Program (DSP) missile-warning spacecraft and new Space-Based Infrared System (Sbirs) spacecraft, just starting to be launched, have a primary job of attack warnings. But the powerful infrared telescopes on the DSPs are especially providing vital intelligence on new Chinese, as well as Iranian, missiles and tactics. Several U.S. Air Force/ Northrop Grumman DSPs are operational in geosynchronous orbit and the final $400-million DSP spacecraft will be launched this summer.

Private Launches, New Tech - This Isn't Your Parents' Space Age (Source: WIRED)
As recently as a few years ago, the very topic of manned missions beyond Earth orbit was virtually forbidden within serious space circles. But today supporters find a serious plan in place to send manned expeditions to the moon for the first time since the Apollo program. Meanwhile, the United States and Russia, which once competed in a space race, have become frequent partners with one another and with the European Union, while China and India work to one-up each other in celestial achievement. The various political, technical and national forces have aligned to make the latest push for space the real thing, said Vincent Sabathier, senior fellow and director of space initiatives at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. "We are likely entering a second space age," Sabathier said. "The question is whether it will be cooperative or whether it will be competitive."

Florida City Postpones Plan for Unmanned Aircraft (Source: Florida Today)
Plans by Palm Bay, Fla., police to put an unmanned aircraft in the skies above the city are on hold. City officials are meeting with the FAA and the drone's manufacturers to discuss the potential threat it might pose to low-flying aircraft.

DOD, Private Investors Form Satellite Partnership (Source: AIA)
The DOD has formed a partnership with private investors Intelsat Ltd. and Cisco Systems to provide military units with high-speed Internet connections. The agreement requires private investors to pay for the cost of the networking system. A portion of the capacity of an Intelsat satellite would be reserved for military and intelligence customers under the agreement.

NM Spaceport Tax Vote Shows a County Divided (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
The months leading up to a Doña Ana County spaceport tax election found plenty of Republicans backing a tax increase, several Democrats opposing one and members from both parties forging unusual alliances to support or combat the measure. Many would agree the political climate was atypical. "There was a very great polarization along class and ethnic lines," said a New Mexico State University government professor. In Las Cruces, affluent neighborhoods tended to give the strongest backing. A cluster of low-income neighborhoods toward the center of the city, near the Mesquite District and north of Spruce Avenue, opposed it. Turnout was low in some precincts. Many middle-class precincts in the city approved the tax. A precinct covering much of Mesilla opposed it. Voters' decisions also might have hinged on how much they trust elected officials who stumped for the passage of the tax.

Some state officials, including Gov. Bill Richardson have touted the thousands of jobs a spaceport could bring to the area. One argument of opponents was that the tax would be a subsidy for private industry. John Hummer, co-chairman for the group People for Aerospace and CEO for Steinborn Inc. Realtors, objected to the argument that the vote outcome boiled down to income level. "I think this vote was more about — regardless of your income and age — how you view taking a risk," he said.

USAF Space Programs Move Back From the Brink (Source: Defense News)
After years of over-optimistic cost predictions resulting in massive overruns, programs that slipped and then slipped again and inflated expectations, the Air Force’s space programs finally appear to be on track. “I am pleased to report that we have made progress in all these areas and are starting to see the benefits of this approach,” Ronald Sega, the Pentagon's director for defense engineering and research, said at a March 23 House hearing. “In fact, at this time, there is no Nunn-McCurdy breach in our space systems, nor do we foresee a Nunn-McCurdy breach this year in our space programs.” Sega said the new-found stability was a direct result of an aggressive “back-to-basics” approach to development and engineering, and “a more deliberate acquisition planning strategy” born out of Congress’ move to cut funds from out-of-control space accounts last year.

Despite Space Tourism, Russians Worry About Lagging in Space Race (Source: USA Today)
It looks like a bonanza for the Russian space industries — the planned retirement of the U.S. space shuttle fleet in about three years would make Russia the principal carrier of crews and cargo to the international space station, sharply raising its revenues. But some Russian cosmonauts and space experts are worried. They fear the lead will be short-lived and will slow development of what's really needed — a replacement for the veteran Soyuz spacecraft, the reliable but plodding workhorse of the nation's space program for 40 years. Russia currently builds two Soyuz spacecraft a year for manned launches, and four unmanned Progress cargo ships. The fleet is expected to expand to four Soyuz and seven Progress vehicles starting in 2010. The government has been slow to earmark money for a next-generation spacecraft, and some experts fear rising demand for rides in the Soyuz could further slow funding. "Building more ships will divert resources from other projects," said Igor Marinin, the editor of Novosti Kosmonavtiki, the leading Russian space magazine.

Law Would Expand Japanese Military Space Role (Source: Defense News)
It has been a busy time for Japan’s satellite program. In just over 30 days Japan has lost one bird and launched its fourth into space. A radar satellite malfunctioned on Mar. 25, one year short of its projected five-year lifespan. Japan also launched its fourth surveillance satellite Feb. 24. Prompted by the launch of a North Korean ballistic missile in 1998, the four satellites are part of a $1.66 billion program to deploy two optical and two radar platforms. The optical satellites only have a resolution of one meter, below normal by most spy sat standards. If the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) passes the Space Basic Law this session, a 1969 resolution would be revised expand the military's role in space, create a Space Strategy Headquarters, and upgrade the JAXA into an executive agency. “This may include a new Cabinet-level minister for space activities and a review of the current ‘peace purposes only’ limitation on space utilization,” said a Tokyo consultant.