Orbital Sciences Begins Work on Delta-2 Class Launcher (Source: Space News)
With NASA facing sharply higher prices for Delta 2 rockets after the Air Force stops using the venerable launcher next year, Orbital Sciences Corp. has begun early development of a new launch vehicle to step into the void. "We have initiated the first phase of development of a launch vehicle we are currently calling Taurus 2," Orbital Sciences spokesman Barron Beneski said June 14. "It is intended to be a Delta 2-class space launch vehicle but at a substantially lower price."
Over-Voltage Caused ISS Computer Failure (Source: Itar-Tass)
A fivefold over-voltage resultant from the unfolding of extra U.S. solar batteries caused a computer failure at the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), a source at the Energia Aerospace Corporation said. The German-made computers withstood the 2.5-time over-voltage last September, when the first segments of solar batteries were unfolded. The June 11 over-voltage hit the computers hard, he said. New, better-protected power units will be delivered to the ISS onboard a Progress freighter. The Progress will be launched two weeks earlier than planned because of the ISS situation. Initially, the launch was scheduled for August 6. The U.S. segment of the ISS will provide for the station’s orientation in the meantime, and engines of the docked Progress will be used if necessary.
SatMex Rejects the Only Two Auction Bids for Company (Source: Space News)
Having failed to auction itself off at acceptable prices, Satellite-fleet operator Satmex now will turn to its existing shareholders for cash - and to the Mexican government for badly needed regulatory reform, according to Chief Executive Raul Cisneros. A meeting of Satmex shareholders has been scheduled for mid-July to determine whether the struggling operator can count on them once again. Those shareholders include several U.S.-based creditors who took ownership stakes in Satmex following its emergence from bankruptcy proceedings in 2006. Satmex has three satellites - two aging spacecraft and the new and promising Satmex 6. The company had hoped to use funds raised at auction to order a Satmex 7 satellite for replacement capacity.
RocketPlane Kistler Misses COTS Financial Milestone (Source: Space News)
NASA says it intends to continue subsidizing development of Rocketplane Kistler's K-1 reusable rocket despite the company's failure to meet a May financial milestone. Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) of Oklahoma City was one of two companies selected by NASA last August to share $500 million to develop international space station resupply vehicles under the COTS program. RpK is required to show NASA that they are making steady progress toward planned 2009 flight demonstrations.
NASA spokeswoman Beth Dickey said: "RpK has made progress in developing its capability and NASA is hopeful the company can complete this milestone with some schedule adjustments. NASA is fully committed to encouraging a robust commercial crew and cargo space transportation capability and is working with RpK on a plan that would provide the company additional time to meet its goal while also meeting NASA's needs." Will Trafton of RpK said the company completed an initial $40 million financing round in October and is pushing ahead with NASA's concurrence on a plan to achieve full funding for the K-1 earlier than previously planned. He said RpK has met all of its K-1 technical and programmatic milestones to date.
Orbital Sciences Reaping Profit on Small Satellites (Source: Space News)
Global demand for small commercial telecommunications satellites this year is stronger than expected and Orbital Sciences Corp. is the company reaping the biggest benefits, David W. Thompson, Orbital's chairman, said. "With new plant capacity capable of handling more satellites, the company is seeing "strongly increasing [profit] margins - in the 7-plus percent range in 2007 and moving to 8-9 percent as we move toward the end of the decade." The company has booked five firm orders and options for four more of these satellites so far in 2007, an order intake that testifies to the health of this end of the market.
Orbital estimates that the global market for small commercial telecommunications satellites totaled $500 million in 2006 and that it captured half of it. The company faces occasional competition from Lockheed Martin and Loral, but its major competitors are Thales Alenia Space and Astrium Satellites, both of Europe. The company recently won a multi-satellite order from SES, adding the world's second-largest satellite-fleet operator to its customer base. Intelsat, the largest fleet operator, is already an Orbital Sciences customer. Small satellites now account for 35-40 percent of the total commercial telecommunications satellite market when measured by units sold.
Air Force Requests Bids for T-Sat Contract (Source: Space News)
The prime contract for the U.S. Air Force's Transformational Satellite Communications (T-Sat) system space segment covers up to five satellites, plus one ground spare, and could be worth as much as $15 billion. The Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) said the work also will include the system's command, control and communications infrastructure. The contract is slated for award by the end of this year, with the first satellite expected to launch during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2015. Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which have designed competing T-Sat systems under Air Force study contracts, reiterated their intent to vie for the prime contract.
"V-Prize" Suborbital Transport Competition Planned (Source: Spaceports Blog)
The V-Prize is now being organized to establish a competition for point-to-point hypersonic suborbital spaceflight from Virginia to Europe in the next decade. The detailed rules and prize amount will be forthcoming in late 2007 or early 2008. A TransAtlantic space flight from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Easetrn Shore using the assets of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is the first requirement of the V-Prize. Organizers are building upon the Virginia Spaceflight Liability and Immunity Act effective July 1st of this year.
No deadline rule has yet to be set but the Spaceflight Liability and Immunity Act expires July 1, 2013 unless extended by the Virginia state legislature. A European landing site has not been selected as of yet. Attorney and space policy advocate Jack Kennedy of Wise, Virginia and SFF Teacher in Space Advocate Megan Seals of Reston, Virginia are leading the corporate sponsorship V-Prize organizing effort.
Space Power, Now and in the Future (Source: Space Review)
The Defense Department recently sponsored an effort to develop the underpinnings of a comprehensive theory of space power analogous to sea power or air power. Taylor Dinerman writes that, while such a space power theory might takes decades to develop, there are many lessons that can be learned today regarding the effective use of space to further national goals. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/891/1 to view the article.
Presidential Candidates and Space Policy (Source: Space Review)
To date the various candidates for the 2008 presidential election have been silent on space. Donald Beattie contends that when they do take up space policy, they should examine the relative size of human spaceflight programs within NASA and their missions. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/890/1 to view the article.
NASA and the Case for Earth: a Bad Marriage (Source: Space Review)
NASA has been criticized recently for appearing to de-emphasize Earth sciences research. Hans L.D.G. Starlife argues that, for the benefit of both NASA and Earth sciences, NASA should turn its attention away from the Earth. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/889/1 to view the article.
Success At Woomera With Scramjet Reaching Mach 10 (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
Australia's Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has today launched one of the world's fastest air-breathing engine experiments, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay announced. The scramjet engine experiment reached speeds of up to Mach 10, approximately 11,000 km per hour, or ten times the speed of sound. Scramjets are air-breathing supersonic combustion ramjet engines that could make it possible for a two hour flight from Sydney to London.
China Committed To Peaceful Use Of Outer Space (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
China will as always continue to make its contributions to the peaceful uses of outer space, said Tang Guoqiang, head of the Chinese Delegation at the 50th Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). China will support and participate in the work of the committee under various items, said Tang. Recognizing the exploration and use of outer space should serve peaceful purposes and seek benefits for mankind, Tang stressed the need to "adopt further measures to prevent an outer-space weaponization and an arms race." Click here to view the article.
MDA Delays Launch of Missile Tracking Satellites to 2008 (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is delaying until sometime in the spring of 2008 the planned launch of two experimental missile tracking satellites. Launch of those satellites had been scheduled for November. However, the agency still plans to go ahead with the launch of a related classified demonstration payload before the end of the year. That launch initially was slated to follow the launch of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Block 06 satellites, according to an agency official but the STSS Block 06 launch is being moved to a spring launch because of launch range conflicts and a delay in the completion of vacuum testing of the two satellites.
Space Camp May Add Middle East Site (Source: Huntsville Times)
As U.S. Space Camp celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer, a company in Dubai is making plans to open a Space Camp in the Middle East. The company has already paid the U.S. Space & Rocket Center a non-refundable $250,000 deposit, said Mike Kelly, vice president for licensing. Another $1.5 million payment is expected this fall. He told members of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission recently that the Dubai company's long-range goals are for more than one Space Camp in the region, but that precise locations have not yet been decided.
SES Signs Contracts for 10 Satellite Launches with Arianespace and ILS (Source: SES)
SES, the world’s pre-eminent satellite operator unveiled new groundbreaking satellite launch vehicle contracts covering the majority of the satellite launch requirements for the SES group from the period 2009-2013. These “multi-launch agreements” ensure that each SES satellite will have a primary as well as a back-up launch vehicle, each with two launch slots, providing utmost planning security and flexibility for the company’s ambitious launch schedule. SES Satellite Leasing Ltd. has signed separate agreements with Arianespace and ILS for 5 satellite launches each. Arianespace will provide Ariane 5 or Soyuz boosters to be launched out of the European Spaceport in Kourou (French Guyana). ILS will provide Proton Breeze M boosters launching from the Baikonour spaceport in Kazakhstan. The multi-launch agreements include options for additional launches, and represent the largest single launch services contract to date both for Arianespace and ILS. Terms of the contracts remain confidential.
Lompoc's Pioneer Space Center to Launch Careers (Source: Lompoc Record)
In 2008 there will be a building in Lompoc where students can step into space and launch a career: The Pioneer Space Center is planned for the campus of La Canada Elementary School. The announcement was made last week by Lompoc Unified School District Superintendent Frank Lynch. “This is a no-brainer for us because of the community we live in,” Lynch said. “We are all touched by Vandenberg Air Force Base. This is going to be a good way for students with no background in aerospace to gain first-hand experience.”
China to Increase Payload Capacity of Carrier Rockets for Lunar Exploration (Source: Xinhua)
China plans to develop a new generation of carrier rockets with an increased payload capacity in order to advance its lunar exploration program, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The payload capacity of China's Long March series of carrier rockets will be increased from its current weight of 9.5 tons to 25 tons, an official with the corporation said. "The development will greatly increase China's ability of peaceful uses of outer space," the official said, without specifying when the rockets will be ready for launch. Huang Chunping said the new generation of carrier rockets would have a large enough payload from which to launch a space station.
By Edward Ellegood
LinkedIn Group
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