December 28 News Items

Where'd the Science Go? (Source: What's New)
Science-policy reps were patting each other on the back in August when President Bush signed the bipartisan America COMPETES Act in response to the NAS report Rising Above the Gathering Storm. It was meant to keep America competitive by boosting basic science, including a doubling of funding for NSF and the DOE Office of Science. Six months later, the most basic of all the sciences, high-energy physics, is in a death spiral. Fermilab faces major layoffs, the neutrino oscillation experiment, NOvA, which was expected to be the lab’s principle activity after the Tevatron shuts down, is terminated. Three quarters of the funding for the International Linear Collider is cut. The US again stiffed ITER on our share of the fusion program. The NSF increase was pared down to 1 percent. Meanwhile, in a letter to the research community, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said her "commitment to the innovation agenda remains strong and steadfast." Try spending that.

Space Angels Network Accepts Companies into Online Community (Source: Space Angels Network)
Space Angels Network, a national network of seed- and early-stage investors focused on aerospace-related ventures, has accepted the first 11 companies into its online community. The company has also launched a 2008 membership drive to expand its network of accredited investors interested in finding opportunities with innovative growth companies in aerospace-related fields. The companies represent both traditional space-based business models—such as rocket and satellite ventures—and also many terrestrial products and services, dual-use applications, and aviation-focused opportunities. They are primarily located in the U.S., but some foreign companies are also included. Their capital requirements range from $100,000 to $10 million. Visit http://www.spaceangelsnetwork.com/ for information.

U.S. Aerospace Industry is Booming (Source: AIA)
The U.S. aerospace industry was highly successful in 2007, with total deliveries estimated to hit $199 billion, a likely record for the fourth consecutive year. While sales increased across the board for nearly all product and customer categories, the civil aircraft sector surged notably. The aerospace industry also remains a major contributor to the nation's trade balance, with the net surplus for the sector estimated to grow to about $57 billion this year. AIA's Research Center projects aerospace industry sales will grow to more than $211 billion next year. See more 2007 industry statistics at http://www.aia-aerospace.org/stats/yr_ender/yr_ender.cfm.

Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs of 2007 (Source: WIRED)
2007 was an amazing year for science. Unlike recent years, there were no high-profile cases of scientific fraud -- none that went uncovered, anyway. Journal publishers took extra care, requiring scientists to duplicate results in an effort to avoid scientific, not to mention public relations, fiascoes. And while those are entertaining, we'll take solid science over Sturm und Drang any day. Here we count down the top 10 scientific discoveries that rocked our Wired world the hardest this year. Visit http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/12/YE_10_breakthroughs to view the article.

Bush Signs Bill Giving NASA $17.3 Billion for 2008 (Source: Space News)
President Bush signed into law a $555 billion spending bill Dec. 26 that includes $17.3 billion for NASA for 2008.

USAF To Issue Draft Solicitation for Military Space Sensor System (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Air Force plans to issue a draft solicitation early next month for an effort to develop sensors that can be placed on military satellites to warn of potential attacks, according to a Dec. 26 posting on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Web site.

RpK Says It Won't Take NASA to Court Over COTS Dispute (Source: Space News)
Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) has backed off its threat to sue NASA for withdrawing financial support of the K-1 reusable rocket the Oklahoma City-based company was developing under the U.S. space agency's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to deliver supplies and eventually astronauts to the international space station.

NASA Delays STS-122 Again Pending Sensor Repair (Source: SpaceRef.com)
NASA held a teleconference today with Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale with regard to repairs needed for STS-122. According to Hale "We have no launch date to talk about today". Hale said that NASA would attempt to do all required repairs to Atlantis' External Tank on the launch pad. Hale expressed confidence that the repairs could be done in this fashion. However, if that is not possible, then a roll back to the VAB might be needed.

Just before Christmas NASA set a launch date no earlier than 10 January 2008 for STS-122. That date has now been removed from NASA's calendar pending repairs Hale announced today. Hale responded to questions from reporters by stating that the new launch date may be "a few days to a few weeks from that 10 January date". Sensor components will be removed from Atlantis and sent to Marshall Space Flight Center for repairs to electrical connections.

Five Planets Orbiting 55 Cancri (Source: SpaceRef.com)
After 18 years of Doppler shift measurements of a nearby star, 55 Cancri, scientists believe there is strong evidence for five orbiting planets. The four previously reported planets are strongly confirmed, and a fifth planet is believed to be present, with an apparent orbital period of 260 days, placing it 0.78 AU from the star in the large empty zone between two other planets. Visit http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.nl.html?pid=26475 to view the article.