February 21 News Items

Space Florida Offers Bonus for Florida Launch Under Google Lunar X PRIZE (Source: Space Florida)
Space Florida will be a new preferred partner and Florida will become the first preferred launch site for the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE competition. Each preferred partner offers additional prizes or strategic services at a discounted rate to all competition teams. As the first preferred launch site, Space Florida will award an additional prize of $2 million to the Grand Prize winner of the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition.

The Google Lunar X PRIZE is an unprecedented international competition encouraging privately funded teams to land a robotic craft on the Moon. The craft must be capable of completing several mission objectives, including roaming the lunar surface for at least 500 meters and sending video, images and data back to the Earth. More information can be found at: www.googlelunarxprize.org.

Satellite Debris Hits Boy in China (Source: Shanghai Star)
Debris from a space satellite that fell from its orbit struck a six-year-old boy in Shaanxi Province last week, according to a report in the Beijing Youth Daily. Wu Fusheng, the father of the boy named Wu Jie, remembers hearing a "thundering" sound and saw a piece of metal plummet from the sky, finally hitting a persimmon tree under which his son was playing with other children. The boy was taken to hospital where doctors found he had suffered a fractured toe and a swelling on his forehead. The satellite debris was a block of aluminum, 80 centimeters by 50 centimeters and weighing 10 kilograms.

The accident also hit the Wu family's finances. They had to borrow 400 yuan (US$48) from a neighbor for the medical treatment. After the incident, the village head noticed that the air had a smoky, gunpowdery smell and thought a plane had crashed nearby. He requested that the village be evacuated. After a total of 19 metal fragments had been recovered, it was found that the debris was the outermost shell of the Resource Second Satellite which had broken up after falling from orbit. The satellite was supposed to have crashed into an uninhabited mountain area in Shanyang County but had landed instead in nearby Yanghe village. The mishap was blamed on unexpected weather conditions. The government will pick up the cost of Wu Jie's medical treatment and also pay some compensation to his family.

China Wants US Satellite Downing Data (Source: AP)
China asked the U.S. to release data on the shootdown of an ailing spy satellite, while the Communist Party's newspaper blasted what it called Washington's callous attitude toward the weaponization of space. China registered its objections well before the satellite's destruction by a missile launched from a Navy cruiser on Wednesday, which likely accounted for a mild response Thursday from the Foreign Ministry. "China is continuously following closely the possible harm caused by the U.S. action to outer space security and relevant countries," spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a regularly scheduled news conference.

"China requests the U.S. ... provide to the international community necessary information and relevant data in a timely and prompt way," Liu said. In contrast, the overseas edition of People's Daily excoriated Washington for opposing a recent Russian-Chinese proposal on demilitarizing space. "One cannot but worry for the future of space when a great nation with such a massive advantage in space military technology categorically refuses a measure to prevent the militarization of space," the paper said. Washington has rejected the Russian-Chinese proposal for a global ban on space arms because it would prohibit an American missile interceptor system in the Czech Republic and Poland, while exempting Chinese and Russian ground-based missiles that can fire into space.

Gates Says US Will Share Data with China (Source: AP)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the U.S. is prepared to share with China some of the information it has about the U.S. shootdown of a spy satellite. His comments came hours after Beijing complained the missile strike could cause harm to security in outer space and some countries. "We provided a lot of information ... before it took place," Gates told reporters during a visit to Hawaii. He said he is determined to be open about the U.S. operation and is "prepared to share whatever appropriately we can." The satellite and the kill vehicle collided at a combined speed of 22,000 mph about 130 miles above Earth's surface, and that the collision was confirmed at a space operations center.

Space Arms Race Heats Up Overnight (Source: Space.com)
The U.S. Navy's successful missile hit and apparent destruction of a defunct spy satellite represents a major step forward in the space arms race in the eyes of some analysts. Others are not so sure. One expert said last night's hit was not an example of a real missile-defense system, targeting an unusually low satellite that was essentially a sitting duck with a missile that is not the nation's top-of-the line for such tasks.

Some say tensions with Russia and China will increase following the U.S. anti-satellite demonstration, as both nations had stated their opposition to the attempt. Others argue the United States took necessary measures to ensure geopolitical stability and extend its military dominance. "This is obviously being hailed as a victory both politically, because the [U.S.] administration can claim there was no loss of life, and technically because it worked," said Theresa Hitchens, Center for Defense Information director. "It helped the [U.S.] Navy demonstrate the capabilities of its missile defense system."

MIT Scientists Will Develop Moon-Based Telescope (Source: AIA)
NASA has selected scientists at MIT to develop a moon-based radio telescope. The telescope, which would be installed on the far side of the moon, could shed light on the origins of the universe. "The telescope will look at radiation from very, very early in the history of the universe. We want to see how the gases (formed) into galaxies," said professor Jeffrey Hoffman, a member of the Lunar Array for Radio Cosmology project.

United Launch Alliance Suffers a Setback (Source: Decatur Daily)
United Launch Alliance suffered a setback Wednesday when NASA awarded a COTS competitive grant to Orbital Sciences Corp. for space transport services. Orbital's Taurus II, which uses a Russian-designed engine and a Ukranian-made fuel tank, is still under development. SpaceX’s COTS launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, is to make demonstration flights late this year and early in 2009. United Launch Alliance Atlas V, the favored launch vehicle of Spacehab and other COTS project competitors, has an 11-for-11-success rate. United Launch Alliance’s facility in Decatur, which employs 630, is the sole assembly facility for the Delta II and Delta IV. Later this year, the company plans to begin installing equipment to permit production of the Atlas V.

For NASA, 'The Right Stuff' Takes on a Softer Tone (Source: USA Today)
Social skills weren't part of the job description for America's first astronauts. Piloting the one-man Mercury capsule was a dangerous new endeavor. A sure touch on the stick and a willingness to risk death trumped being a nice, chatty guy. And some of the first space fliers weren't. Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard was known as the "Ice Commander" for his chilly glare. Colleagues Deke Slayton and Gus Grissom thought they'd had "a deep talk" if they exchanged 40 sentences during a cross-country flight, Tom Wolfe wrote in his book The Right Stuff.

"The old concept of The Right Stuff— the rugged test pilot, the individualist — is just not going to work," says Jason Kring, a professor who studies human-spacecraft interaction at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. For the first time in decades, NASA's new astronaut ranks will not include anyone whose sole job will be to pilot spacecraft. With the shuttle retiring in 2010 and its replacement on the drawing board, there will be nothing to pilot. Now NASA is looking for those who can play well with others in the close quarters of the International Space Station. station residents need to understand humans at least as well as they understand machines. Crews now include three people, usually two Russians and an American or one Russian and two Americans. Next year, the crew will swell to six and begin including astronauts from Japan and Europe. Visit http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2008-02-03-nasa-astronauts_N.htm to view the article.

Zero-G Zero-Tax Bill Passes in Virginia (Source: Spaceports Blog)
Virginia's ZeroG, ZeroTax measure has passed the 2008 General Assembly and is now on its way to the desk of Governor Tim Kaine just as the Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp. won a COTS-1 launch contract hailing Virginia's entry into the future of the multi-million dollar commercial space launch business. Talk about timing! Patroned by State Senator William C. Wampler, Jr. (R-Bristol), the ZeroG, ZeroTax measure had been pushed by several state legislators at the unanimous behest of the Virginia Aerospace Advisory Council and the Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS). It gained the unanimous backing of the State Senate and the House of Delegates.

Space Coast District 32 Seat Up for Grabs (Source: Florida Today)
Six months after former state Rep. Bob Allen gained national notoriety after being convicted of soliciting an undercover Titusville police officer in a park bathroom, voters are poised to pick one of three local candidates to finish his term. Allen's resignation in November after the misdemeanor conviction paved the way for a special election Tuesday in Florida House District 32, which includes Merritt Island, Brevard's northern beaches and mainland, and parts of Orange County. The candidates are Republican Sean Campbell, a Merritt Island businessman, Democrat Tony Sasso, a Cocoa Beach marine engineer, and Jerry Maynard, a Titusville pharmacist running as an independent. Though the winner's term only runs through Nov. 4 -- when Allen would have faced term limits -- political parties are fighting hard to win the incumbent's advantage in the next election cycle.

Demonstrating the interest of senior party leaders, Gov. Charlie Crist supported a rally for Campbell in Cocoa Beach, while on Wednesday U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, during a visit to Brevard County, endorsed Sasso. Republicans hold the statistical advantage with 45 percent of the district's nearly 100,000 registered voters, compared with 35 percent for Democrats. On space issues, each candidate supports diversification of KSC beyond workers' launch expertise. Campbell sees his role as a broker of deals with businesses, rather than pushing new legislation. Sasso supports legislation that would match state and labor union funds to promote initiatives like research and development. Maynard says he isn't sure the state will have much influence on federal space budgets and policy.

NASA Selection a Blow to Florida Ambitions, But Launch Site Decision Not Final (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
In a sharp blow to Florida, NASA on Tuesday chose Virginia-based Orbital Sciences to develop a spacecraft to supply the international space station after the space shuttle is retired in 2010. Company officials said they had not chosen a launch site but were leaning toward Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. That decision could undermine Florida's ambitions to be the nation's spaceport. An Orbital official said both KSC and Wallops lack the facilities to launch its rockets and that efforts by each to accommodate Orbital Sciences could play a role in their decision. "Our preference is Wallops, but we have not closed the door," he said.

Orbital beat out companies that had promised to bring hundreds of jobs to Florida. In response to NASA's decision, a Space Florida spokeswoman said the agency "will continue our discussions [with Orbital] for possible future operational launches in Florida once they have completed their test demos." Many industry officials say Orbital has a track record of successfully bringing projects from the drawing board to the launchpad. Visit http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/orl-cots2008feb20,0,1216392.story to view the article.

Navy Missile Hits Spy Satellite (Source: New York Times)
A missile launched from a Navy ship successfully struck a dying U.S. spy satellite passing 130 miles over the Pacific on Wednesday, a defense official said. It happened just after 10:30 p.m. EST. A video of the launch and intercept is available at http://www.breitbart.tv/html/50894.html

Center Urges Space Systems Export Control Changes (Source: Defense News)
Washington should remove American-made satellites from a list that complicates sales to other nations, and take a number of other steps to help reverse the nation's dwindling dominance of space, according to a new Center for Strategic and International Studies report. U.S. officials should take steps to revamp the current export control regime, which a CSIS working group has concluded "constricts U.S. engagement and partnership with the rest of the global space community" and also has failed to prevent "the rise of foreign space capabilities, and in some cases has encouraged it."

Cape Breton Spaceport Plan Still on the Table (Source: National Post)
A U.S. company says it remains committed to its plans to launch tourists into space from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, despite losing out on NASA's COTS competition. "Yes, absolutely," PlanetSpace chairman Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria said. The Chicago company was among 13 bidders in the competition, which was won by Orbital Sciences Corp. PlanetSpace's proposal to launch cargo and crews from Florida to the space station was one of two prongs in its space program, says Kathuria. The other involves plans to launch tourists to the edge of space from a facility that Kathuria says he still wants to build in northern Nova Scotia using a space plane the company calls the Silver Dart.