February 9 News Items

Griffin: Lost Contracts Fuel Criticism of NASA (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
NASA chief Michael Griffin lashed out this week at criticisms of his agency's space plans and new rocket designs, saying they are being fueled by big aerospace companies that are desperate to win back agency contracts. "This is not so much an argument that people are having with NASA," he said during an interview with the Orlando Sentinel. "It's about winning contractors versus losing contractors, and losing contractors spotting an opportunity coincident with an election year to reopen what was a settled issue three years ago." Changing course now, he said, would be costly, ill-advised and almost certainly result in disaster for America's civil space program.

Recent reports of technical problems with the Ares I rocket are feeding a growing perception that it is just another NASA idea that will never get off the ground. Some studies of Ares indicate that the rocket would shake so much during liftoff that it would be unsafe for astronauts. Some rocket engineers have disliked the project since NASA in 2005 chose to build the Ares I rather than buying the Atlas V. The drumbeat grew louder last week when Bigelow Aerospace announced it intended to use the Atlas V to fly commercial manned flights by 2012, three years before Ares I is slated to make its first manned flight.

The Atlas V is made by United Launch Alliance, which has never publicly criticized Ares I or suggested that its rocket systems should be reconsidered as a viable alternative for Ares. But congressional staffers have said ULA is lobbying hard behind the scenes for more opportunities for its rockets. Griffin said the Atlas V lacks the thrust to send the Orion capsule to the moon. Visit http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/orl-griffin0908feb09,0,1682085.story to view the article.

Helms Wins National Space Club Debus Award (Source: NSC)
Brigadier General Susan Helms, commander of the 45th Space Wing, will be honored with the 2008 Debus Award by the Florida Committee of the National Space Club. The annual Debus Dinner will be held on April 19 at the KSC Visitor Complex. To reserve seats or tables for this optional-black-tie event, contact LaDonna Neterer at 321-505-2037, or mailto:ladonna.j.neterer@boeing.com.

Atlantis Delivers New Space Lab, German Astronaut Falls Ill (Source: AP)
Space shuttle Atlantis and its astronauts delivered a sparkling new lab to the space station Saturday, but had to delay installing it by a day because of a crew member's medical problem. One of the two spacewalking astronauts who was to help install the $2 billion European science lab, Columbus, was pulled because of a non-life-threatening condition. The installation won't take place until Monday. NASA officials would not say why German astronaut Hans Schlegel was being replaced by Stanley Love to perform the task, but Atlantis' commander, Stephen Frick, requested a private medical conference with flight surgeons shortly after reaching the space station. Schlegel, a two-time space flier, was supposed to venture outside with American Rex Walheim on the first two spacewalks. Love was supposed to go out with Walheim on only the third spacewalk.

EchoStar Invests in TerreStar (Source: SpaceToday.net)
Satellite television company EchoStar is among the companies that will invest $300 million into mobile satellite services company TerreStar, enabling the company to complete the development and launch of its first satellite. EchoStar is joining with private equity firm Harbinger Capital and other, unnamed investors to put $300 million into TerreStar. $200 million of which will be made available immediately to complete the construction and launch of TerreStar-1. The remaining $100 million will be used to start work on a second satellite that is a requirement of TerreStar's license with the FCC. The investment will also give TerreStar access to additional spectrum controlled by EchoStar and Harbinger. TerreStar plans to use its satellite, coupled with an ancillary terrestrial network, to provide high-speed data services in North America.

Spacecom Rejects SES Takeover Bid (Source: Space News)
Commercial satellite operator Spacecom of Israel has rejected a takeover bid by SES of Luxembourg, saying its large rival is undercounting the value of Spacecom's business and proposing to leave Spacecom with a single satellite whose revenue would be insufficient to guarantee Spacecom's future.

USAF Might Mandate Use of Extra EELV Capacity (Source: Space News)
Top U.S. Air Force officials hope to issue a new policy within the next few months mandating the use of an existing, but little used device that allows small satellites to be included as secondary payloads aboard Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV). The EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) ring, which was developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory is used to launch small satellites weighing 100 kilograms or less. A congressional aide said the new policy would be welcomed since it would enable deployment of many more small satellites than can currently be launched.