February 25 News Items

Life Without the Moon (Source: Damn Interesting)
Life is a tenuous thing. Earth is just within Sol's habitable zone, and constantly pelted with solar radiation and cosmic rays. Rocky scraps constantly cross Earth’s orbit, threatening to eradicate all terrestrial life. In point of fact, it is almost certain that countless Extinction-Level Events would have sterilized the surface of our plucky planet had it not been for our constant companion and benefactor; a body which unwittingly wards away many of the ills that could befall us: the moon.

Luna is unique among the observed celestial bodies; there is no other satellite closer in size and composition to its mother-planet (if one discounts the dwarf-planet Pluto), and the Earth/moon system is the only tidally locked pair. Furthermore, it also happens to be the only moon in the solar system which is circling an intelligent civilization– a factor which may not be a mere coincidence. Visit http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=942 to view the article.

Seven Generations: a Re-Evaluation of the Paine Report (Source: Space Review)
NASA's exploration program faces an uncertain future given the upcoming change in administrations. Alex Howerton looks back to a report completed over 20 years ago for guidance on how the nation should continue its space efforts. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1067/1 to view the article.

NASA Picks Up Pace of Launches (Source: Florida Today)
The Endeavour astronauts strapped into their spaceship during a practice countdown Monday as NASA strives to keep assembly of the International Space Station on a roll. Just five days after Atlantis and a station construction crew landed at Kennedy Space Center, NASA is poised to punch out another outpost assembly mission on March 11. The 20-day launch-to-launch turnaround would be the fastest NASA has pulled off since its shuttle fleet returned to service in July 2005. Five years after the Columbia accident, NASA's pace seems more like the flurries of flights typical in the 1990s.

China's Space Reputation is Growing Fast (Source: New Scientist)
China's reputation in human spaceflight goes from strength to strength. Last week, NASA chief Mike Griffin admitted at a congressional hearing that China is a serious competitor for the US. His speech marks a turnaround: "A few years ago, I was not particularly concerned about Chinese primacy in human spaceflight relative to that of the US," he said. China's rapid progress and a visit to the country changed his mind. China still has some catching up to do. So far, it has only launched two crewed missions. But on Tuesday, the state media reported that the country plans to launch at least 10 missions this year - a record number. These include two Shenzhou spacecraft, two environmental satellites and a communications satellite for Venezuela. There are worries that the rivalry between the US and China could spill over into an arms race in space.

A Taste of Space on Earth: Pilots, Passengers Train for Spaceliner Flights (Source: Space News)
Future space passengers are getting a leg up on appreciating the physiological rigors of suborbital spaceflight they plan to take in the future, but without leaving the Earth. Using state-of-the-art equipment, the National Aerospace Training and Research Center (NASTAR Center) in Southampton, Pa., is helping to train both the pilots and prospective passengers of commercial spaceliners. The NASTAR Center is a wholly owned subsidiary of Environmental Tectonics Corp. and houses an array of training devices, including a specialized high-performance human centrifuge. Known as the Space Training System-400, the centrifuge mimics the flight dynamics and sustained Gs of a rocket-powered flight to the edge of space, while providing a realistic view from the simulated cockpit windows. Along with G-force exposure, center facilities make available to patrons altitude exposure, spatial disorientation and other physiological effects they will encounter as they enter the space environment.

Japan's Mitsubishi Expects Foreign Satellite Launch Orders (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries expects to win its first orders for commercial satellite launches with its H-2A rocket from foreign companies, its president said. The industrial giant is in the final stages of negotiations with US and South Korean telecommunications firms and hopes to launch their satellites by February 2009. Mitsubishi Heavy was chosen by the Japanese government in 2002 to operate large-scale launch vehicles following the privatization of the project, which it took full control of last year. It is now seeking orders from governments and private companies around the world.

Iridium Satellite Announces Q4 and Fiscal Year 2007 Results (Source: Iridium)
Iridium Satellite LLC revenue in the fourth quarter was $66.8 million versus $53.2 million in the same quarter last year, a 26 percent increase. FY 2007 revenue was $260.4 million, a 23 percent increase over $212.4 million in revenue for 2006. Additionally, as of December 31, 2007, the worldwide subscriber base reached 234,000, a 34 percent increase over the fourth quarter 2006 total of 175,000.

Space Florida Sponsors Teacher and Student Research in Microgravity (Source: Space Florida)
Space Florida launched today its inaugural unattended microgravity research flight from the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center. Engaging twenty-two middle and high school teachers from 12 Florida counties, this opportunity is one of many innovative Space Florida education programs designed to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and engage and encourage student interest in space.

India's Moon Mission Pushed to July (Source: The Hindu)
India's first planetary mission, Chandrayaan-1, has now been rescheduled to take place in the first week of July as the mission personnel work overtime to sort out payload integration and launch-related issues. The lunar mission was originally scheduled for April this year, a time-frame targeted four years ago to get all the payloads well ahead of time and to galvanise the scientists into mission mode with a target to work on. Indian Space Research Organisation officials insisted that there are no hardware problems and that the space agency is moving more cautiously to ensure that all systems are well tested before and after integration at each stage.

NASA Holds Public Meetings Today (Source: Florida Today)
NASA will host two public meetings today at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Titusville City Council chamber about two proposed launch pads for commercial satellites at Kennedy Space Center. The space agency is considering two locations. One is just south of the existing shuttle launch pad 39A and the Atlas launch pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Station. The other is at the northeastern tip of Merritt Island, along the southwestern edge of Mosquito Lagoon. The complex would include a rocket and ground support test facility and propellant storage. NASA must conduct a test of the environmental impacts of each site.