March 8 News Items

Wanted: Einstein Junior (Source: The Economist)
In the 1840s an astronomer called Urbain Le Verrier noticed there was something wrong with the orbit of Mercury. The main axis of the planet's orbital ellipse shifts each time it goes round the sun. That was well known, and is caused by the gravitational pull of Venus. Le Verrier, however, realised that the orbit was shifting too fast. The excess was a tiny fraction of a degree. But it was a disturbing departure from the purity of Newton's majestic clockwork—-a departure that was explained only 70 years later, when Einstein's general theory of relativity swept Newton away by showing that gravity operates by distorting space itself.

Even Einstein, however, may not have got it right. Modern instruments have shown a departure from his predictions, too. In 1990 mission controllers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, which operates America's unmanned interplanetary space probes, noticed something odd happen to a Jupiter-bound craft, called Galileo. As it was flung around the Earth in what is known as a slingshot maneuver (designed to speed it on its way to the outer solar system), Galileo picked up more velocity than expected. Not much. Four millimetres a second, to be precise. But well within the range that can reliably be detected.

Once might be happenstance. But this strange extra acceleration was seen subsequently with two other craft. So a team from JPL has got together to analyze all of the slingshot maneuvers that have been carried out over the years, to see if they really do involve a small but systematic extra boost. The answer is that they do. Visit http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10804075 to view the article.

Promoters Talk Space at Florida Capitol (Source: Florida Today)
A coalition of about 20 space-related businesses and interests came together Thursday during the annual Space Day in Tallahassee to promote the space industry's value as an economic engine. More than 70 individuals walked House and Senate hallways, buttonholing legislators to make the case that the state needs to step up if Florida is to maintain its role as a national leader in space technology, commercial ventures and exploration. Aerospace industries exist in 46 of the state's 67 counties. About $44 billion is distributed across Florida.

To help keep space industry in Florida, the group is pushing several bills that would help create increased job and workforce training, develop new or improved spaceport infrastructure, recruit and retain related businesses through tax incentives, and fund education programs to provide an employment base. Several of the space-related bills have multi-million dollar price tags attached even though legislators expect deep cuts in next year's spending plans and intense competition for funding. Click here to view the article.

Florida Space Legislation Roundup (Source: ERAU)
The Space Shuttle's upcoming retirement, coupled with aggressive competition from other states, has made space a high-profile topic at this year's Legislative Session in Tallahassee. Among the space-related items before the Florida Legislature this year are the following: a $3.6M space workforce development package; an "informed consent" bill to mitigate spaceflight liability; a space contractor tax refund bill; a space research diversification bill seeking $20.2M over three years; a $45M Space Florida infrastructure, workforce, and education programs bill; a $10M Space Florida operations appropriation; a $20M reusable space vehicle prize bill; a bill and resolution to advance plans for a Governor's School for Space Science and Technology; and a "Mile Marker 1" bill to place a mile marker near the beginning of the highway to space at the Cape Canaveral Spacecport.

Europe's Freighter Makes Maiden Flight to Space Station (Source: Guardian)
The 20-ton ATV robotic space freighter, crammed with fuel, food and spare parts, will deliver much-needed supplies to the international space station more than 200 miles overhead. It is the first spacecraft with a built-in homing system that allows it to find its own way to the space station, without being directed from the ground or by astronauts on board the orbiting station. Once docked, it will be able to re-boost the outpost, which loses altitude over time, or lift it out of the way of dangerous space debris.

The spacecraft is so complex, the operating manual runs to 28 volumes. Named Jules Verne after the visionary French science fiction author, it is the first of many ATVs due to be launched at 18-month intervals until 2015. Each will dock with the space station for up to six months, before being filled up with waste and jettisoned to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. Tucked into the hold of the space freighter is an original 1900 hardback edition of Verne's science fiction novel From the Earth to the Moon, the story of three gun club members who build a giant cannon to blast themselves to the moon. The book will be kept on board the ISS and brought back by a future shuttle mission.

China Manned Space Flight Set for Late 2008 (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
The launch of China's third manned space flight, the Shenzhou VII, has been set for late September or early October. "Preparations for the mission are in full swing, and we're confident in its success," Zhang Yulin, director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, said. The mission would include three "taikonauts" or astronauts, who would perform China's first spacewalk, said Zhang, speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing meeting of the National People's Congress, or parliament.

Is Britain Lost in Space? (Source: Guardian)
The British role in the ATV, as with any mission related to human spaceflight, is precisely zero. We played no part in its conception, design or construction, and will gain none of the expertise accrued by engineers in Germany, France, Italy and elsewhere who developed the technology. When I was hunting for anyone in Britain with any meaningful involvement in the ATV, the best I came across were two engineers from Stevenage who helped pump it full of fuel.

Coming to watch the ATV launch feels like crashing someone else's party. While Britain huffs about human spaceflight being unprofitable and cobbles together plans for its own ESA facility, there's an overwhelming feeling here that everyone else is cracking on with the job and learning an enormous amount in the process. Britain could still arrive fashionably late, but we're in danger of turning up to find that all is left are crumbs on the tables. Even if we do turn up before the lights go out, will anyone want to talk to such a chronically uninspiring guest?

Britain's contribution to the European Space Agency will be 265m Euros towards the 2.4bn Euros the agency will receive in contributions from members and other states. It's less than half that given by France and Germany, and about two thirds of the contribution from Italy. The expertise those nations have gained from the ATV, Columbus and other missions will surely boost their chances of securing the plum contracts of the future.

Florida Governor's Space School Study Underway, Workshop Planned (Source: JISER)
The Joint Institute for Space Exploration Research (JISER), a partnership between Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Florida Institute of Technology, and Florida State University, has begun a state-sponsored planning effort for the development of a "Governor's School for Space Science & Technology." The school would be a residential high school for gifted students, located in the vicinity of Kennedy Space Center.

As part of the planning effort, JISER will sponsor a 2008 summer workshop/academy at Kennedy Space Center for gifted students in grades 10-12, with support from the KSC Visitor Complex and Space Florida. The academy will provide high-performing students with the opportunity to participate in a residential academy at KSC during June 1-6, and June 29 - July 4, 2008. Students will engage in laboratory activities, scientific experiments and inquiry based learning incorporating high-level science and math curriculum. The academy will support JISER's ongoing planning/design effort for a permanent Governor's School that leverages the state's space space programs at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.

Applications are now being accepted and are available from school districts’ Gifted Coordinators. Please send questions to mailto:flgovschool@comcast.net.

Pentagon: Predicting TSAT Launch Premature (Source: Aerospace Daily)
U.S. defense officials continue to back off any launch date for Transformational Satellites (TSAT) and have told lawmakers they are essentially re-evaluating the program to shore it up. During a March 4 hearing, an Air Force official called any launch prediction “premature.” He said an ongoing analysis through spring is looking at “rephasing ... re-architecting” TSAT to make sure it provides the most important strategic communications capabilities to the most important users first. “That is a new bit of information,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said in response.

Alternatives could include buying more Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) spacecraft, a planned predecessor to TSAT, to make up any gaps. A congressional auditor appearing at the same Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee hearing said a TSAT delay could be good to shore up the program. But any reassesment must be done in light of other major defense efforts that would rely on TSAT. Specifically, she noted the Army’s Future Combat Systems – which also faces more potential delays – and said officials there would have to respond in their program to changes to TSAT plans.

NASA Future Forum Planned in Miami on April 18 (Source: NASA)
Join NASA leadership, astronauts, scientists, and engineers along with local business, technology and academic leaders and local, state and federal officials to discuss the role of space exploration in advancing science, engineering, technology, education and the economy that benefits your community and the nation. The program will also feature an exciting preview of NASA’s Constellation Program-—America’s return to the Moon and beyond. Visit http://www.regonline.com/futureforum-miami for information and reservations.

Ancient Lakebed Found on Mars (Source: SpaceToday.net)
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has taken images of what scientists believe is an ancient lakebed that could have once supported life. Images of Holden Crater show old conglomerations of rocks, called megabreccia, topped by a layer of clay sediment. Planetary scientists believe that the clay was deposited over a period of thousands of years when the crater was a lake; that clay could preserve any evidence of a past habitable environment there. The crater wall was later breached in a flood, exposing those lower layers as well as boulder-strewn upper layers. The crater is one of six candidate landing sites for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, scheduled for launch in 2009, and could be considered for future sample return missions.

Nearby Star Should Harbor Detectable, Earth-Like Planets (Source: UC Santa Cruz)
A rocky planet similar to Earth may be orbiting one of our nearest stellar neighbors and could be detected using existing techniques, according to a new study led by astronomers at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The closest stars to our Sun are in the three-star system called Alpha Centauri, a popular destination for interstellar travel in works of science fiction. UCSC graduate student Javiera Guedes used computer simulations of planet formation to show that terrestrial planets are likely to have formed around the star Alpha Centauri B and to be orbiting in the "habitable zone" where liquid water can exist on the planet's surface. The researchers then showed that such planets could be observed using a dedicated telescope.

Vinasat Approaching Launch Pad (Source: VietNamNet)
Vietnam's first telecom satellite, Vinasat 1, left the manufacturing site to the launching pad at the Kourou Spaceport in Guyana in South America. The manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and the French launching service provider, Arianespace, will check and test the satellite within 4-5 weeks before it is launched. Vinasat 1 will be launched on April 12.

Editorial: America’s Space Lunacy and Africa’s Poverty (Source: Nigerian Tribune)
Recently, President George Bush made and signed a declaration, saying that hence forth,“America will view with concern the exploration and exploitation of space by countries that are not its allies”. Is this not a brazen display of space imperialism? What gives America the exclusive rights to determine the activities of other nations in space? Who made America the singular sentinel at the gates of space? Is this not space colonization carried too far? Will Russia and China sit idly by? How will the world react and is this America’s coup de grace stroke on the world? Whither Africa? Visit http://www.tribune.com.ng/07032008/opinion.html to view the editorial.

NASA Awards Safety and Mission Assurance Contract at Kennedy (Source: NASA)
NASA's Kennedy Space Center has awarded Millennium Engineering and Integration Company of Satellite Beach, Fla., a safety and mission assurance support services contract. The cost-plus-award-fee contract is valued approximately $45.2 million during a four-year performance period. The new contract consolidates several contracted activities currently supporting Kennedy's Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate requirements into a single support contract.

ATK Progresses Ares I First-Stage Development (Source: Flight International)
Alliant Techsystem's development work on the first stage of NASA's Ares I crew launch vehicle is progressing, with segments for the ground vibration test article already fabricated. Preparations are under way to ship hardware for the analog test flight Ares I-X to Kennedy Space Center by July. Ares I's first stage is a five-segment solid rocket boster (SRB). For ground vibration testing, ATK is to supply two five-segment stacks: one empty of the solid fuel, the other an inert version of a fuelled stack. These will be tested at Marshall Spaceflight Center in 2010. ATK has produced three of the inert stack's five segments, using them as manufacturing process pathfinders.

Italy and US Agree: European Manned Spaceflight is Needed (Source: Flight International)
Italian and US space agencies have agreed that an autonomous European space access capability with human crews is a necessity for the proposed global lunar exploration strategy. They have also agreed that studies for the in-orbit assembly of a Mars ship and development of its nuclear propulsion are needed. Italian Space Agency (ASI) president Giovanni Fabrizio Bignami has met NASA administrator Michael Griffin to discuss the global exploration strategy, which has been drawn up by 14 of the world's space agencies over the past year.

Sea Launch to Launch U.S. Satellite on March 17 (Source: RIA Novosti)
The launch of a Zenit-3SL carrier rocket with the DirecTV 11 broadcast satellite on board has been scheduled for March 17. The satellite, with mass of approximately 6 metric tons, is designed to deliver national high-definition (HD) programming and local HD channels to subscribers throughout the United States. Lifting off from the Odyssey Launch Platform in the Pacific Ocean, the Zenit-3SL rocket will place the DirecTV 11 satellite, with a designed lifetime of 12 years, into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

One Small Step for Man, one Giant Message to the Universe (Source: PRNewswire)
The world's first ever advert is to be broadcast to extra-terrestrial life, Doritos announced today. Doritos, as part of its new 'You Make It, We Play It' initiative, is asking the British public to shoot a 30-second ad that will be beamed past the Earth's atmosphere and into the Universe, to anyone 'out there' that may be watching. The winning ad will also be aired on the more conventional medium of British television. The Doritos Broadcast Project is being undertaken in association with expert astronomers and academics from Leicester University and is also being supported by EISCAT (The European Incoherent SCATter Scientific Association), which studies solar-planetary interactions and operate a series of radar systems, including the Svalbard based transmitter.

NASA Gets Early Support for More '09 Funds (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The federal budget process is a long and winding road that usually ends in a flurry of last-minute deals right before Christmas egg nog is passed around. With that in mind, NASA has a small reason to raise a pint on St. Patrick's Day. The Senate Budget Committee today recommended the space agency recieve $18.7 billion in 2009 funding, about $1 billion more than the $17.6 billion advocated by President Bush. Pushed by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., the extra money would be used to partially reimburse NASA for costs it incurred after the 2003 Columbia accident. But don't hold your breath. The committee's proposal is only a guide and NASA's budget still must survive multiple committees and votes. Even then, Congress has killed efforts the last two years to add another $1 billion to NASA's budget.

Congress Comes to KSC (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
In an effort to boost NASA funding, U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas, will lead a congressional trip to Kennedy Space Center next week to watch the scheduled launch of space shuttle Endeavour on March 11. A Lampson aide said the congressman had recruited at least 16 members for the trip, including U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, the Tennessee Democrat who heads the House Committee on Science and Technology. Lampson -- whose district includes the Johnson Space Center -- serves as a subcommittee chairman under Gordon.

Lawsuit Could Delay Inmarsat Phone Service in U.S. (Source: Space News)
Inmarsat's plans to introduce a global satellite-telephone service late this year might exclude the United States because of a patent dispute with a small U.S. company, according to Inmarsat and its distribution partner, Stratos Global Corp.

Com Dev Expects Multiple Gains from MDA Sale (Source: Space News)
Satellite-component builder Com Dev of Canada expects to profit from both the sale of Canada's MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to Alliant Techsystems (ATK) of the United States and from the Canadian protests objecting to that same deal, Com Dev Chief Executive John Keating said March 6.

NRO Space Radar Program is Canceled (Source: Space News)
The Space Radar, a U.S. military and NRO satellite surveillance program whose cost estimates have ranged upwards of $20 billion, has been canceled. Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Northrop Grumman Space Technology have been developing competing designs for the Space Radar under contracts that in January 2007 were extended through April 2009. The extensions were worth $49 million apiece. "The Government will continue to vigorously pursue alternatives to meet the DOD and IC requirements for radar capabilities from space," an official said. The House Armed Services Committee was told a new plan for the Space Radar should be ready for presentation to Congress in 45 days.

Plutonium Shortage Could Thwart Future NASA Missions (Source: Space News)
NASA is facing the prospect of having to explore deep space without the aid of the long-lasting nuclear batteries it has relied upon for decades to send spacecraft to destinations where sunlight is in short supply. The United States stopped producing plutonium-238 in 1988 and since then has relied upon a dwindling stockpile supplemented since 1992 by periodic purchases of the material from Russia. Industry sources said they had been told that the United States has a total of just over 11 kilograms on order to meet NASA's projected demand through the middle of the next decade. The U.S. has 4.9 kilograms on order for delivery from Russia this year.

"In the future, in some future year not too far from now, we will have used the last U.S. kilogram of plutonium-238," Griffin said. "And if we want more plutonium-238 we will have to buy it from Russia...I think it's appalling." Russia has advised the United States "that they are down to their last 10 kilograms of plutonium." "We are now foreseeing the end of that Russian line," Griffin said. Griffin said absent a national decision to restart production, NASA's planetary science program "would be severely hampered."

ESA Proposes Public-Private Partnership on Three Data Relay Satellites (Source: Space News)
The European Space Agency (ESA) will begin negotiations in the coming weeks with European satellite operators on a joint investment in three geostationary-orbiting data-relay satellites that also would carry payloads selected by private-sector operators, ESA Telecommunications Director Giuseppe Viriglio said.

Europe Presses for More Info on Chinese Satellite Navigation Project (Source: Space News)
European government officials said they are increasingly frustrated at China's refusal to provide clear information about its Beidou/Compass satellite navigation project, which poses strategic and technical problems for Europe's Galileo system. These officials said they hope China will clarify matters during a scheduled late April visit to Europe by a Chinese government delegation.

NRO Loses Decision Authority on Basic Imaging Satellite Program (Source: Space News)
Senior U.S. defense and intelligence leaders have stripped the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) of its authority to make key decisions on a planned imaging satellite procurement and are poised to do the same for others managed by the spy satellite agency, according to current and former intelligence officials. The step was taken amid concern that the NRO, which has suffered numerous setbacks in recent years including program cancellations and on-orbit failures, was in danger of running afoul of White House policy with a program dubbed BASIC, or Broad Area Satellite Imagery Collection. Questions have been raised about how BASIC, still in the planning stages, squares with a provision in the policy directing the military and intelligence community to rely on commercial satellites for general mapping purposes.

NDIA Sponsors Survey on Security Clearances (Source: NDIA)
The National Defense Industry Association is sponsoring an online survey on security clearances for the industry's workforce. Visit http://is-nri.com/take/?i=126136&h=6KBwXArnKTK4yzqHx3-5VQ to take the confidential survey.

Interorbital Releases Neptune Rocket Design (Source: Interorbital)
Interorbital Systems (IOS) has released the design of its manned orbital launch vehicle, Neptune, and passed a major milestone by completing the propellant tank construction of its Sea Star MSLV (microsatellite launch vehicle). Sea Star is a subscale version of and testbed for the Neptune six-passenger orbital tourism ship. Both vehicles employ a novel modular, pressure-fed, two-stage-and-a-half-to-orbit configuration.

Neptune will be the first of a new generation of low-cost and highly reliable manned orbital launch vehicles. It is designed for minimum cost and maximum reliability. Unnecessary expensive, complex, failure-prone, and sometimes performance-limiting systems such as wings, ignition systems, and turbopumps have been eliminated from the design. Both the Sea Star and Neptune vehicles are partially reusable, and are deployed by a reusable canister ocean-launch system. Visit http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/images/press-releases/pr080304-1.pdf for information.

Interorbital Taps Destiny Space to Book Space Tourism and Satellite Launches (Source: CSA)
DestinySpace Enterprises (DSE) has formed a strategic alliance with Mojave-based rocket manufacturer and launch provider Interorbital Systems (IOS) to market IOS’ low-cost commercial orbital space tourism and satellite launch services. DSE’s subsidiary Orbital Expeditions (Orbex) will act as an official booking agent for IOS’ orbital payload launch services and week-long orbital spaceflight expeditions. Augmenting the sales force of Astro Expeditions LLC, IOS’ in-house marketing arm, DSE will provide a ‘reservations portal’ for orbital crew and cargo spaceflight services to a wider customer base. Clients will include government, academia, commercial firms, and space tourists. Visit http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/images/press-releases/pr080304-2.pdf for information.

Lockheed Martin Completes Test of First Advanced Military Communications Satellite (Source: Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has successfully completed acoustic testing of the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite. The Advanced EHF system will provide survivable, highly secure, protected, global communications for all warfighters serving under the U.S. Department of Defense. During the test, the fully integrated spacecraft was subjected to the sound and vibration levels expected during launch into orbit. The successful test was conducted at Lockheed Martin's Space Systems facilities in Sunnyvale, California. Click here for information.

International Space Development Conference Planned May 29 - June 1 (Source: CSA)
The National Space Society's 2008 International Space Development Conference will bring together all parts of the space community, from astronauts to entrepreneurs, scientists to policymakers, and professionals to enthusiasts. The conference will present a wide variety of space topics, including civil, commercial and scientific developments and discoveries. Visit http://isdc.nss.org/2008/ for information. Discount Registration to CSA Members!

Northrop, Loral Hook Up To Get U.S. Satellite Work (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Seeking to create a potentially powerful new competitor for building future U.S. government satellites, Northrop Grumman and Loral announced a strategic partnership to share certain technology and production assets. The venture aims to shake up the satellite industry by combining Northrop's history providing advanced sensors and spy-satellite systems to military, intelligence and other federal customers with Loral's track record of manufacturing lower-cost commercial satellites. If successful, the arrangement announced yesterday could cut production costs and make Northrop a more effective rival against Boeing and Lockheed Martin, the perennial top U.S. government satellite suppliers.

NASA Explorer School Opens Doors to Hundreds for Discovery Night on March 12 (Source: NASA)
Edward Harris Jr. Middle School, Elk Grove, California, will transform itself into an epicenter of discovery and science activities next week and invites community members and news media to join the fun. Participants can enjoy building and launching rockets, making "goop," playing math and science games, and entering a raffle for a chance to win prizes." Visit http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=24934 for information.

Responsive Access to Space Conference Planned in Ohio on May 19-23 (Source: ERAU)
RASTE 2008 is designed to be the premier forum to meet the challenges of Affordable and Responsive Space Access through technology exchange and collaboration. This will be achieved by bringing together the space access system integrators and sub-system providers to share, exchange and transition the technologies into the next generation space launch vehicles. The RASTE 2008 seeks to accelerate the development of the emerging commercial space launch industry by establishing and continuing an exchange and collaboration between engineers, developers, planners and managers in the community. Visit http://www.usasymposium.com/raste/RASTEexhibitreminder.html for information.