March 9 News Items

Hawaiian Spaceport Bill Advances (Sources: Space Politics, Res Communis)
Hawaii's House of Representatives approved unanimously HB-2259, legislation that supports work to develop a commercial spaceport in the state. Specifically, the legislation appropriates an unspecified sum to the state’s Office of Aerospace Development “to conduct feasibility studies for a spaceport and to pay for consultation and other expenses incurred in applying to the FAA for a commercial space transportation license.” The bill now goes to the Hawaii Senate.

Among the bill's findings: "The legislature finds that outer space is the next frontier and an industry in its infancy for the united States. Four decades after the courageous efforts that put human beings on the moon, advances in manufacturing are making it possible for others to experience the thrill and joy of being “weekend astronauts.” Space tourism is a potential billion dollar global industry. As a new industry, it holds tremendous economic potential for Hawaii while preserving our precious environment. Besides expanding our sources of revenue, space tourism will provide Hawaii residents the opportunity of highly skilled aerospace jobs without leaving home for the mainland. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue a limited number of licenses for space ports, and accordingly, the legislature finds that it is incumbent on the State to position Hawaii for the economic advantages a license can bring."

Space Tourism: KSC Visitor Complex Wins Attraction Award for Shuttle Experience (Source: KSCVC)
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, operated on behalf of NASA by Delaware North Companies, was honored Saturday with a prestigious Thea Award for its new Shuttle Launch Experience. Shuttle Launch Experience garnered the Thea award from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) for outstanding achievement in the attraction category. TEA lauded Shuttle Launch Experience for "maximizing the power of suggestion, sensory effects, and great storytelling to deliver the heart pounding impression of the journey into space that is experienced by the astronauts." The attraction upholds Kennedy Space Center's tradition of scholarship "through visual communication excellence," TEA said.

Growing Crowd Joins Weldon To Criticize Plan to Cede Space Leadership to Russians and Chinese (Source: SpaceRef.com)
Rep. Dave Weldon has been trumpeting concern and drawing attention to the Bush Administration's disastrous decision to leave America without direct human access to space for years. Now there is a growing chorus of officials who share Weldon's concerns. NASA Administrator Mike Griffin recently admitted that the issue puts the U.S. in a strategically dangerous position and that it is his "greatest regret and concern" that America will be essentially shut out of space for a period of at least five years.

"This is one the biggest strategic blunders I've seen," said Weldon. "While I have supported the Administration on many decisions, this is one of it's worst. Leaving America without access to space for 5 years or more, they have essentially ceded the 'ultimate high ground' to the Russians and Chinese, who have not exactly been our closest allies. We must change course immediately. We can't sit back, make apologies, and hope for the best." Weldon has taken the lead role in urging Congress to close the space gap from both ends by addition funding to (1) extend the Shuttle program on a limited basis to resupply the ISS and (2) bring the Constellation program on line sooner. The SPACE Act, H.R. 4837, authored by Weldon authorizes additional funding to help deliver Orion earlier than the currently planned 2015 date.

Lockheed Martin Addresses Worker Shortage by Funding High School Programs (Source: AIA)
Some companies facing a shortage of workers are paying for materials and lesson plans in high schools as part of a plan to create a pipeline for new workers. Two years ago, Lockheed Martin began funding engineering courses at schools near its aircraft facility in Palmdale, California. "We're already within the window of criticality to get tomorrow's engineers in the classroom today," said Jim Knotts, Lockheed director of corporate citizenship. "We want to address a national need to develop the next generation of engineers -- but with some affinity toward Lockheed Martin."

Europe Launches First ATV to ISS (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
The European Space Agency successfully launched its first automated cargo spacecraft, carrying supplies for the International Space Station. An Ariane 5 ES lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana and placed the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), also known as "Jules Verne", into a 260-kilometer orbit. The ATV is the largest and most sophisticated spacecraft built by Europe, capable of carrying several tons of cargo, including food, water, propellant, and other items, to the station. The actual docking of the ATV to the ISS is not planned until early April to avoid conflicting with the STS-123 shuttle mission scheduled for launch on Tuesday as well as to allow for several tests of the spacecraft as it approaches the station prior to making a docking attempt.