May 8 News Items

Aerospace Trade Balance Surges (Source: AIA)
Increased exports of aerospace products in the final quarter of 2007 sent the aerospace industry's trade balance into record territory last year, with a final tally of $60.4 billion. "The sustained growth in aerospace trade is a good sign not only for our industry, but the U.S. economy as a whole," AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey said. "Our industry's track record as a major net export earner for the United States helps to offset the nation's chronic trade deficit." (5/8)

Florida Among Top Six States with Agency R&D (Sources: SSTI, NSF)
The National Science Foundation found that state Agencies Spent $1.1 billion for R&D in FY 2006. California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania were the only states to exceed $40 million each in spending. Combined, the six states accounted for 49 percent of the total. Florida was ranked sixth at $42.3 million. The $1.1 billion figure, much lower than many may expect, does not include direct state appropriations to universities for research and facilities (which totaled over $3 billion in FY-2006. Visit http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08309/ for information. (5/8)

Space Race Over, But Some Don’t Want to Ask Russians for Ride (Source: The Hill)
Aerospace companies are using memories of the Cold War and the prospect of American astronauts having to hitch a ride on a Russian rocket to push Congress to increase NASA’s budget. Unless lawmakers follow through, there will be a five-year gap in U.S. manned flight capabilities after the Space Shuttle is retired. With some irony, lobbyists note in meetings on Capitol Hill that America’s former communist foe would have monopolistic powers to charge what it likes to take astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The campaign to increase NASA’s budget includes some big players like Lockheed Martin and Boeing , the co-owners of the joint United Space Alliance, which operates spacecraft, and some lesser-known companies like SpaceX. American astronauts have traveled on Russian-built rockets since 1993. But without any capability to take astronauts on its own, NASA could lose negotiating power. Russia could conceivably raise the prices for the trip after the shuttle is retired in 2010. According to one industry official, the price of outsourcing space flights could easily reach $1 billion. That figure is based on the current contract NASA has with Russia, which is valued at $750 million. For that price, NASA astronauts have scheduled slots on 16 launches aboard the Russian-built Soyuz rockets from 2009 to 2011.

SpaceX, meanwhile, is urging Congress to pay for a $308 million follow-on program that funds an upgrade to its COTS cargo rockets so they can carry astronauts as well. Not all of that money would have to be appropriated next year. Click here to view the article. (5/8)

Senate Hearing Raises Discussion on Ares Alternatives (Source: Space Politics)
During the May 8 Senate hearing on NASA's reauthorization, AIAA Executive Director Robert Dickman offered an alternative to closing the gap involving EELV. “For less than the cost a single space shuttle mission, they could be human-qualified and...a relatively simple capsule to go to low Earth orbit could be built” for access to ISS," he suggested. Sen Nelson (D-FL) pushed back on this idea, seeing it as something of a threat to Constellation. Gene Kranz stepped in and described the cost in money and schedule he experienced man-rating the Atlas and Titan for the Mercury and Gemini programs. “I don’t see how this helps close the gap,” he concluded, describing it as "a diversion from the basic plan."

Sen. Vitter (R-LA) asked Kranz whether the future reauthorization bill should devote any language to studies of alternatives to the proposed Ares vehicles, including the shuttle-derived “Jupiter-120" concept. Kranz rejected that suggestion. “I believe it’s important that we don’t waste too much time looking back,” he said. “I believe NASA has been a victim, of so many studies that seem to be never-ending that burn up the resources, delay the schedule, [and] disenchant the people who are executing them.” Visit http://www.spacepolitics.com/ to view the article. (5/8)

ORBCOMM Awards Contract for Next-Generation Satellites (Source: SpaceToday.net)
Satellite communications company ORBCOMM has signed a $117 million contract with a Colorado-based MicroSat Systems to develop a new generation of 18 small satellites to replace its existing system. The satellites, to be launched in 2010 and 2011, will replace the existing ORBCOMM satellites that have been in low Earth orbit since the late 1990s; six other replacement satellites, built by OHB-System, are planned for launch in June. Launch services will be contracted separately, and MicroSat Systems will choose the communications payload within the next 30 days from one of two providers. ORBCOMM provides low-data-rate communications services for asset tracking, messaging, and related applications. (5/7)

Nelson Seeks $2B for NASA (Source: Florida Today)
Sen. Bill Nelson brought together a group of prominent space experts Wednesday to push for more funding for NASA. "NASA is in trouble," Nelson said. "This little agency has been asked to do too much with too little." Nelson and other legislators from states with NASA facilities failed in attempts to snag an additional $1 billion in agency funding in this year's federal budget. Now, Nelson is hoping to get an additional $1 billion in each of the next two fiscal years. Gene Kranz, former NASA flight director, said funding would help close the five-year gap in manned space flight from the end of the shuttles to the Constellation program. (5/8)

Man Executives to Attend Apace School (Source: IOM Today)
IN a move aimed at bolstering the Isle of Man's space and technology industries, the government has established a program to sponsor executives from Manx companies to attend courses at the International Space University (ISU). "This will give Manx companies an insight into the latest developments in various aspects of space technology, key networking opportunities alongside industry leaders, and valuable insights into the workings of this vital sector of the Manx and global economy," said Alex Downie MLC, Treasury Member with responsibility for the space industry. The Isle of Man has targeted space industry development and has established a collection of policies and incentives to support corporations involved in space enterprise. (5/8)