September 11 News Items

Former NFL Player Taking Sports to Astronomical Heights (Source: JAKA)
Many people have heard of Space Tourism, Space Commercialization and Space industrialization, but now there’s Space Sportilization – the intersection of space, sports and entertainment. Ken Harvey a former four times NFL Pro Bowl Linebacker, with the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins, and Allen Herbert, an Aerospace Engineer, have coined the term Space Sportilization as part of their company’s offering. Their company, JAKA Consulting Group, uses sports as an entrance way into out- of- the- box thinking. Their new website SpaceSportilization.com is an exciting place where visitors can access information regarding Sports or Space, including information about Space experiences such as virtual games, zero gravity flights, suborbital flights, orbital flights, astronaut training experiences. (9/11)

Ares 1 Passes Design Review (Source: SpaceToday.net)
Ares 1, the rocket that will be used to launch the Orion spacecraft starting next decade, passed its preliminary design review (PDR) on Wednesday, a key milestone in its development. The PDR, which involved over 1,000 people at seven NASA centers and in industry, approved the planned technical approach for the vehicle. While Ares 1 components will now proceed into detailed design work that will lead up to a critical design review, one follow-up "delta" review is planned for next summer to confirm the planned approach for dealing with the thrust oscillation issue previously identified with the vehicle. The Ares 1 is scheduled to enter service in 2015. (9/11)

Cost Growth Forces Recertification of Air Force Satellite Program (Source: AIA)
The price tag for the Air Force's Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite program is expected to grow by at least 25% after Congress mandated the addition of a fourth satellite, triggering an automatic recertification as required under Nunn-McCurdy. The Air Force has asked the Pentagon to expedite the recertification process so the program can be included in the 2010-2015 budget. A fourth satellite is estimated to cost about $2 billion, bringing the total cost of the program to more than $9 billion. (9/11)

Aerospace Needs New Wave of Recruits for Industry's Future (Source: AIA)
AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey underscores the need for a concerted effort on the part of the aerospace industry to address a looming work force shortage. Insufficient numbers of college students are studying engineering and related fields, and too few high-school graduates are adequately prepared for aerospace-related degrees. Industry leaders are taking steps to address the issue, including such efforts as the AIA-sponsored Team America Rocketry Challenge. (9/11)

Endeavour Rolling Out to Pad on Sept. 18 (Source: NASA)
Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B at the Cape Canaveral Spacecport on Sept. 18, in preparation for shuttle Atlantis' mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Endeavour will stand by in the unlikely event a rescue mission is necessary following Atlantis' launch, which is targeted for Oct. 10. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue vehicle, it will move to Launch Pad 39A for the upcoming STS-126 mission to the International Space Station. That flight is targeted for launch Nov. 12. (9/11)