December 22 News Items

ATK Receives $49 Million Contract for Solid Rocket Motors (Source: ATK)
Alliant Techsystems has received a $49 million contract from Orbital Sciences Corp. to provide at least nine flight sets of Orion solid rocket motors. If options in the contract are exercised, the total value would increase. Orion motors are used on a variety of launch vehicles including Ground Based Missile Defense's Orbital Boost Vehicle, as well as Minotaur, Pegasus and Taurus launch vehicles. The flight set motors range in size from 38 to 50 inches in diameter, and four to 33 feet in length. Each flight set consists of a minimum of three stages. Work under the contract will be performed by ATK at its facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. Deliveries are expected to be complete by 2011. (12/22)

Bush Administration Nixed NASA's U.S.-China Cooperation Idea (Source: Aviation Week)
NASA tried and failed to obtain Bush administration approval of an overture to China for a cooperative U.S.-China space mission, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said. The White House believes that a higher level of cooperation is too great a reward to China for its human rights and arms-trafficking violations of international law. But the new Obama administration may resurrect the idea. The transition team of President-elect Barack Obama asked the agency for a detailed breakdown of its contacts with China and overall Asia-Pacific-region cooperative concepts in general.

The mission concept suggested by NASA was largely devoted to space science, but also involved flight operations on the space shuttle and International Space Station (ISS). It would not have involved the launch of a Chinese astronaut, however. The concept included the large Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) that was flown on a shuttle mission 10 years ago as a solo payload and is likely to be launched for installation to the ISS on what could be the space shuttle's final mission in late 2010 or early 2011.

NASA's proposal was to allow the cooperation of Chinese scientists in the mission - since the original AMS carries nearly 1,900 kg. (4,188 lb.) of specialized magnets made in China by Chinese aerospace companies. "We ran that up the flagpole to the administration," Griffin says. The modernized version of the AMS for long-term ISS installation may not carry nearly as much Chinese-built hardware as the original design, though. (12/21)

Analysts Split on Aerospace Outlook (Source: AIA)
With the 787 finally expected to fly next summer, 2009 could be a good year for the aerospace industry, but analysts are divided on how long the good news will last. Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group expects airline cancellations to hit Boeing Co. in 2010 and continue to drag down results for at least three years. But Barclays Capital analyst Joe Campbell believes the downturn "will not be deep and prolonged." The much-delayed 787 program could be the key to Boeing's performance through 2013, when its competitor, the Airbus A350, is scheduled to debut. (12/22)

Northrop, Boeing Battle Over Criteria for New Tanker Bids (Source: AIA)
As the Pentagon prepares to reopen bidding on a $40 billion contract for new aerial refueling tankers, Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. are jockeying behind the scenes to ensure the bidding guidelines favor their product. Northrop and partner EADS are pushing for a "best value" calculus that accounts for both price and capability, while Boeing is urging that the contract simply go to the lowest bidder. At least one defense consultant expects Boeing to low-ball its bid in an effort to prevent EADS from gaining a foothold in the U.S. market. (12/22)

Key Committee Chairman Wants Griffin to Stay at NASA (Source: AIA)
The chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee is urging President-elect Barack Obama to retain Michael Griffin as NASA chief, at least until the new administration can sort out its priorities for the space program. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., said that Griffin, while often combative, "understands what he's doing, in contrast to previous administrations." (12/22)

Staying the Course in a Sea of Change (Source: Space Review)
With a new administration about to take power in Washington, many in the space industry wonder what this means for NASA's exploration plans. Jeff Foust reports that, despite criticism of some aspects of Constellation, NASA's exploration leaders are confident about their efforts. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1275/1 to view the article. (12/22)

The Silicon Valley of NewSpace (Source: Space Review)
Mojave Air and Space Port has become a center of activity for the NewSpace industry in recent years, to the point where many liken it to a space version of Silicon Valley. Jeff Foust looks at the parallels between Mojave and the Valley and what sets the desert airport apart. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1273/1 to view the article. (12/22)

Reinventing Failure (Source: Space Review)
Problems with some space programs have less to do with cutting-edge technology than people and management issues. Wayne Eleazer offers a historical example of the problems that well-intentioned but poorly-executed government reform can cause. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1271/1 to view the article. (12/22)

Telespazio Wins Contract in Turkey for Satellite System (Source: Telespazio)
Telespazio has won a tender as prime contractor, supported by Thales Alenia Space, from the Turkish Ministry of Defense for the Göktürk satellite system. The program has a total value of more than 250 million Euro. The agreement covers the supply of an Earth observation satellite equipped with a high-resolution optical sensor, an integration and test center for satellites to be built in Turkey, and the entire ground segment of the system, which will carry out in-orbit operation, data acquisition and processing. Telespazio will also provide all satellite launch and test services. (12/22)

China's Role in Commercial Space On Hold (Source: Asia Times)
Just a few days ago, the organizers of the Google Lunar X Prize announced that one of the new international participants was a Shanghai-based German-Chinese team known as Team Selene. This team has proposed a Lunar Rocket Car (LuRoCA 1) equipped with HDTV cameras. This might not necessarily turn out to be one of the first commercial success stories in Chinese space history. Still, it is noteworthy. Markus Bindhammer, the German-born inventor who heads the team - Shi Xiaojun serves as executive designer - believes that Team Selene has caught everyone by surprise. He is not aware of any other Chinese aerospace or space technology companies active in this competition which now includes well over a dozen active teams. Team Selene is not getting any support from the Chinese government or China's aerospace industry because nobody seems to know much about it. (12/22)

'09 Will Be Exciting Year, Marshall Director Says (Source: Huntsville Times)
Marshall Space Flight Center Director Dave King looks for the next year to be bustling with progress on new NASA rockets, expansion of the International Space Station and five shuttle missions to support. "We are always busy around here, but 2009 is going to have us working on missions that cover just about everything Marshall has done," King told The Times in an interview at his office earlier this month. "It's always exciting to be in the space business, but next year is going to be special."

The center's 7,000 employees - including 2,500 civil servants - are working to develop the Ares rockets, which NASA plans to replace the space shuttle with and send astronauts to the moon. A key milestone for the program will come this summer as NASA hopes to test the first stage of the Ares I with a launch. King said the Ares I-X launch is progressing, with "everything coming together." Segments of the first stage booster, which is based on the reusable solid rocket boosters used on the space shuttle, have been manufactured and shipped to Florida's spaceport. "When hardware starts to show up at the Cape, then people really get excited," King said. "They know we are going to do something." (12/22)