December 3 News Items

Canada Looks to Build Next Moon Rover (Source: Canwest)
Canada is quietly putting together a proposal to build NASA an all-Canadian moon rover - a vehicle with a pressurized air cabin that astronauts could use without wearing bulky helmets and air tanks. One space industry executive says this could be Canada's next big area of expertise after the Canadarms. There are at least three American lunar rovers under development already. Now Ottawa's Neptec Design Group, which is already testing a laser guidance system for an unmanned American moon rover, is also leading a team designing a separate, Canadian vehicle. (12/3)

Why I Hope There's No Life on Mars (Source: Popular Mechanics)
I hope that Mars is as dead as a doornail. Even deader, since most doornails, in fact, harbor bacterial life. Dead as the moon, then. Why am I such a spoilsport? Because life on Mars would make life on Earth a lot more complicated. First, imagine that there’s no life on Mars. That means we can go there, as we did on lunar missions, with no serious worries about bringing back deadly germs.

If Mars is equally lifeless, that will make exploring—and later settling—the planet much easier. We can go there and return without this particular worry, and we can introduce Earth life without concerns that we’ll damage indigenous creatures. Astronauts won’t have to be quarantined, and the environmental impact statement, or its interplanetary equivalent, will be easier to determine. On the other hand, if there is life on Mars, things get a lot tougher. (12/3)

SpaceX Rocket Engine Disassembly Delayed in Texas (Source: KWTX)
The Central Texas weather has delayed disassembly of the rocket stage whose late-night test two weeks ago rattled windows and startled residents over a large area of the region. The rocket is scheduled for shipment to Cape Canaveral for an upcoming Falcon 9 launch next year. SpaceX was scheduled to begin disassembling stage around 5 a.m. Wednesday. But high winds in the area prevented workers from climbing the tower to begin the project. (12/3)

Space Technology Incubation in Colorado (Source: SSTI)
Serving as a virtual home to companies developing space-derived technologies, the 8th Continent Aerospace Business Incubator opened at the Colorado School of Mines last month. The incubator provides resources such as access to capital and management advisory services for companies working directly on commercialization efforts from the Space Program. Visit http://www.8cproject.com for information. (12/3)

Goodyear and NASA Successfully Recreate Original Moon Tire (Source: SpaceRef.com)
Goodyear and the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) recently completed a jointly-funded project for the development and production of twelve replicates of the original wire-mesh moon tire used on the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle in the early 1970s. (12/3)

Speculation on NASA's Next Administrator (Source: Spaceports Blog)
Space News last month speculated on the names of possible NASA Administrator candidates: Charles F. Bolden, a retired Marine Corps Brig. General; Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator for policy and plans (and now working NASA transition); Scott Hubbard, Stanford University and leader of the re-examination of the Vision for Space Exploration leader; Wesley Huntress at the Geophysical Laboratory at the Carnegie Institute; Dr. Sally Ride, America's first female astronaut; Chris Scolese, NASA's present third in command; Dr. Steve Squyres at Cornell University and famous for the Mars Rovers; Dr. Alan Stern, PI on the Pluto-bound New Horizon's mission; Dr. Ed Weiler, now at NASA HQ overseeing science; and S. Pete Warden, director of NASA Ames and retired USAF general. (12/3)

Cult Spacecraft - Part One: X-20 (Source: SpaceDaily)
It's an odd feature of aerospace history that many prototype aircraft that never went into production become "cultplanes". Cultplanes, like the B-70 Valkyrie, have their own Web sites run by amateur enthusiasts who take all the public relations hype from the designers as gospel truth and ignore all the potential problems. They argue that if their particular pet aircraft had been given a chance, history would have been changed: Canada would still have an aerospace industry, or supersonic airliners would be common, or the Nazis would rule the world. Some of these sites have a strong paranoid slant, claiming that the Holy Plane was sabotaged by the Sinister Forces of U.S. Imperialism, International Communism, or the Established Aerospace Corporations.

We Space Cadets have our own "Cult Spacecraft". The blogosphere is full of ardent fans of ex-projects like X-20, X-30, DC-X, X-33, X-34, X-38 etc. who are convinced that their particular favorite would have been the key to cheap and reliable access to space if only the Sinister Forces hadn't killed it. These cultists are constantly calling for one of these dead projects to be revived as an alternative to the boring multistage expendable boosters we are still using.

This way lies madness - or at least irrelevance. Most of these cult programs were technically impossible. They often had severe political and management problems as well, but the main reasons for their failure were fundamental laws of physics, aerodynamics, and engineering that haven't changed today and never will. Trying to revive them is wasted effort that only makes the space advocacy community look technically illiterate and reduces its credibility. Witness the X-20 Dyna-Soar. Click here to view the article. (12/3)

Mmmmm...Space Beer (Source: Parabolic Arc)
Japanese beer-lovers can anticipate an out-of-this-world brew: suds made with barley descended from grains that traveled in outer space. The “space beer,” to be test-brewed by Sapporo Breweries Ltd., will come in a pilot edition of 100 bottles to be ready in November, said company spokeswoman Momoko Matsumura. The beer will be made with barley — to be harvested this weekend — descended from seeds that spent five months in 2006 aboard the International Space Station. (12/3)

Gov. Crist Reaches Out to Obama (Source: Parabolic Arc)
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) presented President-Elect Barack Obama with a letter advertising his state as...well, basically broke and in foreclosure. “The Sunshine State has the third-highest home foreclosure rate in the nation, a 7 percent unemployment rate, and a projected state revenue shortfall of roughly $6 billion for the current and next fiscal year,” Crist wrote. Crist actually had a list of things he wants, including federal funds, approval of the Columbian Free Trade Agreement, and help with the economic impacts of the impending shuttle retirement. "I invite you to join me in Florida for an upcoming launch of the Space Shuttle and to discuss the future of our nation’s space program,” Crist wrote. Despite party differences, Obama might be in a generous mood. He won the crucial state. (12/3)

Senate Space Advocates Plan Departure (Sources: Space Politics, ERAU)
One of the strongest NASA supporters in the Senate, Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), is expected to resign her seat some time next year in order to run for governor. Hutchison’s interest in the job is clear: she considered running against current governor Rick Perry in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2006 before choosing to stay in the Senate. She has worked in particular with Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) to try and win additional money for NASA—an effort that has had mixed outcomes in the Senate and no additional money for NASA overall.

Meanwhile in Florida, Senator Mel Martinez has announced that he intends to step down at the end of his present term in 2010. Martinez has worked closely with Florida space advocates (often in partnership with Senator Bill Nelson) to support space issues. He recently planned to introduce amendments for the FAA Reauthorization Bill to support the commercial space transportation. (12/3)

Groups Collaborate on Experiments for Orbital Spaceflight Clients (Source: AAA)
American Aerospace Advisors and Space Adventures will collaborate on providing space-specific scientific experiment and research project opportunities that will be made available to Space Adventures’ orbital spaceflight clients. "We hope to expand access to space for the many projects that are ready for spaceflight. These projects have real scientific and commercial merit, and some have the potential to result in significant technical breakthroughs...we plan to include as many university student experiments as possible,” said AAA's president.

The projects available through the collaboration will encompass a wide array of research areas that are of current interest to academic and industrial researchers, including space-based solar power studies and demonstrations, microgravity applications, spacecraft technology development, Earth observation, remote sensing, lunar exploration systems development, and educational initiatives. All experiments offered under the program will be reviewed by a panel of experts for solid scientific and commercial merit. Click here for information. (12/3)

Northrop Grumman Wins Navy Trident II Contract (Source: AP)
A unit of military contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. received a $67.7 million contract from the Navy to provide an array of services on the Trident II submarine ballistic missile. Northrop will provide shipyard support, gas generator production, trainer support and other work. (12/3)

Boeing Reaches Agreement With Engineers Union (Source: AIA)
Boeing Co. has avoided a possible second strike after 21,000 engineers and technical workers voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract promising annual raises of up to 5%. In addition to pay and pension increases, the agreement also grants the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace a consulting role in any future discussions over outsourcing. (12/3)

Pentagon Overhauls Procurement Guidelines (Source: AIA)
Companies bidding for major military contracts will be required to build prototypes of their systems under new procurement rules unveiled Tuesday. Pentagon acquisitions chief John Young said the new rules are based on his belief that "our policies must be more disciplined and effective to ensure that results are more predictable and that we are better stewards of taxpayer dollars." In an effort to combat "requirements creep," the Pentagon will also implement steering boards to review any changes proposed after initial cost estimates are approved. (12/3)

Lawmakers Hope Leverage, Alliances Will Save NASA From Deep Cuts (Source: Houston Chronicle)
The Texas congressional delegation is launching a campaign to combat potentially deep budget cuts for NASA as President-elect Barack Obama focuses on rescuing the nation's economy. The drive comes amid expectations that billions of dollars will be shifted from various federal agencies into new programs to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial system.

With tough trade-offs ahead, NASA's supporters are bracing for a hard look by the new administration and Democratic-controlled Congress at the space agency's $20.2 billion budget for the current year, which includes $5.8 billion for the shuttle and $3 billion to develop the Orion moonship. The open-ended rescue is expected to leave Obama little leeway to fulfill an expensive campaign promise he made in Florida to close a five-year human spaceflight gap after the shuttle's retirement. (12/3)

Russia to Launch Two Telecom Satellites in February (Source: RIA Novosti)
Russia will launch two telecom satellites on February 11. The Express-AM44 and Express-MD1 spacecraft have been built under the Russian Federal Space Program for 2006-2015, and will be launched from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan by a Proton-M carrier rocket with increased lifting power. (12/3)

Space Tourism Flights Now Half Price (Source: ETA)
A space tourism company this week began offering tickets for sub-orbital space flights at less than half the price of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic. XCOR Aerospace is selling 30-minute trips on its Lynx spaceship for $95,000. Although the single passenger aboard the Lynx spaceship will be strapped down and will not experience free-floating weightlessness in the same way as Virgin Galactic astronauts, they will be seated alongside the pilot and are guaranteed spectacular views. The Lynx spacecraft uses a conventional runway to take off and land horizontally like a plane, so the company expects to be able to make up to four flights a day. (12/3)

India to Deploy Smaller Launchers for LEO Satellites (Source: Domain-B)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is building a smaller launcher designed to put remote-sensing satellites, weighing less than 500kg, into low earth orbits (LEO). Such launchers will cost 40 percent less than existing rockets. An orbit 400-500km above the earth is designated as a low-earth orbit. Satellites launched into LEOs circle the earth at shorter intervals than their heavier geo-synchronous cousins and so can return to cover a specific point on the planet at shorter intervals. Editor's note: Say what? (12/3)

Boeing, Northrop Grumman Lose Bids to Build Satellites in Southern California (Source: LA Times)
In a major setback for satellite-making operations in Southern California, a $1.1-billion contract was awarded Tuesday to Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin to build a new generation of weather satellites. Lockheed beat out Boeing and Northrop Grumman to design and build two satellites that will be used to monitor and better predict where hurricanes and tornadoes could strike.

Lockheed said much of the work would occur at its space systems operations in Newtown, Pa. Boeing would have built the satellites in El Segundo, and Northrop had planned on building the satellites at its sprawling Space Park in Redondo Beach. No local layoffs are planned as a result of the loss, but both Boeing and Northrop said winning the contract would have meant hundreds of new engineering jobs at their Southern California facilities. (12/3)

Program at KSC Gives Kids Their Space (Source: Florida Today)
Amanda Galt, an 11-year-old at Sherwood Elementary in Melbourne, cranked her head back to get a better look at the Saturn 5 rocket. "It's overwhelming," she said. "It feels like it's bigger than my school. It's like wow." More than 5,000 sixth-graders from Brevard Public Schools will get to see the rocket up close during Brevard Space Week, which runs through Dec. 12. The six-year-old program, presented at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, teaches students about space exploration and the importance of math and science. Space Week is sponsored by NASA Education, Brevard Schools Foundation, Delaware North Parks and Resorts and Florida Chapter of the National Space Club. (12/3)

Commercial Launch and Payload Providers Asked to Complete Space Florida Survey (Source: Space Florida)
As build-out preparations begin for Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, commercial launch and payload providers interested in launching from Florida are being asked to complete a quick survey on Space Florida’s Website (www.spaceflorida.gov). The information gathered from potential customers will be used to develop the build out plan for the launch complex, which is expected to be ready for operation by fall 2010. Launch Complex 36 will be able to accommodate a variety of vehicle sizes and may support commercial, civil and/or military launches.

“As we develop Launch Complex 36, we want to ensure we’re considering the unique needs of potential customers,” noted Mark Bontrager, Space Florida’s Vice President of Spaceport Operations. “This pad will be customized to suit launch and payload providers to ensure they are able to achieve their goals as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.” Space Florida requests responses to the survey by Dec. 16. (12/3)