May 10 News Items

How an Intern Stole NASA's Moon Rocks (Source: Gizmodo)
In 2002, rogue NASA interns stole millions of dollars in moon rocks. This is the untold story of how they did it... NASA interns Thad Roberts and Tiffany duck inside a bathroom, and tear off their clothing. Then they change into the contents of their duffel bags—2mm thick neoprene bodysuits. Like in a bad movie, the suits will help Thad and Tiffany avoid heat sensors armed to feel out threatening climate changes inside a vault. Click here to view the article. (5/10)

Jacksonville Spaceport Hearing Set for May 14 (Source: SPACErePORT)
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s dream of landing a commercial spaceport to accommodate reusable launch vehicles at Cecil Field moved closer to reality today with the release of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Draft Environmental Assessment (EA), which found no significant environmental impacts. The EA looked at potential environmental impacts of the FAA issuing a Launch Site Operator License for the JAA to operate a commercial horizontal launch facility at Cecil Field. JAA is proposing to operate a spaceport at its Westside airport that could handle launching up to 52 horizontal, reusable launch vehicles a year. The release of the draft EA signals the start of the public comment period, which will end May 20, 2009. A public hearing will be held on May 14 at Cecil Commerce Center, 13561 Lake Newman St., Jacksonville. Click here for information. (5/10)

Wisconsin Aerospace Authority to Launch Business Plan (Source: Sheboygan Press)
On Friday, May 15, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority plans to make its official public liftoff at an event that will coincide with the annual Rockets for Schools program at Spaceport Sheboygan. The event will include the introduction of board members as well as the unveiling of the WAA's Strategic Business Plan and dreams. In addition, the WAA will kick off a logo contest, asking students across the state to submit ideas that will be incorporated into an official WAA logo. The WAA was created in 2006 by a piece of legislation authored by Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) and State Representative Steve Kestell (R- Elkhart Lake) and signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle. The WAA has been tasked with promoting the industry of and education for the aerospace sector in Wisconsin, as well as the creation of and promotion of a spaceport in Sheboygan. (5/10)

Indian Base Station on Moon is the Next Dream (Source: The Hindu)
The Indian space mission’s next dream is to set up a base station on the moon so that space vehicles for onward journey to the Mars can be assembled and launched from there, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), G. Madhavan Nair, has said. Addressing students of ISRO’s Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) at their annual celebrations here on Friday, Dr. Nair asked them to have this dream in their mind. He asked them to think big, not just retrace the path already trekked by space science and technology, but look to where the future beckoned. (5/10)