May 17 News Items

Space Station Module Handed Over (Source: BBC)
Europe has rolled out its last major module for the space station. The cylindrical Node 3 - to be known as "Tranquility" - was constructed by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. Once attached to the station, it will house life support gear as well as being home to the Cupola, a giant "bay" window that was also built in Europe. Node 3 will be shipped shortly to the Kennedy Space Center in the US, from where it will catch a ride to the station in the back of a shuttle. The Endeavour orbiter flight, which will take up the Cupola as a co-passenger, is currently scheduled to lift-off in February 2010. (5/17)

Pensacola Space Tourism Venture Still Moving Forward (Source: Pensacola News Journal)
Space Florida, a state-funded aerospace development body, froze $200,000 of the $250,000 it was to contribute to Project Odyssey. But Dr. Joe Story, Andrews' chief innovation officer, says the institute still intends to press forward with its space programs. The $200,000 from Space Florida will remain frozen pending discussion with Space Florida's board on June 24. Despite the controversy that led to the resignation of project lead Brice Harris, Dr. Story said "we have plenty of staff here to run this program. We're going to run this program with the staff and doctors we have on board." (5/17)

California Energy From Space Predicted in Seven Years (Source: TVNZ)
In as little as seven years we could be getting energy from space, according to American author and futurist George Friedman. He believes the 21st century will be shaped by space age solutions to Earth-bound problems, and nations that will emerge to surprise us. With oil set to run out some time this century, Friedman says we must look to the sun.

"But it's not going to be Earth based solar power, that would be an ecological disaster. We're going to put it into space, where there's plenty of room, no night, no clouds, and beam it back to Earth in the form of microwave energy," he says. His new book, The Next Hundred Years, A Forecast For The 21st Century, suggests California will be using power from space in seven years. (5/17)

Wisconsin Student Rocketeers Win National Rocketry Challenge (Source: AIA)
A team from Madison, Wisconsin, took first place at the Seventh Annual Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) Saturday, taking on the title of national champion. The four-member team won the rocket competition after spending months perfecting their rocket design. The Team America Rocketry Challenge kicked off last September with hundreds of teams from 45 states and the District of Columbia vying for a chance to compete at the finals held today outside of Washington, D.C. with the top 100 teams. (5/17)