August 18 News Items

Viewpoint: Explore Mars with Robots (Source: EE Times)
It is 40 years since the great pioneering achievement of the Moon landings, yet instead of going onto Mars as many had hoped we are back in low Earth orbit with a controversial Space Station. In stark contrast, forty years after Charles Lindbergh's pioneering achievement of the first solo transatlantic flight, luxury jumbo jet travel had been established throughout the world. We are clearly on the wrong path in space!

We have not gone onto Mars because of the enormous difficulty and the enormous cost of a manned mission to that planet. However there is another much easier, and much more affordable way " telepresence. Telepresence is an emerging technology that could enable humans to function in, and experience, a distant space environment such as Mars as effectively, for all practical purposes, as actually going there - but without going there! Click here to view the article. (8/18)

AIA Assesses Growth in Obama Space Operations Budgets (Source: AIA)
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has studied the fiscal 2010 space operations budgets proposed by the Obama Administration and prepared summaries for each agency. Click here to access them. (8/18)

Putin Pledges Major State Investment in Russian Aerospace Sector (Source: RIA Novosti)
The Russian government will heavily invest in the development of the country’s aerospace industry, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. “The development of the aircraft industry and space exploration is certainly one of our priorities,” Putin said. According to the government, financing of the aircraft industry has increased 20 times in the past five years. Despite the current economic crisis, the government allocated about 80 billion rubles ($2.5 billion) in 2009 for the development of the industry. “We are planning to continue investing heavily in these branches of the economy, to set up competitive enterprises capable of capturing their niches in the market, and to generate resources for the modernization of existing assets,” the prime minister said. (8/18)

Dual Orion Capsules Studied for Manned Asteroid Missions (Source: SpaceflightNow)
A manned asteroid mission using two Orion spacecraft, docked nose-to-nose to form a 50-ton deep space vehicle, is being studied by Lockheed Martin Space Systems as an alternative to resumption of U.S. lunar landing missions. The Orion asteroid mission concept is being unveiled just as the Presidential committee reviewing U.S. human space flight is citing asteroid missions after 2020 as a less costly alternative to NASA's proposed lunar landing infrastructure. (8/18)

Excalibur Almaz Plans Private Orbital Manned Space Flight in Cooperation with NPOM of Russia (Source: On Orbit)
Excalibur Almaz, an international space exploration company, plans to open up a new era of private orbital space flight for commercial customers, using updated elements of the "Almaz" space system originally developed by NPOM of Russia. Realization of EA's project with technical assistance from NPOM will allow regular access to and from space. EA plans to offer week-long orbital space flights beginning as early as 2013 - taking a big leap beyond the sub-orbital flight market targeted by most other private space companies. In addition to NPOM, other leading aerospace firms in the U.S., Europe and Japan will provide technical support for EA's space flight operations. Click here to view the article. (8/18)

BCC Space & Astronomy Lecture Series Begins Sep. 4 (Source: SpaceTEC)
To celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the Brevard Community College is hosting a "Space & Astronomy Lecture Series" at 7pm on the second Friday of each month during the 2009-2010 academic year. Hosted in the BCC Planetarium, this unique Lecture Series features presentations by key leaders in the aerospace community followed by a public viewing session at the BCC Observatory on the roof of the Planetarium. The first lecture will start at 7pm on Sep. 4 and will feature KSC Director Bob Cabana, KSC ISS Director Russ Romanella, and KSC Exploration Systems Manager Jon Cowart. Theywill discuss the "Constellation Program and the Future of Space Exploration." Click here for a schedule of upcoming lectures. (8/18)

New Russian Space Station May Be Created on Russian Segment of ISS (Source: Interfax)
The Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) will be undocked and will become a foundation of the new Russian space station if the foreign partners refuse to extend the operation of the ISS to 2020, Vitaly Lopota, president of the Russian rocket and space corporation Energiya, said. (8/18)

Space Elevator Faces Reality (Source: MSNBC)
The space elevator concept is one of the highest-flying ideas out there: Imagine a super-strong tether swinging out, say, 100,000 miles from Earth's surface, with laser-powered robots shuttling up and down from a ground- or sea-based station to an orbital platform. If such a thing could be built, the idea's proponents say the system could cut the cost of putting cargo into space from $10,000 to $100 per pound. The idea is at least a century old - and was most famously popularized by science-fiction guru Arthur C. Clarke, who once said the space elevator would succeed "50 years after everyone has stopped laughing." (8/18)

Pakistan to Launch First Satellite in 2011 (Source: Xinhua)
Dr Samar Mubarakmand, a renowned Pakistani nuclear scientist, said that Pakistan would launch its first space satellite in April 2011. Talking to a private TV channel on Tuesday, Dr Samar said the satellite, likely to be sent into earth orbit, would monitor mineral and agriculture programs and weather conditions. He said this project is funded by the Pakistani Planning Commission and there is no scarcity of funds for nuclear and space projects of the country. Dr Samar said the country's nuclear program was not inferior to any other country in its standard and proficiency. (8/18)

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