U.S. Contractors Face Layoffs Unless NASA Moves Faster (Source: Reuters)
U.S. contractors involved in human spaceflight will have to lay off up to 10,000 workers unless NASA accelerates orders for a new lunar lander and the space shuttle replacement program, according to Brewster Shaw, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space Exploration. Shaw said the five biggest contractors in the sector faced combined layoffs of 8,000 to 10,000 workers because of the gap. The five biggest contractors are Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Alliant Techsystems, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and United Space Alliance. The companies and their smaller suppliers were urging lawmakers and NASA to accelerate work on the Ares 5 program, the cargo component of the Constellation program, as well as the Altair lunar lander program, Shaw said. (3/31)
Expedia Books (Fake) Mars Travel Online (Source: Expedia)
That's right! Expedia has dropped all booking fees—including fees on flights to Mars. Right now you can save over $3 trillion on a Mars vacation—and in this economy, you can't afford NOT to go! Only on Expedia! Click here to reserve your ticket now. (3/31)
Virginia Fireball Now Said to Be Meteor, Not Rocket (Source: Space.com)
A brilliant fireball in the Virginia sky on Sunday was likely a natural meteor event and not the remnants of a Russian rocket, scientists now say, a reversal from yesterday's initial analysis. On Monday, Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory suggested the loud boom and flash of light seen in the skies over Norfolk and Virginia Beach was likely the second stage of the Soyuz rocket that launched Expedition 19 to the International Space Station last Thursday. However, U.S. Strategic Command has since reported that the rocket re-entered Earth's atmosphere near Taiwan, on the other side of the world, several hours after the reports of the fireball. So both its timing and entry location rule out the rocket as the explanation for the fireball. (3/31)
Orion PORT Exercise in Florida Will Test Water Recovery (Source: Aviation Week)
NASA will soon begin conducting seaworthiness tests of a full-size mockup of the Orion capsule in the Atlantic Ocean to give engineers a feel for how difficult it will be to recover the spacecraft, as well as what kind of conditions the crew can expect. The Post-landing Orion Recovery Test (PORT) mockup was built in conjunction with the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, which is home to "the worldwide experts at rescue and recovery at sea," according to a NASA official. While similar in shape to the Apollo capsule, the larger Orion capsule needs to have its behavior in water fully characterized. The mockup can simulate both normal splashdown conditions as well as what could happen if the capsule takes on water.
Normally, Orion splashdowns will take place off the California coast. A landing in the Atlantic would only happen following a launch abort. NASA requirements specify that the capsule must be recoverable in conditions up to sea state 5, in which waves can reach above 13 feet. The capsule will be brought out to sea by the ship that normally retrieves the space shuttle's solid-rocket boosters. Tests will start in the harbor at KSC, then will gradually move further out to sea. At some point, the team hopes to experience some bad weather to provide data on rough-sea recoveries.
PORT is budgeted at $4 million for its first two phases. The year-long Phase 1 included the construction of a 1/4-scale mockup for testing in pools. Phase 2, just approved by NASA last week, encompasses the at-sea testing as well as the egress tests, and should also take one year. The third phase of the program will involve tests with the actual recovery ship that will be used for Orion, which has yet to be chosen. (3/31)
Six Embark on 105-Day Simulated Trip to Mars (Source: Reuters)
Six European men embarked on a 105-day simulated trip to Mars at a Russian space institute on Tuesday to test how humans would cope with the long isolation. The volunteer crew of four Russians, one German and a Frenchman smiled and waved to cameras before sealing themselves in the maze of cramped compartments in an imitation spaceship. A padlock was clamped on the giant metal hatch of the warren, the focus of a project which space officials said was a small step toward eventually sending people to Mars. Click here to view the article. (3/31)
Hubble-Saving Space Shuttle Moves to Launch Pad (Source: Space.com)
The space shuttle Atlantis moved out to its seaside launch pad in Florida early Tuesday to prepare for NASA's long-delayed final flight to the iconic Hubble Space Telescope. With Atlantis at the launch pad, NASA will once more prepare the spacecraft for a May 12 launch to the Hubble Space Telescope. Five back-to-back spacewalks are planned during the 11-day mission to upgrade the orbital observatory and extend its life through at least 2013. The mission has been delayed since last fall, when a data handling unit aboard Hubble unexpectedly failed just weeks before Atlantis was due to launch toward the space observatory. (3/31)
NASA Announces $11.5 Million in K-12 Grants, Including One in Florida (Source: NASA)
NASA has awarded $11.5 million in grants to public school districts, state-based education leadership, and not-for-profit education organizations nationwide as part of a program initiated by Congress in FY 2008. Each grant is expected to leverage NASA's unique contributions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, enhance secondary students' academic experiences, and improve educators' abilities to engage and stimulate their students. The Florida-based project is led by the School Board of Polk County and will focus on aerospace curriculum development. (3/31)
NASA Announces $11.5 Million in K-12 Grants, Including One in California (Source: NASA)
NASA has awarded $11.5 million in grants to public school districts, state-based education leadership, and not-for-profit education organizations nationwide as part of a program initiated by Congress in FY 2008. Each grant is expected to leverage NASA's unique contributions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, enhance secondary students' academic experiences, and improve educators' abilities to engage and stimulate their students. The California-based project is led by the Alameda County Office of Education and will focus on engaging pre-service and in-service teachers who work in schools that serve predominantly underrepresented minority students. (3/31)
Top 10 Worst Space Foods (Source: Discovery.com)
Discovery Space previously featured some of the best foods ever gobbled up in space. Yet it left readers asking: What are the worst space foods? If anyone would know, it's Vickie Kloeris -- NASA's Johnson Space Center space food manager who has been whipping up zero-gravity recipes for 23 years. Click here to see a list of her most notorious space menu picks, some so bad that they never flew at all. (3/31)
Lampson Now Among NASA Candidates (Source: Space Politics)
Former congressman Nick Lampson is now rumored to be under consideration for the NASA administrator’s job. Lampson was in Colorado Springs for the National Space Symposium and was asked about the rumor. “It’s a rumor,” he said. “All I can say is that I would be honored if I was asked. I haven’t been asked.” During the event, attendees (including another former congressman, Dave Weldon; former NASA deputy administrator Fred Gregory; former astronaut Tom Jones; and journalist Miles O’Brien) stressed the importance of getting someone into the administrator’s job as soon as possible. “Vacuum is not good,” said Gregory. “I would hope that very soon that there is an administrator and a deputy administrator.” (3/31)
China's Manned Space Flight Team Wins U.S. Space Achievement Award (Source: Xinhua)
The team of China's Shenzhou-7 manned space flight mission, which marked a number of "firsts" for the Chinese space program in a single mission, was rewarded the 2009 Space Achievement Award from the U.S. Space Foundation. A delegation from China led by Dr. Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the China Manned Space Program, and Taikonaut Zhai Zhigang accepted the award at the opening ceremony of the 25th National Space Symposium, a Space Foundation-sponsored annual gathering of the global space community, in Colorado Springs. (3/31)
March 30 News Items
Space Foundation Reports on Space Economy (Sources: Space Foundation, Parabolic Arc)
Overall worldwide space revenues grew nearly 2.5 percent in 2008, rising to $257 billion. The largest segments of the space economy are commercial infrastructure and commercial satellite services, which together total 67 percent, compared to about 32 percent for government space spending. The largest growth sectors were space products and services, which grew 10.4 percent to $91 billion, mainly due to direct-to-home television services, which generated $69.8 billion in 2008. Fixed satellite services showed the strongest growth rate, with revenue up 31 percent to $16.8 billion. Space industry stocks suffered along with the world economy in 2008, declining 45 percent in 2008, erasing the gains from three consecutive years of growth. Still, space investment and output remain strong and the long-term outlook for the global space industry is encouraging. (3/30)
Russian Support for Mexican Space Agency (Source: Parabolic Arc)
It looks as if Mexico's space agency, Aexa, will be getting assistance from the Russian space agency Roskosmos. Deputy Director Segrey Saveliev recently led a delegation to Mexico to discuss bilateral ties, the Russian news agency TASS reports. Russian experts held negotiations with the Mexican Congress Senate Committee on Science and Technology, as well as with the initiative group on development of the national space agency. The visit took place following the initiative of the Mexican party. A Mexican space agency is to be established in a few months. After that, Roscosmos will negotiate the issues with the authorized state agency. According to Saveliev, “reliable legal basis is required” to commence discussions of the space programs with Mexico. Mexico is interested in cooperation in the satellite communication, remote sensing programs, as well as in the Russian Global Navigation System (GLONASS). Thus, prospects for bilateral cooperation are realistic. (3/30)
Report: Cosmonaut Grumbles About Space Bureaucracy (Source: AP)
Squabbles on Earth over how cosmonauts and astronauts divide up the space station's food, water, toilets and other facilities are hurting the crew's morale and complicating work in space, a veteran Russian cosmonaut said. Gennady Padalka told the Novaya Gazeta newspaper that space officials from Russia, the United States and other countries require cosmonauts and astronauts to eat their own food and follow stringent rules on access to other facilities, like toilets. "What is going on has an adverse effect on our work," Padalka, 50, was quoted as saying. (3/30)
Mexico to Build Spaceport (Source: M&C)
Mexico plans to begin construction this year on a space port to send satellites aloft, an official said Monday. The facility will be located in the southern state of Quintana Roo on the border with Belize, said state planning minister Jose Alberto Alonso Ovando. The location was chosen after extensive studies in part because of its proximity to the Equator, he said in an interview. Late last year, the Mexican National Congress approved the founding of a national space agency, Aexa. The agency's headquarters will be located in the state of Hidalgo from where it will oversee launches and space flights. (3/30)
Lockheed Martin Establishes Colorado-Based Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory (Source: Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has established a new Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory (SVIL) in Colorado to enable a more efficient and reliable process for space vehicle component and flight software integration. As a Lockheed Martin Space Systems-wide asset, the laboratory will have applications for large, small, existing and future satellite development. The SVIL utilizes state-of-the-art computer hardware and software technologies to provide users with the ability to more thoroughly understand how their space vehicle, at various stages of development, will eventually operate on-orbit. This approach facilitates less complex development, and fosters close customer partnerships, with more transparency and long-term predictability. (3/30)
Harris Corp. Completes Design Review for Next-Generation GPS Control Segment (Source: Harris)
Harris Corp. has successfully completed demonstrations of its advanced communications and information assurance solutions for the Global Positioning System (GPS) Operational Control Segment (OCX) program. Harris is a member of the Northrop Grumman Corp. team, which is competing for the open-architecture, next-generation ground control segment contract that will support the entire network of existing and future GPS satellites. Total value of the contract to Harris if the Northrop team is selected in 2009 for the development phase could exceed $100 million over the next 20 years. (3/30)
Prosecutor: Faulty Part Could Have Destroyed Shuttle (Source: Houston Chronicle)
A Friendswood man pleaded guilty to one count of fraud today for selling NASA a space shuttle part that prosecutors allege could have endangered astronauts' lives. Richard J. Harmon, 60, the former owner of Cornerstone Machining Inc. in Alvin, pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge of fraud involving a space vehicle part. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Harmon, who had worked in the aerospace industry for decades, subcontracted to build two fasteners for $18,795 each and agreed in doing so that he would meet all precise specifications or let authorities know what was changed. (3/30)
Lockheed GPS Team Maintains Schedule, Achieves Milestones in Design Review (Source: Lockheed Martin)
The Lockheed Martin team developing the Air Force's next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) spacecraft, known as GPS III, continues to meet or exceed key milestones on schedule in the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase of the program. Lockheed Martin, along with teammates ITT and General Dynamics, has successfully completed 61 of 71 subsystem and assembly PDRs. (3/30)
Ares I-X Slips Into August (Source: Aviation Week)
NASA managers have decided to position the space shuttle Endeavour on Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B when sister ship Atlantis lifts off from Pad 39A to service the Hubble Space Telescope, a move that will delay the first flight test of the shuttle follow-on vehicle by three or four weeks. Endeavour is to serve as a rescue vehicle for the Atlantis crew in case their orbiter is damaged during ascent, since they won't be able to shelter in the International Space Station because it isn't reachable from the telescope's orbit. The shuttle program had considered keeping Endeavour stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and rolling it out only if post-launch inspection of Atlantis revealed the need for a rescue flight. (3/30)
Atlas V Targeting Friday Launch From Cape (Source: Florida Today)
The Air Force and United Launch Alliance plan to hold a flight readiness review Wednesday to set the launch date for a next-generation military communication satellite from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. A Friday liftoff is targeted for an Atlas V rocket carrying the Global Wideband SATCOM-2 spacecraft. (3/30)
SpaceX Announces Launch Window (Source: Florida Today)
Space Exploration Technologies announced the launch window for ATSB's RazakSAT on Falcon 1 Flight 5 is scheduled to open April 20 at 7 p.m. EDT. It will be the fifth flight of the single-engine rocket. SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch site is about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii on Omelek Island, part of the Reagan Test Site at United States Army Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific. Due to the location of the launch site, the Kwajalein local date at the opening of the launch window will be April 21. (3/30)
'Most Habitable Zone' on Mars Revealed (Source: Space.com)
Evidence is building that NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander plopped down on a microbe-friendly location. Descending onto Mars on May 25, 2008, Phoenix was designed to study the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil. It did not pack instruments designed to find life. To date, there is no firm evidence that Mars ever hosted biology. But researchers say the landing site has or had the ingredients necessary to support life as we know it. (3/30)
NASA Unveils Orion Spacecraft in Washington (Source: Reuters)
NASA gave visitors to the National Mall in Washington a peek at a full-size mock-up of the spacecraft designed to carry U.S. astronauts back to the moon and then on to Mars one day. The U.S. Navy-built Orion crew exploration vehicle will replace the space shuttle NASA plans to retire in 2010, and become the cornerstone of the agency's Constellation Program to explore the moon, Mars and beyond. (3/30)
Orion Splashdown Test Planned Off Florida Coast (Source: Reuters)
The Orion program's $2 million Post-Landing Orion Recovery Test (PORT) project will make sure that crew members can be rescued from the choppy waters of the Atlantic in case of an emergency requiring an aborted launch, using the full-scale, 18,000-pound (8,000 kg) model of Orion. On April 6, the capsule will be dumped into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, using one of the ships that usually recovers rocket boosters from shuttle launches. Instruments within the capsule will measure the acceleration and tilting astronauts would experience upon landing in waves.
Editor's Note: If NASA plans for Orion to splash down off the coast of Florida for recovery and refurbishment, perhaps this PORT exercise can also serve as a pathfinder for SpaceX and its Dragon capsule. (3/30)
To the Moon and Beyond (Source: Boston Herald)
The United States needs a space program that is going somewhere. Otherwise, Neil Armstrong’s famous first step on the moon will have been reduced to being just, “One small step for a man!” Forty years ago, the U.S. accomplished one of the greatest feats of exploration when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. Sadly, looking back at those glorious pictures of the Apollo program, I’m struck with the same sense of historical wonder that I have when looking at images of the pyramids of Giza or the Acropolis in Athens. While it only happened 40 years ago, we seem completely disconnected to that age.
Since then, we have been coasting on the glories of that achievement. We have had some wonderful robotic successes and the International Space Station is a significant achievement, but these programs have been frail offspring of Apollo’s legacy. In fact, U.S.-manned space vehicles (the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station) have “explored” over 1.5 billion miles since the end of Apollo. However, all of this mileage occurred in orbit within 250 miles of Earth. (3/30)
Europe, Russia in Mars Mission Rehearsal (Source: AFP)
Six volunteers from Europe and Russia will on Tuesday allow themselves to be locked up in a capsule in Moscow for over three months to simulate the conditions for an eventual manned mission to Mars. The two Europeans and four Russians will not be allowed to leave the facility until their mission ends 105 days later, allowing scientists to assess the psychological effects of long duration space flight. (3/30)
Mysterious East Coast Boom Was Falling Russian Rocket (Source: Space.com)
A mysterious boom and flash of light seen over parts of Virginia Sunday night was not a meteor, but actually exploding space junk from the second stage of a Russian Soyuz rocket falling back to Earth, according to an official with the U.S. Naval Observatory. Residents of the areas around Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va., began calling 911 last night with reports of hearing a loud boom and seeing a streak of light that lit up the sky. An observatory satellite tracking program showed that the Soyuz rocket debris should have come down exactly in the area where the fireball was spotted. (3/30)
Satellites, Launches, and the Recession (Source: Space Review)
How are big commercial space companies, including the operators of commercial communications satellites, coping with the economic crisis? Jeff Foust reports that these operators are surprisingly optimistic about their prospects, even as other parts of the industry are more concerned. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1341/1 to view the article. (3/30)
Is the Chinese Manned Space Program a Military Program? (Source: Space Review)
Some on the West have argued that China's planned mini space station will be a military facility of some kind. Chen Lan describes the role the military plays in China's human space program and why those concerns are largely unfounded. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1340/1 to view the article. (3/30)
Can Space Tourism Survive the Economic Downturn? (Source: Space Review)
In today's economy, spending on luxury items, including private trips into space, can be difficult to justify. Taylor Dinerman examines the prospects for some of the leading companies in the space tourism field. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1339/1 to view the article. (3/30)
The Last One Out Can Turn Off the Lights... (Source: Space Review)
Last week another veteran space journalist, Mark Carreau, lost his job as part of a wave of job cuts hitting the newspaper industry. Dwayne Day worries about the effects these layoffs will have on overall coverage of space issues. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1338/1 to view the article. (3/30)
Establishing a Global Space Lobbying Organization: Yuri's Foundation (Source: Space Review)
One challenge for space advocates has been in building consensus around a specific goal or mission. John Leonard suggests one solution in a form of a foundation featuring astronauts and other space leaders. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1336/1 to view the article. (3/30)
Overall worldwide space revenues grew nearly 2.5 percent in 2008, rising to $257 billion. The largest segments of the space economy are commercial infrastructure and commercial satellite services, which together total 67 percent, compared to about 32 percent for government space spending. The largest growth sectors were space products and services, which grew 10.4 percent to $91 billion, mainly due to direct-to-home television services, which generated $69.8 billion in 2008. Fixed satellite services showed the strongest growth rate, with revenue up 31 percent to $16.8 billion. Space industry stocks suffered along with the world economy in 2008, declining 45 percent in 2008, erasing the gains from three consecutive years of growth. Still, space investment and output remain strong and the long-term outlook for the global space industry is encouraging. (3/30)
Russian Support for Mexican Space Agency (Source: Parabolic Arc)
It looks as if Mexico's space agency, Aexa, will be getting assistance from the Russian space agency Roskosmos. Deputy Director Segrey Saveliev recently led a delegation to Mexico to discuss bilateral ties, the Russian news agency TASS reports. Russian experts held negotiations with the Mexican Congress Senate Committee on Science and Technology, as well as with the initiative group on development of the national space agency. The visit took place following the initiative of the Mexican party. A Mexican space agency is to be established in a few months. After that, Roscosmos will negotiate the issues with the authorized state agency. According to Saveliev, “reliable legal basis is required” to commence discussions of the space programs with Mexico. Mexico is interested in cooperation in the satellite communication, remote sensing programs, as well as in the Russian Global Navigation System (GLONASS). Thus, prospects for bilateral cooperation are realistic. (3/30)
Report: Cosmonaut Grumbles About Space Bureaucracy (Source: AP)
Squabbles on Earth over how cosmonauts and astronauts divide up the space station's food, water, toilets and other facilities are hurting the crew's morale and complicating work in space, a veteran Russian cosmonaut said. Gennady Padalka told the Novaya Gazeta newspaper that space officials from Russia, the United States and other countries require cosmonauts and astronauts to eat their own food and follow stringent rules on access to other facilities, like toilets. "What is going on has an adverse effect on our work," Padalka, 50, was quoted as saying. (3/30)
Mexico to Build Spaceport (Source: M&C)
Mexico plans to begin construction this year on a space port to send satellites aloft, an official said Monday. The facility will be located in the southern state of Quintana Roo on the border with Belize, said state planning minister Jose Alberto Alonso Ovando. The location was chosen after extensive studies in part because of its proximity to the Equator, he said in an interview. Late last year, the Mexican National Congress approved the founding of a national space agency, Aexa. The agency's headquarters will be located in the state of Hidalgo from where it will oversee launches and space flights. (3/30)
Lockheed Martin Establishes Colorado-Based Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory (Source: Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has established a new Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory (SVIL) in Colorado to enable a more efficient and reliable process for space vehicle component and flight software integration. As a Lockheed Martin Space Systems-wide asset, the laboratory will have applications for large, small, existing and future satellite development. The SVIL utilizes state-of-the-art computer hardware and software technologies to provide users with the ability to more thoroughly understand how their space vehicle, at various stages of development, will eventually operate on-orbit. This approach facilitates less complex development, and fosters close customer partnerships, with more transparency and long-term predictability. (3/30)
Harris Corp. Completes Design Review for Next-Generation GPS Control Segment (Source: Harris)
Harris Corp. has successfully completed demonstrations of its advanced communications and information assurance solutions for the Global Positioning System (GPS) Operational Control Segment (OCX) program. Harris is a member of the Northrop Grumman Corp. team, which is competing for the open-architecture, next-generation ground control segment contract that will support the entire network of existing and future GPS satellites. Total value of the contract to Harris if the Northrop team is selected in 2009 for the development phase could exceed $100 million over the next 20 years. (3/30)
Prosecutor: Faulty Part Could Have Destroyed Shuttle (Source: Houston Chronicle)
A Friendswood man pleaded guilty to one count of fraud today for selling NASA a space shuttle part that prosecutors allege could have endangered astronauts' lives. Richard J. Harmon, 60, the former owner of Cornerstone Machining Inc. in Alvin, pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge of fraud involving a space vehicle part. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Harmon, who had worked in the aerospace industry for decades, subcontracted to build two fasteners for $18,795 each and agreed in doing so that he would meet all precise specifications or let authorities know what was changed. (3/30)
Lockheed GPS Team Maintains Schedule, Achieves Milestones in Design Review (Source: Lockheed Martin)
The Lockheed Martin team developing the Air Force's next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) spacecraft, known as GPS III, continues to meet or exceed key milestones on schedule in the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase of the program. Lockheed Martin, along with teammates ITT and General Dynamics, has successfully completed 61 of 71 subsystem and assembly PDRs. (3/30)
Ares I-X Slips Into August (Source: Aviation Week)
NASA managers have decided to position the space shuttle Endeavour on Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B when sister ship Atlantis lifts off from Pad 39A to service the Hubble Space Telescope, a move that will delay the first flight test of the shuttle follow-on vehicle by three or four weeks. Endeavour is to serve as a rescue vehicle for the Atlantis crew in case their orbiter is damaged during ascent, since they won't be able to shelter in the International Space Station because it isn't reachable from the telescope's orbit. The shuttle program had considered keeping Endeavour stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and rolling it out only if post-launch inspection of Atlantis revealed the need for a rescue flight. (3/30)
Atlas V Targeting Friday Launch From Cape (Source: Florida Today)
The Air Force and United Launch Alliance plan to hold a flight readiness review Wednesday to set the launch date for a next-generation military communication satellite from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. A Friday liftoff is targeted for an Atlas V rocket carrying the Global Wideband SATCOM-2 spacecraft. (3/30)
SpaceX Announces Launch Window (Source: Florida Today)
Space Exploration Technologies announced the launch window for ATSB's RazakSAT on Falcon 1 Flight 5 is scheduled to open April 20 at 7 p.m. EDT. It will be the fifth flight of the single-engine rocket. SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch site is about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii on Omelek Island, part of the Reagan Test Site at United States Army Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific. Due to the location of the launch site, the Kwajalein local date at the opening of the launch window will be April 21. (3/30)
'Most Habitable Zone' on Mars Revealed (Source: Space.com)
Evidence is building that NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander plopped down on a microbe-friendly location. Descending onto Mars on May 25, 2008, Phoenix was designed to study the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil. It did not pack instruments designed to find life. To date, there is no firm evidence that Mars ever hosted biology. But researchers say the landing site has or had the ingredients necessary to support life as we know it. (3/30)
NASA Unveils Orion Spacecraft in Washington (Source: Reuters)
NASA gave visitors to the National Mall in Washington a peek at a full-size mock-up of the spacecraft designed to carry U.S. astronauts back to the moon and then on to Mars one day. The U.S. Navy-built Orion crew exploration vehicle will replace the space shuttle NASA plans to retire in 2010, and become the cornerstone of the agency's Constellation Program to explore the moon, Mars and beyond. (3/30)
Orion Splashdown Test Planned Off Florida Coast (Source: Reuters)
The Orion program's $2 million Post-Landing Orion Recovery Test (PORT) project will make sure that crew members can be rescued from the choppy waters of the Atlantic in case of an emergency requiring an aborted launch, using the full-scale, 18,000-pound (8,000 kg) model of Orion. On April 6, the capsule will be dumped into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, using one of the ships that usually recovers rocket boosters from shuttle launches. Instruments within the capsule will measure the acceleration and tilting astronauts would experience upon landing in waves.
Editor's Note: If NASA plans for Orion to splash down off the coast of Florida for recovery and refurbishment, perhaps this PORT exercise can also serve as a pathfinder for SpaceX and its Dragon capsule. (3/30)
To the Moon and Beyond (Source: Boston Herald)
The United States needs a space program that is going somewhere. Otherwise, Neil Armstrong’s famous first step on the moon will have been reduced to being just, “One small step for a man!” Forty years ago, the U.S. accomplished one of the greatest feats of exploration when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. Sadly, looking back at those glorious pictures of the Apollo program, I’m struck with the same sense of historical wonder that I have when looking at images of the pyramids of Giza or the Acropolis in Athens. While it only happened 40 years ago, we seem completely disconnected to that age.
Since then, we have been coasting on the glories of that achievement. We have had some wonderful robotic successes and the International Space Station is a significant achievement, but these programs have been frail offspring of Apollo’s legacy. In fact, U.S.-manned space vehicles (the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station) have “explored” over 1.5 billion miles since the end of Apollo. However, all of this mileage occurred in orbit within 250 miles of Earth. (3/30)
Europe, Russia in Mars Mission Rehearsal (Source: AFP)
Six volunteers from Europe and Russia will on Tuesday allow themselves to be locked up in a capsule in Moscow for over three months to simulate the conditions for an eventual manned mission to Mars. The two Europeans and four Russians will not be allowed to leave the facility until their mission ends 105 days later, allowing scientists to assess the psychological effects of long duration space flight. (3/30)
Mysterious East Coast Boom Was Falling Russian Rocket (Source: Space.com)
A mysterious boom and flash of light seen over parts of Virginia Sunday night was not a meteor, but actually exploding space junk from the second stage of a Russian Soyuz rocket falling back to Earth, according to an official with the U.S. Naval Observatory. Residents of the areas around Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va., began calling 911 last night with reports of hearing a loud boom and seeing a streak of light that lit up the sky. An observatory satellite tracking program showed that the Soyuz rocket debris should have come down exactly in the area where the fireball was spotted. (3/30)
Satellites, Launches, and the Recession (Source: Space Review)
How are big commercial space companies, including the operators of commercial communications satellites, coping with the economic crisis? Jeff Foust reports that these operators are surprisingly optimistic about their prospects, even as other parts of the industry are more concerned. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1341/1 to view the article. (3/30)
Is the Chinese Manned Space Program a Military Program? (Source: Space Review)
Some on the West have argued that China's planned mini space station will be a military facility of some kind. Chen Lan describes the role the military plays in China's human space program and why those concerns are largely unfounded. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1340/1 to view the article. (3/30)
Can Space Tourism Survive the Economic Downturn? (Source: Space Review)
In today's economy, spending on luxury items, including private trips into space, can be difficult to justify. Taylor Dinerman examines the prospects for some of the leading companies in the space tourism field. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1339/1 to view the article. (3/30)
The Last One Out Can Turn Off the Lights... (Source: Space Review)
Last week another veteran space journalist, Mark Carreau, lost his job as part of a wave of job cuts hitting the newspaper industry. Dwayne Day worries about the effects these layoffs will have on overall coverage of space issues. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1338/1 to view the article. (3/30)
Establishing a Global Space Lobbying Organization: Yuri's Foundation (Source: Space Review)
One challenge for space advocates has been in building consensus around a specific goal or mission. John Leonard suggests one solution in a form of a foundation featuring astronauts and other space leaders. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1336/1 to view the article. (3/30)
March 29 News Items
Legendary Commander Tells Story of Shuttle's Close Call (Source: SpaceFlightNow.com)
The exhaustive attention NASA now devotes to making sure shuttle heat shields are damage-free and safe for re-entry is a direct result of the 2003 Columbia disaster. But a blacked-out military flight 21 years ago still stands out as a warning to astronauts, engineers and managers, a frightening "close call" that had the potential to bring the shuttle program to an early end. It was that close.
"I will never forget, we hung the (robot) arm over the right wing, we panned it to the (damage) location and took a look and I said to myself, 'we are going to die,'" recalled legendary shuttle commander Robert "Hoot" Gibson. "There was so much damage. I looked at that stuff and I said, 'oh, holy smokes, this looks horrible, this looks awful.'" Click here to view the article. (3/27)
Lawmaker Says Jobs Issue Could Spur ITAR Reform (Source: Space News)
The chairman of the U.S. congressional committee that is planning hearings on U.S. satellite export restrictions said the potential loss of jobs among U.S. satellite-component providers is one argument in favor of relaxing at least some elements of the current licensing regime. (3/29)
Gates: U.S. Not Prepared to Respond to North Korea Missile Launch (Source: Fox)
The U.S. can do nothing to stop North Korea from breaking international law in the next 10 days by firing a missile that is unlikely to be shot down by the U.S. or its allies, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said. Gates said North Korea "probably will" fire the missile, prompting a news-show host to ask: "And there's nothing we can do about it?" "No," Gates answered, adding, "I would say we're not prepared to do anything about it." Last week, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, said the U.S. is "fully prepared" to shoot down the missile. But Gates said such a response is unlikely. (3/29)
Next New Mexico Launch to Carry Human Remains in Memorial Flight (Source: Celestis)
The eighth Celestis Memorial Spaceflight - The Discovery Flight - will launch on Apr. 25 from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Launch services will be provided by UP Aerospace aboard a SpaceLoft XL rocket. Among the "discoverers" honored aboard this mission will be Ralph White, fabled undersea explorer/cinematographer and, in 1985, co-discoverer of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic. Reservations for The Discovery Flight remain open, but time is limited. Click here for information. (3/29)
Atlas V Launch Delayed For Valve Analyses (Source: Florida Today)
The planned launch Tuesday of an Atlas V rocket and a military communications satellite is being delayed at least three days to give engineers more time to analyze valve trouble that forced a launch scrub earlier this month. The 192-foot-tall Atlas V and its payload -- a Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft -- now is slated to fly no earlier than Friday night. The launch window that night would extend from 8:31 p.m. to 9:33 p.m. (3/29)
Space Adventures Anticipates Continued Russian Space Tourism Flights (Source: Spaceports Blog)
Eric Anderson, president of Virginia-based Space Adventures, suggests that a dedicated tourist Soyuz space mission is in-the-works with the Russians. "The objective would be a tourist mission...The mission would be paid for entirely by Space Adventures for the purposes of tourism." Such dedicated Soyuz tourist flights would be piloted by one professional cosmonaut and carry two paying passengers and would not begin until 2011 or 2012, if then. Many expect the tourist seats will also go up more in price well beyond the current $35-million as the supply diminshes and the demand increases. MORE from AFP. NASA may even find itself in the bidding with Space Adventures if Orbital Sciences Corp. and SpaceX fail to achieve human-rated flight status by 2013 and the new NASA Orion capsule and Ares-1 booster are slowed for whatever reason. (3/29)
The exhaustive attention NASA now devotes to making sure shuttle heat shields are damage-free and safe for re-entry is a direct result of the 2003 Columbia disaster. But a blacked-out military flight 21 years ago still stands out as a warning to astronauts, engineers and managers, a frightening "close call" that had the potential to bring the shuttle program to an early end. It was that close.
"I will never forget, we hung the (robot) arm over the right wing, we panned it to the (damage) location and took a look and I said to myself, 'we are going to die,'" recalled legendary shuttle commander Robert "Hoot" Gibson. "There was so much damage. I looked at that stuff and I said, 'oh, holy smokes, this looks horrible, this looks awful.'" Click here to view the article. (3/27)
Lawmaker Says Jobs Issue Could Spur ITAR Reform (Source: Space News)
The chairman of the U.S. congressional committee that is planning hearings on U.S. satellite export restrictions said the potential loss of jobs among U.S. satellite-component providers is one argument in favor of relaxing at least some elements of the current licensing regime. (3/29)
Gates: U.S. Not Prepared to Respond to North Korea Missile Launch (Source: Fox)
The U.S. can do nothing to stop North Korea from breaking international law in the next 10 days by firing a missile that is unlikely to be shot down by the U.S. or its allies, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said. Gates said North Korea "probably will" fire the missile, prompting a news-show host to ask: "And there's nothing we can do about it?" "No," Gates answered, adding, "I would say we're not prepared to do anything about it." Last week, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, said the U.S. is "fully prepared" to shoot down the missile. But Gates said such a response is unlikely. (3/29)
Next New Mexico Launch to Carry Human Remains in Memorial Flight (Source: Celestis)
The eighth Celestis Memorial Spaceflight - The Discovery Flight - will launch on Apr. 25 from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Launch services will be provided by UP Aerospace aboard a SpaceLoft XL rocket. Among the "discoverers" honored aboard this mission will be Ralph White, fabled undersea explorer/cinematographer and, in 1985, co-discoverer of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic. Reservations for The Discovery Flight remain open, but time is limited. Click here for information. (3/29)
Atlas V Launch Delayed For Valve Analyses (Source: Florida Today)
The planned launch Tuesday of an Atlas V rocket and a military communications satellite is being delayed at least three days to give engineers more time to analyze valve trouble that forced a launch scrub earlier this month. The 192-foot-tall Atlas V and its payload -- a Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft -- now is slated to fly no earlier than Friday night. The launch window that night would extend from 8:31 p.m. to 9:33 p.m. (3/29)
Space Adventures Anticipates Continued Russian Space Tourism Flights (Source: Spaceports Blog)
Eric Anderson, president of Virginia-based Space Adventures, suggests that a dedicated tourist Soyuz space mission is in-the-works with the Russians. "The objective would be a tourist mission...The mission would be paid for entirely by Space Adventures for the purposes of tourism." Such dedicated Soyuz tourist flights would be piloted by one professional cosmonaut and carry two paying passengers and would not begin until 2011 or 2012, if then. Many expect the tourist seats will also go up more in price well beyond the current $35-million as the supply diminshes and the demand increases. MORE from AFP. NASA may even find itself in the bidding with Space Adventures if Orbital Sciences Corp. and SpaceX fail to achieve human-rated flight status by 2013 and the new NASA Orion capsule and Ares-1 booster are slowed for whatever reason. (3/29)
March 28 News Items
NASA'S Shuttle Discovery Glides Home After Successful Mission (Source: NASA)
Space shuttle Discovery and its crew landed at 3:14 p.m. EDT Saturday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing a 13-day journey of more than 5.3 million miles. The STS-119 flight delivered the space station's fourth and final set of solar array wings, completing the station's truss, or backbone. The additional electricity provided by the arrays will fully power science experiments and help support station operations. (3/28)
North Korean Rocket Could Reach Hawaii: US Admiral (Source: AFP)
America's top military officer said on Friday that a rocket North Korea plans to launch next month has a range that could possibly reach Hawaii. Asked if the North Korean rocket could reach the US states of Hawaii or Alaska, Admiral Mike Mullen told CNN: "In some cases, yes, they could probably get down to Hawaii." International concern has been mounting about North Korea's announcement it would launch a communications satellite between Apr. 4-8. The U.S., Japan and other allies believe Pyongyang is using the launch to test a ballistic missile that could, in theory, cross the Pacific to reach North America. The launch, combined with North Korea's atomic weapons, were cause for serious concern, the admiral said. (3/28)
FAA Administrator Nominee an Unknown on Space Transportation Issues (Source: SPACErePORT)
President Obama has named J. Randolph Babbit to lead the FAA, pending Senate confirmation. Babbit is a partner in the worldwide aviation consultancy of Oliver Wyman. He was the former Chairman and CEO of Eclat Consulting until they were acquired by Oliver Wyman in 2007. Babbitt is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of aviation safety and policy, and labor relations with almost 40 years of experience in the industry. He is a former director of the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA). He has no background in space transportation and his views on the subject have not been reported. (3/28)
NASA Awards $10 Million Cooperative Agreement To University Association (Source: NASA)
NASA Ames Research Center has selected the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) for award of a new five-year cooperative agreement valued at $9,873,524 to provide internships to talented university students and faculty engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Under the terms of the agreement, the USRA will design, implement and manage a workforce development program, called the Education Associates Program (EAP), under the auspices of NASA Ames Education and Public Outreach Branch.
The program will address the critical shortage of American students enrolling in, and graduating from, the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This is a matter of serious concern to NASA, all high-tech companies and the nation. To encourage student engagement in STEM fields of study, the EAP will provide hands-on internships with NASA scientists and engineers, with a particular added focus on diversity enrollment. (3/28)
Virgin's WhiteKnightTwo Completes 3rd Test Flight (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo carrier aircraft made its third flight Mar. 25, achieving an altitude of nearly 5,500 meters and top speed of roughly 260 kilometers per hour during the two and a half hour flight. It was the WhiteKnightTwo's longest and fastest flight to date. The test flight, conducted from the Mojave Air and Spaceport, Calif., also included engine restart tests and other assessments of the aircraft's operating and handling capabilities, the company said in a release.
Virgin's test plans call for sending WhiteKnightTwo aloft with SpaceShipTwo during the second half of 2009. The company also plans to offer WhiteKnightTwo for training and to ferry science payloads. The aircraft could potentially launch an unmanned rocket capable of placing a satellite into low Earth orbit, company officials said in a March 25 press release. (3/28)
Hearing To Examine ITAR's Grip on Satellite Exports (Source: Space News)
The chairman of a U.S. congressional committee planning hearings on satellite export restrictions said the potential loss of jobs among U.S. satellite component providers is an argument in favor of relaxing at least some elements of the current licensing regime. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs terrorism, nonproliferation and trade subcommittee, said aerospace companies and U.S. intelligence officials have told him that the U.S. aerospace industrial base has been weakened by controls on exports of satellites and satellite components. The current export control regime, known as ITAR, or International Traffic in Arms Regulations, treats satellites as weapons and has made it more difficult for builders of satellite parts to win business abroad. (3/28)
Intelsat, Boeing Finalizing $500 Million Satellite Deal (Source: Space News)
Intelsat is in final negotiations with Boeing on a $500 million contract under which Boeing would deliver four telecommunications satellites based on a new design, with one of the spacecraft carrying a UHF-bandwidth payload for the Australian Defence Force, according to industry officials. The contract, expected to be signed in the coming weeks, would mark the return in force of Boeing Satellite Systems to the commercial market, which the company has mainly watched from the sidelines in the past couple of years. (3/28)
Canada's MDA Looking to U.S. for Growth after ATK Deal Nixed (Source: Space News)
Almost a year after the Canadian government ruled against Alliant Techsystems' purchase of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates' (MDA) space assets, the British Columbia firm has rebounded and is moving ahead with plans to market its products in the United States. (3/28)
Europe's Astrium Reaches Billion-Dollar Milestone in 2008 (Source: Space News)
Astrium Services of Europe, which is branching out from its core military satellite communications services business to Earth observation and navigation, became a billion-dollar company in 2008 with a 43 percent increase in revenue compared to 2007. (3/28)
General Signals Shift in Missile Defense Spending (Source: Space News)
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent a clear signal to the missile defense community that starting in 2010 budgetary pressures will force the Pentagon to shift priority away from the long-range strategic missile threat toward regional ballistic missile threats. (3/28)
Florida Senator Decides Against Legislatively Blocking Launch Pad Spending (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Last month, the chairman of a key state Senate budget committee said he would push to freeze about $10 million in public financing intended to help Space Florida convert Launch Complex 36 into a multi-user commercial facility. Legislative auditors had recommended the freeze on funds for the project because Space Florida hadn't yet finalized a master plan for the $55 million facility. Lawmakers also quietly told the agency to drop its plans to ask for up to $43 million more for the complex during the next three years.
Things have apparently changed: Senator Mike Fasano confirmed Friday he no longer planned to freeze the money through so-called "proviso" language in budget bills set to be released today because "they got the message loud and clear." He added, "I think they're doing a fine job." However, plans for the complex still haven't been finished; there are so far no publicly announced companies willing to launch rockets from it. Click here to view the article. (3/28)
Virgin Galactic Makes WhiteKnight Two Structural Changes (Source: Flight Global)
To solve handling and stability problems Virgin Galactic has made structural modifications to the vertical stabiliser fins of its WhiteKnight Two carrier aircraft prototype Virgin MotherShip (VMS) Eve. Flightglobal.com has obtained photographic evidence that VMS Eve's two booms' vertical stabilisers have been reshaped by prime contractor Scaled Composites for a larger lower rudder hinge and a more pronounced horn that may contain a heavier counterweight. The image also shows two new vortex generators added just forward of the lower hinge point and the right boom's fin has a new antenna bulb attached to its top. (3/28)
Ares/Orion Slipping Up To 18 Months - Shuttle Extension Gains Momentum (Source: NasaSpaceFlight.com)
NASA’s Constellation Program (CxP) will conduct a “Content and Schedule” summit meeting in the next few months, after it was evaluated their current schedules are “broken”. The meeting will aim to protect against a slip that is estimated to be as serious as 18 months, or outright cancellation for Ares I. Meanwhile, the push for extending the shuttle program by at least two years is gaining serious momentum.
Constellation’s schedules have been slipping at an alarming rate over the past few years, with the last PMR (Program Milestone Review) confirming a 12 month slip in the IOC (Initial Operational Capability) to March, 2015. This date relates to Orion 2, with Orion 4 - currently classed as the first crew rotation for the International Space Station (ISS), otherwise known as FOC (Full Operational Capability) - launching one year later in March, 2016.
While these dates continue to be the official timeline, internal reviews have found those schedules to be “broken”, with CxP departments across the program reporting they are at “zero percent confidence” for keeping to the March, 2015 (IOC) timeline. The problem isn’t just funding - which has become problematic for CxP over the last few years - but also what is described as “serious disconnects” between related departments, such as Orion, Ground Ops and Ares. While continued changes to the designs of Ares and Orion are part of the natural development cycle, issues such as Thrust Oscillation and vehicle performance have come at a price for both schedule and costings, despite fine work from the engineering teams tasked with mitigating the issues. (3/28)
SpaceX Falcon, Dragon Offer Hope For New Florida Space Business (Source: SPACErePORT)
As SpaceX plans for Falcon-9 advance at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, so too do Florida's prospects for re-capturing international market share for commercial satellite launches, building an orbital space tourism enterprise, and developing a new space research capability. The spaceport's Atlas and Delta rockets have had limited success in winning commercial launches, in part because they are booked-up with government missions. Falcon-9 will provide new capacity at the Cape for commercial missions.
With its Dragon capsule--intended initially to support NASA--SpaceX will be able to fly private-sector astronauts on space tourism missions, perhaps to destinations like Bigelow Aerospace's proposed commercial space station. In addition to carrying humans, SpaceX plans to deploy unmanned Dragon capsules on science missions, carrying university, industry and government research. This "DragonLab" capability will provide new opportunities for Florida universities to expand their involvement in space research. (3/28)
ESA and CNES Sign Contract on Guiana Space Center (CSG) (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency (ESA) and CNES, the French Space Agency, signed a 435 million Euro contract assuring the availability of the CSG launch range for ESA programs and activities and for the exploitation of Ariane, Vega and Soyuz launchers over the period 2009 to 2013. From 2009 onward, a family of launchers, composed of Ariane, Vega and Soyuz, will be operated from CSG under a new legal framework, which includes in particular an agreement between ESA and the French Government on CSG and associated services.
Under this agreement, the French Government guarantees to ESA the availability of the CSG launch range for ESA programmes and activities and for the exploitation of Ariane, Vega and Soyuz. The French Government has designated CNES as the authority responsible for the implementation of this guarantee on its behalf by means of the contract just concluded between ESA and CNES. ESA has, since 1975, contributed through such contracts to the upkeep and operating costs of the CSG launch range, ensuring the availability of the range as a key element of guaranteed access to space for Europe. (3/27)
Another Russian Satellite Breaking Up After Debris Collision (Sources: Interfax, SPACErePORT)
Russian ground-based space control facilities are monitoring a decommissioned Cosmos 2421 Russian military satellite as it 'is gradually falling to pieces.' Cosmos 2421 "is expected to cease to exist by the end of this year," the Space Forces said on Friday. The likely cause is "partial small-fragment destruction of the solar panel, possibly as a result of collision with a small-size space object of some kind," the Space Forces said.
This is separate from the Cosmos 2251 satellite that collided with an Iridium satellite in February. Russia is not the main producer of space waste. At the 26th session in Moscow in 2008 of the Space Debris Coordination Committee, a NASA official said China was responsible for 40%, the United States 27.5%, Russia 25.5%, and other countries 7% of debris. Click here to view the article. (3/28)
Nebraska's STRATCOM Tracks Space Junk (Source: KETV)
More than 19,000 pieces of space debris are orbiting the earth and STRATCOM has the job of keeping track of everything. The agency is responsible for tracking dead satellites, tool boxes and pieces of space junk as small as a baseball. "Cords, lens cap covers and I guess now, there's a tool bag in space from a previous space walk," said Brigadier Gen. Michael Carey, STRATCOM's Deputy Director of Global Operations. The debris is the result of more than a half-century of space flight. It's now posing major obstacles for current and future space missions. "You can't steer those 19,000. Most are not steerable," he said. "There's always a risk of being hit by space debris. There is a risk." (3/28)
Space shuttle Discovery and its crew landed at 3:14 p.m. EDT Saturday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing a 13-day journey of more than 5.3 million miles. The STS-119 flight delivered the space station's fourth and final set of solar array wings, completing the station's truss, or backbone. The additional electricity provided by the arrays will fully power science experiments and help support station operations. (3/28)
North Korean Rocket Could Reach Hawaii: US Admiral (Source: AFP)
America's top military officer said on Friday that a rocket North Korea plans to launch next month has a range that could possibly reach Hawaii. Asked if the North Korean rocket could reach the US states of Hawaii or Alaska, Admiral Mike Mullen told CNN: "In some cases, yes, they could probably get down to Hawaii." International concern has been mounting about North Korea's announcement it would launch a communications satellite between Apr. 4-8. The U.S., Japan and other allies believe Pyongyang is using the launch to test a ballistic missile that could, in theory, cross the Pacific to reach North America. The launch, combined with North Korea's atomic weapons, were cause for serious concern, the admiral said. (3/28)
FAA Administrator Nominee an Unknown on Space Transportation Issues (Source: SPACErePORT)
President Obama has named J. Randolph Babbit to lead the FAA, pending Senate confirmation. Babbit is a partner in the worldwide aviation consultancy of Oliver Wyman. He was the former Chairman and CEO of Eclat Consulting until they were acquired by Oliver Wyman in 2007. Babbitt is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of aviation safety and policy, and labor relations with almost 40 years of experience in the industry. He is a former director of the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA). He has no background in space transportation and his views on the subject have not been reported. (3/28)
NASA Awards $10 Million Cooperative Agreement To University Association (Source: NASA)
NASA Ames Research Center has selected the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) for award of a new five-year cooperative agreement valued at $9,873,524 to provide internships to talented university students and faculty engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Under the terms of the agreement, the USRA will design, implement and manage a workforce development program, called the Education Associates Program (EAP), under the auspices of NASA Ames Education and Public Outreach Branch.
The program will address the critical shortage of American students enrolling in, and graduating from, the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This is a matter of serious concern to NASA, all high-tech companies and the nation. To encourage student engagement in STEM fields of study, the EAP will provide hands-on internships with NASA scientists and engineers, with a particular added focus on diversity enrollment. (3/28)
Virgin's WhiteKnightTwo Completes 3rd Test Flight (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo carrier aircraft made its third flight Mar. 25, achieving an altitude of nearly 5,500 meters and top speed of roughly 260 kilometers per hour during the two and a half hour flight. It was the WhiteKnightTwo's longest and fastest flight to date. The test flight, conducted from the Mojave Air and Spaceport, Calif., also included engine restart tests and other assessments of the aircraft's operating and handling capabilities, the company said in a release.
Virgin's test plans call for sending WhiteKnightTwo aloft with SpaceShipTwo during the second half of 2009. The company also plans to offer WhiteKnightTwo for training and to ferry science payloads. The aircraft could potentially launch an unmanned rocket capable of placing a satellite into low Earth orbit, company officials said in a March 25 press release. (3/28)
Hearing To Examine ITAR's Grip on Satellite Exports (Source: Space News)
The chairman of a U.S. congressional committee planning hearings on satellite export restrictions said the potential loss of jobs among U.S. satellite component providers is an argument in favor of relaxing at least some elements of the current licensing regime. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs terrorism, nonproliferation and trade subcommittee, said aerospace companies and U.S. intelligence officials have told him that the U.S. aerospace industrial base has been weakened by controls on exports of satellites and satellite components. The current export control regime, known as ITAR, or International Traffic in Arms Regulations, treats satellites as weapons and has made it more difficult for builders of satellite parts to win business abroad. (3/28)
Intelsat, Boeing Finalizing $500 Million Satellite Deal (Source: Space News)
Intelsat is in final negotiations with Boeing on a $500 million contract under which Boeing would deliver four telecommunications satellites based on a new design, with one of the spacecraft carrying a UHF-bandwidth payload for the Australian Defence Force, according to industry officials. The contract, expected to be signed in the coming weeks, would mark the return in force of Boeing Satellite Systems to the commercial market, which the company has mainly watched from the sidelines in the past couple of years. (3/28)
Canada's MDA Looking to U.S. for Growth after ATK Deal Nixed (Source: Space News)
Almost a year after the Canadian government ruled against Alliant Techsystems' purchase of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates' (MDA) space assets, the British Columbia firm has rebounded and is moving ahead with plans to market its products in the United States. (3/28)
Europe's Astrium Reaches Billion-Dollar Milestone in 2008 (Source: Space News)
Astrium Services of Europe, which is branching out from its core military satellite communications services business to Earth observation and navigation, became a billion-dollar company in 2008 with a 43 percent increase in revenue compared to 2007. (3/28)
General Signals Shift in Missile Defense Spending (Source: Space News)
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent a clear signal to the missile defense community that starting in 2010 budgetary pressures will force the Pentagon to shift priority away from the long-range strategic missile threat toward regional ballistic missile threats. (3/28)
Florida Senator Decides Against Legislatively Blocking Launch Pad Spending (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Last month, the chairman of a key state Senate budget committee said he would push to freeze about $10 million in public financing intended to help Space Florida convert Launch Complex 36 into a multi-user commercial facility. Legislative auditors had recommended the freeze on funds for the project because Space Florida hadn't yet finalized a master plan for the $55 million facility. Lawmakers also quietly told the agency to drop its plans to ask for up to $43 million more for the complex during the next three years.
Things have apparently changed: Senator Mike Fasano confirmed Friday he no longer planned to freeze the money through so-called "proviso" language in budget bills set to be released today because "they got the message loud and clear." He added, "I think they're doing a fine job." However, plans for the complex still haven't been finished; there are so far no publicly announced companies willing to launch rockets from it. Click here to view the article. (3/28)
Virgin Galactic Makes WhiteKnight Two Structural Changes (Source: Flight Global)
To solve handling and stability problems Virgin Galactic has made structural modifications to the vertical stabiliser fins of its WhiteKnight Two carrier aircraft prototype Virgin MotherShip (VMS) Eve. Flightglobal.com has obtained photographic evidence that VMS Eve's two booms' vertical stabilisers have been reshaped by prime contractor Scaled Composites for a larger lower rudder hinge and a more pronounced horn that may contain a heavier counterweight. The image also shows two new vortex generators added just forward of the lower hinge point and the right boom's fin has a new antenna bulb attached to its top. (3/28)
Ares/Orion Slipping Up To 18 Months - Shuttle Extension Gains Momentum (Source: NasaSpaceFlight.com)
NASA’s Constellation Program (CxP) will conduct a “Content and Schedule” summit meeting in the next few months, after it was evaluated their current schedules are “broken”. The meeting will aim to protect against a slip that is estimated to be as serious as 18 months, or outright cancellation for Ares I. Meanwhile, the push for extending the shuttle program by at least two years is gaining serious momentum.
Constellation’s schedules have been slipping at an alarming rate over the past few years, with the last PMR (Program Milestone Review) confirming a 12 month slip in the IOC (Initial Operational Capability) to March, 2015. This date relates to Orion 2, with Orion 4 - currently classed as the first crew rotation for the International Space Station (ISS), otherwise known as FOC (Full Operational Capability) - launching one year later in March, 2016.
While these dates continue to be the official timeline, internal reviews have found those schedules to be “broken”, with CxP departments across the program reporting they are at “zero percent confidence” for keeping to the March, 2015 (IOC) timeline. The problem isn’t just funding - which has become problematic for CxP over the last few years - but also what is described as “serious disconnects” between related departments, such as Orion, Ground Ops and Ares. While continued changes to the designs of Ares and Orion are part of the natural development cycle, issues such as Thrust Oscillation and vehicle performance have come at a price for both schedule and costings, despite fine work from the engineering teams tasked with mitigating the issues. (3/28)
SpaceX Falcon, Dragon Offer Hope For New Florida Space Business (Source: SPACErePORT)
As SpaceX plans for Falcon-9 advance at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, so too do Florida's prospects for re-capturing international market share for commercial satellite launches, building an orbital space tourism enterprise, and developing a new space research capability. The spaceport's Atlas and Delta rockets have had limited success in winning commercial launches, in part because they are booked-up with government missions. Falcon-9 will provide new capacity at the Cape for commercial missions.
With its Dragon capsule--intended initially to support NASA--SpaceX will be able to fly private-sector astronauts on space tourism missions, perhaps to destinations like Bigelow Aerospace's proposed commercial space station. In addition to carrying humans, SpaceX plans to deploy unmanned Dragon capsules on science missions, carrying university, industry and government research. This "DragonLab" capability will provide new opportunities for Florida universities to expand their involvement in space research. (3/28)
ESA and CNES Sign Contract on Guiana Space Center (CSG) (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency (ESA) and CNES, the French Space Agency, signed a 435 million Euro contract assuring the availability of the CSG launch range for ESA programs and activities and for the exploitation of Ariane, Vega and Soyuz launchers over the period 2009 to 2013. From 2009 onward, a family of launchers, composed of Ariane, Vega and Soyuz, will be operated from CSG under a new legal framework, which includes in particular an agreement between ESA and the French Government on CSG and associated services.
Under this agreement, the French Government guarantees to ESA the availability of the CSG launch range for ESA programmes and activities and for the exploitation of Ariane, Vega and Soyuz. The French Government has designated CNES as the authority responsible for the implementation of this guarantee on its behalf by means of the contract just concluded between ESA and CNES. ESA has, since 1975, contributed through such contracts to the upkeep and operating costs of the CSG launch range, ensuring the availability of the range as a key element of guaranteed access to space for Europe. (3/27)
Another Russian Satellite Breaking Up After Debris Collision (Sources: Interfax, SPACErePORT)
Russian ground-based space control facilities are monitoring a decommissioned Cosmos 2421 Russian military satellite as it 'is gradually falling to pieces.' Cosmos 2421 "is expected to cease to exist by the end of this year," the Space Forces said on Friday. The likely cause is "partial small-fragment destruction of the solar panel, possibly as a result of collision with a small-size space object of some kind," the Space Forces said.
This is separate from the Cosmos 2251 satellite that collided with an Iridium satellite in February. Russia is not the main producer of space waste. At the 26th session in Moscow in 2008 of the Space Debris Coordination Committee, a NASA official said China was responsible for 40%, the United States 27.5%, Russia 25.5%, and other countries 7% of debris. Click here to view the article. (3/28)
Nebraska's STRATCOM Tracks Space Junk (Source: KETV)
More than 19,000 pieces of space debris are orbiting the earth and STRATCOM has the job of keeping track of everything. The agency is responsible for tracking dead satellites, tool boxes and pieces of space junk as small as a baseball. "Cords, lens cap covers and I guess now, there's a tool bag in space from a previous space walk," said Brigadier Gen. Michael Carey, STRATCOM's Deputy Director of Global Operations. The debris is the result of more than a half-century of space flight. It's now posing major obstacles for current and future space missions. "You can't steer those 19,000. Most are not steerable," he said. "There's always a risk of being hit by space debris. There is a risk." (3/28)
March 27 News Items
Sea Launch Commemorates 10 Years since Inaugural Flight (Source: CSA)
Ten years ago this week, Sea Launch succeeded in launching one of the most highly instrumented test missions ever flown. On March 27, 1999, DemoSat executed a precisely controlled flight profile that demonstrated the new sea-based concept, its Zenit-3SL launch vehicle performance and the entire system infrastructure.
This week, the Sea Launch team is preparing for its 30th launch from the equator, in April. With 27 successful missions, accommodating all western spacecraft manufacturers and a history of problem-solving accomplishments, the now seasoned Sea Launch team and its system has matured as one of the world’s three major launch providers. (3/27)
Competitors Envious of Globalstar's Credit Deal (Source: Space News)
Globalstar's $574 million credit backing from the French government's export-credit agency was attacked as a disguised subsidy by Globalstar's mobile satellite service competitors, who also said they envied the deal. (3/27)
Iridium NEXT Satellites to be Integrated in U.S. (Source: Space News)
Integration of Iridium's next-generation mobile communications satellites will be done in the United States even if the current two-way competition to build them ends with a European winner, Iridium Chief Executive Matt Desch said March 26. (3/26)
Satellite Operators Want Access to Chinese Rockets (Source: Space News)
Chief executives of the four largest commercial fixed satellite services operators argued today that China should be permitted to launch U.S.-built commercial satellites, saying it would make the global commercial market more healthy and would also permit U.S. industry to better compete for satellite manufacturing awards. loss of pressurization. (3/27)
New Embry-Riddle Lab Supports High-Altitude Training (Source: ERAU)
Caroline Brozovich’s fingers and lips have turned blue-grey, her movements are sluggish, and her eyes half-shut, as though she’s peering through a fog. The oxygen around her is now as thin as the air at 30,000 feet, the cruising altitude for jet aircraft. If Brozovich were piloting an airliner, she and her passengers would be minutes away from unconsciousness -- and death. But Brozovich is a flight student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and her instructor has just handed her an oxygen mask.
Embry-Riddle is the first university in the United States to acquire the unique lab for the purpose of high-altitude hypoxia awareness training. The lab can accommodate 8-10 people per training session and will include a flight training device at a later date. It was built for use in Embry-Riddle’s Flight Physiology course, to teach the causes and symptoms of hypoxia, a shortage of oxygen in the brain and blood. Research by USDOT and the FAA has demonstrated the need for such training, with the current popularity of new lightweight personal jets that would operate at high altitudes. (3/27)
Shuttle's Re-entry Used as Test for Orion Technology (Source: Florida Today)
In its return to Earth on Saturday, space shuttle Discovery will test a new heat-resistant tile that engineers hope will one day be used on the next-generation Orion spacecraft. Because of its shape, Orion will experience re-entry temperatures about 500 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than those endured by the space shuttle. "We have returned to using the space shuttle as a research vehicle," says the shuttle's program manager. "We're trying to learn more and more about spaceflight and hypersonic re-entry." (3/27)
Japan Delays New Rocket Test (Source: JAXA)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries performed a cryogenic inspection for the first captive firing test at the Tanegashima Space Center. After reviewing the data acquired through the inspection, we confirmed that the cryogenic inspection went well except that an abnormal phenomenon in the coolant supply occurred during the automatic countdown sequence of the inspection. We immediately studied the situation and carried out all possible corrective measures against the abnormality; however, we found it was difficult to timely restore the normal operation. Therefore, we decided to postpone the captive firing test that was scheduled to take place after the cryogenic inspection. (3/27)
Population in Space at Historic High: 13 (Source: Space.com)
The Thursday launch of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the world's first repeat space tourist and a new crew for the International Space Station has boosted the population of space to its historical high: 13 people. The population boom ties the record for the maximum number of people in space at the same time. It is relatively rare but could become more commonplace once the space station shifts to a larger, six-person crew in late May. (3/27)
Spaceport Money for Schools Planned (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
Doña Ana County officials said they're working out a plan for pumping a portion of spaceport tax dollars into area school districts. The pool of funding is 25 percent of a spaceport tax that went into effect Jan. 1. The county is working out a general agreement that would set the framework for how the county would channel the money to the area's three school districts. They'd then submit grant proposals to the county each year saying exactly how they'd use the money. (3/27)
Editorial: An Inspector General Under Fire (Source: New York Times)
Inspectors general at federal agencies often make enemies because they investigate some official or program aggressively with results that make their agencies look bad. The opposite appears to be the case with Robert Cobb, the beleaguered inspector general for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, who is facing calls for his removal because of complaints that he has soft-pedaled investigations, retaliated against whistle-blowers and been too cozy with top management. Three senators — Jay Rockefeller, Claire McCaskill and Charles Grassley — and two House members — Bart Gordon and Brad Miller — have written to President Obama urging him to get rid of Mr. Cobb. (3/27)
Ten years ago this week, Sea Launch succeeded in launching one of the most highly instrumented test missions ever flown. On March 27, 1999, DemoSat executed a precisely controlled flight profile that demonstrated the new sea-based concept, its Zenit-3SL launch vehicle performance and the entire system infrastructure.
This week, the Sea Launch team is preparing for its 30th launch from the equator, in April. With 27 successful missions, accommodating all western spacecraft manufacturers and a history of problem-solving accomplishments, the now seasoned Sea Launch team and its system has matured as one of the world’s three major launch providers. (3/27)
Competitors Envious of Globalstar's Credit Deal (Source: Space News)
Globalstar's $574 million credit backing from the French government's export-credit agency was attacked as a disguised subsidy by Globalstar's mobile satellite service competitors, who also said they envied the deal. (3/27)
Iridium NEXT Satellites to be Integrated in U.S. (Source: Space News)
Integration of Iridium's next-generation mobile communications satellites will be done in the United States even if the current two-way competition to build them ends with a European winner, Iridium Chief Executive Matt Desch said March 26. (3/26)
Satellite Operators Want Access to Chinese Rockets (Source: Space News)
Chief executives of the four largest commercial fixed satellite services operators argued today that China should be permitted to launch U.S.-built commercial satellites, saying it would make the global commercial market more healthy and would also permit U.S. industry to better compete for satellite manufacturing awards. loss of pressurization. (3/27)
New Embry-Riddle Lab Supports High-Altitude Training (Source: ERAU)
Caroline Brozovich’s fingers and lips have turned blue-grey, her movements are sluggish, and her eyes half-shut, as though she’s peering through a fog. The oxygen around her is now as thin as the air at 30,000 feet, the cruising altitude for jet aircraft. If Brozovich were piloting an airliner, she and her passengers would be minutes away from unconsciousness -- and death. But Brozovich is a flight student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and her instructor has just handed her an oxygen mask.
Embry-Riddle is the first university in the United States to acquire the unique lab for the purpose of high-altitude hypoxia awareness training. The lab can accommodate 8-10 people per training session and will include a flight training device at a later date. It was built for use in Embry-Riddle’s Flight Physiology course, to teach the causes and symptoms of hypoxia, a shortage of oxygen in the brain and blood. Research by USDOT and the FAA has demonstrated the need for such training, with the current popularity of new lightweight personal jets that would operate at high altitudes. (3/27)
Shuttle's Re-entry Used as Test for Orion Technology (Source: Florida Today)
In its return to Earth on Saturday, space shuttle Discovery will test a new heat-resistant tile that engineers hope will one day be used on the next-generation Orion spacecraft. Because of its shape, Orion will experience re-entry temperatures about 500 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than those endured by the space shuttle. "We have returned to using the space shuttle as a research vehicle," says the shuttle's program manager. "We're trying to learn more and more about spaceflight and hypersonic re-entry." (3/27)
Japan Delays New Rocket Test (Source: JAXA)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries performed a cryogenic inspection for the first captive firing test at the Tanegashima Space Center. After reviewing the data acquired through the inspection, we confirmed that the cryogenic inspection went well except that an abnormal phenomenon in the coolant supply occurred during the automatic countdown sequence of the inspection. We immediately studied the situation and carried out all possible corrective measures against the abnormality; however, we found it was difficult to timely restore the normal operation. Therefore, we decided to postpone the captive firing test that was scheduled to take place after the cryogenic inspection. (3/27)
Population in Space at Historic High: 13 (Source: Space.com)
The Thursday launch of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying the world's first repeat space tourist and a new crew for the International Space Station has boosted the population of space to its historical high: 13 people. The population boom ties the record for the maximum number of people in space at the same time. It is relatively rare but could become more commonplace once the space station shifts to a larger, six-person crew in late May. (3/27)
Spaceport Money for Schools Planned (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
Doña Ana County officials said they're working out a plan for pumping a portion of spaceport tax dollars into area school districts. The pool of funding is 25 percent of a spaceport tax that went into effect Jan. 1. The county is working out a general agreement that would set the framework for how the county would channel the money to the area's three school districts. They'd then submit grant proposals to the county each year saying exactly how they'd use the money. (3/27)
Editorial: An Inspector General Under Fire (Source: New York Times)
Inspectors general at federal agencies often make enemies because they investigate some official or program aggressively with results that make their agencies look bad. The opposite appears to be the case with Robert Cobb, the beleaguered inspector general for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, who is facing calls for his removal because of complaints that he has soft-pedaled investigations, retaliated against whistle-blowers and been too cozy with top management. Three senators — Jay Rockefeller, Claire McCaskill and Charles Grassley — and two House members — Bart Gordon and Brad Miller — have written to President Obama urging him to get rid of Mr. Cobb. (3/27)
March 26 News Items
Wyle Test Lab and Staff Help Get Rocket Launches Back on Track (Source: Wyle)
Wyle's Southern California test laboratory and engineering staff have provided crucial services to allow the resumption of Delta rocket launches for military and commercial customers. Launches were delayed because of an industry-wide alert that numerous components on the Atlas and Delta rockets were not sufficiently tested for their ability to withstand the rigors of launch. "Prime contractors were alerted last year and screened all of their suppliers to make sure their shock measurement systems were suitable," said Jim Juve, general manager of Wyle's Western Test Operations. "Wyle's approach was approved and the prime contractors notified their suppliers they could test with us and get reliable test results." (3/26)
Space Coast Yuri's Night Events Planned for Apr. 4 (Source: SPACErePORT)
Join us as we honor the anniversary of the first manned spaceflight and the launch of STS-1 with an all-day space celebration in Cocoa Beach on Apr. 4! Included are a 5K "Space Race" fun run/walk on the beach; a NASA Space Education Expo; and a "Space Invasion" celebration (with costume contest). Visit http://yurisnightspacecoast.com/ for information. (3/26)
Senate Budget Committee Wants to Keep Shuttle Flying (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
A U.S. Senate budget panel recommended Thursday that the space shuttle should be allowed to fly beyond its scheduled retirement in 2010 -- a proposal that directly contradicts a recent White House plan to mothball the shuttle next year. While the directive itself has little power, it sends a clear message to President Obama that NASA allies on Capitol Hill are not yet ready to end nearly three decades of shuttle flights. The non-binding resolution also suggests adding $2.5 billion to NASA's 2011 budget for post-2010 launches.
"…[A] fixed retirement date could create dangerous scheduling pressures," notes the Senate Budget committee resolution, which outlines Congress' spending priorities but has little effect on the actual spending, as congressional appropriations committees are responsible for doling out dollars. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, took credit for inserting the language. He sits on the budget committee and wants to limit the time between the space shuttle's retirement and the first launch of its replacement, now slated for 2015. (3/26)
NASTAR and ISU Partner to Provide Space Education Training Courses (Source: NASTAR)
The National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center and International Space University (ISU) have partnered to create a series of unique space education and training courses aimed to motivate, inspire, and educate people from a range of backgrounds and age groups. Each course will be taught by world-renowned space industry experts and include hands-on activities in a state-of-the-art aerospace training facility environment.
The ISU/NASTAR partnership will unveil its first course, Rocket Science 101, on June 24, 2009. Taught by ISU faculty member and 5-time Space Shuttle crew and space walker, former NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, this half-day course will include a comprehensive introduction on how rockets work, propulsion, preparing for space flight (government and private), how to enjoy your time in space, the impact of space tourism, and more. (3/26)
Lockheed Martin and University of Florida to Develop CubeSats (Source: Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has partnered with the University of Florida to develop and launch five miniature CubeSat satellites to test innovative new space solutions. Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services will fund $450,000 of research and development projects at the university in 2009. The CubeSats will investigate technological advances such as miniaturized, space-hardened GPS electronics and state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Lockheed Martin will also perform payload data analysis for these satellite missions. (3/26)
Six-Month Delay for First Ares I Five-Segment Rocket Test (Source: Flight Global)
NASA's first firing test of the five-segment solid rocket motor, DM-1, for the Ares I crew launch vehicle, has been delayed by up to six months from 2 April to August or September. Ares I uses a solid rocket motor for its first stage and its prime contractor Alliant Techsystems, which provides the Space Shuttle Program's four-segment motor, won the development contract in 2007. ATK says a six-month delay is possible because it needs to be "sure the first test is right and there is no critical path impact" - meaning the CLV's development will not be set back by the delay.
After DM-1 ATK had planned to test its demonstration motors DM-2 and -3 in August and September, respectively. Those tests are now likely to be delayed toward the end of the year, if not to 2010. The Ares I's first stage differs from the Shuttle solid rocket boosters as it has a modified solid fuel, new insulation materials for the segments and igniter - itself a solid rocket - and it will have a longer nozzle for lunar missions. Due to exhaust vortices generating an oscillation through the entire vehicle, the Ares' first stage will have mass dampers at the its base and other mitigation systems at its top. The first stage's base will also have additional small motors to initiate a tumbling motion for its descent profile. (3/26)
Emerging Nations Open To Comsat Suppliers (Source: Aviation Week)
Space Systems/Loral continues to dominate the commercial telecom satellite market, but European companies are maintaining their inroads and new market entrants are increasingly making their mark. As in 2007 and 2006, Space Systems/Loral led all geostationary satcom builders with eight orders, accounting for 29% of the open market. SS/L’s continuing domination of the market suggests that changes made after its Chapter 11 reorganization are bearing fruit.
Other U.S. manufacturers are not having similar success, though. Orbital Sciences Corp. finished the year with three orders, two fewer than in 2007. In quarterly earnings posted on Feb. 19, OSC said the global economic crisis could impact its satellite activities, although its popular Star 2 small satellite bus line could allow it to fare better than competitors. The other two big U.S. builders, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, scraped by with three awards between them, although that was better than the single order they won the year before.
However, Sierra Nevada Corp. landed a contract to build a second-generation low-Earth-orbit constellation for Orbcomm, and Lockheed Martin was short-listed for Iridium Next. Lockheed Martin and Boeing are counting on technology spinoffs from military/government satcom programs—like the Transformational Satellite and Wideband Global Satcom—along with streamlined production and testing setups, to help them improve market share. (3/25)
How to Save the World From an Asteroid Impact (Source: New Scientist)
It is 2036. A large asteroid is on a collision course with Earth. Unless it is stopped, it will crash into the Pacific Ocean, creating a devastating tsunami. What should we do? We could blast the asteroid with a nuclear bomb, but that would risk shattering it into smaller pieces that could still threaten Earth. Or maybe we should try to force it off course by slamming into it with a heavy object - an unproven and therefore risky technique. Now there may be a third option: gently nudging the asteroid away from Earth without breaking it apart, either by exploding a nuclear device at a distance or zapping it with high-powered lasers. (3/26)
Meteorite Hunters 'Strike Gold' in Sudan (Source: New Scientist)
Last October, astronomers found the first asteroid on a certain collision course with Earth, observing the 4-meter-long rock as it hurtled towards the planet and then exploded in the sky some 37 kilometers above the Nubian Desert in Sudan. At the time it was unclear whether the blast would leave anything but dust behind, but a team of scientists and volunteers has managed to recover fragments of the 80-ton asteroid, called 2008 TC3, during several searches that began in December. So far, meteorites weighing a total of about 5 kg have been found. (3/26)
King Retires as Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (Source: NASA)
David King, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is retiring from the agency to accept a position as executive vice president of Dynetics in Huntsville, effective immediately. Robert M. Lightfoot, Marshall's deputy center director, will serve as acting director until a successor is named. (3/26)
SBSS Launch Slips Until July (Source: Aerospace Daily)
Launch of the U.S. Air Force's first Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite aboard a Minotaur rocket has slipped as engineers try to ensure that the flight does not suffer the same fate as NASA's Orbital Carbon Observatory (OCO). The Block 10 SBSS launch, which had been expected to take place in April or May, is now likely to slip to July, according Boeing. OCO was lost in February when the fairing on its Orbital Sciences-built Taurus XL rocket failed to open. Orbital also builds the Minotaur, which has a lot of hardware in common with the Taurus, including fairing systems. (3/26)
Harris Corp. Rolls out Internet-Based Satellite Controls (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Harris Corp. has unveiled a new Web-based software product that allows satellite operators to monitor and control their spacecraft via the Internet. Harris believes NASA, military services and private companies are potential buyers of the new product, which "enables customers to realize time and cost savings while providing instantaneous support from any network access point." (3/26)
Florida University R&D Grows, But Lags (Source: SPACErePORT, SSTI)
University-based R&D in Florida grew from $1.204 billion in 2003 to $1.545 billion in 2007, an increase of 28.3%. However, despite efforts to maximize Florida's share of federal R&D investments, only 53% of the state's FY-07 R&D funds were from federal agencies, giving Florida a rank of 38 among the 50 states. Only four other states received more than 75 percent of their academic R&D funding from the federal government in FY-07. Also, Florida ranks a low 42 out of the 50 states in the production of science and engineering doctorates, with 5.98 Ph.D.s conferred for every 100,000 residents, based on FY-06 data. (3/26)
Astrotech Teams With Syncomm to Enhance New Business Model (Source: Business Wire)
Astrotech Corp. announced a partnership with Syncomm, a spinoff of Hughes Aircraft Company, to provide commercial satellite customers with expertise in end-to-end aerospace systems. Syncomm Engineering Services, comprised of Hughes and other aerospace industry experts, provides resources in multiple engineering disciplines including mechanical, electrical, environmental, and optical engineering for both ground and space-based programs. Also included in the Astrotech-Syncomm enterprise is Develecom, a strategic solutions company bringing project financing, insurance and underwriting support. (3/25)
Wyle's Southern California test laboratory and engineering staff have provided crucial services to allow the resumption of Delta rocket launches for military and commercial customers. Launches were delayed because of an industry-wide alert that numerous components on the Atlas and Delta rockets were not sufficiently tested for their ability to withstand the rigors of launch. "Prime contractors were alerted last year and screened all of their suppliers to make sure their shock measurement systems were suitable," said Jim Juve, general manager of Wyle's Western Test Operations. "Wyle's approach was approved and the prime contractors notified their suppliers they could test with us and get reliable test results." (3/26)
Space Coast Yuri's Night Events Planned for Apr. 4 (Source: SPACErePORT)
Join us as we honor the anniversary of the first manned spaceflight and the launch of STS-1 with an all-day space celebration in Cocoa Beach on Apr. 4! Included are a 5K "Space Race" fun run/walk on the beach; a NASA Space Education Expo; and a "Space Invasion" celebration (with costume contest). Visit http://yurisnightspacecoast.com/ for information. (3/26)
Senate Budget Committee Wants to Keep Shuttle Flying (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
A U.S. Senate budget panel recommended Thursday that the space shuttle should be allowed to fly beyond its scheduled retirement in 2010 -- a proposal that directly contradicts a recent White House plan to mothball the shuttle next year. While the directive itself has little power, it sends a clear message to President Obama that NASA allies on Capitol Hill are not yet ready to end nearly three decades of shuttle flights. The non-binding resolution also suggests adding $2.5 billion to NASA's 2011 budget for post-2010 launches.
"…[A] fixed retirement date could create dangerous scheduling pressures," notes the Senate Budget committee resolution, which outlines Congress' spending priorities but has little effect on the actual spending, as congressional appropriations committees are responsible for doling out dollars. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, took credit for inserting the language. He sits on the budget committee and wants to limit the time between the space shuttle's retirement and the first launch of its replacement, now slated for 2015. (3/26)
NASTAR and ISU Partner to Provide Space Education Training Courses (Source: NASTAR)
The National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center and International Space University (ISU) have partnered to create a series of unique space education and training courses aimed to motivate, inspire, and educate people from a range of backgrounds and age groups. Each course will be taught by world-renowned space industry experts and include hands-on activities in a state-of-the-art aerospace training facility environment.
The ISU/NASTAR partnership will unveil its first course, Rocket Science 101, on June 24, 2009. Taught by ISU faculty member and 5-time Space Shuttle crew and space walker, former NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, this half-day course will include a comprehensive introduction on how rockets work, propulsion, preparing for space flight (government and private), how to enjoy your time in space, the impact of space tourism, and more. (3/26)
Lockheed Martin and University of Florida to Develop CubeSats (Source: Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has partnered with the University of Florida to develop and launch five miniature CubeSat satellites to test innovative new space solutions. Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services will fund $450,000 of research and development projects at the university in 2009. The CubeSats will investigate technological advances such as miniaturized, space-hardened GPS electronics and state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Lockheed Martin will also perform payload data analysis for these satellite missions. (3/26)
Six-Month Delay for First Ares I Five-Segment Rocket Test (Source: Flight Global)
NASA's first firing test of the five-segment solid rocket motor, DM-1, for the Ares I crew launch vehicle, has been delayed by up to six months from 2 April to August or September. Ares I uses a solid rocket motor for its first stage and its prime contractor Alliant Techsystems, which provides the Space Shuttle Program's four-segment motor, won the development contract in 2007. ATK says a six-month delay is possible because it needs to be "sure the first test is right and there is no critical path impact" - meaning the CLV's development will not be set back by the delay.
After DM-1 ATK had planned to test its demonstration motors DM-2 and -3 in August and September, respectively. Those tests are now likely to be delayed toward the end of the year, if not to 2010. The Ares I's first stage differs from the Shuttle solid rocket boosters as it has a modified solid fuel, new insulation materials for the segments and igniter - itself a solid rocket - and it will have a longer nozzle for lunar missions. Due to exhaust vortices generating an oscillation through the entire vehicle, the Ares' first stage will have mass dampers at the its base and other mitigation systems at its top. The first stage's base will also have additional small motors to initiate a tumbling motion for its descent profile. (3/26)
Emerging Nations Open To Comsat Suppliers (Source: Aviation Week)
Space Systems/Loral continues to dominate the commercial telecom satellite market, but European companies are maintaining their inroads and new market entrants are increasingly making their mark. As in 2007 and 2006, Space Systems/Loral led all geostationary satcom builders with eight orders, accounting for 29% of the open market. SS/L’s continuing domination of the market suggests that changes made after its Chapter 11 reorganization are bearing fruit.
Other U.S. manufacturers are not having similar success, though. Orbital Sciences Corp. finished the year with three orders, two fewer than in 2007. In quarterly earnings posted on Feb. 19, OSC said the global economic crisis could impact its satellite activities, although its popular Star 2 small satellite bus line could allow it to fare better than competitors. The other two big U.S. builders, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, scraped by with three awards between them, although that was better than the single order they won the year before.
However, Sierra Nevada Corp. landed a contract to build a second-generation low-Earth-orbit constellation for Orbcomm, and Lockheed Martin was short-listed for Iridium Next. Lockheed Martin and Boeing are counting on technology spinoffs from military/government satcom programs—like the Transformational Satellite and Wideband Global Satcom—along with streamlined production and testing setups, to help them improve market share. (3/25)
How to Save the World From an Asteroid Impact (Source: New Scientist)
It is 2036. A large asteroid is on a collision course with Earth. Unless it is stopped, it will crash into the Pacific Ocean, creating a devastating tsunami. What should we do? We could blast the asteroid with a nuclear bomb, but that would risk shattering it into smaller pieces that could still threaten Earth. Or maybe we should try to force it off course by slamming into it with a heavy object - an unproven and therefore risky technique. Now there may be a third option: gently nudging the asteroid away from Earth without breaking it apart, either by exploding a nuclear device at a distance or zapping it with high-powered lasers. (3/26)
Meteorite Hunters 'Strike Gold' in Sudan (Source: New Scientist)
Last October, astronomers found the first asteroid on a certain collision course with Earth, observing the 4-meter-long rock as it hurtled towards the planet and then exploded in the sky some 37 kilometers above the Nubian Desert in Sudan. At the time it was unclear whether the blast would leave anything but dust behind, but a team of scientists and volunteers has managed to recover fragments of the 80-ton asteroid, called 2008 TC3, during several searches that began in December. So far, meteorites weighing a total of about 5 kg have been found. (3/26)
King Retires as Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (Source: NASA)
David King, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is retiring from the agency to accept a position as executive vice president of Dynetics in Huntsville, effective immediately. Robert M. Lightfoot, Marshall's deputy center director, will serve as acting director until a successor is named. (3/26)
SBSS Launch Slips Until July (Source: Aerospace Daily)
Launch of the U.S. Air Force's first Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite aboard a Minotaur rocket has slipped as engineers try to ensure that the flight does not suffer the same fate as NASA's Orbital Carbon Observatory (OCO). The Block 10 SBSS launch, which had been expected to take place in April or May, is now likely to slip to July, according Boeing. OCO was lost in February when the fairing on its Orbital Sciences-built Taurus XL rocket failed to open. Orbital also builds the Minotaur, which has a lot of hardware in common with the Taurus, including fairing systems. (3/26)
Harris Corp. Rolls out Internet-Based Satellite Controls (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Harris Corp. has unveiled a new Web-based software product that allows satellite operators to monitor and control their spacecraft via the Internet. Harris believes NASA, military services and private companies are potential buyers of the new product, which "enables customers to realize time and cost savings while providing instantaneous support from any network access point." (3/26)
Florida University R&D Grows, But Lags (Source: SPACErePORT, SSTI)
University-based R&D in Florida grew from $1.204 billion in 2003 to $1.545 billion in 2007, an increase of 28.3%. However, despite efforts to maximize Florida's share of federal R&D investments, only 53% of the state's FY-07 R&D funds were from federal agencies, giving Florida a rank of 38 among the 50 states. Only four other states received more than 75 percent of their academic R&D funding from the federal government in FY-07. Also, Florida ranks a low 42 out of the 50 states in the production of science and engineering doctorates, with 5.98 Ph.D.s conferred for every 100,000 residents, based on FY-06 data. (3/26)
Astrotech Teams With Syncomm to Enhance New Business Model (Source: Business Wire)
Astrotech Corp. announced a partnership with Syncomm, a spinoff of Hughes Aircraft Company, to provide commercial satellite customers with expertise in end-to-end aerospace systems. Syncomm Engineering Services, comprised of Hughes and other aerospace industry experts, provides resources in multiple engineering disciplines including mechanical, electrical, environmental, and optical engineering for both ground and space-based programs. Also included in the Astrotech-Syncomm enterprise is Develecom, a strategic solutions company bringing project financing, insurance and underwriting support. (3/25)
March 25 News Items
US: North Korea Loading Rocket on Launch Pad (Source: AP)
North Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket on its east coast launch pad in anticipation of the launch of a communications satellite early next month, U.S. officials say. Regional powers worry the claim is a cover for the launch of a long-range missile capable of reaching Alaska. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said earlier this month that all indications suggest North Korea will in fact launch a satellite. North Korea faked a satellite launch in 1998 to cloak a missile development test. In 2006, it launched a Taepodong-2 that blew up less than a minute into flight. (3/25)
Ariane Chief Decries Pick of China for Satellite Launch (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
The head of European aerospace giant Arianespace expressed "shock" that a Chinese competitor has been chosen by Eutelsat Communications to launch a satellite into space. The choice of China "leaves us extremely perplexed," said Jean-Yves Le Gall, CEO of French rocket launch company Arianespace. Earlier this month China inked the deal with Eutelsat to launch the company's W3B satellite on one of its Long March rockets -- much to the chagrin of detractors like Le Gall, who fear that the agreement will anger the United States.
"Various governments -- most notably the United States -- have good reasons for wishing that there not be a technology transfer to China," he told AFP. Le Gall added that in his view, Eutelsat's decision to let China launch its satellite could be interpreted as being "hostile to the United States." Even though the Eutelsat satellite in question contains no American-made parts, Le Gall said that it does contain equally sensitive European-made components, which flouts the spirit of the ITAR rule. (3/25)
Nigeria, China Sign Pact to Replace Faulty Satellite by 2011 (Source: Xinhua)
Nigeria and China have signed a contract for a new communications satellite that will replace one sidelined by a power failure. According to the contract signed in Beijing on Tuesday, the replacement satellite has been named NIGCOMSAT-1R and is due to be launched by 2011 with no cost to Nigeria, the Lagos-based Guardian reported. The new space vehicle will replace NIGCOMSAT-1, which was launched on May 14, 2007, but was displaced on Nov. 10, 2008, because of a solar power failure that occurred on one edge of the satellite. (3/25)
Russians Taking Last "Space Tourist" to Station (Source: Technology Review)
A Russian Soyuz is delivering the last private tourist, U.S. software designer Charles Simonyi, to the space station. Since the station is expanding from three crew members to six, future Soyuz must be used to accommodate government astronauts who have been waiting years to live aboard the orbiting laboratory. Such heavy lifting for Soyuz puts an end, for now, to what was once a lucrative Russian space tourism program.
Since 2001, the Russians have flown six private spaceflight participants, who paid at minimum $20 million brokered through Virginia-based Space Adventures, for trips to space. Simonyi will be making his second trip, a $35 million deal, to the station. He is scheduled for a 12-day mission to perform research on bone density loss and lower-back pain in space, to work on Earth-observation studies, and to communicate with students. (3/25)
New Forecast Identifies 2,033 Space Payloads through 2028 (Source: Earth Times)
The Teal Group has revised figures for the Worldwide Mission Model survey of future space payloads. The study encompasses 2,033 payloads proposed through 2009-2028. The 2,033 payloads reflect a 2.5% increase over the 1,981 payloads counted in the Model for the period 2008-2027. Most of this growth can be attributed to a nearly 7% increase in the number of the civil payloads factored into the Model, based on more available information about scientific and technology satellites planned by the Chinese and Indian national space programs, as well as more small and micro satellites proposed by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Commercial payloads, which include traditional telecommunications and TV broadcasting, digital radio and direct TV broadcasting, broadband and mobile communications, and earth imaging satellites account for 41% of the payloads in the Model, as compared to 39% for civil payloads, 17% for military, and 3% for university. In Models released during the 2005-2007 the percentage of commercial payloads relative to other types of payloads steadily declined from 39% to 36.2% to 34.5%. This trend began to reverse in 2008 and continues in this year's Model, reflecting the dozens of replacement satellites for the Globalstar, Iridium and Orbcomm low earth orbit (LEO) mobile communications constellations
North America accounts for 40% of the total payloads in the Model; Europe, 22%; Asia & Pacific Rim, 16%; Russia and former states of the Soviet Union, 16%; Africa & Middle East, 3%; and Latin America & Caribbean, 3%. The United States alone accounts for 39% of the payloads. More than half of all the proposed military payloads are for the US Department of Defense (DoD). Approximately 23% of all the civil payloads are for NASA. (3/25)
Globalstar Announces Financing Deal (Source: Globalstar)
Globalstar announced that Coface has agreed to provide a guaranty in support of a proposed $574 million credit facility to be extended by a syndicate of banks to Globalstar as borrower. Coface, the export credit agency acting on behalf of the French government, has advised Globalstar that it intends to provide long-term credit insurance to facilitate the proposed credit facility. The credit facility and receipt of funding by Globalstar is subject to closing conditions and there can be no assurance at this time that any such closing will actually occur. (3/25)
Space Beat Getting Smaller (Source: Discovery News)
Anyone who tells you they’re not worried about losing their job either works for the government or lives in the land of Denial. So while it was a surprise, it certainly wasn’t totally unexpected to learn of the departure of a 23-year colleague and friend on the space beat, Mark Carreau, from the Houston Chronicle. This cut bleeds deeply, as Carreau is one of the top journalists on a beat that needs as many inquiring minds and serious voices as possible in the ongoing battle for technical accuracy and government accountability, both attributes that are quickly losing cache in the bottom-dollar mentality and fear gripping our society. (3/25)
Musk Talks Falcon-9 at DC Event (Source: Personal Spaceflight)
SpaceX founder Elon Musk gave a general overview of what SpaceX is doing on both the Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. He said there are 19 orders for Falcon-9 missions (12 for NASA ISS resupply) with two additional orders forthcoming. He said the biggest obstacle to an on-time Falcon-9 inaugural launch this summer is the fairing and fairing separation system for the rocket, which SpaceX is doing in-house. SpaceX hopes to do 2-3 Falcon 9 launches this year and 4-5 in 2010. He said SpaceX is not affected by PlanetSpace’s protest of the commercial resupply contracts NASA awarded in December to SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corp. Musk said that PlanetSpace has dropped its protest of the SpaceX award but is continuing to pursue its protest of the Orbital award. (3/25)
Space Research Bill Advances in Tallahassee, Picks Up Sponsors (Source: SPACErePORT)
The Economic Development Policy Council of the Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 69 on Mar. 25, allowing the bill to advance to a final vote of the full House. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida, and Space Florida voiced their support for HB-69 during the Council hearing. HB-69 would establish the Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI) in Florida Statutes. Led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, STRDI is intended as a national multi-university initiative to tackle space transportation technology and policy challenges that would improve the competitiveness of the space launch industry.
A companion bill (SB-888) in the Florida Senate may be heard next week by the first of three committees assigned to consider it. Together, the bills now have garnered the support of 31 sponsors and co-sponsors in the Florida Legislature. Click here for information on HB-69. Other space-related bills this year include bills to establish tax incentives within a Commercial Launch Zone (HB-423), and to create a program through which space projects may be funded (HB-307). The Legislative Session runs through the first week of May. (3/25)
ILS to Launch Intelsat Spacecraft (Source: SpaceToday.net)
International Launch Services announced Tuesday that it has agreed to launch an Intelsat spacecraft later this year that had previously been scheduled to be launched by a competitor. A Proton M will launch the Intelsat 16 satellite in the fourth quarter of this year. The 2,500-kilogram spacecraft is under construction by Orbital Sciences Corp. Intelsat had awarded a contract to Land Launch in 2008 to launch the spacecraft on a Zenit-3SLB. The ILS contract is the latest in a series of recent launch awards to ILS for spacecraft that had previously contracted for launches elsewhere. (3/25)
North Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket on its east coast launch pad in anticipation of the launch of a communications satellite early next month, U.S. officials say. Regional powers worry the claim is a cover for the launch of a long-range missile capable of reaching Alaska. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said earlier this month that all indications suggest North Korea will in fact launch a satellite. North Korea faked a satellite launch in 1998 to cloak a missile development test. In 2006, it launched a Taepodong-2 that blew up less than a minute into flight. (3/25)
Ariane Chief Decries Pick of China for Satellite Launch (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
The head of European aerospace giant Arianespace expressed "shock" that a Chinese competitor has been chosen by Eutelsat Communications to launch a satellite into space. The choice of China "leaves us extremely perplexed," said Jean-Yves Le Gall, CEO of French rocket launch company Arianespace. Earlier this month China inked the deal with Eutelsat to launch the company's W3B satellite on one of its Long March rockets -- much to the chagrin of detractors like Le Gall, who fear that the agreement will anger the United States.
"Various governments -- most notably the United States -- have good reasons for wishing that there not be a technology transfer to China," he told AFP. Le Gall added that in his view, Eutelsat's decision to let China launch its satellite could be interpreted as being "hostile to the United States." Even though the Eutelsat satellite in question contains no American-made parts, Le Gall said that it does contain equally sensitive European-made components, which flouts the spirit of the ITAR rule. (3/25)
Nigeria, China Sign Pact to Replace Faulty Satellite by 2011 (Source: Xinhua)
Nigeria and China have signed a contract for a new communications satellite that will replace one sidelined by a power failure. According to the contract signed in Beijing on Tuesday, the replacement satellite has been named NIGCOMSAT-1R and is due to be launched by 2011 with no cost to Nigeria, the Lagos-based Guardian reported. The new space vehicle will replace NIGCOMSAT-1, which was launched on May 14, 2007, but was displaced on Nov. 10, 2008, because of a solar power failure that occurred on one edge of the satellite. (3/25)
Russians Taking Last "Space Tourist" to Station (Source: Technology Review)
A Russian Soyuz is delivering the last private tourist, U.S. software designer Charles Simonyi, to the space station. Since the station is expanding from three crew members to six, future Soyuz must be used to accommodate government astronauts who have been waiting years to live aboard the orbiting laboratory. Such heavy lifting for Soyuz puts an end, for now, to what was once a lucrative Russian space tourism program.
Since 2001, the Russians have flown six private spaceflight participants, who paid at minimum $20 million brokered through Virginia-based Space Adventures, for trips to space. Simonyi will be making his second trip, a $35 million deal, to the station. He is scheduled for a 12-day mission to perform research on bone density loss and lower-back pain in space, to work on Earth-observation studies, and to communicate with students. (3/25)
New Forecast Identifies 2,033 Space Payloads through 2028 (Source: Earth Times)
The Teal Group has revised figures for the Worldwide Mission Model survey of future space payloads. The study encompasses 2,033 payloads proposed through 2009-2028. The 2,033 payloads reflect a 2.5% increase over the 1,981 payloads counted in the Model for the period 2008-2027. Most of this growth can be attributed to a nearly 7% increase in the number of the civil payloads factored into the Model, based on more available information about scientific and technology satellites planned by the Chinese and Indian national space programs, as well as more small and micro satellites proposed by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Commercial payloads, which include traditional telecommunications and TV broadcasting, digital radio and direct TV broadcasting, broadband and mobile communications, and earth imaging satellites account for 41% of the payloads in the Model, as compared to 39% for civil payloads, 17% for military, and 3% for university. In Models released during the 2005-2007 the percentage of commercial payloads relative to other types of payloads steadily declined from 39% to 36.2% to 34.5%. This trend began to reverse in 2008 and continues in this year's Model, reflecting the dozens of replacement satellites for the Globalstar, Iridium and Orbcomm low earth orbit (LEO) mobile communications constellations
North America accounts for 40% of the total payloads in the Model; Europe, 22%; Asia & Pacific Rim, 16%; Russia and former states of the Soviet Union, 16%; Africa & Middle East, 3%; and Latin America & Caribbean, 3%. The United States alone accounts for 39% of the payloads. More than half of all the proposed military payloads are for the US Department of Defense (DoD). Approximately 23% of all the civil payloads are for NASA. (3/25)
Globalstar Announces Financing Deal (Source: Globalstar)
Globalstar announced that Coface has agreed to provide a guaranty in support of a proposed $574 million credit facility to be extended by a syndicate of banks to Globalstar as borrower. Coface, the export credit agency acting on behalf of the French government, has advised Globalstar that it intends to provide long-term credit insurance to facilitate the proposed credit facility. The credit facility and receipt of funding by Globalstar is subject to closing conditions and there can be no assurance at this time that any such closing will actually occur. (3/25)
Space Beat Getting Smaller (Source: Discovery News)
Anyone who tells you they’re not worried about losing their job either works for the government or lives in the land of Denial. So while it was a surprise, it certainly wasn’t totally unexpected to learn of the departure of a 23-year colleague and friend on the space beat, Mark Carreau, from the Houston Chronicle. This cut bleeds deeply, as Carreau is one of the top journalists on a beat that needs as many inquiring minds and serious voices as possible in the ongoing battle for technical accuracy and government accountability, both attributes that are quickly losing cache in the bottom-dollar mentality and fear gripping our society. (3/25)
Musk Talks Falcon-9 at DC Event (Source: Personal Spaceflight)
SpaceX founder Elon Musk gave a general overview of what SpaceX is doing on both the Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. He said there are 19 orders for Falcon-9 missions (12 for NASA ISS resupply) with two additional orders forthcoming. He said the biggest obstacle to an on-time Falcon-9 inaugural launch this summer is the fairing and fairing separation system for the rocket, which SpaceX is doing in-house. SpaceX hopes to do 2-3 Falcon 9 launches this year and 4-5 in 2010. He said SpaceX is not affected by PlanetSpace’s protest of the commercial resupply contracts NASA awarded in December to SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corp. Musk said that PlanetSpace has dropped its protest of the SpaceX award but is continuing to pursue its protest of the Orbital award. (3/25)
Space Research Bill Advances in Tallahassee, Picks Up Sponsors (Source: SPACErePORT)
The Economic Development Policy Council of the Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 69 on Mar. 25, allowing the bill to advance to a final vote of the full House. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida, and Space Florida voiced their support for HB-69 during the Council hearing. HB-69 would establish the Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI) in Florida Statutes. Led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, STRDI is intended as a national multi-university initiative to tackle space transportation technology and policy challenges that would improve the competitiveness of the space launch industry.
A companion bill (SB-888) in the Florida Senate may be heard next week by the first of three committees assigned to consider it. Together, the bills now have garnered the support of 31 sponsors and co-sponsors in the Florida Legislature. Click here for information on HB-69. Other space-related bills this year include bills to establish tax incentives within a Commercial Launch Zone (HB-423), and to create a program through which space projects may be funded (HB-307). The Legislative Session runs through the first week of May. (3/25)
ILS to Launch Intelsat Spacecraft (Source: SpaceToday.net)
International Launch Services announced Tuesday that it has agreed to launch an Intelsat spacecraft later this year that had previously been scheduled to be launched by a competitor. A Proton M will launch the Intelsat 16 satellite in the fourth quarter of this year. The 2,500-kilogram spacecraft is under construction by Orbital Sciences Corp. Intelsat had awarded a contract to Land Launch in 2008 to launch the spacecraft on a Zenit-3SLB. The ILS contract is the latest in a series of recent launch awards to ILS for spacecraft that had previously contracted for launches elsewhere. (3/25)
March 24 News Items
Inside NASA's Next Space Project (Source: ABC)
For 27 years, the space shuttle has been the center of the U.S. space program and the only means to send crews up to space. But, in a year and a half, the shuttle -- now on its 125th mission -- will be retired by presidential mandate. With only nine or 10 flights left to go, the program is on the brink of a major transition. So, what's next for NASA when the space shuttle quits flying? In effect, it will be back to the future. NASA will launch two rockets -- not one as they did in the Apollo days, when man first landed on the moon. Visit http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7160430&page=1 to view the article. (3/24)
Astrotech and Space Florida Announce Partnership (Source: Space Florida)
Astrotech Corp. announced a partnership with Space Florida to provide end-to-end mission assurance support, streamlining the process for commercial space customers to acquire support across a spacecraft’s lifecycle. Together, both organizations will provide a singular approach to global satellite market needs. Visit http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Astrotech-and-Space-Florida-bw-14732020.html for information. (3/24)
EADS Astrium Puts its Suborbital "Space Jet" on Hold (Source: Hyperbola)
Hyperbola had heard that EADS Astrium had shelved for the time being its aspirations for the suborbital market and now the European space company has confirmed the rumor to this blog with the following statement: "The world economic situation has created a difficult near term environment in which to finalize ongoing discussions with investors. Astrium is to temporarily slow down the technical activities focusing on core risk mitigation for the project. The [space jet] team achieved impressive results in the pre-development phase particularly in the field of propulsion technology. Astrium sees suborbital flight as a promising area because of the emerging space tourism market." (3/24)
E'Prime Case Being Considered by Orlando Judge (Source: SPACErePORT)
E'Prime shareholders are awaiting a decision from an Orlando-based Magistrate Judge on a motion that would dismiss their complaints against former E'Prime president Bob Davis of Titusville. The shareholders are alleging multiple improprieties by Mr. Davis, including securities fraud, manipulation of securities, and breach of fiduciary duty.
According to court documents, South Florida's Aerospace Technologies Group (ATG) had agreed to purchase Davis' stock for $15 million, plus an estimated $10 million to clear up past liabilities and to start the launch business. ATG's due-diligence investigation for the deal revealed alleged misrepresentations by Davis of the status of E'Prime agreements with the Air Force, and START treaty limitations on their proposed Peacekeeper-based commercial launch vehicles. (3/24)
NASA Might Name Toilet For Comedian Stephen Colbert (Source: Space.com)
NASA may consider putting Stephen Colbert's name on a space toilet, after the comedian came out on top of the U.S. space agency's online naming poll for a new space module. "Colbert" had amassed more than 230,000 votes to beat out second-place name "Serenity" by more than 40,000 votes. "Come on, Serenity?" Colbert said. "That's not a space module, that's a Glade plug-in."
The Node 3 module contains eight fridge-sized racks for many of the space station's life support systems, such as the new space toilet, as well as an observation deck that contains a work station for the International Space Station's 57-foot robotic arm. It is currently slated for launch later this year to the space station. (3/24)
Space Fan Obama Makes Out of This World Call (Source: AFP)
President Barack Obama looked to the stars Tuesday taking time out from his daily grind to delight in the wonders of space in a very long-distance video chat with astronauts orbiting the Earth. During a nearly 30-minute conference call, the president flanked by some Washington schoolchildren, Florida Senator Bill Nelson, and Florida Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, peppered the 10 astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) with questions. (3/24)
NASA and Microsoft to Make Universe of Data Available to Public (Source: NASA)
NASA and Microsoft plan to make planetary images and data available via the Internet under a Space Act Agreement. Through this project, NASA and Microsoft jointly will develop the technology and infrastructure necessary to make the most interesting NASA content -- including high-resolution scientific images and data from Mars and the moon -- explorable on WorldWide Telescope, Microsoft's online virtual telescope for exploring the universe. (3/24)
International Moon Mission Study to Examine Crew Rescue (Source: Flight Global)
European or Asian manned spacecraft using a US Earth departure stage to reach lunar orbit is one possible concept to be discussed this year by the world's leading space agencies as they work towards an international lunar outpost reference architecture by mid-2011.
That architecture is likely to include multiple transport approaches using different vehicles to guarantee that a lunar outpost can be supplied and its crews returned to Earth when necessary. Another use of multiple transport systems is for crew rescue - for example stranded astronauts in Earth or lunar orbit - could be met by a rescue spacecraft. (3/24)
Oversight Lacking with ASRC Contract, NASA Audit Finds (Source: Florida Today)
Kennedy Space Center has not provided adequate oversight for a technology development contract that could be worth up to $600 million, NASA auditors said. Performance evaluations that determined award payments to Maryland-based ASRC Aerospace Corp. were not based on specific outcomes and milestones, according to a report released during the weekend by NASA's Office of Inspector General, the agency's in-house auditors.
"We found that performance evaluation factors were inaccurate, unverifiable, or too general to accurately assess the contractor's performance," the report said. In addition, the auditors questioned whether overtime totaling $136,000 during a nine-month period in 2008 was worked because no supporting documentation was available. KSC's procurement director agreed to implement all six of the audit's recommendations for improving oversight of the contract. (3/24)
Delta II Launches GPS-IIR Satellite (Source: NasaSpaceFlight.com)
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket has launched carrying GPS-IIR-20. GPS-IIR-20 will replace the GPS IIA-27 satellite, which has reached the end of its design life. The new satellite also carries an experimental L5 signal, which will serve as a technology demonstration for future aircraft navigation systems. The next GPS launch will be of GPS-IIR-21 on 21 August, followed by the first launch of the next block of satellites, IIF - which is scheduled for 22 October on a Delta IV. (3/24)
For 27 years, the space shuttle has been the center of the U.S. space program and the only means to send crews up to space. But, in a year and a half, the shuttle -- now on its 125th mission -- will be retired by presidential mandate. With only nine or 10 flights left to go, the program is on the brink of a major transition. So, what's next for NASA when the space shuttle quits flying? In effect, it will be back to the future. NASA will launch two rockets -- not one as they did in the Apollo days, when man first landed on the moon. Visit http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7160430&page=1 to view the article. (3/24)
Astrotech and Space Florida Announce Partnership (Source: Space Florida)
Astrotech Corp. announced a partnership with Space Florida to provide end-to-end mission assurance support, streamlining the process for commercial space customers to acquire support across a spacecraft’s lifecycle. Together, both organizations will provide a singular approach to global satellite market needs. Visit http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Astrotech-and-Space-Florida-bw-14732020.html for information. (3/24)
EADS Astrium Puts its Suborbital "Space Jet" on Hold (Source: Hyperbola)
Hyperbola had heard that EADS Astrium had shelved for the time being its aspirations for the suborbital market and now the European space company has confirmed the rumor to this blog with the following statement: "The world economic situation has created a difficult near term environment in which to finalize ongoing discussions with investors. Astrium is to temporarily slow down the technical activities focusing on core risk mitigation for the project. The [space jet] team achieved impressive results in the pre-development phase particularly in the field of propulsion technology. Astrium sees suborbital flight as a promising area because of the emerging space tourism market." (3/24)
E'Prime Case Being Considered by Orlando Judge (Source: SPACErePORT)
E'Prime shareholders are awaiting a decision from an Orlando-based Magistrate Judge on a motion that would dismiss their complaints against former E'Prime president Bob Davis of Titusville. The shareholders are alleging multiple improprieties by Mr. Davis, including securities fraud, manipulation of securities, and breach of fiduciary duty.
According to court documents, South Florida's Aerospace Technologies Group (ATG) had agreed to purchase Davis' stock for $15 million, plus an estimated $10 million to clear up past liabilities and to start the launch business. ATG's due-diligence investigation for the deal revealed alleged misrepresentations by Davis of the status of E'Prime agreements with the Air Force, and START treaty limitations on their proposed Peacekeeper-based commercial launch vehicles. (3/24)
NASA Might Name Toilet For Comedian Stephen Colbert (Source: Space.com)
NASA may consider putting Stephen Colbert's name on a space toilet, after the comedian came out on top of the U.S. space agency's online naming poll for a new space module. "Colbert" had amassed more than 230,000 votes to beat out second-place name "Serenity" by more than 40,000 votes. "Come on, Serenity?" Colbert said. "That's not a space module, that's a Glade plug-in."
The Node 3 module contains eight fridge-sized racks for many of the space station's life support systems, such as the new space toilet, as well as an observation deck that contains a work station for the International Space Station's 57-foot robotic arm. It is currently slated for launch later this year to the space station. (3/24)
Space Fan Obama Makes Out of This World Call (Source: AFP)
President Barack Obama looked to the stars Tuesday taking time out from his daily grind to delight in the wonders of space in a very long-distance video chat with astronauts orbiting the Earth. During a nearly 30-minute conference call, the president flanked by some Washington schoolchildren, Florida Senator Bill Nelson, and Florida Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, peppered the 10 astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) with questions. (3/24)
NASA and Microsoft to Make Universe of Data Available to Public (Source: NASA)
NASA and Microsoft plan to make planetary images and data available via the Internet under a Space Act Agreement. Through this project, NASA and Microsoft jointly will develop the technology and infrastructure necessary to make the most interesting NASA content -- including high-resolution scientific images and data from Mars and the moon -- explorable on WorldWide Telescope, Microsoft's online virtual telescope for exploring the universe. (3/24)
International Moon Mission Study to Examine Crew Rescue (Source: Flight Global)
European or Asian manned spacecraft using a US Earth departure stage to reach lunar orbit is one possible concept to be discussed this year by the world's leading space agencies as they work towards an international lunar outpost reference architecture by mid-2011.
That architecture is likely to include multiple transport approaches using different vehicles to guarantee that a lunar outpost can be supplied and its crews returned to Earth when necessary. Another use of multiple transport systems is for crew rescue - for example stranded astronauts in Earth or lunar orbit - could be met by a rescue spacecraft. (3/24)
Oversight Lacking with ASRC Contract, NASA Audit Finds (Source: Florida Today)
Kennedy Space Center has not provided adequate oversight for a technology development contract that could be worth up to $600 million, NASA auditors said. Performance evaluations that determined award payments to Maryland-based ASRC Aerospace Corp. were not based on specific outcomes and milestones, according to a report released during the weekend by NASA's Office of Inspector General, the agency's in-house auditors.
"We found that performance evaluation factors were inaccurate, unverifiable, or too general to accurately assess the contractor's performance," the report said. In addition, the auditors questioned whether overtime totaling $136,000 during a nine-month period in 2008 was worked because no supporting documentation was available. KSC's procurement director agreed to implement all six of the audit's recommendations for improving oversight of the contract. (3/24)
Delta II Launches GPS-IIR Satellite (Source: NasaSpaceFlight.com)
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket has launched carrying GPS-IIR-20. GPS-IIR-20 will replace the GPS IIA-27 satellite, which has reached the end of its design life. The new satellite also carries an experimental L5 signal, which will serve as a technology demonstration for future aircraft navigation systems. The next GPS launch will be of GPS-IIR-21 on 21 August, followed by the first launch of the next block of satellites, IIF - which is scheduled for 22 October on a Delta IV. (3/24)
March 23 News Items
To Limit Debris, What Goes Up Must Come Down (Source: Business Wire)
In a band 1,000 kilometers above Earth, a growing collection of mechanical debris is accumulating. Old rocket boosters, retired satellites, even pieces of exploded satellites, threaten to destroy millions of dollars worth of orbiting surveillance, weather, and telecom satellites that we increasingly rely on in our daily lives.
Mathematical analysis by two Stanford researchers suggests that if space programs around the world could be forced to take out their own “garbage,” the problem of colliding space debris could be reduced to less than one chance in a thousand that a live satellite would be damaged by a passing object. Click here to view the article. (3/23)
USSR Earned International Respect With the Help of Space Exploration (Source: Pravda)
It is generally believed that many developing countries, such as Russia and China, need to complete their reforms and improve national living standards and ecology before they could deal with space exploration. Indeed, there are too many urgent problems that governments have to solve on the planet, whereas space does not seem to be important at all.
The state of economic affairs in the USSR was extremely difficult in the beginning of the 1960s. Many workers were going on strikes in 1962, the next year after Yuri Gagarin’s epoch-making first-ever manned space flight. However, the ambitious space program of the Soviet Union began to develop speedily in the beginning of the 1960s. The program resulted in the creation of such vital industrial branches as electronics, automatics and instrument engineering. Click here to view the article. (3/23)
Student Experiments to Launch Into Space from New Mexico (Source: AP)
Several New Mexico college and high school students will launch experiments into space with help from Spaceport America. The experiments will take a space-bound ride on a SpaceLoft XL rocket and launch provided by Spaceport America, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and UP Aerospace. The launch is part of a program to allow students annual access to space.
Spaceport officials say the program will develop the state's work force by encouraging students to pursue space sector careers. Pay Hynes, the state's space grant director, says the economic benefits from the spaceport depend on giving academics and students the opportunity to compete in emerging space industries coming to the state. The launch is planned for April 25. (3/23)
Astronauts Complete 3rd and Final Spacewalk (Source: AP)
Two astronauts who were teaching math and science to middle school students just five years ago went on a spacewalk together Monday, their path cleared of dangerous orbiting junk that had threatened the space station and shuttle. On Sunday, the linked shuttle-station complex had to move out of the way of a 4-inch piece of debris that had been projected to come perilously close during the spacewalk. Astronauts Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold II had no luck trying to free up a jammed equipment storage shelf at the international space station, one of their main tasks. (3/23)
Funnyman Colbert Wins NASA Space Station Name Contest (Source: AP)
NASA's online contest to name a new node at the international space station went awry. Comedian Stephen Colbert won. The name "Colbert" beat out NASA's four suggested options in the space agency's effort to have the public help name the addition. The new "room" will be launched later this year. NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his show, "The Colbert Report" to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes. Nearly 1.2 million votes were cast by the time the contest ended Friday. NASA reserves the right to choose an appropriate name. Agency spokesman John Yembrick said NASA will decide in April, but will give top vote-getters "the most consideration." (3/23)
Gravity Probe's Launch Boosts Rocket Firm's Coffers (Source: Space News)
The successful March 17 launch of the European Space Agency (ESA) GOCE Earth observation satellite aboard a Russian Rockot vehicle was a life-saving event for Eurockot Launch Services GmbH, the German-Russian company that sells commercial launches on the converted ICBM. The launch followed the October 2005 failure of the last Eurockot mission for ESA, when a Rockot vehicle sent the Cryosat satellite into the ocean in the Arctic Circle even as launch teams continued to broadcast a launch success to ESA officials.
Since then, a series of delays relating to Rockot's Breeze upper stage and other factors had delayed the GOCE satellite so long that mission teams feared they would be forced to change the satellite's orbit, a decision that would have reduced the scientific harvest. In addition, Russian inflation during the same period forced Bremen, Germany-based Eurockot to increase its prices abruptly. (3/23)
Space Storm Alert: 90 Seconds From Catastrophe (Source: New Scientist)
It's midnight on Sep. 22 2012 and the skies above Manhattan are filled with a flickering curtain of colourful light. Few New Yorkers have seen the aurora this far south but their fascination is short-lived. Within a few seconds, electric bulbs dim and flicker, then become unusually bright for a fleeting moment. Then all the lights in the state go out. Within 90 seconds, the entire eastern half of the US is without power. A year later and millions of Americans are dead and the nation's infrastructure lies in tatters. The World Bank declares America a developing nation. Europe, Scandinavia, China and Japan are also struggling to recover from the same fateful event - a violent storm, 150 million kilometers away on the surface of the sun.
It sounds ridiculous. Surely the sun couldn't create so profound a disaster on Earth. Yet an extraordinary report funded by NASA and issued by the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in January this year claims it could do just that. Over the last few decades, western civilizations have busily sown the seeds of their own destruction. Our modern way of life, with its reliance on technology, has unwittingly exposed us to an extraordinary danger: plasma balls spewed from the surface of the sun could wipe out our power grids, with catastrophic consequences.
The projections of just how catastrophic make chilling reading. "We're moving closer and closer to the edge of a possible disaster," says the chair of the NAS committee responsible for the report. It is hard to conceive of the sun wiping out a large amount of our hard-earned progress. Nevertheless, it is possible. The surface of the sun is a roiling mass of high-energy plasma, some of which escapes the surface to travel through space with the solar wind. A billion-ton glob of plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection, could hit the Earth's magnetic shield, with truly devastating results. Click here to view the article. (3/23)
Consulting Firm Expects Quiet Year in Aerospace (Source: AIA)
Following a "catastrophic" second half in 2008, the aerospace industry in 2009 will be merely "subdued," according to an analysis by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Big defense contractors may make a few bargain purchases as private equity firms look to reduce debt, though conserving cash will be the top priority overall. On the civil aviation side, the big unknown for 2009 is the pace of order cancellations, according to PwC. (3/23)
San Diego Space Society Members Look Up and Say 'Good Heavens' (Source: SD Union Tribune)
Maria Catalina and Gerry Williams are star-struck, and it has nothing to do with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. They are captivated by the vastness of the universe and contemplative of humanity's exploration of space far beyond what ever has been experienced. The thought of deep-space exploration makes them almost giddy. “Think about what it would mean to visit Mars, travel though space,” said Catalina, a seventh-grade science teacher at Mar Vista Middle School in San Ysidro.
“It's a frontier to be explored – where we will learn and come to understandings never before realized.” Catalina, freelance photographer Williams and about a half-dozen other members of the San Diego Space Society met in Golden Hill to finish homemade, water-powered rockets, tweak spacesuits and fine-tune model Mars rovers in preparation for a science expo April 4 in Balboa Park. The expo will culminate the San Diego Science Festival, a monthlong educational event designed in part to promote the county's scientific sector. (3/23)
Beginning the Journey of a Thousand Miles? (Source: Space Review)
Should the United States and China cooperate in space, and if so, how? Dean Cheng describes both the obstacles to working together and the prospects for meaningful cooperation in the near term. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1335/1 to view the article. (3/23)
Does the ISS Have a Future? (Source: Space Review)
As the International Space Station approaches completion, now is the time to examine what the station's long-term future should be. Taylor Dinerman outlines the questions about the station that will have to be answered. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1334/1 to view the article. (3/23)
Battle's Laws (Source: Space Review)
One of the key lessons of space efforts throughout the Space Age is the importance of proper systems engineering. Dwayne Day recounts an early event that demonstrated that need, and the rules that were promulgated as a result. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1333/1 to view the article. (3/23)
Liberals, Space Activists, and the Great Orange Satan (Source: Space Review)
Are liberals really opposed to space exploration and settlement? Ferris Valyn examines just how interested they are in space and what more can be done to convince them to support it. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1332/1 to view the article. (3/23)
In a band 1,000 kilometers above Earth, a growing collection of mechanical debris is accumulating. Old rocket boosters, retired satellites, even pieces of exploded satellites, threaten to destroy millions of dollars worth of orbiting surveillance, weather, and telecom satellites that we increasingly rely on in our daily lives.
Mathematical analysis by two Stanford researchers suggests that if space programs around the world could be forced to take out their own “garbage,” the problem of colliding space debris could be reduced to less than one chance in a thousand that a live satellite would be damaged by a passing object. Click here to view the article. (3/23)
USSR Earned International Respect With the Help of Space Exploration (Source: Pravda)
It is generally believed that many developing countries, such as Russia and China, need to complete their reforms and improve national living standards and ecology before they could deal with space exploration. Indeed, there are too many urgent problems that governments have to solve on the planet, whereas space does not seem to be important at all.
The state of economic affairs in the USSR was extremely difficult in the beginning of the 1960s. Many workers were going on strikes in 1962, the next year after Yuri Gagarin’s epoch-making first-ever manned space flight. However, the ambitious space program of the Soviet Union began to develop speedily in the beginning of the 1960s. The program resulted in the creation of such vital industrial branches as electronics, automatics and instrument engineering. Click here to view the article. (3/23)
Student Experiments to Launch Into Space from New Mexico (Source: AP)
Several New Mexico college and high school students will launch experiments into space with help from Spaceport America. The experiments will take a space-bound ride on a SpaceLoft XL rocket and launch provided by Spaceport America, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and UP Aerospace. The launch is part of a program to allow students annual access to space.
Spaceport officials say the program will develop the state's work force by encouraging students to pursue space sector careers. Pay Hynes, the state's space grant director, says the economic benefits from the spaceport depend on giving academics and students the opportunity to compete in emerging space industries coming to the state. The launch is planned for April 25. (3/23)
Astronauts Complete 3rd and Final Spacewalk (Source: AP)
Two astronauts who were teaching math and science to middle school students just five years ago went on a spacewalk together Monday, their path cleared of dangerous orbiting junk that had threatened the space station and shuttle. On Sunday, the linked shuttle-station complex had to move out of the way of a 4-inch piece of debris that had been projected to come perilously close during the spacewalk. Astronauts Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold II had no luck trying to free up a jammed equipment storage shelf at the international space station, one of their main tasks. (3/23)
Funnyman Colbert Wins NASA Space Station Name Contest (Source: AP)
NASA's online contest to name a new node at the international space station went awry. Comedian Stephen Colbert won. The name "Colbert" beat out NASA's four suggested options in the space agency's effort to have the public help name the addition. The new "room" will be launched later this year. NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his show, "The Colbert Report" to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes. Nearly 1.2 million votes were cast by the time the contest ended Friday. NASA reserves the right to choose an appropriate name. Agency spokesman John Yembrick said NASA will decide in April, but will give top vote-getters "the most consideration." (3/23)
Gravity Probe's Launch Boosts Rocket Firm's Coffers (Source: Space News)
The successful March 17 launch of the European Space Agency (ESA) GOCE Earth observation satellite aboard a Russian Rockot vehicle was a life-saving event for Eurockot Launch Services GmbH, the German-Russian company that sells commercial launches on the converted ICBM. The launch followed the October 2005 failure of the last Eurockot mission for ESA, when a Rockot vehicle sent the Cryosat satellite into the ocean in the Arctic Circle even as launch teams continued to broadcast a launch success to ESA officials.
Since then, a series of delays relating to Rockot's Breeze upper stage and other factors had delayed the GOCE satellite so long that mission teams feared they would be forced to change the satellite's orbit, a decision that would have reduced the scientific harvest. In addition, Russian inflation during the same period forced Bremen, Germany-based Eurockot to increase its prices abruptly. (3/23)
Space Storm Alert: 90 Seconds From Catastrophe (Source: New Scientist)
It's midnight on Sep. 22 2012 and the skies above Manhattan are filled with a flickering curtain of colourful light. Few New Yorkers have seen the aurora this far south but their fascination is short-lived. Within a few seconds, electric bulbs dim and flicker, then become unusually bright for a fleeting moment. Then all the lights in the state go out. Within 90 seconds, the entire eastern half of the US is without power. A year later and millions of Americans are dead and the nation's infrastructure lies in tatters. The World Bank declares America a developing nation. Europe, Scandinavia, China and Japan are also struggling to recover from the same fateful event - a violent storm, 150 million kilometers away on the surface of the sun.
It sounds ridiculous. Surely the sun couldn't create so profound a disaster on Earth. Yet an extraordinary report funded by NASA and issued by the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in January this year claims it could do just that. Over the last few decades, western civilizations have busily sown the seeds of their own destruction. Our modern way of life, with its reliance on technology, has unwittingly exposed us to an extraordinary danger: plasma balls spewed from the surface of the sun could wipe out our power grids, with catastrophic consequences.
The projections of just how catastrophic make chilling reading. "We're moving closer and closer to the edge of a possible disaster," says the chair of the NAS committee responsible for the report. It is hard to conceive of the sun wiping out a large amount of our hard-earned progress. Nevertheless, it is possible. The surface of the sun is a roiling mass of high-energy plasma, some of which escapes the surface to travel through space with the solar wind. A billion-ton glob of plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection, could hit the Earth's magnetic shield, with truly devastating results. Click here to view the article. (3/23)
Consulting Firm Expects Quiet Year in Aerospace (Source: AIA)
Following a "catastrophic" second half in 2008, the aerospace industry in 2009 will be merely "subdued," according to an analysis by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Big defense contractors may make a few bargain purchases as private equity firms look to reduce debt, though conserving cash will be the top priority overall. On the civil aviation side, the big unknown for 2009 is the pace of order cancellations, according to PwC. (3/23)
San Diego Space Society Members Look Up and Say 'Good Heavens' (Source: SD Union Tribune)
Maria Catalina and Gerry Williams are star-struck, and it has nothing to do with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. They are captivated by the vastness of the universe and contemplative of humanity's exploration of space far beyond what ever has been experienced. The thought of deep-space exploration makes them almost giddy. “Think about what it would mean to visit Mars, travel though space,” said Catalina, a seventh-grade science teacher at Mar Vista Middle School in San Ysidro.
“It's a frontier to be explored – where we will learn and come to understandings never before realized.” Catalina, freelance photographer Williams and about a half-dozen other members of the San Diego Space Society met in Golden Hill to finish homemade, water-powered rockets, tweak spacesuits and fine-tune model Mars rovers in preparation for a science expo April 4 in Balboa Park. The expo will culminate the San Diego Science Festival, a monthlong educational event designed in part to promote the county's scientific sector. (3/23)
Beginning the Journey of a Thousand Miles? (Source: Space Review)
Should the United States and China cooperate in space, and if so, how? Dean Cheng describes both the obstacles to working together and the prospects for meaningful cooperation in the near term. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1335/1 to view the article. (3/23)
Does the ISS Have a Future? (Source: Space Review)
As the International Space Station approaches completion, now is the time to examine what the station's long-term future should be. Taylor Dinerman outlines the questions about the station that will have to be answered. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1334/1 to view the article. (3/23)
Battle's Laws (Source: Space Review)
One of the key lessons of space efforts throughout the Space Age is the importance of proper systems engineering. Dwayne Day recounts an early event that demonstrated that need, and the rules that were promulgated as a result. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1333/1 to view the article. (3/23)
Liberals, Space Activists, and the Great Orange Satan (Source: Space Review)
Are liberals really opposed to space exploration and settlement? Ferris Valyn examines just how interested they are in space and what more can be done to convince them to support it. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1332/1 to view the article. (3/23)
March 22 News Items
NASA Eyes Maneuver to Avoid Chinese Space Junk (Source: Houston Chronicle)
A piece of Chinese rocket junk will pass close to the shuttle and space station at mid-day Monday. NASA says an avoidance maneuver will not be necessary. However, the shuttle will change the space station's orientation by firing steering thrusters. The change in orientation will create an additional amount of drag. The drag will lower the station's altitude enough to keep it away from the debris threat. (3/22)
"No joy" With Station Urine Processor (Source: Florida Today)
Yesterday's efforts to run a repaired urine processor on the International Space Station have been put on hold. Engineers have been trying to determine why flow rates through the device were low. NASA was hopeful the processor would work after a new 180-poound distillation assembly brought up by shuttle Discovery was installed two days ago, and a dry test run on Saturday was successful. The processor hasn't worked since after Christmas, weeks after shuttle Endeavour's crew delivered it in November. (3/22)
Colorado-Based Space Symposium Soaring (Source: Space Foundation)
There is no recession in orbit, organizers of the 25th annual National Space Symposium have found. While other trade shows have withered amid the faltering economy, the symposium that starts next week at The Broadmoor is as big as ever, with aerospace firms plying their wares to customers including NASA and the Defense Department. The healthy symposium is good news for the local economy, because it is expected to draw 7,500 people who will pack area hotels and drop cash in restaurants. The real money at the symposium changes hands in hotel rooms at The Broadmoor where industry giants like Boeing and Lockheed Martin along with smaller players including local technology firms cut deals for satellites, services and computing gear. (3/2)
Space Film Shows at Florida Film Festival (Source: NSSFL)
Blast!, a documentary film about scientists attempting to launch a satellite, will be shown at the 18th annual Florida Film Festival in Orlando on Mar. 29 and Apr. 1. Filmmaker Paul Devlin follows the story of his brother, Mark Devlin PhD, as he leads a tenacious team of scientists hoping to figure out how all the galaxies formed by launching a revolutionary new telescope under a NASA high-altitude balloon. Their adventure takes them from Arctic Sweden to Inuit polar bear country in Canada, where catastrophic failure forces the team to try all over again on the desolate ice in Antarctica. Visit http://www.blastthemovie.com for information. (3/22)
A piece of Chinese rocket junk will pass close to the shuttle and space station at mid-day Monday. NASA says an avoidance maneuver will not be necessary. However, the shuttle will change the space station's orientation by firing steering thrusters. The change in orientation will create an additional amount of drag. The drag will lower the station's altitude enough to keep it away from the debris threat. (3/22)
"No joy" With Station Urine Processor (Source: Florida Today)
Yesterday's efforts to run a repaired urine processor on the International Space Station have been put on hold. Engineers have been trying to determine why flow rates through the device were low. NASA was hopeful the processor would work after a new 180-poound distillation assembly brought up by shuttle Discovery was installed two days ago, and a dry test run on Saturday was successful. The processor hasn't worked since after Christmas, weeks after shuttle Endeavour's crew delivered it in November. (3/22)
Colorado-Based Space Symposium Soaring (Source: Space Foundation)
There is no recession in orbit, organizers of the 25th annual National Space Symposium have found. While other trade shows have withered amid the faltering economy, the symposium that starts next week at The Broadmoor is as big as ever, with aerospace firms plying their wares to customers including NASA and the Defense Department. The healthy symposium is good news for the local economy, because it is expected to draw 7,500 people who will pack area hotels and drop cash in restaurants. The real money at the symposium changes hands in hotel rooms at The Broadmoor where industry giants like Boeing and Lockheed Martin along with smaller players including local technology firms cut deals for satellites, services and computing gear. (3/2)
Space Film Shows at Florida Film Festival (Source: NSSFL)
Blast!, a documentary film about scientists attempting to launch a satellite, will be shown at the 18th annual Florida Film Festival in Orlando on Mar. 29 and Apr. 1. Filmmaker Paul Devlin follows the story of his brother, Mark Devlin PhD, as he leads a tenacious team of scientists hoping to figure out how all the galaxies formed by launching a revolutionary new telescope under a NASA high-altitude balloon. Their adventure takes them from Arctic Sweden to Inuit polar bear country in Canada, where catastrophic failure forces the team to try all over again on the desolate ice in Antarctica. Visit http://www.blastthemovie.com for information. (3/22)
March 21 News Items
North Korea to Close Two Air Routes for Rocket Launch (Source: Xinhua)
North Korea will close two aerial routes through its controlled airspace from April 4 to 8 for its planned communications satellite launch, Japan's transport ministry said. The closure will be from 11 a.m. on Apr. 4 to 4 p.m. on Apr. 8. Some countries suspect this may be a test of a long-range missile capable of reaching North America. Japan has declared it would shoot down any objects flying towards its territory. (3/21)
Chinese Hackers Seek Space Intel From Nelson? (Source: Senator Nelson)
Cyber-invaders thought to be in China have recently hacked into the computer network in U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's office, according to the senator's office. Two attacks on the same day this month and another one last month targeted work stations used by three Nelson staffers - a key foreign-policy aide, the deputy legislative director and a former Nelson NASA adviser. But the hackers didn't make off with any classified information, which isn't kept on office computers, a Nelson spokesman said. (3/20)
NASA Supports Multiplayer Gaming Initiative (Source: NASA)
NASA officials are finalizing negotiations for a Space Act Agreement (SAA) with three gaming companies whose joint proposal for a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game has been selected for collaborative development. The three companies - Project Whitecard, Inc., Virtual Heroes, Inc., and Information In Place/WisdomTools - teamed up to create a proposal for "Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond," a game concept developed for NASA's MMO gaming initiative, which is designed to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects and career fields. (3/21)
Russian Defense Cuts Could Affect Space (Source: Aviation Week)
A reduction in defense spending being considered under a revised federal budget plan threatens key Russian launcher and satellite navigation projects, even though space budgets are not expected to be impacted by the new plan. Vladimir Putin has assured government and industry space officials that the revised 2009 draft budget contemplates no reduction in allotments for the development of new space projects. Almost 82 billion rubles ($2.4 billion) is to be allocated for three programs, Putin said, without saying which ones. However, he said the new Angara launcher would be among the priority programs, along with communication, navigation and remote Earth sensing spacecraft development.
However, the plan, to be presented to the Russian parliament next week, envisions cuts in defense outlays that could severely affect some elements of the space program. Among the potential victims of the plan, which would roll back defense spending from 1.3 trillion rubles to 1.19 trillion rubles, are the new Vostochny spaceport to be built in the Amur region of Russia's Far East, a launch pad for Angara being constructed at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia and enhancements to the Glonass navigation satellite system. The defense budget line for spaceports alone could drop by 4.5 billion rubles, industry officials say. (3/19)
Angara (Russia's EELV) On Path to Replace Older Russian Rockets (Source: Aviation Week)
The 1.5-25-metric ton lift Angara family of modular launchers is intended to replace Russia's current launcher line with advanced designs that are relatively inexpensive to operate and use environmentally friendly oxygen-kerosene. The first variant, a light booster for low-Earth-orbit missions, will replace existing ICBM derivatives whose shelf life and suitability for commercial applications is limited. It is scheduled to be introduced in 2011. A heavy-lift version, due to follow towards the end of the same year, will complement and eventually replace the Proton line. (3/19)
New Mexico Spaceport Hires Firm for Archaeological Work (Source: AP)
A Las Cruces firm has been awarded a contract to conduct an archaeological investigation at four sites within the boundaries of the state-owned Spaceport America. Zia Engineering and Environmental Consultants was among several companies competing for the contract. Zia will conduct the necessary archaeological fieldwork at the four sites and prepare preliminary and final reports per state and federal regulations. New Mexico Spaceport Authority executive director Steve Landeene says he's confident that Zia and the authority will work diligently to preserve New Mexico's archaeological history. Architects are currently working on the final design for the spaceport's terminal and hangar facility. (3/21)
Alliant, USA Finish Agreement (Source: Florida Today)
NASA contractors Alliant Techsystems and United Space Alliance this week announced the terms of a contract that affects hundreds of jobs at Kennedy Space Center. The $257 million deal formalizes an agreement announced last fall, which said that about 550 USA workers would continue to work part time on NASA's next-generation moon rocket and a test flight planned for this summer. That's the equivalent of 180 full time employees. The deal extends through 2014, the year before the first manned flights of the Ares I and Orion crew capsule are planned. (3/21)
New Station Wings Will Give Power to Scientists (Source: Florida Today)
NASA's Mission Control Center erupted in applause, and engineers shed tears Friday after astronauts achieved a major milestone in space. Shuttle Discovery's crew unfurled the last of four pairs of golden solar array wings on the International Space Station, completing an eight-year effort to build the outpost's power supply. The accomplishment doubles the power available for science research and supports a planned doubling of station crews to six people in May.
Astronauts have run into problems unfurling solar arrays, which are folded like roadmaps to a thickness of inches and packed into boxes before traveling on the shuttle. Chemical coatings have stuck together, preventing the folds from coming apart. (3/21)
ILS Wrests Intelsat Launch Away from Land Launch (Source: Space News)
The Intelsat IS-16 satellite will be launched aboard an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton rocket in 2010 under a contract expected to be valued at $75 million, according to industry officials. The deal is the latest example of ILS cutting prices to capture contracts to launch satellites that once would have been considered too small for the heavy-lift Proton vehicle. IS-16 had been scheduled for launch aboard the new Land Launch system — being marketed by Sea Launch Co. of Long Beach, Calif. — under a contract announced in February 2008. Land Launch has since encountered schedule delays that have forced some customers to review their launch options.
An ILS Proton rocket can place satellites weighing more than 6,000 kilograms into geostationary transfer orbit. Until recently, ILS had viewed relatively small spacecraft like Orbital Sciences' Star 2 platform as too small to be considered for Proton launches. But the decline in the Russian ruble has permitted ILS to drop its prices, bringing them within the range of the going rate for launching satellites like IS-16. ILS signed a similar contract, for $80 million, in February with AsiaSat of Hong Kong to launch the AsiaSat 5 satellite later this year. AsiaSat 5 also had been scheduled for Land Launch. (3/21)
Loral Satellite to Carry Additional European Government Payload (Source: Space News)
The European Commission will pay SES of Luxembourg about 18 million euros ($23.28 million) for the first two years to operate an L-band payload to be used for Europe's satellite navigation system, with further payments to be determined after 2013. As expected, the commission selected SES's Loral-built Sirius 5 satellite, to be launched in 2011, as the winner of a competition to host a payload to replace similar hardware on the European Space Agency's Artemis data-relay satellite due to retire the same year. (3/21)
Revenue Up, Profit Down For Hong Kong's Asiasat (Source: Space News)
Satellite-fleet operator AsiaSat of Hong Kong on March 19 reported a 10 percent increase in revenue in 2008 and said its three satellites increased their fill rates to 60 percent from 49 percent a year earlier, mainly from new customers on the AsiaSat 4 satellite. (3/21)
Intelsat's 2008 Revenue Growth Reflects Broader Industry Trend (Source: Space News)
Satellite fleet operator Intelsat said revenue in 2008 grew 8 percent, and 6 percent in the last three months of the year, compared to a year earlier, and Intelsat Chief Executive David McGlade said March 18 that "to date we have not seen any material impacts from the recession." Intelsat's results follow the equally upbeat year-end financial statements of competitors SES of Luxembourg, Eutelsat of Paris and Telesat of Canada. These four companies account for around 75 percent of the annual revenue of the global commercial fixed satellite services industry. All reported higher sales, healthy satellite fill rates and continued strong backlog. Intelsat said its backlog as of Dec. 31 was $8.8 billion. (3/21)
Loral Has Right to Nix Sale of Telesat Canada's Telstar Satellites (Source: Space News)
Loral Space and Communications has the right to veto Telesat Canada's possible sale of its Telstar 10 and Telstar 18 satellites because of the likely adverse tax consequences on Loral if the sale occurs before November 2012. Ottawa-based Telesat in late 2008 received a $200 million offer from an undisclosed buyer for the satellites. Telesat is under pressure to decide in the coming months whether to accept it because a decision on whether to replace the aging Telstar 10 spacecraft must be made this year. (3/21)
NASA's Multi-Robot Planetary Exploration Plans (Source: Space.com)
Multi-robot planetary exploration would be a complex affair, with humans working with a diverse team of mobile robots operating in a variety of control modes. Aurora Flight Sciences, MIT's Manned Vehicle Laboratory (MVL), and MIT Humans and Automation Laboratory (HAL) have just won a NASA Small-Business Technology Transfer Research proposal to develop a software system that performs command and control. "Aurora sees this as an opportunity to expand its multi-vehicle coordination capabilities into the realm of planetary exploration. We view this project as a natural integration of our expertise in space systems and in tools for planning and coordinating autonomous teams,' said Dr. James Paduano, Autonomy Controls and Estimation Group Lead. (3/21)
North Korea will close two aerial routes through its controlled airspace from April 4 to 8 for its planned communications satellite launch, Japan's transport ministry said. The closure will be from 11 a.m. on Apr. 4 to 4 p.m. on Apr. 8. Some countries suspect this may be a test of a long-range missile capable of reaching North America. Japan has declared it would shoot down any objects flying towards its territory. (3/21)
Chinese Hackers Seek Space Intel From Nelson? (Source: Senator Nelson)
Cyber-invaders thought to be in China have recently hacked into the computer network in U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's office, according to the senator's office. Two attacks on the same day this month and another one last month targeted work stations used by three Nelson staffers - a key foreign-policy aide, the deputy legislative director and a former Nelson NASA adviser. But the hackers didn't make off with any classified information, which isn't kept on office computers, a Nelson spokesman said. (3/20)
NASA Supports Multiplayer Gaming Initiative (Source: NASA)
NASA officials are finalizing negotiations for a Space Act Agreement (SAA) with three gaming companies whose joint proposal for a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game has been selected for collaborative development. The three companies - Project Whitecard, Inc., Virtual Heroes, Inc., and Information In Place/WisdomTools - teamed up to create a proposal for "Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond," a game concept developed for NASA's MMO gaming initiative, which is designed to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects and career fields. (3/21)
Russian Defense Cuts Could Affect Space (Source: Aviation Week)
A reduction in defense spending being considered under a revised federal budget plan threatens key Russian launcher and satellite navigation projects, even though space budgets are not expected to be impacted by the new plan. Vladimir Putin has assured government and industry space officials that the revised 2009 draft budget contemplates no reduction in allotments for the development of new space projects. Almost 82 billion rubles ($2.4 billion) is to be allocated for three programs, Putin said, without saying which ones. However, he said the new Angara launcher would be among the priority programs, along with communication, navigation and remote Earth sensing spacecraft development.
However, the plan, to be presented to the Russian parliament next week, envisions cuts in defense outlays that could severely affect some elements of the space program. Among the potential victims of the plan, which would roll back defense spending from 1.3 trillion rubles to 1.19 trillion rubles, are the new Vostochny spaceport to be built in the Amur region of Russia's Far East, a launch pad for Angara being constructed at the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia and enhancements to the Glonass navigation satellite system. The defense budget line for spaceports alone could drop by 4.5 billion rubles, industry officials say. (3/19)
Angara (Russia's EELV) On Path to Replace Older Russian Rockets (Source: Aviation Week)
The 1.5-25-metric ton lift Angara family of modular launchers is intended to replace Russia's current launcher line with advanced designs that are relatively inexpensive to operate and use environmentally friendly oxygen-kerosene. The first variant, a light booster for low-Earth-orbit missions, will replace existing ICBM derivatives whose shelf life and suitability for commercial applications is limited. It is scheduled to be introduced in 2011. A heavy-lift version, due to follow towards the end of the same year, will complement and eventually replace the Proton line. (3/19)
New Mexico Spaceport Hires Firm for Archaeological Work (Source: AP)
A Las Cruces firm has been awarded a contract to conduct an archaeological investigation at four sites within the boundaries of the state-owned Spaceport America. Zia Engineering and Environmental Consultants was among several companies competing for the contract. Zia will conduct the necessary archaeological fieldwork at the four sites and prepare preliminary and final reports per state and federal regulations. New Mexico Spaceport Authority executive director Steve Landeene says he's confident that Zia and the authority will work diligently to preserve New Mexico's archaeological history. Architects are currently working on the final design for the spaceport's terminal and hangar facility. (3/21)
Alliant, USA Finish Agreement (Source: Florida Today)
NASA contractors Alliant Techsystems and United Space Alliance this week announced the terms of a contract that affects hundreds of jobs at Kennedy Space Center. The $257 million deal formalizes an agreement announced last fall, which said that about 550 USA workers would continue to work part time on NASA's next-generation moon rocket and a test flight planned for this summer. That's the equivalent of 180 full time employees. The deal extends through 2014, the year before the first manned flights of the Ares I and Orion crew capsule are planned. (3/21)
New Station Wings Will Give Power to Scientists (Source: Florida Today)
NASA's Mission Control Center erupted in applause, and engineers shed tears Friday after astronauts achieved a major milestone in space. Shuttle Discovery's crew unfurled the last of four pairs of golden solar array wings on the International Space Station, completing an eight-year effort to build the outpost's power supply. The accomplishment doubles the power available for science research and supports a planned doubling of station crews to six people in May.
Astronauts have run into problems unfurling solar arrays, which are folded like roadmaps to a thickness of inches and packed into boxes before traveling on the shuttle. Chemical coatings have stuck together, preventing the folds from coming apart. (3/21)
ILS Wrests Intelsat Launch Away from Land Launch (Source: Space News)
The Intelsat IS-16 satellite will be launched aboard an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton rocket in 2010 under a contract expected to be valued at $75 million, according to industry officials. The deal is the latest example of ILS cutting prices to capture contracts to launch satellites that once would have been considered too small for the heavy-lift Proton vehicle. IS-16 had been scheduled for launch aboard the new Land Launch system — being marketed by Sea Launch Co. of Long Beach, Calif. — under a contract announced in February 2008. Land Launch has since encountered schedule delays that have forced some customers to review their launch options.
An ILS Proton rocket can place satellites weighing more than 6,000 kilograms into geostationary transfer orbit. Until recently, ILS had viewed relatively small spacecraft like Orbital Sciences' Star 2 platform as too small to be considered for Proton launches. But the decline in the Russian ruble has permitted ILS to drop its prices, bringing them within the range of the going rate for launching satellites like IS-16. ILS signed a similar contract, for $80 million, in February with AsiaSat of Hong Kong to launch the AsiaSat 5 satellite later this year. AsiaSat 5 also had been scheduled for Land Launch. (3/21)
Loral Satellite to Carry Additional European Government Payload (Source: Space News)
The European Commission will pay SES of Luxembourg about 18 million euros ($23.28 million) for the first two years to operate an L-band payload to be used for Europe's satellite navigation system, with further payments to be determined after 2013. As expected, the commission selected SES's Loral-built Sirius 5 satellite, to be launched in 2011, as the winner of a competition to host a payload to replace similar hardware on the European Space Agency's Artemis data-relay satellite due to retire the same year. (3/21)
Revenue Up, Profit Down For Hong Kong's Asiasat (Source: Space News)
Satellite-fleet operator AsiaSat of Hong Kong on March 19 reported a 10 percent increase in revenue in 2008 and said its three satellites increased their fill rates to 60 percent from 49 percent a year earlier, mainly from new customers on the AsiaSat 4 satellite. (3/21)
Intelsat's 2008 Revenue Growth Reflects Broader Industry Trend (Source: Space News)
Satellite fleet operator Intelsat said revenue in 2008 grew 8 percent, and 6 percent in the last three months of the year, compared to a year earlier, and Intelsat Chief Executive David McGlade said March 18 that "to date we have not seen any material impacts from the recession." Intelsat's results follow the equally upbeat year-end financial statements of competitors SES of Luxembourg, Eutelsat of Paris and Telesat of Canada. These four companies account for around 75 percent of the annual revenue of the global commercial fixed satellite services industry. All reported higher sales, healthy satellite fill rates and continued strong backlog. Intelsat said its backlog as of Dec. 31 was $8.8 billion. (3/21)
Loral Has Right to Nix Sale of Telesat Canada's Telstar Satellites (Source: Space News)
Loral Space and Communications has the right to veto Telesat Canada's possible sale of its Telstar 10 and Telstar 18 satellites because of the likely adverse tax consequences on Loral if the sale occurs before November 2012. Ottawa-based Telesat in late 2008 received a $200 million offer from an undisclosed buyer for the satellites. Telesat is under pressure to decide in the coming months whether to accept it because a decision on whether to replace the aging Telstar 10 spacecraft must be made this year. (3/21)
NASA's Multi-Robot Planetary Exploration Plans (Source: Space.com)
Multi-robot planetary exploration would be a complex affair, with humans working with a diverse team of mobile robots operating in a variety of control modes. Aurora Flight Sciences, MIT's Manned Vehicle Laboratory (MVL), and MIT Humans and Automation Laboratory (HAL) have just won a NASA Small-Business Technology Transfer Research proposal to develop a software system that performs command and control. "Aurora sees this as an opportunity to expand its multi-vehicle coordination capabilities into the realm of planetary exploration. We view this project as a natural integration of our expertise in space systems and in tools for planning and coordinating autonomous teams,' said Dr. James Paduano, Autonomy Controls and Estimation Group Lead. (3/21)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
