Space Florida Board to Consider
Projects on Monday (Source: Space Florida)
The Space Florida board of directors will hold a public meeting at Walt
Disney World on Monday, where they will be asked to approve the
continuation and amendment of three major projects. The first involves
the approval of management negotiations for terms and conditions
related to the lease of Orbiter Processing Facility #3 (for Boeing's
CST-100 capsule) at Kennedy Space Center.
The second involves minor changes to Northrop Grumman's agreement with
nine state and local agencies to support the company's major aerospace
business expansion on the Space Coast. The third project involves
approval for $6 million in financing for a Commercial Crew competitor
and one of its component suppliers to purchase machinery and equipment
to support their program. Click here
for the meeting materials. (9/28)
Proton-M Returns to Flight with
Russian Military Launch (Source: ILS)
A Proton Breeze M launch vehicle successfully launched a satellite for
the Russian Federal Government today. The vehicle lifted off at 12:23
a.m. Moscow time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This was
the 5th launch of the Proton vehicle this year. The Proton vehicle is
manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center
of Moscow. This was the 398th Proton launch since its inaugural flight
in 1965. (9/27)
What is the Pentagon’s Secret Space
Drone Doing? (Source: New York Post)
For almost two years, an unmanned space plane bearing a remarkable
resemblance to NASA’s space shuttle has circled the Earth, performing a
top-secret mission. It’s called the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle — but
that’s pretty much all we know for certain. The Pentagon’s X-37B
Orbital Test Vehicle. Officially, the only role the Pentagon
acknowledges is that it’s used to conduct experiments on new
technologies. Theories about its mission have ranged from an orbiting
space bomber to an anti-satellite weapon.
The truth, however, is likely much more obvious: According to
intelligence experts and satellite watchers who have closely monitored
its orbit, the X-37B is being used to carry secret satellites and
classified sensors into space — a little-known role once played by
NASA’s new retired space shuttle. Its cargo bay, often compared to the
size of a pickup truck bed, is just big enough to carry a small
satellite. Once in orbit, the X-37B deploys a foldable solar array,
which is believed to power the sensors in its cargo bay.
For several years, the X-37B was developed in plain sight, with the
military saying it was just a test vehicle. But in 2009, the Air Force
suddenly said it was classified, and it went from being just another
technology project to an object of obsession for amateur satellite
spotters and aviation enthusiasts. On Dec. 11, 2012, the X-37B was
launched for a third time, and that vehicle has now spent over 600 days
in space. (9/26)
Snowdonia Fears Impact of UK Spaceport
Decision (Source: Guardian)
More than 800 families at a time can pitch their tents at Shell island,
Europe's biggest campsite, at the edge of the wild Rhinog mountains in
Snowdonia. But they could soon get more than tranquillity, fresh air
and massive sand dunes. The barely used Llanbedr airstrip that adjoins
the camp, near Harlech, is one of eight coastal locations identified by
the government as potential sites for Britain's first commercial
spaceport.
Should the old RAF site be picked to launch satellites and host wealthy
space tourists paying £120,000 or more for short, sub-orbital flights
65 miles above the Earth, the runway inside the national park would
have to be extended through the protected dunes, narrow lanes would
have to be widened, and giant fuel dumps, a terminal, hangars and
dozens of other facilities would need to be built. (9/27)
China Launches Another Secretive
Shijian-11 Mission (Source: NasaSpaceFlight.com)
The Chinese have orbited a new satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Center on Sunday. Utilizing their Long March 2C (Chang Zheng 2C)
launch vehicle, the mission involved another of the secretive
Shijian-11 (SJ-11) series of “experimental satellites”. Launch took
place at 05:13 UTC according to Chinese reports. This is the seventh in
a series of satellites that – according to the Chinese media – are only
known to be “experimental satellites” developed by the China Spacesat
Co. Ltd.
As with the previous Shijian-11 satellites, the true mission of Shijian
11-06 was not revealed by the Chinese authorities. However, some
observers noted that the Shijian-11 series could be related to a
constellation of operational early warning satellites, carrying
infrared sensors. ‘Shijian’ means ‘Practice’ and this series of
satellites have been used in a variety of configurations and missions
for scientific research and technological experiments. (9/28)
Cleveland State's Space Law Expert
Expands his Global Portfolio (Source: Crain's Cleveland Business)
Cleveland State’s resident space law expert — yes, there are laws in
space — will help out the U.S. delegation to the United Nations
committee on the peaceful uses of outer space. Mark J. Sundahl,
associate dean of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, was appointed
as industry adviser to the group and will attend its meetings in
Vienna.
The committee works on legal issues when it comes to the use of outer
space, and Sundahl will advise the delegation on how those legal
efforts will affect the operation and competitiveness of the United
States’ space industry. The biggest legal issue in space? Space junk,
Sundahl said. Think satellite debris and other man-made material
floating aimlessly through space that could pose a threat to anyone
doing business beyond Earth’s boundaries. (9/27)
Toronto Hosting International Space
Convention (Source: CP24)
Toronto will be the center of the universe next week. The city will
host the 65th International Astronautical Congress, a conference aimed
at helping companies in the space business. As well as looking at where
man has gone and may go in the future, the meeting will examine how the
discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence could affect society.
The Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute is hosting the week-long
event, which begins Monday with 3,000 participants from about 70
countries. "It's a great convening of the global space community,"
Geoff Languedoc, the institute's executive-director, said in an
interview. "We have brought the world of space to Canada." Besides
industry, the congress brings together academia and government
representatives from countries that include Russia, China, the United
States and Europe. Editor's
Note: It's about time the IAC was held in the U.S. again.
Orlando next year? (9/28)
SpaceX Begins Major Mods to LC-39A in
Leadup to First Falcon Heavy Flights (Source: Spaceflight
Insider)
SpaceX has begun making changes to historic Launch Complex 39A
(LC-39A), the site where Apollo 11, the first lunar landing mission,
and numerous other crewed flights got their start. These include many
Space Shuttle missions, including the very first flight of one of the
orbiters, STS-1 - with shuttle Columbia.
SpaceX initially stated that the heavy version of the Falcon 9 booster
would first be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
However, these plans have apparently changed as SpaceX now states that
the first launch of the Falcon Heavy will take place from LC-39A in
2015. SpaceX informed SpaceFlight Insider that the company and the
Space Agency have a system in place that details who is responsible for
historic items removed from the pad.
A key element required to launch the shuttles was the gaseous oxygen
vent arm with its "beanie cap." SpaceFlight Insider noted that this
historic piece of equipment had been removed and was lying at the base
of LC-39A. What will happen to this and other historic artifacts once
they are removed? Click here.
(9/28)
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