Tiniest Monster Black Hole Discovered
(Source: Space.com)
The smallest supermassive black hole ever identified is gobbling
material at rates similar to its larger cousins, providing insights
into how these behemoths evolve. Located at the heart of a dwarf galaxy
known as RGG 118, the black hole contains about 50,000 times more mass
than the sun. It's therefore less than half as heavy as the
second-smallest known supermassive black hole, researchers said. (8/14)
Citizens in Space Announces Payload
Manifest for First Space Mission (Source: Reuters)
Citizens in Space, a project of the United States Rocket Academy, has
announced a list of 10 experiments selected for its first research
mission on the XCOR Aerospace Lynx spacecraft. The experiments will be
carried aboard the Lynx Cub Payload Carrier, an open-source payload
carrier developed for the Lynx spacecraft by Citizens in Space.
Experiments will be controlled in flight by a Citizens in Space
science-mission-specialist astronaut. The experiments cover a wide
range of subjects from microgravity crystallization to plant growth,
antimicrobial materials for space habitats, and the interaction of
water with lunar surface materials. Editor's Note:
Five of the 10 experiments selected are being developed by Florida
organizations. Click here.
(8/12)
Space Tourism: Star Wars-Themed Land
Coming to Walt Disney World in Florida (Source: Theme Park
Review)
Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced that Star
Wars-themed lands will be coming to Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif.,
and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando,
Florida., allowing Star Wars fans to step into the stories from a
galaxy far, far away.
Ambitious plans to bring Star Wars to life in the two parks include
creating Disney’s largest single themed land expansions ever at 14
acres each, transporting guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote
trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star
Wars characters and their stories come to life.
These authentic lands will have two signature attractions. Along with
the thrilling battle experience, another attraction puts guests behind
the controls of one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy, the
Millennium Falcon, as they take on a customized secret mission. (8/15)
DARPA's XS-1 Spacecraft Could Hit
Speeds of Mach 10 (Source: Fox News)
The XS-1 is airplane-like space vehicle that can fly to space and
rapidly launch small satellites, space weapons, and more into orbit at
the edge of Earth's atmosphere. This space plane can then return, land,
get refueled, and take onboard another delivery, before it blasts off
again. The idea is that this craft would be a game-changer allowing the
U.S. to travel to space and then return to Earth and fly again within
24 hours.
In just a few short years, the XS-1 it may make it possible for one
single aircraft to take ten return trips to space over the course of
ten days. The quest to achieve a small, reusable robotics-flown space
plane is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) XS-1
program or Experimental Spaceplane 1. The hope is that it will blast
off on its first mission in a few years. The Agency has chosen three
companies — Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Masten Space Systems — to
move forward and continue in competition to become the XS-1 producer.'
(8/14)
Bang for the Buck (Source:
SpaceKSC)
NASA has delayed its selection of new commercial cargo contractors,
which was supposed to happen in August or September. The incumbents,
SpaceX and Orbital ATK, presumably submitted bids. Boeing has proposed
a cargo version of its CST-100 commercial crew capsule. Lockheed Martin
has proposed the Jupiter, described as a “reusable space servicing
vehicle.” Sierra Nevada has long touted its Dream Chaser spaceplane as
a versatile robotic craft for transporting crew or cargo.
The House of Representatives is in recess for the month of August. It
will be interesting to see if Rep. Smith calls an investigative hearing
when he returns from vacation to further his accusations in an attempt
to pressure NASA into selecting a vendor other than SpaceX. Click here.
(8/14)
How to Acquire an Intern (Source:
SCTC)
On August 27th, at the SCTC Morning TechTalk, our Education Committee
will be hosting a panel to discuss some of the existing internship
programs available through our local educational institutions and other
partners. Click here.
(8/13)
Swanson Leaving NASA Astronaut Corps
(Source: SpaceFlight Insider)
NASA is poised to lose another member of the U.S. space agency's
Astronaut Corps. Experienced space flight veterans Stephen Antonelli,
Mike Foreman and Stephen Frick ended their time with the agency in a
roughly one-week time frame last month. Now, three-time shuttle veteran
Steven Swanson joins them, becoming one among many who have opted to
leave the agency in the post-shuttle era. (8/14)
World Trade Center Beam Makes Solemn
Journey to KSC (Source: Florida Today)
Firefighters and onlookers bowed their heads in prayer Friday afternoon
before a piece of a World Trade Center beam entered Kennedy Space
Center for installation at a fire station’s 9/11 memorial. Pastor
Russell Frahm of Faith Lutheran Church on Merritt Island said 343
firefighters killed when the Twin Towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001,
had responded to a crisis out of love for God, families, country and
even strangers. (8/14)
NASA Awards Grants for Tech That Could
Transform Space Exploration (Source: NASA)
NASA has selected eight university-led proposals to study innovative,
early stage technologies that will address high-priority needs of
America's space program. The selected proposals for unique, disruptive
or transformational space technologies will investigate challenges in
the areas of solar cell operations at high temperatures, atmospheric
entry model development, synthetic biology applications for space
exploration and dynamic tensegrity-based space structures. Click here.
(8/14)
Gecko Feet Inspire Climbing Space
Robots (Source: Space.com)
NASA robots may climb the walls of the Space Station one day using
grippers inspired by the super-adhesive feet of geckoes. Scientists at
the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are developing a "gecko gripper"
system that could help robots inspect and repair the space station's
exterior, and perhaps conduct a wide range of activities in Earth
orbit. NASA released a video describing the gecko space robot concept
Wednesday. Click here.
(8/13)
Why Water Worlds Won't Host Life
(Source: Science)
Although ocean worlds are swimming in what is thought to be a key
ingredient for life—water—their lack of land may limit how much of it
they can host. Water covering the surface interacts with carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere in ways that can turn chilly planets frigid and make
warm ones even hotter. Click here.
(8/14)
Virgin Galactic CFO Departs After 18
Months (Source: Parabolic Arc)
Virgin Galactic’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is departing after
about 18 months on the job to serve as CFO at Tremor Video, Inc., a
premium video marketplace elevating brand advertising effectiveness
across all screens. Rego was named Virgin Galactic CFO in February
2014. He replaced Ken Sunshine, who joined the company as CFO in July
2011. (8/14)
Roscosmos Compensated for Progress Loss
(Source: Parabolic Arc)
Roscosmos has received 1.9 billion rubles [$29.8 million] in insurance
compensation from Sogas and Ingosstrakh due to the destruction of
Progress spacecraft. Sogaz and Ingosstrakh insurance companies have
fully compensated for the damage caused by the emergency launch of
Progress M-27M cargo transport spacecraft on April 28, 2015, from
Baikonur Cosmodrome. (8/14)
Cygnus Arrives at Cape Canaveral
Spaceport (Source: Parabolic Arc)
A pressurized cargo module that soon will take four tons of materials
and supplies to the International Space Station began the intensive
processing for launch when it arrived Monday at NASA’s Kennedy Space
Center in Florida. The Cygnus spacecraft – developed and produced by
Orbital ATK – will be assembled at Kennedy and launched for the first
time in December on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. (8/14)
XCOR Signs Agreements with DLR,
ESA-ESTEC (Source: Parabolic Arc)
XCOR signed an agreement with Germany's DLR Institute for Aerospace
Medicine for a medical screening protocol for XCOR’s future astronauts.
The protocol establishes a standard internationally valid procedure for
flight participants in the XCOR Lynx space vehicle. It is based on the
experience of humans in space so far as collected by the institute as
it is also responsible for the medical screening of ESA’s professional
astronauts.
XCOR also agreed with ESA-ESTEC, the Royal Dutch Air Force, and Delft
University to develop, research, test, and demonstrate a new space
mission concept. The useful knowledge acquired from this project will
contribute to research, aerospace development and education. This new
space travel development is proven to be strikingly more cost and time
efficient than traditional aerospace missions and launches. (8/14)
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