January 16, 2020

Florida’s Military and Defense Industry Provides $95 Billion Economic Impact (Source: Enterprise Florida)
Florida’s military and defense industry has a $95 billion economic impact. The study is commissioned by Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) and the Florida Defense Support Task Force (FDSTF). The results mark a $10 billion increase from the 2017 study, making military and defense one of the state’s top economic drivers. The defense sector also provides 914,787 jobs in Florida, an increase of 113,040 jobs during the past two years.

“The results of this study demonstrate that maintaining and protecting military bases and industry in Florida is a win-win for both Florida and the United States,” said Governor DeSantis. “Florida offers unmatched conditions for training air and sea forces with access to some of the highest quality test and training ranges in the country. Florida’s military and defense industry has never been more vital to the economic success of our state.”

Other major results of the study demonstrate that, by region, the defense sector has the greatest impact on Northwest Florida, where one-third of the regional economy comes from military spending. Additionally, defense manufacturing has nearly doubled since 2015 with the aerospace and engineering sectors centered in Brevard and Orange Counties leading the way. Finally, Florida boasts the second largest military retiree population and the third largest veteran population of all 50 states. Florida also receives the fourth largest sum of defense contracts among all states and ranks fifth in the country in the number of military personnel. (1/16)

Astronaut Stars in Olay's Super Bowl Ad to 'Make Space for Women' (Source: CollectSpace)
A former NASA astronaut is starring in a Super Bowl ad to help "make space for women." Nicole Stott, who logged more than 100 days on three flights to the International Space Station, is set to appear in Olay's 30-second Big Game spot to promote the skin care company's partnership with the nonprofit organization Girls Who Code.

"On a mission to #MakeSpaceForWomen," wrote Stott on Facebook. "Thanks to Olay for encouraging and supporting young women in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics]." The campaign aims to increase the number of women in science and technology fields, including computer science, to close the gender gap that exists today. For every post on Twitter that includes the hashtag #MakeSpaceForWomen through the day after Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 2), Olay will donate $1 (up to $500,000) to Girls Who Code. (1/16)

Moonstruck: Japanese Billionaire's Girlfriend Entrants Top 20,000 (Source: Reuters)
Applications to become Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa's girlfriend have topped 20,000, streaming service AbemaTV said on Thursday, ahead of its documentary on his search for a "life partner" to take on his moon voyage. Maezawa, who will be the first private passenger on Elon Musk's SpaceX, has already generated huge social media buzz with a $9 million giveaway to his followers that secured his position as Japan's foremost Twitter celebrity.

The show's application site now includes a "love diagnostic test" where potential entrants can test their compatibility with the entrepreneur, who sold his online fashion business Zozo Inc to SoftBank Group Corp last year. Multiple-choice questions include "If you rode in a private jet where would you go?" and "If Maezawa farted in front of you what would you say?", with users presented with a photo of the billionaire varying from happy to sad depending on their score. (1/16)

Launch Schedule: Upcoming Florida Rocket Launches and Landings (Source: Florida Today)
Florida's Space Coast is slated to see high-profile launches this year, including the first uncrewed and crewed demonstration flights spearheaded by SpaceX and Boeing. Several commercial launches are expected, too. Click here. (1/16)

Helmet Trouble Strikes 2nd All-Female Spacewalk (Source: AP)
Spacewalking astronauts had to make do with fewer lights and camera views from one helmet Wednesday while performing critical battery work outside the International Space Station. It was the second pairing of NASA’s Jessica Meir and Christina Koch outside the orbiting lab. Last October, they teamed up for the world’s first all-female spacewalk.

The women were just getting started on battery replacements when Koch’s camera and light unit came loose and they couldn’t get it back on her helmet. Mission Control told them to just take it off, rather than waste any more time, and continue the spacewalk. “Just be careful,” Mission Control urged Koch. “You’re missing that additional protection.” Koch later assured flight controllers that she had enough good light. The astronauts ended up completing all their tasks and even jumped ahead, putting two new batteries in and pulling four old ones out. The spacewalk lasted 7 1/2 hours. (1/15)

What is the Significance of Space Force on Florida Launches? (Source: Florida Today)
In this excerpt from FLORIDA TODAY's Eye on Brevard, space reporter Emre Kelly explains that not much has changed with the changed with new military branch. Click here. (1/15)

This Year May Finally Fulfill the Promise of Private Human Spaceflight (Source: Ars Technica)
This year could see the fulfillment of a number of long-promised achievements in human spaceflight. For the first time, private companies could launch humans into orbit in 2020, and two different companies could send paying tourists on suborbital missions. The aerospace community has been watching and waiting for these milestones for years, but 2020 is probably the year for both.

We may also see a number of new rocket debuts this year, both big and small. A record number of missions—four—are also due to launch to Mars from four different space agencies. That's just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting year; here's a look at what we're most eagerly anticipating in the coming 11.5 months. Click here. (1/15)

Potential Super-Earth Found Orbiting the Nearest Star From Our Sun (Source: CNN)
In 2016, astronomers found a potentially habitable planet called Proxima b around the star Proxima Centauri, which is only 4.2 light-years from Earth. Now, researchers have traced a second signal they believe belongs to a super-Earth orbiting the same star, increasing the intrigue of this neighboring planetary system and its potential. (1/16)

Collins Aerospace Gets $320M Contract to Build Orion Spacecraft Equipment (Source: Hartford Business Journal)
Windsor Locks manufacturer Collins Aerospace will provide equipment for NASA’s Orion spacecraft fleet under a new $320 million contract with Maryland-based defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin. As part of the deal, Collins, a division of Farmington-based United Technologies Corp., will make equipment for spacecraft meant to bring humans to the moon by 2024, and establish a sustained presence on the moon to prepare for missions to Mars, according to Collins. (1/15)

World's First City Discovered by U.S. Spy Satellite (Source: MSN)
Since humankind first went into space, we've had the ability to look down on the marvels of our civilization. Now, thanks to space technology, we are also able to look at our past to better understand how the dynamic life on our planet has influenced the rise of our species. Old U.S. spy satellite images of the Middle East have unearthed a stunning discovery: the world’s first city, Tell Brak – 4,000 years older than the Great Pyramids. Join us as we travel back 300,000 years to Africa's equatorial zone where Homo sapiens first walked Earth. Click here. (1/12)

NASA Rings In Busy New Year in Florida to Prepare for Artemis Missions (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will have a busy year preparing facilities, ground support equipment and space hardware for the launch of Artemis I, the first uncrewed launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft. In 2020, Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) activities will ramp up as launch hardware arrives and teams put systems in place for Artemis I and II missions.

Launch countdown simulations will continue to ramp up in 2020 to train and certify the launch control team for Artemis missions. The types of simulations will build on one another and will walk through the final portions of the launch countdown sequence, called the terminal countdown. Integrated simulations will tie in all NASA centers working the mission to ensure all members of the team are ready to work together, including Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston, and the SLS Engineering Support Center at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. Simulations will begin at the end of January and will occur up through one week before launch, with an average of one training exercise each month. (1/15)

Boeing Starliner returns to Kennedy Space Center (Source: WESH)
Boeing’s Starliner spaceship, back at the Kennedy Space Center after a troubled first flight, is getting a workover meant to put it back in space as soon as possible. The Starliner, though battle scarred, may fly again this year. The spaceship is charred from its return to Earth in December. Newly released onboard views show a simulated astronaut lit up by the fireworks from the 3,000 degree entry into the atmosphere just before landing. The landing came only two days after liftoff; the mission cut short because the capsule’s timer was off, and its thrusters used up their fuel too soon.

Boeing engineers are beginning a thorough review of the flight. They’ll go so far as removing the ship’s outer skin. They’re hoping to confirm that there’s little to fix before the ship is qualified to fly real astronauts. It’s slated for a mission toward the end of the calendar year. It’s the second planned Boeing astronaut flight, meaning the first would have to come in the next few months. Boeing hopes the timing problem will be resolved quickly, and that they will be able to fly astronauts soon. (1/15)

NASA Pays Tribute, Says Goodbye to One of Agency’s Great Observatories (Source: NASA)
NASA will host a live program at 1 p.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 22, to celebrate the far-reaching legacy of the agency’s Spitzer Space Telescope – a mission that, after 16 years of amazing discoveries, soon will come to an end. The event will air live on NASA Television, Facebook Live, Ustream, YouTube, Twitter and the agency's website. Experts on the program will include NASA’s Director of Astrophysics Paul Hertz and, from the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Spitzer Project Scientist Mike Werner, astrophysicist Farisa Morales, current Mission Manager Joseph Hunt, and former Mission Manager Suzanne Dodd. (1/15)

Space Coast Groups Focus Again on Aerospace Workforce Development (Source: CareerSource Brevard)
CareerSource Brevard, Space Florida, FloridaMakes and the EDC of Florida’s Space Coast are collaborating to advance the region's Aerospace Industry Workforce Development with customized solutions. They have agreed to: define effective career pathways to drive the talent we need; develop the funding and the training programs to build and retain that talent; and drive the talent pipe to the industry by creating a strategic communications and outreach plan.
 
They invite industry stakeholders to register for the next Aerospace Workforce Workshop to be held on January 30th, 2020. Click here. (1/15) 

Leonardo to Open Support Center in Northwest Florida (Source: Santa Rosa Economic Development)
Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., will soon build a comprehensive support center at the Whiting Aviation Park in Santa Rosa County after being awarded a contract to replace the navy's fleet of aging training helicopters at NAS Whiting Field. "This facility will not only create jobs for county residents but will also improve the efficiency of NAS Whiting Field. This just goes to show what vision, passion and focus will accomplish.”

William Hunt, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters Philadelphia, went on to say, “Our plan since day one has been to offer the US Navy the training capabilities they asked for, without compromise. We are honored to deliver on that promise, build the new fleet in Philadelphia and maintain it from Milton, Florida.” In partnership with the Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office and Space Florida, an aerospace economic development agency, Leonardo will construct a 100,000 square foot support center that will employ 40 to 50 new employees adding to the area’s robust aviation industry. (1/15)