May 14 News Items

Industry Leaders Call on Congress to Boost NASA Budget (Source: NASA Watch)
An unprecedented coalition of nearly two dozen U.S. aerospace corporations told the Congress on May 11 that NASA is in urgent need of a boost to its fiscal year 2008 budget or America's space leadership could be lost for a generation. The group, which includes the chairmen, presidents and chief executives of such industry giants as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, asked the Congress to support an increase to NASA's FY08 budget of $1.4 billion. The budget is currently under review on Capitol Hill.

China Launches Satellite for Nigeria (Source: SpaceToday.net)
China launched a communications satellite it built for Nigeria early Monday. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang spaceport and placed the Nigcomsat-1 spacecraft into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The spacecraft, to be located at 42 degrees east in GEO, will be used by the Nigerian government to provide telecommunications services for its citizens and those in neighboring countries. The satellite was built and launched by China in a package deal with $311 million that also includes the construction of two ground stations and training for Nigerian personnel to operate the spacecraft.

New Mexico Spaceport Leader Keeps His Eyes Upturned (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
Rick Homans spent a great deal of time in Doña Ana County during the lead-up to the recent spaceport tax vote. His appointment to the Spaceport Authority makes him even more of a presence in the region. For the next two years — maybe less, maybe more — the responsibility of getting the spaceport off the ground will fall squarely on his shoulders. With the responsibility comes great risk. But what if all does not go well with the spaceport? "I embrace the risk," Homans said. "...if you're cautious about everything, if you're always afraid to make a decision, then you'll never succeed at the project."

Homans asked for the job after passage of the spaceport tax, around the same time he decided against running for Congress in 2008. Homans hopes to find someone with aerospace experience to replace him, possibly before the spaceport opens or soon afterwards. After that, Homans said he'll return to the private sector but hasn't completely ruled out a run for office somewhere down the road.