June 12 News Items

Kazakh Aerospace Agency Considering Commercial Tours to Baikonur (Source: Itar-Tass)
The director of Kazakhstan's National Aerospace Agency wants to launch commercial tourism to the Baikonur Space Center -- one of the world's most important space facilities, which is leased by Russia. He said the issue will be discussed with the Russian Space Agency. Mussabayev admitted, however, there are certain problems with visiting Baikonur by regular Kazakhstanis and foreigners likewise. In the first place, all installations there are covered by special security procedures and controlled by security services.

Leadership Assignments Strengthen Spacehab for Future (Source: Spacehab)
Spacehab announced the appointments of James Royston to the position of Spacehab President; Michael Bowker as Chief Operating Officer; Roscoe Moore as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic and Technical Officer; and, Brian Harris as Vice President, Business Development.

Mysterious Signal Hints at Subsurface Ocean on Titan (Source: New Scientist)
The Huygen probe's tentative detection of low frequency radio waves on Saturn's icy moon, Titan, could signal an underground ocean of liquid water, a new study says. If so, it would be good news for the possibility of life beneath the surface of this bizarre world. Titan's crust is thought to be made largely of water ice, kept rock hard by the prevailing surface temperature of -178° Celsius. But theoretical models of the moon's interior suggest that ammonia-rich water deep beneath the surface could stay liquid, perhaps forming a global ocean. Now, French scientists may have the first observational evidence of such an ocean.

Spacewalkers Install Truss, Mission Extended for Shuttle Repairs (Source: SpaceToday.net)
Two members of the STS-117 crew completed the first spacewalk of their mission on Monday, installing a new truss segment to the ISS, as mission managers decided to extend the mission and add an additional EVA to repair a torn thermal blanket on the shuttle. Astronauts hooked up the power, data, and cooling connections on the new truss segment and removed launch restraints so that the segment's radiators and solar panels can be deployed. The spacewalk was the first of three originally scheduled for the mission, but NASA shuttle managers decided to add a fourth EVA to allow astronauts to put a torn thermal blanket on the aft section of the shuttle Atlantis back into position. While officials didn't believe the torn blanket was a safety risk to the crew, they were concerned about damage to that section of the orbiter during reentry if left exposed.

TGV Touts Rocket Tests (Source: MSNBC)
Oklahoma-based TGV Rockets announced a milestone in its rocket development program today, saying that it "has successfully completed critical test firings of a technologically advanced throttleable rocket engine that the company believes will one day be able to facilitate the shuttling of equipment and sensor payloads on quick turnaround suborbital missions for the military and to help dramatically reduce the cost of geospatial imagery." The rocket tests, conducted over the past couple of months at NASA's Stennis Space Center, bring the company closer to its goal of replacing a "multibillion-dollar imaging satellite with a $10 million-class rocket ship." Further testing is under way, under the aegis of a larger space vehicle development program funded through the Naval Research Laboratory, TGV said.

Group Sponsors Exporting Workshops for Central Florida Aerospace Business (Source: SCWTC)
The Space Coast World Trade Council and Small Business Development Center of Brevard Community College will sponsor two programs focusing on exporting from the Space Coast. On June 22nd a luncheon will be held at Melbourne International Airport from 11:30 AM to 1 PM on "How to Export" featuring Enterprise Florida's renowned Misty Kane, and expert on trade missions and opportunities overseas. On July 20th an "AES Certification Workshop" with instructors from the US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division will offer two three hour sessions to choose from at BCC - Palm Bay Campus. Call Bonnie Cantillon at 321-724-5769 for details and information or email at bcantillon@bellsouth.net.

Russians Plan to Send Space Vehicles to Venus, Jupiter (Source: Itar-Tass)
After the mission to Mars's satellite Phobos, Russian scientists plan to send robotic expeditions to Venus and Jupiter. A meeting will be held in the near future to discuss uniting of the European and Russian Venus research programs, he said adding that the joint program would envisage creation of a station on Venus. The mission will consist of three parts. Russia will make a descending capsule that must "live" on the Venus surface for more than an hour. Besides, a balloon will be flown over the planet to study the atmosphere, and an orbital vehicle will be launched to study the plasma surrounding and clouds around Venus. Specialists from ESA and Roskosmos had a conference last April to discuss also an expedition to Jupiter. "We did not fly there before, and so it is very interesting for us together with Europe to organize a mission to Jupiter and its satellite Europe."

Two Senior Departures at NASA Headquarters (Source: SpaceRef.com)
NASA's Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs, Brian Chase (a former staffer for Florida Congressman Dave Weldon), will be leaving the agency soon to go run the Dallas office of Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). In addition, longtime NASA Headquarters Deputy Chief of Staff and White House Liaison J. T. Jezierski will be leaving NASA soon to go work for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.