August 1 News Items

Alliant Techsystems Is Set For NASA Rocket Contract (Source: Wall Street Journal)
A team led by Alliant Techsystems, one of the big winners so far in the U.S. government's renewed manned space exploration efforts, is expected to sign a design and development contract for proposed Ares I solid-rocket boosters valued at more than $1.5 billion. Alliant's Launch Systems unit won the contract for the main stage of the next-generation heavy-lift civilian launcher months ago, and it is expected to become final in the next few days.

XM Satellite Pitches Homeland Security (Source: Forbes)
For Roderick MacKenzie, XM's vice president for advanced applications and services, the mission goes well beyond music. MacKenzie's job is to dream up new ways to use XM's two satellites and 800 terrestrial repeaters that boost the satellite signals on the ground. "We tend to think of our network as a national asset," says MacKenzie. MacKenzie's line is this: XM's system beats other technologies as a means of delivering vital information. Cellular falls short because its coverage is spotty in remote areas. By contrast, XM's satellites beam signal to the entire upper 48 states, including 100 miles off the coasts, and to densely populated parts of Canada.

But satellites working alone have trouble sending information into urban areas, because of the buildings and other obstructions. That where XM's 800 repeaters come in. Given XM's access to both urban and rural areas, MacKenzie sees applications for emergency response and safety. One example: XM already is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update the delivery system that distributes the presidential message following a serious disaster or crisis.

Embry-Riddle Offers New Scholarship for Civil Air Patrol Members (Source: ERAU)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) have agreed to partner on a scholarship program for active members and cadets of the CAP admitted to an Embry-Riddle "Worldwide Campus" degree program. The $500 scholarship opportunity applies only to new Embry-Riddle students admitted after June 30, 2007, and attending a Worldwide Campus or enrolling in a Worldwide Online degree program. For more information on the Embry-Riddle CAP scholarship, contact Dr. Thomas Cavanagh at mailto:thomas.cavanagh@erau.edu or 386-947-5287.

NASA KSC Workers Plead Guilty in Embezzlement Case (Source: Florida Today)
For the second time in a matter of days, a Kennedy Space Center worker has agreed to plead guilty to embezzling from NASA. Judith Lynna Frisbee of Titusville has admitted to defrauding the space agency out of $120,577 by falsifying records and inflating expense reports related to a space flight awareness program. Frisbee worked for spaceport contractor Space Gateway Support.

On Thursday, the plea agreement for another veteran space center employee who admitted to embezzling $157,394 from NASA was filed in federal court in Orlando. The court documents said Elizabeth Ann Osborne, 52, used her government credit card to make purchases for electronics, jewelry, clothes and other items for herself. Osborne resigned from her position with NASA in October. Part of her responsibilities were to assure compliance with credit card rules and policies established by NASA's procurement office.

NASA Up Against Clock in Scramble to Fix Endeavour's Problems (Source: AP)
With a launch countdown looming, NASA scrambled to fix a cabin leak and a bad thermostat aboard space shuttle Endeavour on Wednesday. The leak was traced overnight to one of two pressure-relief valves in Endeavour's crew cabin, located behind the toilet but separate from the bathroom plumbing. Engineers likely will replace the bad valve with one taken from Atlantis, but a firm decision has yet to be made. A problem with one of two thermostats for one of Endeavour's auxiliary power units also cropped up. Both thermostats will be replaced. These units generate power for the shuttle's crucial hydraulic systems. All this extra work can be completed in time for Endeavour's planned liftoff Tuesday, but it will be tight and anything else—like more thunderstorms or mechanical problems—could force NASA to delay the flight.

E'Prime Countersuit Filed (Source: ERAU)
E'Prime's new management, led by James Oldham, has filed a lawsuit in Tennessee to counter a Florida suit filed by the company's former President/CEO Bob Davis. The Tennessee legal action alleges a breach of contract by Mr. Davis and his wife, Betty Davis, who served as the company's Secretary/Treasurer. The suit claims that Davis made false representations with regard to the company's proposed launch vehicles and their compliance with START treaty requirements.

SEDS Sponsors Student Space Art Contest (Source: SEDS)
The Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) are looking for the next generation of space artists. This SEDS `Got Vision?` space art contest challenges students in High School and College to create realistic futuristic space art. There will be first prizes and runners up awarded in each category, as well as an overall grand prize. Finalists in each category will be given opportunities to display their masterpiece at the SEDS Space Vision conference in November, as well as in the SEDS gallery in the virtual realm of Second Life. Entries must be submitted by September 1. Visit http://art.seds.org/index.php for information.

Podcast Brings Space News to the Masses (Source: SpaceTaskForce)
A new, weekly space-themed podcast is now available from SpaceTaskForce on the web and via iTunes. Co-hosts George Schellenger and Tim Bailey check out the headlines and talk with the experts, news makers, and key people inside the aerospace industry. The SpaceTaskForce podcast is formatted as a casual discussion and investigation of space-related news between a journalist and a 'rocket scientist'.

Unlike existing space-themed shows, the SpaceTaskForce uses simple explanations for technical concepts and avoids confusing aerospace jargon. The show is appropriate for all ages and can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of education or technical literacy. Check out the first 12 episodes, including interviews from the International Space Development Conference, at http://www.SpaceTaskForce.com.

AIA: Focus on Education May Stem Looming Workforce Crisis (Source: AIA)
There aren't enough students studying technology subjects to address the looming work force shortage, according to AIA President and CEO John Douglass. Congressional -- and industry -- support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics educational programs, collectively known as STEM, will help motivate students to pursue careers in the aerospace industry.

NASA Sponsors Pre-Launch Education/Workforce Conference in Orlando (Source: NASA)
NASA and Kennedy Space Center are sponsoring an all-day STS-118 pre-launch education/workforce conference titled: "Innovative Strategies for Cultivating the STEM Workforce" on Aug. 6. This conference will include a wide variety of speakers from the STEM field and will provide an opportunity to network and connect with many NASA, academic and industry personnel. Companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Lockheed-Martin have confirmed representatives in attendance. The conference will be held at the International Plaza Resort and Spa in Orlando.

Virginia Has a Very Good Chance with SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch (Source: Spaceports Blog)
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is "best site in the world for space station missions" Elon Musk told listeners on Dr. David Livingston's Space Show. "It is simply a great spaceport for going to mid-inclination orbit," Musk said. "There is a very good chance that it makes sense to do those [ISS] missions from Virginia." Listen to the full audio of The Space Show from Thursday at http://archive.thespaceshow.com/shows/742-BWB-2007-07-26.mp3.

NASA Showing Patience as Rocketplane Kistler Chases Financing (Source: Space News)
Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) missed its end-of-July goal for completing financing of the K-1 reusable launcher, but the Oklahoma City-based company said it expects to present a "closure plan" to NASA by Aug. 3.

Editorial: Sunny Open House Can’t Melt Alaska Spaceport Snow Job (Source: Kodiak Daily Mirror)
My wife and I accepted the invitation to ride a free bus to the open house at the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC). The weather was beautiful, painting the bays a deep blue and the mountains a lush green. But when the TV screens in the bus came on and played a promotional DVD produced by the Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. about the KLC one could see the snow job we were heading into.

The video showed horses and buffalo cavorting among rocket launch towers while the sound track was the chirping and twitter of tropical birds. There was a lot of talk about the 1,000 children from 26 countries watching their little hand-polished mirrors blinking back at them from space after they had been transported there by a rocket launched (at taxpayers’ expense, of course) from the Kodiak spaceport (also known as Space Pork). There was no mention of the failure of the project as a commercial venture, as previously advertised to the tax paying public.

No mention that most launches were for the military (Missile Defense Agency) as part of the very controversial missile defense system. No mention that in all these years only one launch has taken place from the $10 million High Launch Service Structure that it is now undergoing a $4 million refurbishing job because of severe degradation from the rough environment and lack of proper maintenance. There also was no mention of the idiocy of building this expensive facility on an active geological fault. One can anticipate the jamming of all the high-tech rails and doors even in a moderate earthquake. And no mention of the near $100 million price tag for each military launch and the dismal success rate of these experiments.