August 13 News Items

United Launch Alliance to Wade in on COTS (Source: Flight International)
NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Demonstrations (COTS) phase one competitors, Rocketplane-Kistler (RpK) and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), could be facing competition from the Boeing, Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA). COTS phase two will see the competitive procurement of International Space Station resupply services, but COTS phase one companies are not automatically selected. NASA's RFI defines ISS cargo delivery and return, or disposal, missions as involving payloads of up to 3,000kg (6,600lb) of pressurised or unpressurised cargo, starting in the fourth quarter of 2010. "Our team will examine the requirements thoroughly, consider all company options and respond appropriately by the 7 September deadline," says ULA.

Machinists Union Sues NASA for Misconduct in KSC Negotiations (Source: IAM)
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) filed suit against NASA for interfering in the
negotiations for a new contract for almost 500 workers represented by IAM who are on strike against United Space Alliance (USA). The suit alleges that NASA violated its duty under the Service Contract Act and regulations implementing that act by telling USA that it would not reimburse USA for any increased labor costs in a new agreement with the IAM.

Federal law requires NASA and other federal agencies to remain neutral in the collective bargaining process between federal contractors and the unions representing their employees. Federal agencies are also required to reimburse federal contractors for labor cost increases if they are the result of bona fide collective bargaining. Federal agencies have an explicit mechanism for protesting any increase they deem excessive by requesting a review by the Department of Labor, which NASA tried to circumvent by direct intervention in negotiations.

India Plans to Launch Reusable Rocket by 2010 (Source: DNAIndia.com)
India plans to launch a reusable rocket for the first time by 2010, says its space agency chief. "Our target (for the first launch) is before 2010," Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G Madhavan Nair, said. The space scientists have already designed a "demonstrator" to measure parameters of the vehicle and further work is in progress. A facility to study aspects of aerodynamics and related matters pertaining to the reusable launch vehicle is will be developed in Thiruvananthapuram.

A Renaissance for Space Solar Power? (Source: Space Review)
For nearly four decades, one concept has tantalized space professionals and enthusiasts alike: space solar power. The ability to collect solar power in space, continuously and in effectively limitless quantities, and then transmit that energy back to Earth, could radically reshape not only the space industry but also society in general. The demand for this energy, in turn, would create tremendous demand for launch and other space services, driving down costs that would, in turn, open other markets. “We think it’s now more technically feasible than ever before,” NASA's John Mankins said. “We think we have a path to knowing whether or not it’s economically feasible.” Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/931/1 to view the article.

Space: The Search for a Political Consensus (Source: Space Review)
For many of us President Bush’s silence in neither explaining nor defending his Vision for Space Exploration is not surprising. What propelled the Bush administration to set in motion the series of interlocking policy decisions that became known as the Vision—retirement of the Shuttle in 2010, redirection of ISS research, returning astronauts to the Moon and development of the capability to send humans to Mars—was neither interest in space nor a systematic review of federal science policy. It was the February 1, 2003 Columbia accident. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/933/1 to view the article.

SSTL to Develop Low Cost Lunar Orbiter for NASA (Source: SSTL)
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has been awarded a contract for the study phase of a potential joint US-UK lunar orbiter mission to be called Magnolia. This first phase of the contract will run for 9-months, culminating in a preliminary mission design. The contract includes a package of training by SSTL and the University of Surrey that will allow Mississippi State University (MSU) and NASA Stennis Space Center staff to benefit from the know-how accrued by SSTL over the last 25 years, across 27 small satellite missions.

China Develops Beidou Satellite Monitoring System (Source: Xinhua)
China has developed its Beidou satellite monitoring system for dangerous chemicals transportation. The system, which has passed experts review, provides all-day data of dangerous chemicals transportation to Beidou navigation satellite and gives corresponding operational order. Scores of sensors, equipped on every vehicle transporting dangerous chemicals, collect data and information of the vehicle as well as road condition. All the information are stored in a black box and transmitted to the satellite timely and corresponding operational signals are sent to the land control center. For example, when the traffic accident occurs to a vehicle, the land control center can call the police and give timely rescue after it gets orders from the satellite.

Shuttle May Get Repairs in Space (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
NASA may have to send astronauts on a spacewalk to mend a 3 1/2-inch gouge on shuttle Endeavour's belly that penetrates all the way through two heat-shield tiles that protect the orbiter. Images gathered by lasers and cameras on an extension to the shuttle's robotic arm confirmed Sunday that the divot went through the 1.12-inch thick tile, exposing some of the heat-resistant feltlike material below. That material, as well as the tile itself, is designed to protect the orbiter from burning up during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. A team will decide either today or Tuesday whether a repair spacewalk is needed, he said.

China Reveals Deadly Threat to Historic Space Flight (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
China's historic first manned space mission narrowly averted disaster when ground control lost contact with the returning space capsule, China revealed for the first time Monday, four years later. The communication blackout as the capsule re-entered the Earth's atmosphere threatened a safe landing by astronaut Yang Liwei and forced ground control to use backup systems.