August 25 News Items

Raytheon, XM Bid to Transform U.S. Air Traffic Control (Source: AIA)
Raytheon and XM Satellite Radio Holdings are bidding together on a contract to overhaul the air traffic control system, transforming the current radar-based system into a modern and efficient satellite-based system. The FAA is expected to award the contract as early as next week. The deal could be worth more than $2 billion over the next 20 years. "This is a transformation of the air traffic control system," said an FAA spokesman. "We've made quantitative leaps over the years, from flags to bonfires to radars and now to satellites." Lockheed Martin and ITT are also bidding on the work.

NASA Testing Drone to Monitor Wildfires (Source: AIA)
A Predator B aircraft flown remotely from a ground control station at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California has begun flights over the West. The craft will test technology for real-time thermal imaging and mapping of wildfires, with data transmitted as a Google Earth overlay.

Globe Wireless Completes Acquisition (Source: Globe)
Florida-based Globe Wireless has completed the acquisition of competitors SeaWave & Rydex. Globe Wireless, a provider of satellite communication systems and services for ships, will provide services to more than 8,000 ships and more than 500 ship operators. The company plans to add 15 employees at its Brevard County headquarters in the next three months. The new workers will be a mix of new hires and employees from SeaWave & Rydex.

CLS Expanding Marine Comm Products (Source: CLS America)
CLS America Inc. is developing a new Iridium-based Fisheries Vessel Management System (VMS). The company will deploy prototypes in September and will begin certification process and field trials with NOAA soon. CLS America has an office at Cape Canaveral and will ultimately market the product in Florida. CLS America has been involved in providing satellite-based tracking and monitoring products and services to the maritime and fishing communities for over 20 years.

Computer Sciences Raytheon Wins $816.17 Million Air Force Range Contract (Source: Florida Today)
Computer Sciences Raytheon has been awarded an $816.17 million contract to provide Eastern Range Technical Services, including operations, maintenance and long-term critical range and launch processing systems that support the launch processing mission of the 45th Space Wing and its launch customers at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The scope of this work will include all critical range systems and associated support systems, the Defense Department said. Services include downrange facilities support, base and range local area network/metropolitan area network and other technical systems support required for successful range mission accomplishment.

NASA Finds Cracks in Tank Awaiting Mission (Source: Houston Chronicle)
Hidden cracks in the foam insulation on the space shuttle Endeavour's fuel tank were the most likely cause of the debris that struck the space vehicle during liftoff, leaving a worrisome gouge the heat shielding. Cracks were found in X-rays of the insulation of an external tank assigned to the next shuttle mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 23. The cause of the cracking is still under investigation, but Wayne Hale , NASA's shuttle program manager, said it appears to be linked to the initial application process.

For future flights, the space agency will remove the source of the breakaway foam from five brackets that hold a 70-foot liquid oxygen propellant line to the outside of the tank. The procedure can be completed without delaying a late October launch of the shuttle Discovery, officials said. Left uncertain was how the space agency would address the safety threat to future mission as it attempts to finish the assembly of the space station by 2010.

Editorial: Plan to Use Spy Satellites for Domestic Purposes Needs to be Carefully Managed (Source: Washington Post)
Intelligence satellites have been used domestically for years on an ad hoc basis -- for example, to assess damage after a natural disaster, to help with security at major events or for scientific studies. The FBI called in spy satellite help when tracking the Washington area snipers. Now, the Bush administration is forming a unit within the Department of Homeland Security to enable more routine domestic use of satellite imagery -- for purposes such as protecting the borders and helping local law enforcement. The administration's plan makes sense. But it is essential that these capabilities be used carefully, with due regard for Americans' privacy concerns and with careful monitoring, including congressional oversight.

Northrop Grumman Completes Acquisition of Scaled Composites (Source: Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman has completed a transaction that increases its ownership in Scaled Composites from approximately 40 percent to 100 percent. Scaled Composites is an aerospace and specialty composites development company located in Mojave, Calif., with broad experience in vehicle design, tooling, and manufacturing; specialty composite structure design, analysis and fabrication; and developmental flight test.

NASA to Fix Foam; Launch Still Set for Oct. 23 (Source: Florida Today)
NASA is going to remove and replace cracked foam covers on the external tank for shuttle Discovery's upcoming mission to the International Space Station, but launch remains scheduled for Oct. 23. The extra work, however, will push back preparations for the planned Dec. 6 launch of Atlantis and a European science laboratory, making it less likely NASA will be able to send up that mission during a short seven-day window.

Magnetic Gravity Trick Grows Perfect Crystals (Source: NewScientist.com)
One of the few scientific success stories of the International Space Station has been its use to grow large, pure crystals in microgravity (see Space station unlocks new world of crystals). Now scientists from the Netherlands and Japan have shown that a strong magnetic field can mimic the effects of microgravity when growing protein crystals. The new Earth-bound technique could provide a cheaper and easier way to produce crystals of the same quality as those grown aboard the ISS.

“Forging the Future of Space Science” Seminar Series Includes Tallahassee Event (Source: National Academies)
The Space Studies Board (SSB) of the National Research Council will kick off a yearlong series of public lectures and colloquia in cities across the country and abroad. “Forging the Future of Space Science – The Next 50 Years” will celebrate the spectacular achievements of space and earth science, examine new discoveries in both fields, and look ahead at what the next 50 years may bring.

Each regional event involves an afternoon panel discussion with local scientists and the public, followed by an evening lecture by a distinguished space scientist. Topics include understanding the universe, global climate change, the cosmic origins of life, scientific exploration of the Moon and Mars, and the research and technology needed to support human spaceflight. These events are free and open to the public.

A Tallahassee-based event is planned on Jan. 16 at the Challenger Learning Center. The topic will be "The International Space Station as a Laboratory and Testbed" and NASA Astronaut Carl Walz will be the featured lecturer. Visit http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=08162007 for information.