September 4 News Items

Spaceport America: First Looks at a New Mexico Space Terminal (Source: Space.com)
Architectural and engineering teams have begun shaping the look and feel of New Mexico's Spaceport America, taking the wraps off new images that showcase the curb appeal of the sprawling main terminal and hangar at the futuristic facility. Last month, a team of U.S. and British architects and designers had been recommended for award to design the primary terminal and hangar facility at Spaceport America - structures that symbolize the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. Visit http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/070904_virgingalactic_spaceport.html to view artist renderings of the proposed spaceport terminal.

Editorial: Presidential Candidates Showing No Interest in Moon Program (Source: Florida Today)
The pieces are slowly falling into place at Kennedy Space Center for the new Ares rocket and manned Orion spacecraft that will replace the shuttle fleet. Developing the Orion and its launcher is exceedingly difficult, but it's nothing compared to NASA's moon program getting attention from the presidential candidates, one of whom could decide its fate upon entering the White House. Simply put, none of them gives a hoot.

The Web sites of the top contenders -- Democrats Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, and Republicans Rudy Guiliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain -- shows a long list of detailed positions on many issues, but nothing on space. Romney never even mentioned the subject during a recent campaign stop at the Space Coast Tiger Bay Club until asked by someone in the audience. It's time for the White House wannabes to recognize the program's importance for vital domestic and national security reasons.

Registration for National Rocketry Challenge (Source: AIA)
Registration for the Team America Rocketry Challenge 2008, a national model rocket competition for U.S. students in grades 7 through 12, opened on Sep. 5. Thousands of students compete each year in the world’s largest model rocket contest. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers. Teams of three to 15 students design, build and fly a model rocket to carry two raw eggs for a precise flight duration of 45 seconds and to an exact altitude of 750 feet. The team whose rocket comes the closest to both, and brings the eggs back unbroken, wins. To be eligible for the national fly-off, teams must fly a qualifying flight observed by an adult member of the National Association of Rocketry. The top-scoring 100 teams in the country will be invited to participate in the final fly-off to be held in May 2008. Registration closes on Nov. 30, or when 750 teams have registered -- whichever comes first. For more information, visit http://www.rocketcontest.org/.

Arianespace Wins Deal to Launch 24 Globalstar Satellites in 2009 (Source: Thomson Financial)
Arianespace has been selected to launch Globalstar Inc's second generation constellation of telecommunications satellites, comprising 24 satellites, in 2009. The satellites will be put into orbit using Russian Soyuz rockets from Arianespace's base in French Guyana. Globalstar Inc's first generation satellites, providing telephone communication and data transmission services to companies, government agencies and private individuals were launched in 1999 from Baikonur by Arianespace's Russian affiliate.