Satellite Firms Win C-Band War (Source: Space News)
Satellite networks won continued priority access to C-band radio spectrum at a meeting of global regulators thanks to key backing from African and South American nations. In what satellite-fleet operators described as a precedent-setting victory, the four-week World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) rejected attempts by backers of terrestrial wireless broadband networks to be granted a global right to use spectrum between 3.4 and 4.2 gigahertz.
SeaLaunch Mission Delayed to Monday (Source: SeaLaunch)
Preparations continue for the launch of the Thuraya-3 mobile communications satellite for Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company, based in the United Arab Emirates. After a few days' delay due to high winds and strong ocean currents, SeaLaunch resumed our countdown, with liftoff now planned for Monday, Nov 19, at 7:33 PST. Sea Launch's Zenit-3SL rocket resumes operations with this flight, carrying the Boeing-built Thuraya-3 mobile communications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Once operational, this satellite will expand Thuraya's network coverage to include all key markets of the Asia Pacific region.
Russian Rocket Launches Communications Satellite (Source: SpaceToday.net)
A Proton rocket successfully launched a European communications satellite early Sunday in the Proton's first commercial flight since a September launch failure. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. The satellite will provide broadcast and broadband services across Europe. The launch was the first commercial Proton launch since the September launch of JCSAT 11, which ended in failure when the Proton's second stage failed to separate from the first stage. The Proton carried out a Russian government launch last month.
FAA to Florida: “Step Up!” (Source: ERAU)
The FAA’s Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Patti Grace Smith, told an audience at a recent KSC-based commercial space forum that the State of Florida should “Step Up!” its efforts to establish a competitive space transportation industry. Rather than rest on past accomplishments, Florida should compete aggressively with those other states developing new spaceports and space launch industry programs.
ATV Launch On Track Despite Leaks, Moisture Build-Up (Source: Space News)
Managers of the large European unmanned supply ship being readied for launch to the space station in late January said Nov. 15 they still meet that date despite the discovery of leaks in the vehicle's propulsion valves, water-moisture buildup in its optical-sensor system, and the presence of dust or other foreign material in its Russian-supplied docking system. Those problems were uncovered during tests of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) at the Guiana Space Center spaceport in French Guiana. ATV is a $1.9 billion program financed by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Future NASA Astronomy Budgets Expected to Mirror Inflation Rate (Source: Space News)
As astronomers gathered at the Space Telescope Science Institute here for talks about the big missions they would like to tackle from 2020 onward, NASA's astrophysics chief warned them not to get stars in their eyes as they envision future budgets. "I would encourage folks to think about the future optimistically, but we do have to live within realistic funding levels," Jon Morse, the director of NASA's astrophysics division, said.
Scholars: No Proof Chinese A-Sat Test A Threat to U.S. (Source: Space News)
In the latest volley in the ongoing debate over the meaning of China's anti-satellite test early this year, scholars from a pair of Washington think tanks said there is no conclusive evidence that the demonstration represents a growing threat to the U.S. Greg Kulacki and Jeffrey Lewis challenged assertions that the Jan. 11 test is part of a Chinese effort to counter U.S. military satellite capabilities. Kulacki, a senior analyst and China project manager in the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Lewis, director of the New America Foundation's Nuclear Strategy Initiative, based their findings on discussions with Chinese technical experts.
Nelson, Hutchison Press NASA to Find Ride for Station Project (Source: Space News)
Two U.S. lawmakers continue to press NASA to find a launch for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a bulky particle physics facility developed at a cost of more than $1 billion and designed to be attached to the international space station. NASA had planned to launch AMS on the space shuttle, but dropped the international payload from the manifest in order to concentrate on station construction and vital logistics. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) suggested that NASA make room for the AMS by taking supplies slated to fly in 2010 on one of the shuttle's final dedicated logistics runs and launch them aboard European or Japanese cargo vehicles instead.
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said the preferable approach, if Congress really wants the AMS to launch, is to buy a ride on an expendable rocket. He said NASA studied that possibility last year at the request of Congress and found that it could be done for about $350 million to $400 million, a cost that includes a rocket and the necessary modifications to the AMS. Gerstenmaier said the modification costs likely have since risen because additional work has been done on the AMS. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) said she would like NASA to find a way to deliver the AMS to the station, even if that means buying an expendable rocket launch for it.
AIA, U.S. Government Form Council for Space Cost Estimates (Source: Space News)
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the U.S. government will create a permanent council tasked with improving the fidelity of cost estimates on military space programs, AIA President and Chief Executive Marion Blakely announced. The Joint Government/Industry Space Cost Analysis and Estimating Improvement Council will officially form in 2008. Its goal is to bridge the gap between government and industry cost calculations that have caused planning and funding problems for years. The council will include participation from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Air Force, National Reconnaissance Office and Office of the Director of National Intelligence in conjunction with AIA member companies.
Editorial: Fire in the Belly (Source: Florida Today)
The script is written and everyone knows the ending: the shuttle fleet retires in less than three years, causing the loss of thousands of KSC jobs and potentially serious damage to the Brevard County and Florida economies. Economies that gain $1.65 billion and $4 billion annually from NASA spending, respectively. But with the concern comes a once in a generation chance to transform the spaceport into something new and better -- a place where lunar rockets and spacecraft are built and assembled, not just launched, and where cutting edge research creates new industries. But fleshing out that plan to replace 2,500 to 5,000 lost shuttle jobs remains extremely difficult as KSC battles other states for projects. Those projects include getting final assembly and integration of the Ares 5, manufacturing the moon landers and lunar living quarters, luring private launch companies, fostering a climate for research and development, and jump-starting space tourism flights.
Florida has big sweeteners to attract the deals -- among them a highly skilled workforce and significant cost savings in building spacecraft at the launch site. But those pluses will amount to nothing without a sustained political offensive in Washington, Tallahassee putting real money and incentives on the table, and creating a business-friendly climate at the Cape. Florida has squandered too much time meeting this challenge. Now, there's no more time to waste.
New Mexico's Big Risk (Source: Florida Today)
A bustling new spaceport is expected to bring, at most, 3,000 or so new jobs to this state. That assumes an optimistic flight rate and that New Mexico captures the lion's share of the suborbital space tourism industry, which experts say is more likely to be spread out instead of concentrated. The New Mexico government's studies indicate that space tourism flights could generate around $1 billion in economic activity and about 2,200 to 2,900 jobs depending on the circumstances. So why would New Mexico gamble its taxpayers' treasure -- to the tune of more than $200 million -- on the project? A few thousand jobs might not sound like a lot in a huge state like Florida. In New Mexico, even half that number could have a monstrous impact. That's not to mention the positive attention from drawing in a new high-tech industry could add priceless momentum to other economic development bids.
Today, at the New Mexico spaceport, there is nothing but a tiny concrete slab pad, a gravel drive and a few office trailers. The fanciful spaceport terminal is just an architect's drawing. No dirt has been turned for the runway where stylish Virgin Galactic spaceliners would take off and land. No real roads are here to get heavy construction equipment and hundreds of builders to the site, which is more than 20 miles from the last paved road and even further from anything resembling a town. Visitors brave crater-pocked dirt roads, dipping into deep ravines and muscling over rocky embankments, to get to the ranchland being leased to the state for the spaceport. Just to get the site fit for development, the New Mexico government must spend $50 million building roads and another $50 million to bring in utilities. The state plans to spend another $200 million or so constructing the super-long runway, terminal and other structures needed to support regular tourist flights.
Other Spaceports Reach for Sky (Source: Florida Today)
A Florida Today analysis of what is happening at spaceports across the United States and in space tourism shows there is no real threat that the launch industry is going to up and relocate to the desert -- or anyplace else. Instead, new opportunities from space tourism will benefit sites worldwide. Some big aerospace interests look at New Mexico's effort with disdain; others with fear. An onslaught of press coverage is building an aura that this will be the new "place for space," replacing space havens such as Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. That is simply not true. But the newspaper's investigation of what is happening in other states and throughout the blooming space tourism industry shows Florida will gain even if the first flights happen somewhere else.
In New Mexico, the only indication that flights could begin in 2009 or 2010 is in press releases. The reality of a giant government-run construction effort belies the timeline. At the same time, sites like New Mexico have built-in advantages starting from scratch even against more developed sites like KSC. The first flights of experimental, startup systems like Virgin Galactic's are going to shy away from places like Cape Canaveral, with surrounding population centers and the safety bureaucracy of a busy military range. "They are looking for places with regulations that have the least impact on their schedule," said Wayne Finger, a consultant with a Merritt Island firm that has worked with spaceports worldwide. "When you look at the financial model for a lot of businesses, if they do not pay off in three to five years, investors are not interested."
Rutan and Branson say they want to fly spaceliners from hubs around the world. The more people they fly, the more money they make. If space tourism takes off, investment will spread. If New Mexico's spaceport is not ready when Rutan and Branson have a ship to fly, other sites such as the Mojave Air and Space Port or KSC's shuttle runway could be used. Branson has said KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility is an ideal spot. And Branson will not be the only operator. Rutan is not obligated to sell spaceships only to Virgin. Like Boeing and Airbus sell planes to Delta, United and Southwest, he will sell spaceships to many operators who will pick their own launch sites. Tourist hot spots like California and Florida are not likely to be left out in the cold.
Will KSC Be Ready for Space Tourism? (Source: Florida Today)
The Space Coast is poised to capitalize on space tourism's growth. Among KSC's built-in advantages: Government studies indicate the shuttle runway at KSC is suitable for launching suborbital spacecraft such as SpaceShipTwo; NASA already has federal government authority for launches from the site, so no new permit is needed; and The Shuttle Landing Facility has all the fuels, buildings, experienced workers and other essentials needed.
KSC and local officials are marketing the runway's benefits because it will have limited use after the shuttles retire. Already, Zero G uses the runway for its weightless simulation flights. Zero G is likely to be used by space lines for training flights, which could be based here. Starfighters Inc. of Clearwater this year flew a pathfinder mission aimed at carving out trajectories from KSC for spaceliners. Indeed, KSC would be ready to host such flights earlier than most of the competitors, according to the reports and studies the nation's other startup spaceports have filed with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Add to that the "cool factor" of launching from the same place the astronauts of lore -- legends like Glenn, Armstrong, Shepard and Young -- and the site is bound to attract attention from space line operators. "We believe this is going to be a big industry," said KSC spaceport development manager Jim Ball. "And we're doing the things we need to do to support those flights from here. We believe we have a good chance to get them."
By Edward Ellegood
LinkedIn Group
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