January 17 News Items

Google: NASA Should Collaborate With Public (Source: InfoWorld)
The U.S. space program should look to collaboration and open systems to drive the next wave of human exploration and innovation, Google chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt said. "Assume that you don't have all the answers," Schmidt said during a speech celebrating NASA's 50th anniversary. "I can assure you that we don't." He talked about the importance of collaboration between organizations, such as the images from NASA and private satellite providers Google has used to create Google Earth, but also of the benefit to NASA and other government agencies of seeking ideas from the public.

Russia to Launch Two Telecom Satellites on Jan. 28 and Feb. 10 (Source: RIA Novosti)
Russia is to launch two communication satellites in the coming weeks from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. The Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said the Proton-M rocket, carrying an Express-AM33 satellite, was on schedule for take-off on January 28. The second launch, of the Thor-2R comsat, owned by Norway's Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, is scheduled for February 10.

Budget for Korean Space Projects Remains Flat (Source: Korea Times)
The government said it will allocate $336 million to various space projects this year, roughly the same as the previous two years. Considering the government's ambitious plan to make South Korea a space power by 2020, the sum is a modest amount ― about 0.12 percent of Korea's 2008 budget of 257 trillion won, and 2.9 percent of its total R&D spending. The Ministry of Science and Technology said Wednesday that about two thirds of the space budget will be spent on building and launching satellites. Some 50 billion won will go to the construction of a launching pad on the southwestern island of Oinaru, which will be completed this September. Another 2.5 billion won will be spent to send Ko San, Korea's first astronaut, to the International Space Station this April aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.

Chemicals Stored Inappropriately at Rocket Corporation Near Moscow (Source: Interfax)
Prosecutors have uncovered gross violations of the rules of storage of chemicals at the Energia space rocket corporation in Korolyov outside Moscow in the course of an investigation into a recent fuel oil spill on the enterprise's territory. "Inspectors found out that the rules of storage of chemicals at the enterprise, which is subject to special security regulations, were grossly violated," the Moscow regional prosecutor's office said in a statement. The Moscow regional prosecutor's office is supervising the preliminary investigation into the incident, it said.

Authority Seeks Industry Partners for Teacher Quest (Source: TRDA)
Looking for a way to support teacher training and education in the state of Florida? If so, consider becoming a 2008 sponsor of Teacher Quest and help give state educators a leg up in the classroom. Sponsored by the TRDA, Teacher Quest is a seven-week, paid summer professional development program in which K-12 teachers go to work at select science- and technology-based businesses in Florida. Teachers gain valuable industry knowledge and take it back to the classroom to make math, science, computer and technology studies more exciting and challenging for students. Visit http://www.trda.org/news/article.asp?articleID=71 for information.

California Space Authority Plans Washington Space Week (Source: CSA)
CSA and its partners will travel to Washington on March 4 to educate federal officials regarding vital space policy issues. They will meet with Congressional members and staff as well as executive branch officials from the White House, Department of Defense, NASA, Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, and the Department of State to discuss issues related to space exploration, education and workforce, space science, and homeland security. Space Florida wil also participate. Also planned is a Capitol Hill reception to which members and staff of both the California and Florida Congressional delegations have been invited.

Craig Technologies Supports New Defense and Space Contracts (Source: Craig)
Cape Canaveral-based Craig Technologies has won four subcontract and prime contract awards. The prime contract award is from the Naval Air Warfare Center, while the subcontracts are for NASA, Air Force and Army programs. Craig will provide project management support as a subcontractor to SAIC in the contract awarded by NASA for the Kennedy Space Center Constellation Ground Operations.

TRDA to Manage NASA Small Business Program (Source: TRDA)
Florida's Technological Research & Development Authority (TRDA) has entered into a contract to advance the Southeast chapter of NASA's National Alliance for Small Business Opportunity (NASBO) and launch a grant program to help regional small businesses move their NASA sponsored technologies to the marketplace. NASBO helps companies that have received a Phase II NASA/Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award move to Phase III, or commercialization. NASBO provides grant funds to connect these companies and their near-market ready technologies with small business service providers, large contractor firms and investors. These entities provide the resources necessary to turn the SBIR companies into viable, investment-ready, high-tech business competitors.

Where Does Your Presidential Candidate Stand on Workforce Issues? (Source: SGPB)
A new brief by Skills2Compete examines candidate positions in relationship to three issues: the growing supply of jobs that require community college or apprenticeship training, the current workforce’s ability to attain the skills needed to fill those jobs, and the diverse approaches to ending the “silent” crisis. The analysis uses published policy platforms, policy speeches, press statements and action taken by the candidates while in public office. It then outlines each candidate’s proposed approach to creating a competitive workforce. The full brief, Election ’08: Candidates’ Proposals for Growing the Economy by Investing in People, is available here.