February 4 News Items

Budget Hike Would Keep Orion on Track and Fund New Earth Science Missions (Source: Space News)
President George W. Bush is proposing a largely stay-the-course budget for NASA, holding the U.S. space agency to an increase for 2009 that would be less than the rate of inflation.

White House Calls Iran Rocket Launch "Unfortunate" (Source: Reuters)
The White House on Monday said Iran's rocket launch was "unfortunate" and would only further isolate Tehran from the international community. Iran launched a rocket designed to send a research satellite into orbit, Iranian state television said. The United States suspects Iran of trying to master technology to build nuclear weapons and has been pressing allies to isolate Tehran until it gives up its suspected nuclear ambitions. Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian energy. "It's unfortunate Iran continues to test ballistic missiles. This regime continues to take steps that only further isolate it and the Iranian people from the international community," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Military Space Would Get Slight Increase Next Year (Source: Space News)
As expected, the U.S. Air Force applied the brakes to its futuristic laser-linked satellite communications system in a 2009 budget request that includes $11.9 billion overall for unclassified space systems and operations, a modest increase over this year's total of $11.3 billion.

Bigelow Wants Dozens of Atlas 5 Launchers for New Space Station (Source: Space News)
Bigelow Aerospace officials said Feb. 1 they are making progress in their negotiations with United Launch Alliance for six initial launches for their planned commercial space station, starting around 2011. Subsequently the company hopes to conduct as many as a dozen launches per year as the new facility becomes fully operational.

President Releases 'Status Quo' Budget for NASA (Source: Florida Today)
President Bush is pushing for a 1.8 percent increase in NASA's budget for next year. The recommendation came as part of the $3.1 trillion proposal the White House submitted to Congress. The "status quo" budget proposal would keep NASA on track to retire its aging Space Shuttle by October 2010. It also would keep in place the current gap until the next generation of spacecraft could resume human spaceflight. The budget devotes $5.77 billion for space operations and incorporates a March 2015 date for the first launch of the Orion crew vehicle. Bart Gordon, the Tennessee Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Science and Technology, took aim at the "problematic" human spaceflight element for failing to provide money to accelerate the schedule of Orion and for leaving "question marks about the administration's commitment to the utilization and support of the International Space Station once the Shuttle is retired."

Congress Reacts To New NASA Budget (Source: NASA Watch)
In reacting to NASA's new budget, House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon said: "At first blush it unfortunately appears to be a "business-as-usual" budget that does little to address the significant challenges NASA is facing. In short, it continues the Administration's practice of underfunding the agency relative to the missions the agency has been asked to undertake. Thus, NASA's aeronautics program is kept on a downward spiral despite congressional actions to the contrary, the agency's technology programs remain in an anemic condition, and its science programs face an uncertain future as funds are shuffled from one science account to the next in order to free up funds for proposed new initiatives."

Space Jobs at Stake in Congress (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The Capitol may be more than 800 miles away, but Congress this year will reach into the wallets, homes and workplaces of Central Floridians as it takes up legislation crucial to the region. These will be part of a debate that begins today as the White House releases President Bush's budget proposal. One key issue is Space Coast jobs. Think of Disney shutting its doors for five years. That's the sort of economic effect the Space Coast is bracing for as the manned space program gets put on hold. The last space shuttle launches in 2010 and a new generation of spacecraft, the Constellation, won't be ready until about 2015. 'Our community does not have that much industry. We depend on the space program,' said Monica Teran, marketing director of AJT & Associates. She worries her company could lose 30 percent of its business, and skilled employees will be lured out of state. Florida lawmakers are looking for ways to ease the transition -- or optimistically, close that gap.

Brevard County alone got more than $1 billion in NASA dollars in 2006. Who it Affects: More than 2,500 space-industry jobs are expected to disappear in Brevard starting in 2011 as well as more than 1,000 other jobs as the blow to the economy affects everyone from real-estate agents to coffee-shop owners. How It's Looking: With a tight budget year coming, finding more money for NASA is no small feat. Rep. Dave Weldon has proposed an ambitious $3.7 billion plan that he concedes will be difficult to pass. It would add two flights a year to delay the shuttle's 2010 retirement and beef up Constellation funding so it can be built earlier. That way, the U.S. won't have to rely on foreign countries for space transportation. White House and NASA officials have said there's not enough money to continue the shuttle and build Constellation simultaneously. And safety experts question the wisdom of extending the aging shuttle fleet.

Whale-Shaped Floating Hotel Set for Flight (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
A 700-foot floating hotel, which resembles the Thunderbird 2 from the 1960s television series, "Thunderbirds", has been set for development. The Manned Cloud is a flying hotel that is intended to carry 40 guests around the world while floating at an altitude of 18,000 feet, the Daily Mail reported Saturday. "The Manned Cloud permits you to explore the world without leaving a trace. Passengers can experience spectacular and exotic places without being intrusive or exploitative," a spokesman said. The structure -- which is being built by the French Company Massaud -- will have 20 bedrooms, a restaurant, gym, lounge and library, the newspaper said. The Manned Cloud is set to take off for the first time in 2020.

Defending Constellation (Source: Space Review)
Despite being in place for over two years now, NASA's exploration architecture continues to attract criticism from those who have technical and financial concerns. Jeff Foust reports on how NASA administrator Mike Griffin responded to that criticism with a detailed defense of the effort. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1054/1 to view the article.

What to Tell the Next President About Realizing America's Potential in Space (Source: Space Review)
Later this week space community leaders will meet in Washington for a two-day forum on space policy issues facing the next president. Mike Snead explains how this is an opportunity to discuss what changes are needed to make the US a "true" spacefaring nation. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1052/1 to view the article.

Not-so-rare Earth? (Source: Space Review)
Several years ago, the authors of the book "Rare Earth" argued that "complex" life in the universe was likely very uncommon. Taylor Dinerman argues that recent discoveries, particularly of extrasolar planets, put that hypothesis in question. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1051/1 to view the article.

If We Build It, Will They Come? (Source: Space Review)
Will new markets drive the demand for low-cost launch vehicles, or will the development of low-cost launch vehicles stimulate the development of new markets? Eric Hedman examines this chicken-and-egg issue within the context of space-based solar power. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1050/1 to view the article.

Iran Launches Rocket, Opens Space Center (Source: AP)
Iran launched a research rocket Monday and unveiled its first major space center, which will be used to launch research satellites, state-run television reported. The report said the rocket was the first launched by Iran "into space." But analysts have expressed doubts about similar technological achievements announced by the country in the past. Iran launched its first domestically built rocket last February, which did not reach space. Some Western experts also have raised the possibility that Iran's space program may be a cover to more fully develop its military ballistic missiles, a prospect many find troubling at a time when the U.S. and others worry Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Before the launch, Ahmadinejad opened the space center, which includes an underground control station and space launch pad, according to state TV.

Florida Plans Microgravity Training Program (Source: SpaceTEC)
Seventy-five Florida aerospace engineers, technicians and scientists will gain first-hand knowledge of spaceflight working conditions under a new state-sponsored initiative aimed at preparing the workforce for the next-generation of commercial and government space programs. The Microgravity Training Program will include a mix of classroom, web-based, and in-flight training to introduce workers to the challenges of developing and operating systems in the weightless environment of space.

Workforce Florida has approved a $500,000 grant to the Brevard Workforce Development Board (BWDB) to provide the training opportunities to qualified workers from around the state. SpaceTEC, a Florida-based national aerospace technical training center and Zero-G Corp. will develop and administer the training during the first half of 2008. “We want to develop a cadre of workers who have unique qualifications to support other space R&D and technology development programs that Florida can capture in the future.”

Participation will be limited to incumbent workers who complete a competitive application process. The organizers plan to match applicant skills and aspirations with industry-developed training requirements. “There’s no shortage of opportunities for Florida’s space industry, and there are several programs that could derive a near-term benefit from this initiative,” said BWDB President Lisa Rice. “Companies like Zero-G, SpaceX and others are supplementing their commercial operations with NASA contracts that could bring new business to the state.”

Parsons to Give Keynote Speech at Feb. 12 Luncheon (Source: Florida Today)
Kennedy Space Center Director Bill Parsons will speak at the Feb. 12 luncheon meeting of the National Space Club. The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel Cocoa Beach Oceanfront. The event is open to the public with reservations. Parsons, the ninth director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, manages a team of 2,100 NASA civil-service employees and 15,000 contractor employees, as the space agency is preparing to shut down the shuttle program in 2010 and gear up for the next phase of space exploration. To make reservations for the luncheon meeting, contact LaDonna Neterer at 383-6135 or e-mail LaDonna.J.Neterer@boeing.com. The event takes place Feb. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel Cocoa Beach Oceanfront.

Keck Gives Caltech $24 Million for Space Institute (Source: CSA)
The California Institute of Technology has received an eight-year $24 million gift from the W. M. Keck Foundation to establish the W. M. Keck Institute for Space Studies, which will bring together scientists and engineers to develop new space-mission concepts and technology. Caltech and Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers as well as visitors, students, and postdoctoral researchers from many institutions will address enduring questions that have fascinated humanity for centuries, such as how did the universe begin? what is it made of? what is its ultimate fate? and has life evolved elsewhere? Each year, the institute will adopt one or more new themes and explore those topics through symposia, indepth studies, and development of emerging-technology prototypes for future space missions.

California Space Authority Develops Point Paper for Presidential Candidates (Source: CSA)
The California Space Authority has prepared a point paper to advise presidential candidates of the importance of space enterprise to the state. It points to the fact that the space industry generates over $50 billion in annual revenues, while employing more than 260,000 people in the state. Visit http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/images/government/pointpaper.pdf to view the point paper.

California Space Authority Tracks State Legislation for Industry (Source: CSA)
As a service to its constituents, the California Space Authority maintains a regular update of state legislation of interest to the state's aerospace business community. The updates allow business leaders to follow the progress of bills under consideration by state lawmakers. CSA posts the updates at http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/html/government_pages/state-bill-tracking.html.