August 10 News Items

Lockheed Martin Completes On-Orbit Handover of Payload to Air Force (Source: CSA)
Lockheed Martin announced the successful on-orbit handover of the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO-1) payload and ground system to the Air Force in preparation for the start of certified operations later this year. SBIRS is designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization. (8/9)

National Space Club Plans Annual Space Ball on Oct. 18 (Source: NSC)
The Florida Committee of the National Space Club is sponsoring its annual Space Ball on October 18 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Cocoa Beach. The Cocktail Attire/Black Tie Optional event has limited seating, so reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For information and reservations, go online at http://www.nscfl.org or email mailto:ladonna.j.neterer@boeing.com. (8/10)

Boeing Awarded Contract for GPS Enhancement Demonstration (Source: Boeing)
Boeing has been awarded a $153.5 million U.S. Naval Research Laboratory contract to demonstrate High Integrity Global Positioning System (GPS) technology concepts. The contract is expected to run through 2010. The High Integrity GPS effort combines satellite signals from the Iridium Low Earth Orbit telecommunications system and GPS Mid Earth Orbit navigational satellites to enhance navigation availability, integrity, accuracy and jam-resistant capabilities for warfighters. (8/10)

NASA Hopes Entrepreneur Can Fill Launch Gap, Boost Jobs (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Space enthusiasts in Florida are hoping that Musk's company, SpaceX, can fill NASA's flight gap and help stem the hemorrhage of space jobs at Kennedy Space Center when the shuttle is retired. Musk plans to launch his rockets from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. But his rocket for NASA -- called Falcon 9 -- would be 180 feet high, twice as long as Falcon 1 and much heavier. It's to be powered by nine first-stage engines, as opposed to just one aboard Falcon 1.

"If you can't launch the little guy, how can you believe that you can launch successfully the big guy?" asked Peter Wilson, a space expert with the RAND Corp., a global policy think tank. "You would have to be a fool to invest in this corporation." But Musk said the Falcon 9 is on track. Its nine engines were successfully test-fired July 30, two months ahead of schedule. "We're moving forward, full-steam ahead," he said. (8/10)

Aerospace Medical Association Releases "Call for Papers" for May 3-7 Conference (Source: CSA)
The 80th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association will be held May 3-7, 2009, at the Westin Bonaventure hotel in Los Angeles. For questions about the meeting, please contact Gloria (703-739-2240 x 106) or Sheryl (703-739-2240 x 107). Click here to view the "Call for Papers" for the event. (8/9)

Scientist Claims Mars Has 'Contemporary' Life (Source: NDTV)
A leading international space scientist says there is now clear evidence of life on Mars but that American authorities are hesitating from announcing it for political reasons. "The discovery of liquid water on Mars combined with earlier discoveries of organic substances in a meteorite that came from Mars, and also of methane in the Martian atmosphere all point to the existence of life -- contemporary life -- on the Red Planet," said Chandra Wickramasinghe, a globally renowned astrobiologist. "I am not speaking of fossilized life but contemporary life," emphasised Wickramasinghe, who is professor of applied mathematics and astronomy at the University of Cardiff in Wales. (8/10)