August 7 News Items

Air Force Space Command Proposes Transfer of Launch Complex to Florida (Source: AFSPC)
The Air Force Space Command announced a proposed action to make Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station available for operational use by the State of Florida, subject to completion of an environmental impact analysis. The proposed action would grant the state access to the property under a real-estate license for an initial term of five years. AFSPC Commander, Gen. C. Robert Kehler, stated support for the assignment because it makes it easier for commercial launch providers to launch from the U.S. "The proposal encourages, facilitates, and harnesses entrepreneurial space achievement. Enabling a dynamic, globally competitive commercial space sector is in line with national policy and is mutually beneficial to the Air Force and the state." Kehler said.

According to 45th Space Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Susan Helms, "Through its Space Florida organization, the state will be the broker for the complex to commercial space launch companies, setting user priorities and schedules to ensure that commercial users have an ability to use existing launch base and range capabilities without the need to make large investments or long-term commitments." The launch complex is a former Atlas launch vehicle facility and is capable of accommodating light- to medium-lift vehicles.

Space Florida would be responsible for developing, managing and paying for operations and maintenance of the facility, being the broker for the facility, complying with all required real property, environmental, safety, security, and all other tenant requirements, and reimbursing the Air Force for the services Space Florida uses. (8/7)

State Plans Launch Pad Investment, Commercial Launch Zone (Source: Space Florida)
Space Florida plans to use initial state-provided funding of $14.5 million to begin infrastructure design and construction at Launch Complex 36. According to Space Florida's Steve Kohler, "One of Space Florida's next objectives is to establish a Commercial Launch Zone (CLZ) for commercial customers wishing to operate from the Eastern Range. The creation of a CLZ expands our ability to support commercial payload launch services, re-supply missions to the International Space Station, and aggressively diversify aerospace business development." In addition to supporting a greater number of launch customers, the CLZ may attract other segments of the aerospace industry necessary to support flight operations that will benefit the entire state of Florida. (8/7)

Space Florida Provides 365 Educators with Hands-On Training (Source: Space Florida)
Space Florida has partnered with Florida District Schools and the Florida Department of Education to fund a series of innovative, "hands-on" workshops whose emphasis is in innovative "Inquiry instruction" for teachers throughout the state of Florida. The inaugural summer session of the "Inquiry Program" will complete its 15th and final workshop on August 6 at the Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee, Fla. More than 365 teachers representing 15 counties across the state of Florida participated. It is estimated that more than 8,000 Florida students will benefit from the program during the 2008-2009 school year. (8/7)

SpaceX Launch Failure Doesn't Diminish Company's, Supporters' Enthusiasm (Source: Florida Today)
The loss of a third SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket this weekend won't slow the company's bid to launch a bigger rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport next year, CEO Elon Musk said. Additionally, SpaceX plans to go forward with the fourth and fifth planned Falcon 1 launches. With positive cash flow, the company has booked 13 launch customers, including three NASA missions.

The fourth Falcon 1 could launch as soon as next month. A Malaysian satellite, set for flight four, will move to the fifth flight. "It would be crazy to abandon it," Musk said of the Falcon project. Musk said he expects the first Falcon 9 to arrive at Cape Canaveral before year's end, with the test launch to come next year. The company is building propellant tanks, laying data cables and erecting a hangar at Pad 40. Musk predicts that in six to seven years he could be launching 30 rockets a year from Florida.

"I don't think he's being unduly optimistic," said Steve Kohler, president of Space Florida, the state agency set up to support the space industry. Space Florida has contributed more than $500,000 in infrastructure and buildings to help SpaceX create jobs in Brevard County as NASA faces the end of the space shuttle program in 2010. "It creates a competitive position that is important not only to the space industry but to the nation," Kohler said. (8/7)

Editorial: Florida's Aerospace Industry Has the Right Stuff (Source: Florida Today)
In an editorial last week headlined "Eating dust," Florida Today noted the unveiling of Sir Richard Branson's space tourism ship WhiteKnightTwo and criticized Florida officials for not doing enough to lure those kind of ventures to our state. Branson's vehicle represents another milestone for his company Virgin Galactic, but in no way precludes Florida from continuing its work of establishing and building aerospace businesses that include space tourism flights and enabling aerospace industries here.

While the ongoing business building through a number of processes has been quiet in the public arena, it does not mean Florida will not be a significant leader in the nation and in the world as the "new space" emerging industry is being shaped and launched. Space Florida, the state of Florida's space-recruiting arm, continues its aggressive work building and supporting aerospace businesses with long-term, sustainable and viable business models. At the same time it is fulfilling its obligations under non-disclosure agreements that provide individual companies the support they need until they successfully traverse timelines and unpredictable bumps-in-the-road typical of nascent ventures and currently complicated by entering the new aerospace industry that is still taking form.

The editorial was right in saying the future holds more possibilities, and much progress has been made to build those foundations to that future. Space Florida is concurrently actively pursuing and building a commercial launch zone that includes the capabilities for multiple sized vehicles to launch from the Cape, has invested in and continues to support non-traditional aerospace start-up ventures that will serve fundamental and new roles in the emerging aerospace industry, and continues its support for safe, successful, and well-funded NASA programs through the shuttle's retirement. Click here to read the entire guest column by Space Florida's president. (8/6)

Spaceport America Promoter Touts Industry, Growth Possibilities (Source: Alamogordo Daily News)
Whatever direction Otero County voters take on a gross receipts tax will determine what power Otero County has when it comes to decision-making in regards to Spaceport America, said Executive Director Steve Landeene. "Space is just the vehicle," Landeene said. "The spaceport is the catalyst for development." Doña Ana and Sierra counties have already approved a one quarter of 1 percent gross receipts tax to help fund construction of Spaceport America. Those counties will start collecting the tax in January.

The Otero County Commission will be discussing the spaceport during their regular next meeting Aug. 19. That's when they will decide whether to bring the GRT issue to the voters. The spaceport is not just about launching high-paying customers into space, Landeene said. Space industry, entertainment industry, tourism and education opportunities are coming to southern New Mexico with the spaceport. (8/7)

Editorial: Northrop's Tanker Can Help Economy Take Flight (Source: Florida Today)
In these tough economic times we need to look in every direction for new job opportunities here in Brevard County. This need is heightened as the current space shuttle program comes to an end in 2010, costing our community thousands of jobs during the transition to the new Orion program. In light of such realities one opportunity could help ease that adjustment: the Air Force's Tanker Replacement Program through which the USAF will ultimately replace all of its aerial refueling KC-135 tanker aircraft. In March this contract was awarded to Brevard-based Northrop Grumman for their KC-45 tanker, creating the immediate need for approximately 500 jobs in Brevard and nearly 2,000 jobs across our state. This was a huge economic victory for our area.

The 500 local jobs were expected to grow four-fold over the next few years, paving entire career paths for many. Additionally, that would mean nearly $100 million in additional revenue to our state's economy every year. Unfortunately for our community, the contract is under dispute and jobs we need here in Brevard are now on the line. The Boeing Company, which lost the contract to Northrop Grumman, filed a formal protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in March, claiming the contract was unfairly awarded. Click here to view the guest column by state Senator Mike Haridopolos. (7/29)

DOD Announces Revised Criteria for Tanker Competition (Source: AIA)
The DOD on Wednesday proposed revised criteria for selecting which company will build the next generation of aerial-refueling tankers. Boeing and a team led by Northrop Grumman and EADS are competing for the contract. The DOD will measure the cost of the bids over 40 years instead of 25 years. Other changes allow the military to give more weight to the ability of an aircraft to carry extra fuel. (8/7)

Boeing Says Bidding Changes Favor European Tanker Team (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Seeking to quickly revive a stalled $40 billion competition for the next generation of aerial-refueling tankers, the Pentagon proposed revised criteria for choosing between Boeing and a partnership of Northrop Grumman and European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EADS). Barely hours after the document began circulating on Capitol Hill Wednesday, however, Boeing's congressional allies alleged that the changes skew the competition in favor of the European team. Senior company officials are mulling a range of options that include trying to convince the Pentagon to amend its latest selection criteria; formally protesting the changes; and perhaps even opting against bidding on the lucrative contract. (8/7)

California Space Authority Invites Annual Award Nominees (Source: CSA)
Nominations for the California Space Enterprise SpotBeam Awards will close August 15 at 5:00pm PDT. Nominations should include contact information for the person or organization nominated, contact information for the person submitting the nomination, and a concise explanation of why the person or organization is deserving of a SpotBeam Award. Achievements should be outstanding contributions to California Space Enterprise voice, visibility, and/or competitive edge. Complete information on categories, past winners, etc. is posted at http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/awards.html. There is no special application form. Just get the above requested information to Jamie Foster (mailto:jamie.foster@californiaspaceauthority.org) in whatever form is convenient. (8/7)

Thai Satellite Launch Held Up by Kazakhstan (Source: Bangkok Post)
The launch of Thailand's first natural resources survey satellite, THEOS, aboard a Russian rocket has again been postponed after Kazakhstan suddenly withdrew permission for the first-stage booster to fall within its borders. It was the second such setback for the project. The first planned launch was cancelled under similar circumstances late last year. The satellite was to have been placed in a sun-synchronous near-circular orbit yesterday by the Russian company ISC Kosmotras from the Dombarovskiy spaceport in southeast Russia. (8/7)

Alliant Techsystems 1Q Profit Rises (Source: AP)
Alliant Techsystems reported that fiscal first-quarter profit rose 10 percent on sales growth at all of its divisions. For the quarter ended June 29, ATK earned $57.9 million, compared with $52.4 million in the same quarter last year. The recent quarter's results included charges of about $9 million related to program performance in the company's spacecraft structures business. Sales rose 17 percent to $1.12 billion from $958.4 million in the year-ago period. (8/7)

Denver Team Aims For Lunar Landing (Source: TechRockies)
A Denver-based team is part of an upcoming competition to simulate a landing on the moon, the nonprofit behind the competition revealed this week. According to the X PRIZE Foundation, Paragon Labs, headquartered in Denver, is one of ten teams which will be competing in the upcoming 2008 Lunar Lander Challenge. Editor's Note: the Lunar Lander Challenge is not the same as the Google Lunar X-Prize. (8/7)