September 26 News Items

Europe Not Boldly Funding Space Ambitions (Source: AFP)
The European Union wants to become a major player in space projects, EU ministers agreed Friday, amid concerns that member states and industry are unwilling to provide the astronomical costs involved. The EU ministers agreed on "the need to develop instruments and financial schemes for European space policy," announced French Research Minister Valerie Pecresse, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. (9/26)

Earmarks: Science Finds Itself Locked Out Again (Source: What's New)
Congress, which passed not a single FY 2009 appropriation bill, is now in the process of passing a Continuing Resolution. What does it "continue"? The disastrous FY 2008 funding, that what. Science was slashed to make more money available for pork barrel projects. And once again the pork is at a record $6.6 billion level. Lawmakers are using the financial crisis as an excuse for giving "a few bucks" to "folks" before they shovel hundreds of billions to "those rich guys in New York." Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, who is on trial for taking illegal gifts, got the most, $238.5M. (9/26)

China's Growing Space Program Intrigues, Intimidates (Source: AIA)
China's burgeoning -- and highly secretive -- space program marks the country's aspirations as a global power, according to experts in the West. Already a major provider of rockets and satellites to paying customers, China aspires to build a space station, mine asteroids and challenge U.S. military dominance in space. With most of China's efforts under the direction of the People's Liberation Army, rivals such as India and Japan are stepping up their space programs in response to what they view as a potential threat. (9/26)

Extra Shuttle Flight Moves Forward (Source: Florida Today)
In the midst of its wrangling over a financial bailout, the U.S. Senate did adopt a NASA measure last night to add one more shuttle flight to the manifest. There are several steps left in the process and President Bush's budget chiefs have said in the past they would veto any bill increasing NASA's budget or extending the shuttle beyond 2010. The NASA Authorization Act of 2008, would also authorize a $2.6 billion budget increase over what President Bush has proposed for the agency next year. That figure includes $1 billion to help accelerate the development of the shuttle's replacement. The bill would authorize NASA to conduct an extra shuttle mission to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. (9/26)

Griffin: Space Exploration Key to Mankind's Survival (Source: AFP)
Mankind's very survival depends on the future exploration of space, said NASA chief Michael Griffin discussing the 50th anniversary of the space agency. This journey, said the veteran physicist and aerospace engineer, is full of unknowns and has only just begun. "Does the survival of human kind depend upon it? I think so," he said. Griffin compared the first walk on the Moon with Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas. "He travelled for months and spent a few weeks in the Americas and returned home. He could hardly have said to have explored the New World. "I think we must return to the Moon because it's the next step. It's a few days from home," he said, adding Mars was also "only a few months" from Earth.

But Griffin acknowledged that like the 15th century explorers who embarked on their adventures without knowing what they would find, a leap of faith is required for space travel. "It was understood in Columbus's time that if voyagers discovered new lands they would find valuable things. We can't prove today that we can exploit what we find to the benefit of humankind." However, in the long run, Griffin believes "human populations must diversify if it wishes to survive." In explaining his goals for NASA to Congress in 2004, Griffin said: "The single overarching goal of human space flight is the human settlement of the solar system, and eventually beyond...I can think of no lesser purpose sufficient to justify the difficulty of the enterprise, and no greater purpose is possible." (9/26)

Congressman Touts New NASA Plan (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney of Florida unveiled a new plan for NASA that would increase the agency's funding by billions of dollars so that NASA could continue flying the space shuttle until 2012 and accelerate the development of NASA's next rocket. But with little time or money available in the waning hours of this Congress, Feeney's legislation amounts to not much more than a wish list.

It's worth reading, however, to see the priorities set forth by own of NASA's more outspoken advocates in Congress. Under the ISS Gap Filler Act, NASA would: suspend activities precluding continued Shuttle operations after 2010; provide analysis of the resources needed to continue Shuttle flights beyond 2010; receive $3 billion annually in 2010, 2011, and 2012 for Shuttle operations; receive $2 billion for Orion/Ares 1 development; initiate a domestic crewed vehicle demonstration program; begin discussions with Europe on joint development of a human-rated spacecraft. (9/25)

R&D Authority Plans Startup Showcase for Early-Stage Investors (Source: TRDA)
Florida's Technological Research & Development Authority (TRDA) plans an Oct. 2 evet at its Business Innovation Center in Melbourne to showcase six new technology companies. Whether you are an angel investor, a successful entrepreneur looking for an exciting opportunity, or an experienced professional, you will want to meet these companies. Call TRDA at 321-872-1050 or visit http://www.trda.org for information. (9/26)