September 30 News Items

Is the Broken Hubble Telescope Worth Saving? (Source: Space.com)
In light of the most recent glitch on the Hubble Space Telescope, a serious equipment failure that means the observatory is unable to send data back to Earth, some are beginning to wonder, is Hubble still worth saving? The answer, according to many scientists, is yes. The failure of a device called the Side A Science Data Formatter, used to send images and other data from Hubble back to Earth, is a problem, but likely one that can be fixed. Engineers now plan to switch the observatory over to a spare "Side B" part currently on board, and perhaps send up a replacement device on the next space shuttle servicing mission, which had been scheduled for October but now has been delayed to early next year. Though it may sound like one setback too many for the aging observatory, scientists say Hubble still has a lot of life in it yet. (9/30)

USA to Keep Supporting ATK's Ares 1 Work — For Now (Source: Space News)
Ares 1 main-stage prime contractor Alliant Techsystems (ATK) reached a weekend agreement with United Space Alliance (USA) meant to keep the Houston-based space shuttle operator engaged in the development of the shuttle's successor until a long-term deal can be concluded. (9/30)

Astrium and Antrix Sign Launch Deal (Source: Space News)
Satellite manufacturer Astrium of Europe signed an agreement with India's Antrix organization Sept. 30 for the launch of Astrium-built Earth observation satellites on India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket starting in 2011, according to Astrium officials. (9/30)

Executive to Make Second Paid Trip to Station (Source: Space News)
Charles Simonyi, a Hungarian computer software executive who paid more than $20 million to fly to the international space station aboard a Russian-built Soyuz capsule in spring 2007, will train for a second Soyuz trip to the space station in spring 2009. (9/30)

Griffin Says Lunar Outpost Must Precede Mars Mission (Source: Space News)
NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin defended his agency's determination to establish a lunar colony before embarking on a manned Mars mission Sept. 30, arguing that those who prefer to focus only on Mars are overestimating what is known about the Moon and underestimating the difficulties of going to Mars. (9/30)

NASA Approves Second Mission Extension for Mars Phoenix Lander (Source: Space News)
NASA has extended the Mars Phoenix Lander's mission for a second time, announcing Sept. 29 that the $420 million science station will be kept in service until it succumbs to the long martian winter ahead. (9/30)

Want to Get Married in Space? Here's the Man to Call (Source: Discover)
Richard Branson may get the headlines with his company Virgin Galactic, but Eric Anderson is the one who is actually sending private adventurers into space right now. As CEO of Space Adventures, he has been responsible for dispatching Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth, Greg Olsen, Anousheh Ansari, Charles Simonyi, and—by the time you read this—Richard Garriott into orbit for weeklong stays onboard the International Space Station.

Anderson started out as an aerospace engineer and always wanted to venture into space. But instead of joining NASA’s astronaut corps, he began looking at ways a commercial company might go where only government agencies had gone before, ultimately striking a deal with the Russians to carry paying customers aloft. Not satisfied with piggybacking on other nations’ flights, Anderson is now commissioning the construction of Space Adventures’ own Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft to carry two paying passengers at a time. Next he plans an even more ambitious mission: a trip around the moon in a souped-up Soyuz, with a ticket price of $100 million per passenger. (9/30)

Russian Space Leader Calls for Closer Cooperation with China in Space Exploration (Source: Xinhua)
More efforts are needed to pool resources internationally so as to boost space exploration, a Russian official said. "Space belongs to all mankind, and everybody will win" if international cooperation in this regard could be intensified, said Alexander Medvedchikow, deputy head of Russia Federal Space Agency. He expressed the hope that Russia and China could expand their cooperation in various aspects of space exploration. (9/30)

China Sees Big Hurdles for Future Space Goals (Source: Reuters)
China aims to launch an 8-ton lab into orbit within four years as a stepping stone to grander space feats such as a moonshot, top scientists said. Senior Chinese space program engineers said astronaut Zhi Zhigang's 15-minute spacewalk was just one step on the way to tougher goals of sending aloft the small space lab by the end of 2011, then a larger space station and, ultimately, a possible manned trip to the moon. (9/30)

Scotland to be Base for Virgin Galactic's Space Tourism Flights (Source: Daily Record)
Space tourism firm Virgin Galactic yesterday confirmed they will take off from Scotland in 2013. Company president Will Whitehorn said: "Scotland will definitely be our main base in the UK for space tourism flights and we would be aiming to take off from there within about five years...We have already been in talks with the RAF with regards to [flying from] Lossiemouth and we have had positive talks with Moray MP Angus Robertson about using that area as our base." (9/30)

Governor Lends Voice to Spaceport Support (Source: Alamogordo Daily News)
Visiting Alamogordo, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson spoke with community members at the Alamo Senior Center Monday in support of Spaceport America. He encouraged Otero County residents to vote in favor of the 1/8 of 1 percent spaceport gross receipts tax on the Nov. 4 ballot. "There has been confusion about what this is all about," Otero County Commissioner Doug Moore said to begin Monday's town hall meeting featuring Richardson. Moore said he is personally excited about the spaceport as he introduced the governor. "The tax we are talking about is a show of faith," Moore said. (9/30)

Hundreds Of Workers At NASA's Michoud Get Pink Slips (Source: WDSU)
Hundreds of people received pink slips Monday at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Michoud employees were told two months ago that layoffs were coming because Lockheed Martin would no longer be manufacturing external fuel tanks for the space shuttle program since NASA has suspended the program in September 2010. A Lockheed Martin representative said that about 2,300 people are working on building the remaining 10 external fuel tanks NASA has ordered. As each tank is completed, people will gradually be laid off. (9/30)

Space Foundation Publishes ITAR And The US Space Industry White Paper (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
The Space Foundation has announced the publication of the white paper "ITAR and the U.S. Space Industry." The paper examines the effect of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which govern the export of space technology. Concerns about ITAR's impact on the business practices and cost structures of the space industry prompted the paper, which combines data from government and industry sources. The paper weighs the balance of vital national security measures and a healthy trade environment for the U.S. space economy as it competes in the world market. The report proposes steps to modernize ITAR, enabling the regulations to accomplish their original purpose of protecting important security technologies while allowing more U.S. space companies to compete successfully in the global economy. (9/30)

Cabana to Succeed Parsons as Kennedy Space Center Director (Source: NASA)
NASA announced that William Parsons, director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is leaving the agency in mid-October to pursue opportunities in the private sector. Parsons will be succeeded by former astronaut Robert Cabana, currently director of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Parsons, who joined NASA in 1990, also has served as director of Stennis. His other NASA assignments have included launch site support manager, manager of the Space Station Hardware Integration Office, chief of operations of the Propulsion Test Directorate, space shuttle program manager and deputy director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. (9/30)

Industry Leaders Promote Space Agenda in Florida (Source: Florida Today)
A summit of elected officials and space industry leaders last year helped secure more than $15 million in state funding for space priorities. Monday, roughly 100 space and government representatives gathered to celebrate that success during a year of severe budget cuts, and to rally for more support in what is expected to be another difficult budget next year. Participants were briefed on the need to work together to continue funding for workforce training programs and infrastructure improvements to support commercial launches. More emphasis was placed on the need to improve science and math education and to ensure Florida universities are better positioned to win NASA research grants.

"Our talent pool is literally running dry," said Gwendolyn Anello, vice president of education and research for Zero Gravity Corp. "If we don't act now to get kids interested in science, we're cooked." State Sen. Mike Haridopolos, the chairman of Brevard's legislative delegation, said he was optimistic progress could be made despite the state's budget woes. "If we don't act, the budget woes will get worse," Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, said after the three-hour forum. "As long as everyone's on the same page, things can get done in Tallahassee." (9/30)