February 22 News Items

KSC and ISTEF Support Power Beaming and Tether Challenges on Apr. 29 - May 1 (Source: Parabolic Arc)
The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges have been set for Apr. 29 - May 1 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The KSC-based ISTEF facility (a DOD laser R&D operation) will provide support. Each prize has a $2 million prize for the winner. The 2009 Power Beaming Challenge is a prize contest designed to promote the development of new power distribution technologies. The 2009 Tether Challenge is designed to develop very strong tether material for use in various structural applications, including future space elevator applications. The prizes are being offered under NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program, which stimulates innovation and competition in space exploration and ongoing NASA mission areas. The Spaceward Foundation is administering both challenges for NASA. To register for and get additional information regarding the 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges, visit http://www.spaceward.org. (2/22)

NASA to Launch Carbon Dioxide Tracker Satellite (Source: Guardian)
The world's first satellite designed to map concentrations of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere is to be launched by NASA. Policymakers and governments will be able to use the data when setting and monitoring CO2 emissions targets designed to tackle climate change. "It's critical that we understand the processes controlling carbon dioxide in our atmosphere so we can predict how fast it will build up in the future and how quickly we will have to adapt to climate change," said David Crisp, principal investigator for the mission, which will blast off on a Taurus XL rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in the early hours of tomorrow morning. (2/22)

National Space Council Discussed in Senate Hearing (Source: Space Politics)
Last week's Senate Commerce Committee nomination hearing for John Holdren (OSTP) and Jane Lubchenco (NOAA) produced comments from Holdren about space as a critical area of investment: "I want to give special mention to the importance of R&D in our space program. Maintaining and expanding our capabilities in space is sometimes regarded as a luxury that we should do less of in the face of more pressing earthbound concerns...Space is crucial to our national defense; it’s crucial to civil as well as military communications and geopositioning; it’s crucial to weather forecasting and storm monitoring; crucial to observation and scientific study of the condition of our home planet’s land, vegetation, oceans, and atmosphere; and it’s crucial to scientific study and exploration looking outward...investments in space are a bargain."

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) asked Holdren about plans to reestablish the National Space Council. Holdren’s response: "The short answer...is yes, it is a priority. We have been looking at what the best way to resurrect the National Space Council in the White House would be...There’s no question that the gap in our capacity to put people in space is a matter of great concern with the shuttle program coming to an end and its successor program not yet ready. We are looking at that very carefully and I would look forward to working with you and Sen. Nelson and other members of this committee on how we can shrink that gap."

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) remarked: "That’s great, because one of the failings in the past, and not just with this immediate past administration, but previous ones, is that NASA becomes the handmaiden of the Office of Management and Budget. And that’s not the way to set policy, by having some green eyeshade person over there determining what the policy is, whether we’re talking about NASA or NOAA or whatever it is. But that’s the way it’s been in the past, and therefore another reason at the high councils of high government policymaking to have such a council right within the White House." (2/20)

Atlas-5 to Launch Military Satellite on Mar. 9 (Source: SpaceFlightNow.com)
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the second Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft (formerly known as the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite). Built by Boeing, this geostationary communications spacecraft will serve U.S. military forces. The rocket will fly in the 421 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, two solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. (2/22)

Space Investment Summit Planned in Florida on May 27 (Source: SPACErePORT)
The sixth Space Investment Summit will address the connection between the existing hospitality industry and the emerging space tourism industry. Presentations will focus on the latest developments in the rapidly growing space tourism industry (vehicles, funding, destinations, timeframes, numbers of customers and more), as well as new cross-industry business opportunities. The event will precede the annual International Space Development Conference, to be held at the same location. The California Space Authority is a sponsor. Visit http://spaceinvestmentsummit.com/ for information. (2/22)