February 28 News Items

Canada Eyeing Development of Robotic Arm for Orion (Source: Space News)
The Canadian Space Agency has given MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates seed money to examine the development of a new-generation robotic arm that could ultimately be used for NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. The as-yet unbuilt arm could be offered to the U.S. space agency in exchange for flying a Canadian astronaut on an Orion mission, according to officials with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) of Richmond, British Columbia. (2/28)

ISDC Conference Offers "Affiliate Organization" Program (Source: NSSFL)
ISDC has a long tradition as a cooperative effort! Interested organizations, institutions, social clubs, schools, and other groups can join the ISDC team by becoming an "Affiliate Organization". Benefits to Affiliate Organizations and Institutions include 'Member' registration rates, one free registration for Affiliate staff, recognition in conference publications and website, affirmation of the Affiliate’s role in supporting space activities. Visit http://www.isdc2009.org/affiliates for information. (2/27)

Iridium Plans for New System Unchanged by Collision (Source: Space News)
Iridium Satellite LLC expects its second-generation constellation of low-orbiting satellites — to be ordered by June, will be placed into the same orbit as its current spacecraft— having concluded that the orbit is only marginally more risky following the Feb. 10 collision of an Iridium satellite with a retired Russian spacecraft, Iridium Chief Executive Matt Desch said. (2/28)

Iran Sets its Sights Higher Following Omid Launch (Source: Space News)
Iran intends to use the successful Feb. 2 launch of its Omid store-and-forward communications satellite to spur development of larger spacecraft and higher-capacity versions of the Iranian-built Safir-2 rocket that placed it into orbit, an official with the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) said. In a Feb. 12 address in Vienna to the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), Reaza Taghipour Anvari of ISA said Omid's development is viewed by the Iranian government as a way to encourage interest in high technology. (2/28)

Steve Isakowitz Leads the Pack for NASA Administrator Job (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
According to administration insiders, the list of candidates to be Barack Obama’s new NASA Administrator now stands at four: Retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles; retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration; former NASA astronaut and retired Marine Corps general, Charles Bolden; and Steve Isakowitz, the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Energy and a former top NASA official. The administration has given no indication when the president will nominate his selection for the top job at NASA, but there are suggestions that it could be coming soon. All candidates are undergoing careful White House vetting and scrutiny. The eventual nominee will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (2/27)

Russia Sends Military Satellite Into Space (Source: Xinhua)
Russia launched a Proton-K rocket on Saturday to send a military satellite into orbit. It blasted off from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. The three-stage heavy-class rocket, produced by the Khrunichev space scientific and production center, is widely used in delivering Russian and foreign satellites to orbits. The launchweight of a Proton-K is about 700 tons. (2/28)

CSA's Space Week Planned in Washington on Apr. 20-24 (Source: CSA)
It's time to travel to Washington, D.C., to educate federal officials regarding vital space policy issues. We will meet with Congressional members and staff as well as executive branch officials from the White House, Department of Defense, NASA, Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, and the Department of State to discuss issues related to civil space, national security space, education and workforce, and export controls. Visit http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/spaceweekdc2009/registration.html for information. (2/27)

CSA's Space Day Planned in Sacramento on May 12 (Source: CSA)
Save the date. Last year, over 45 individuals representing a very diverse space enterprise community convened at the State Capitol for a day of legislative visits, known as California Space Day Sacramento. Participants were divided into 9 teams and met with over 50 legislative offices. Visit http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/spacedaysacto2008/registration.html for information. (2/27)

Wyle to Expand Bay Area Operations to Support Space Tourism (Sources: Bay Area Citizen News, Parabolic Arc)
The company that watches out for the health and well-being of astronauts on the space shuttle, the Space Station, and soon, in the Constellation program, is growing and expanding its expertise into other markets, as well. Wyle Industries’ Integrated Science and Engineering Group, based in the Bay Area, employs scientists, engineers, physicians and Mission Control operators who team up to oversee every aspect of technologies that help astronauts stay healthy while they’re in outer space.

The group is taking its expertise to other markets, such as the growing commercial human spaceflight industry. Wyle has a contract with Virgin Galactic, which will send paying customers up on suborbital flights, to provide a chief medical officer and other related services to the company’s “Founders Group,” the first 100 customers to buy tickets. Wyle employees will ensure that each customer is screened properly and prepared for flight, and that they understand the risk involved, McDonald said. (2/6)