March 5 News Items

U.S. Experts Critical of Russian Officer's Suspicion Over Satellite Collision (Source: Xinhua)
A former Russian senior officer's suspicion that the collision between a U.S. Iridium satellite and a Russian defunct satellite last month was manipulated by the U.S. is groundless, said a spokeswoman of Iridium Satellite LLC. She said that the event was obviously unfortunate and it pointed to "the much larger need for international cooperation to ensure that all parties and countries with valuable assets in space have the means and resources to work together to protect those assets..."As to the statements made by the Russian military, there is no basis in fact to these allegations and we invite the Russian officials to contact directly the U.S. government," said said. (3/5)

U.S. Mogul's Wife Calls Time on $60 Million Space Hobby (Source: Reuters)
U.S. software mogul Charles Simonyi plans to make history this month by becoming the first tourist to travel to space twice, but after watching him spend $60 million his new wife has decided to clip his wings. His wife has told him the $35 million space flight would be his last to the International Space Station (ISS). "I decided to fly before I got engaged and my wife agreed that I would be able to fly just once more, so I cannot fly a third time," Simonyi told journalists on Thursday at the Star City cosmonaut training camp outside Moscow. (3/5)

NASA Discovering More Counterfeit Spacecraft Parts (Source: Bloomberg)
NASA and the aerospace industry are grappling with an escalating problem of counterfeit parts installed on spacecraft, the agency’s head said. “We find out late they are counterfeit parts,” Christopher Scolese, NASA’s acting administrator told a House subcommittee. “We find out about it while sitting atop a rocket or, worse, find out about it in space.” Although NASA has contended with counterfeit parts for years, the problem is “growing,” he told reporters after the hearing.

The latest incident involved the Kepler spacecraft, an unmanned probe that will launch tomorrow on a mission to search for planets like Earth. In December, a federal grand jury in San Diego indicted Western Titanium Inc. and four of the San Diego-based firm’s executives for allegedly issuing false certifications on titanium parts used on the Kepler and the F-15 and F-22 fighter jets. (3/5)

No More Space Tourism for Russia's Myasishchev Design Bureau (Source: Hyperbola)
Sources at Russia's United Aircraft (UA) have informed Hyperbola that the Myasishchev Design Bureau is being absorbed into the state run aviation company, created in 2006, and its headquarters is to be bulldozed so the Russian Federal government can sell the land in central Moscow. Myasishchev had been involved in a space tourism feasibility study for an undisclosed Russian organization but that has ended and all of its activities will now be focused on design work for UA with no more work on space related studies.

The design bureau had been involved with the Space Adventures suborbital tourism venture when it was announced in February 2006. But by October 2006 another major partner in that tourism effort, investment company Prodea, had begun to sound less than firm on how the project might move forward. The work for the undisclosed Russian partner appeared to follow on from the Space Adventures study but since the October 2007 posting on Myasishchev's news website there has been total silence on the project. (3/5)

Brevard Workforce Board Taps Embry-Riddle Institute for Space Plan (Source: BWDB)
As our nation's space program transitions toward new priorities and new vehicles, Florida and other states must devise strategies to maintain their aerospace workforce. Under a federal grant, the Brevard Workforce Development Board has selected Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and its Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI) to explore options for diversifying the state's role beyond its current support for government-sponsored launch programs like NASA's Space Shuttle and military expendable rockets.

"Among the states involved in our nation's space program, Florida's workforce will be hardest hit by NASA's retirement of the Space Shuttle program. Mitigating these impacts is a top priority for our organization," said BWDB's president. "This is much more than a local jobs issue...the space transportation workforce and infrastructure at the Cape are strategically important to the nation and represent an investment of many billions of dollars. Use of these taxpayer-developed assets should be maximized as a matter of public policy," said an Embry-Riddle official. (3/5)

U.S. Might Lose Technological Leadership (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
A Duke University survey indicates half of U.S. citizens asked expect another nation to emerge this century as the world's leader in technology. The survey, commissioned by Duke's Pratt School of Engineering, showed that although 34 percent of respondents gave themselves a grade of A or B for understanding "the world of engineers and what they do," 72 percent nonetheless expect the technological advancements of the 21st century to surpass those of the previous century.

However, 49 percent of those asked predict the U.S. will lead the way in producing those advances, to the survey of 808 U.S. adults carried out Jan. 22-25 by Hart Research Associates indicates. China was cited by 20 percent of respondents as being most likely to assume the technological leadership position, followed by Japan and Europe at 10 percent each and India at 4 percent. (3/5)

Can Comedian Colbert Take Over the Space Station? (Source: Space.com)
NASA's naming contest for a new space station module now faces a fresh challenger in the form of comedian Stephen Colbert. Colbert urged fans to put his name in the running on Tuesday's episode of his fake-conservative show "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, after dismissing the four NASA-chosen names — Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity and Venture. "Those aren't space modules, those are organic teas," Colbert said. "But you know what name would look fantastic on the side of that module? Colbert!"

Viewers of the show responded quickly. By Wednesday, Colbert celebrated seeing his name rocket to the top of the write-in list, beating out former favorite "Xenu" which refers to a galactic ruler in Scientology's teachings. "Folks, I'm telling you, if we keep this up until the contest ends on March 20, my name will live forever — or at least until that node burns up in a fiery reentry," Colbert said on Wednesday's show. "Which is how I'd like to go out myself." (3/5)

US Space Tourist Shrugs Off $10 Million Price Hike (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
American software tycoon Charles Simonyi on Thursday shrugged off a $10 million price hike by Russia for his next space flight, saying space tourism was the way of the future. Simonyi, one of the brains behind the rise of Microsoft, said the 35 million dollars (28 million euro) he is paying for his March 26 trip -- compared to the $25 million bill he paid for a first trip in 2007 -- was worth it. (3/5)

STRDI Bill Attracts More Florida Legislative Support After Space Day (Source: SPACErePORT)
When announced in an Embry-Riddle news release on Space Day (March 4) in Tallahassee, legislation that would support a multi-university Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI) was being supported by 21 legislators, including two sponsors and 19 co-sponsors. Following Space Day, the bill attracted five additional co-sponsors. With a total of 26 members putting their names on the bill, STRDI has garnered an impressive base of support as the state begins the 2009 Legislative Session. The legislation's primary sponsors are Representative Dorothy Hukill and Senator Evelyn Lynn. STRDI is an effort to expand and diversify the Florida's involvement in space-related research & technology development, leveraging the state's current capabilities and interest in space transportation. (3/5)

University of Miami Among Members of New NASA/Air Force Hypersonic Science Centers (Source: NASA)
NASA and the United States Air Force have designated three university/industry partnerships in California, Texas and Virginia as national hypersonic science centers. The new centers will advance research in air-breathing propulsion, materials and structures, and boundary layer control for aircraft that can travel at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, and faster. NASA and the Air Force selected the University of Virginia, Texas A&M, and California-based Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC from more than 60 respondents to a broad agency announcement.

The University of Miami is a partner in the Teledyne-led National Hypersonic Science Center for Hypersonic Materials and Structures. This Center will revolutionize the design of hypersonic vehicles by creating a new class of hybrid, hierarchical materials that achieve substantial breakthroughs in oxidation resistance, maximum useable temperature, and maximum supportable heat flux. Click here for information. (3/5)

Editorial: Why the Space Program is Vital to Texas (Source: The Statesman)
At upcoming events in Austin and College Station, we will celebrate Texas Space Week. Attendees will be able to experience a little of the wonder and amazement I felt during my tenure as director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA and the space program are made up of some of the finest people I know, and I have plenty of experience in this area. Before I began my service at NASA, I led thousands of America’s most dedicated service members, as the U.S. Marines commander in the Pacific. I believe that what the Marines are to our national defense, the space program is to our technological future.

Houston, and by extension the great state of Texas, is synonymous with the space program, and I share the pride we all feel in that connection. As a faculty member at the University of Texas, I see first-hand how our locally based space program inspires Texas students to take on difficult science, engineering and math curricula. NASA’s proximity also offers young Texans research unmatched anywhere else. These opportunities help keep our state competitive in an increasingly competitive world. (3/5)

International Dominance: 7 Nations Launching the Next Space Race (Source: Popular Mechanics)
North Korea is about to launch its first satellite. Iran launched theirs last month. India's space agency recently got the green light to send people into space, and China's announced plans to build a space station. Getting to space is no longer for a few, technically apt nations. Here's a look at seven countries that have their sights on orbit and the capabilities to get there. Click here to view the article. (3/5)

Rocket Racers Seek New Mexico Funding (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
Granger Whitelaw, chief executive officer of Rocket Racing League, said last week that his company still has every intention to make Las Cruces its international headquarters. However, he and other league officials are waiting to see if the New Mexico Legislature will approve $3 million in state funding that would be used by the league to build and develop an aerospace research park next to the airport. “It’s all in their hands,” said Whitelaw, of the legislature’s decision. “The governor has expressed his desire to see us get the funding, and we can guarantee it will help New Mexico.” (3/5)

Space Florida Responds to Space Tourism Editorial (Source: Parabolic Arc)
Space Florida has issued a response to a column in the Orlando Sentinel yesterday by Bob Werb. The Space Frontier Foundation founder took the state to task for falling behind New Mexico and other locations in the race to attract space tourism companies. Space Florida says they are much farther along than Werb claims, citing “a number of Non-Disclosure Agreements with potential customers that we are unable to publicly announce.” The note also recounts a number of already publicized commercial initiatives as proof that it’s moving Florida in the right direction.

These include working with NASA to open the Shuttle Landing Facility for commercial use; development of a FASTRACK microgravity experiment carrier for space tourism vehicles; financing for the "Shuttle Launch Experience" at the KSC Visitor Complex; support to commercial spaceport initiatives in Jacksonville and South Florida; and others. Click here to view the article. (3/5)

Japan Taking The Stink Out Of Space Travel (Source: Forbes)
No one may hear you scream in space, but they might smell your cheesy feet. Overlooked in the technological wonder that makes space travel possible is the less often mentioned reality that astronauts, particularly those aboard the International Space Station, have to make do with some rather low-tech appurtenances. Astronauts on the ISS wear the same clothes for days on end, even after workouts or strenuous space walks. A shower fitted in the station's living quarters doesn't work, and mechanical problems last year temporarily put its toilet out of order. The three astronauts that normally inhabit the outpost have to make do with wet wipes to keep their odors at bay and have an emergency supply of bags in case their restroom goes on the blink again.

It's therefore good fortune that rather than aspiring to boldly go, Japan's space program has instead started fussing over the mundane practicalities of living in outer space. Slated to head out into orbit on the next shuttle flight in March is veteran Japanese space adventurer Koichi Wakata. His main mission during the three months he will circle the earth is to measure the stress of weightlessness on the human body and to dose himself with drugs concocted to counter the calcium-sapping effect that zero gravity will have on his bones.

That's not, however, groundbreaking research. Boffins have for decades been using astronauts as guinea pigs in similar experiments. What's new is that as he exercises to keep his skeleton from getting brittle he will be wearing garments made of an experimental light-activated deodorizing material developed at the Japan Women's University in Tokyo. Should mankind ever undertake the long-haul voyages through the vast emptiness of space in search of alien life, having smell-free clothes might avert any embarrassing contacts with extraterrestrials who have noses. (3/5)

Russia Building Anti-Satellite Weapons (Source: AP)
Russia is working to develop anti-satellite weapons to match efforts by other nations, a deputy defense minister said. Gen. Valentin Popovkin said Russia continues to oppose a space arms race but will respond to moves made by other countries. "We can't sit back and quietly watch others doing that, such work is being conducted in Russia," Popovkin was quoted as saying. Russia already has some "basic, key elements" of such weapons, but refused to elaborate, Popovkin said at a news conference in response to a question about U.S. and Chinese tests of anti-satellite weapons. (3/5)

NASA Revives Sick Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (Source: Florida Today)
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has bounced back from a phantom power surge that stalled its science operations at the red planet last week. The spacecraft, NASA's youngest orbiter at Mars, resumed its red planet reconnaissance duties on Tuesday after engineers sent commands to power up its eight science instruments. The Mars probe's maladies began on Feb. 23, when the spacecraft reported a voltage spike that triggered a computer reboot and forced the orbiter to enter a protective "safe mode" to avoid further damage. But the voltage reading was apparently false, and may have been sparked by high-energy cosmic ray striking the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. (3/5)

Space Day in Tallahassee is Declared a "Success" (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Florida aerospace leaders wrapped up their annual Space Day celebration in the state capital on Wednesday night, declaring the event a “complete success”. Sometimes the message was candy-coated and overly optimistic, such as when NASA and industry officials told Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp that they did not believe that current five year gap between the end of the shuttle and launch of the agency’s successor spaceship would grow. (Many experts say that the planned 2015 launch date for the new Ares I rocket and Orion capsule looks increasingly optimistic.) But often the stark truth of the situation was conveyed.

And while space leaders were not pushing any initiatives that would require state funding, legislators were not offering much beyond moral support anyway. Facing a potential $5 billion plus budget shortfall next year, House and Senate leaders are bracing for huge spending cuts and demanding more accountability from economic-development groups, including Space Florida. That agency’s big hope in Tallahassee this lawmaking session is an effort to give tax rebates to commercial space companies.

There is also a bill being introduced by Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, to support a multiuniversity initiative to pursue federal sponsorship of space research and technology programs. "This bill will enable our state to better work with our Federal partners to ensure that Florida remains the world leader in cutting edge space technology," she said. Click here to view the article. (3/5)

USAF Space Command Commander Speaks On Changing Nature Of Warfare (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
AFSPC Commander Gen. Robert Kehler spoke in Orlando about the future of conflict. "We're very excited about what is happening in our command," he said, referring to the decision to make Air Force Space Command the lead for Air Force cyberspace operations, which will entail creating a new Air Force branch. "When you come to work and you log in... you are entering a war zone, and everyone has to be a defender," said Gen. Kehler. He also talked about the missions AFSPC is already charged with, such as the intercontinental ballistic missile force, comprising approximately 10,000 individuals. (3/5)

Sea Launch Official Joins SpaceX As VP Of Business Development (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
SpaceX has announced Rob Peckham has joined the company as Vice President of Business Development. In this role, Peckham's primary responsibilities include the development and expansion of SpaceX's customer base across its family of launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft, as well as leading the sales, marketing and mission management teams. Most recently, Rob served as President and General Manager of Sea Launch, the international launch services consortium formed by four companies: Boeing Commercial Space, Energia of Russia, SDO Yuzhnoye / PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine, and Aker Solutions of Norway. (3/5)

Obama Blasts Wasteful Government Contracts, Singles Out Defense (Source: AIA)
President Barack Obama took aim at no-bid and cost-plus contracts, promising to rein in government spending programs "plagued by massive cost overruns and outright fraud." With Sen. John McCain at his side, Obama pledged to save taxpayers up to $40 billion a year with a comprehensive overhaul of the contracting process. "We will stop outsourcing services that should be performed by the government and open up the contracting process to small businesses," Obama said. (3/5)

Northrop Plans Administrative Layoffs in Southern California (Source: AIA)
Northrop Grumman will lay off as many as 750 employees as it consolidates two administrative offices in Southern California. In January, the company announced the merger of its Integrated Systems unit, which makes airplanes, with its Space Technology division, which builds satellites. Northrop said workers will begin receiving layoff notices next month, but overall employment could still grow because the company has 850 unfilled skilled technical positions in engineering and manufacturing areas. (3/5)

Rice Study Hints At Water - And Life - Under Olympus Mons (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
The Martian volcano Olympus Mons is about three times the height of Mount Everest, but it's the small details that Rice University professors are looking at in thinking about whether the Red Planet ever had - or still supports - life. Using a computer modeling system to figure out how Olympus Mons came to be, they reached the surprising conclusion that pockets of ancient water may still be trapped under the mountain. Their research is published in February's issue of the journal Geology. (3/5)

Embry-Riddle Gaining Support for Space Transportation R&D Institute (Source: AMT Online)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University announces it is gaining support for a multi-university Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI) as space industry leaders gather in Tallahassee for Florida Space Day today. STRDI, an initiative begun last year by the University, would bring together industry, academic, and government stakeholders to gain federal and state support to build a national center for space transportation research and development, similar to the FAA-sponsored aviation R&D centers based at Embry-Riddle and other universities.

As part of this effort, a bill supporting STRDI as a means to diversify Florida's involvement in space-related research has been introduced by Sen. Evelyn Lynn and Rep. Dorothy Hukill. The bill will be considered during the 2009 Legislative Session which began this week in Tallahassee. Click here for information. (3/5)

New Mexico City Approves Aerospace Park (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
The Las Cruces City Council has unanimously adopted a resolution identifying 182 acres of undeveloped land just south of Las Cruces International Airport for a commercial aerospace business and research park. Companies that can meet the requirements of the city's Local Economic Development Act — by guaranteeing new jobs at or better than the average wage for Doña Ana County residents — would be eligible to build a plant within the research park. Initially, most of the land was projected to be used for aerospace research and development. In October 2006, Rocket Racing League announced intentions to build an aerospace park on 171.35 acres just south of Las Cruces International Airport. But the deadline to formally acquire the land passed on Sunday. (3/5)

Florida Space Day Brings Optimism for Future (Source: Florida Today)
Kennedy Space Center's chief of staff and an Apollo astronaut told state legislators Wednesday that Florida's best days in space exploration are still to come, despite current tough economic times. Also Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who heads the Space Florida consortium promoting research and development of Florida as a commercial launch base, said he and Gov. Charlie Crist are committed to beating the competition from other states and nations regarding the final frontier.

The annual Space Day this year was clouded by the impending loss of about 3,500 jobs in the Space Coast area as the shuttle program ends next year. And in a move that seemingly complicates the goal of keeping talented scientists and engineers in Brevard, NASA's shuttle contractor, United Space Alliance, is negotiating with the chamber of commerce in Huntsville, Ala., for jobs at the planned military Missile Defense Agency. The agency is moving from Virginia to Alabama by 2011.

Despite these dark clouds and the state's general economic malaise, the mood was upbeat as about 80 executives and three astronauts fanned out through the Capitol and legislative offices to remind legislators of the importance of space in Florida's future. Joe Dowdy, a blunt 26-year Marine who heads the KSC staff for NASA, said future space commitments will determine whether America remains a great nation or fades into history like other major civilizations. (3/5)

China to Select Five to Seven New Taikonauts for Space Station Mission (Source: Xinhua)
China has started a new round of taikonauts selection, and five to seven will enter the finalist, said an officer of the country's space program. "The new taikonauts will mainly take missions related to China's planned space station," Zhang Jianqi, deputy chief commander of the manned space project, told Xinhua on the sidelines of China's parliament annual session. Zhang, also a deputy of the National People's Congress (NPC), or parliament. (3/5)

Could Life on Earth Have Come From Ceres? (Source: Astrobiology Magazine)
Astrobiologists hope to find life elsewhere in the universe, or possibly even in our own cosmic neighborhood, the solar system. Their efforts are usually concentrated on worlds such as the planet Mars, or icy moons like Europa. However, there are other, less conventional locations in the solar system where scientists think life may be found. Joop Houtkooper from the University of Giessen divulged a theory that life could have originated on an object in the asteroid belt named Ceres. Ceres was considered a planet when discovered in 1801, but was later given asteroid status. With the latest planet definition, the round object is now considered a dwarf planet. Is there a chance that this exotic world is home to extraterrestrial organisms?

“This idea came to me when I heard a talk about all the satellites in the solar system that consist of a large part of ice, much of which is probably still in a liquid state,” says Houtkooper. “The total volume of all this water is something like 40 times greater than all the oceans on Earth.” Organisms may have first developed around hydrothermal vents, which lie at the bottom of oceans and spew hot chemicals from their rocky cores. Houtkooper realized, “if life is not unique to the Earth and could exist elsewhere, then these icy bodies are the places where life may have originated.”

Early in the history of the solar system was a period known as Late Heavy Bombardment, a turbulent time when cataclysmic asteroid impacts were common. If there was life on Earth before this dangerous era, it was most likely eradicated and had to begin again after much of this cosmic debris had cleared out of the inner solar system. Interestingly, evidence indicates that Ceres avoided being pummelled by devastating impacts during this time. Click here to view the article. (3/5)

NASA Aims for Wednesday Shuttle Launch (Source: Florida Today)
NASA shuttle program managers got comfortable Wednesday with suspect main propulsion system valves and aim to launch Discovery and seven astronauts next Wednesday at 9:20 p.m. That's a day earlier than previously planned. The date still must be firmed up during a flight readiness review on Friday. But managers and engineers who have been sharply divided for the past month now have reached a consensus. They now think extensive testing and analyses prove it's safe to fly Discovery, even though one of three critical gaseous hydrogen flow control valves failed during Endeavour's successful launch in November. (3/5)

Putin Accepts Resignation of Federal Space Agency Deputy (Source: Interfax)
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accepted the resignation of Federal Space Agency Deputy Director Yuri Nosenko, the Russian government portal said on Thursday. (3/5)