March 8, 2018

Space Florida's Shiloh Launch Site in Slow-Motion March Forward (Source: SPACErePORT)
Florida's competitors are playing up the increasingly busy launch cadence at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. They say the Cape is too busy to accommodate the new crop of small launch vehicles, but they ignore the Eastern Range's impressive moves toward being able to launch multiple missions on the same day. They may also point to the limited real estate at the Cape for new launch pads, although LC-46, LC-20, and LC-39C are available, and at least two "green-field" sites are available immediately north and south of the LC-39 pads.

Then there's Shiloh, a site on the far-north end of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport promoted a few years ago by Space Florida for a new launch complex. Much like Georgia's Camden spaceport, Shiloh is further inland than other Florida launch pads. But Shiloh doesn't threaten populated areas located downrange. Space Florida tells me that Shiloh is still moving forward, with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) still being developed.

"Shiloh remains an active EIS," said Dale Ketcham. "The process has been continuing but only incrementally for the last few years. The more pressing market demand for Shiloh when the EIS began was abated when the Air Force enabled the more fully commercial use of a select pad at the Cape." (He's referring here to LC-36, which is now being rebuilt by Blue Origin.) "Although the market pressure for Shiloh was relieved temporarily, the demand for that launch capability is beginning to build yet again," Ketcham said. (3/8)

Commercial Space Firms Looking at Vandenberg AFB, Colonel Says (Source: Noozhawk.com)
A number of commercial space companies are eyeing Vandenberg Air Force Base for future operations, a colonel told a crowd of community leaders in an annual speech. Col. Gregory Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander, also noted plans to land a rocket's spent first stage at the coastal site in the future, and the base’s first interplanetary launch of a craft to Mars this spring. And Orbital ATK's new NGL rocket could launch from the VAFB pad currently used by ULA for Delta-2 rockets. (3/7)

Vector, Other Firms Consider Helping Brazil Spaceport Lift Off (Source: Reuters)
Aerospace titans Boeing and Lockheed Martin in December visited the Alcantara space center, but the Brazilian space agency’s launch site is especially attractive to smaller firms because its equatorial location cuts fuel costs by a third. Still, Brazil’s aim of becoming a hot new hub in the space industry will depend on negotiating a technology safeguards agreement (TSA) with the U.S. to protect sensitive American space launch and satellite technology. Without it, no U.S. rocket can blast off from the South American country.

Tucson, Arizona-based Vector Launch Inc, which specializes in small rockets, appears eager to launch from the Brazilian site. The company wants to undercut big payload specialists like billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s SpaceX by launching satellites one at a time on smaller rockets, cutting costs and wait time for clients. “Our vision is to launch hundreds of Vector rockets into orbit to satisfy the growing market for microsatellites,” said Vector Vice President Alex Rodriguez, who made a December visit to Alcantara coordinated by Boeing. (3/8)

California's ABL Considers Georgia for Rocket Launches and Manufacturing (Source: BizJournals)
A Los Angeles-based aerospace startup is considering Georgia’s first commercial spaceport for a rocket manufacturing and launch operation. ABL Space Systems has signed an agreement with Camden County officials to explore launch operations at Spaceport Camden, a 400-acre proposed spaceport in Southeast Georgia.

The small satellite launch provider, started by former SpaceX engineers, has developed a rocket designed to place 900 kilograms into low earth orbit, or 650 kilograms into sun synchronous orbit. ABL, which has targeted 2020 for its first commercial launch, is interested in locating engineering, manufacturing and research and development in Camden County in addition to launch activities from Spaceport Camden.

“Georgia’s favorable business climate, Camden’s aerospace history, high tech military workforce and advantageous geographical location make Spaceport Camden a desirable location for both manufacturing and launching spacecraft,” ABL CEO Harry O’Hanley said in a statement. “We want to be on the ground floor of this exciting opportunity.” (3/6)

JAXA Astronauts Model Students' Winning Spacesuit Designs (Source: The Mainichi)
An awards ceremony for a spacesuit design contest for students was held at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) here on March 7 with astronauts modeling the winning entries. The grand prize went to a design that uses images of "The 36 views of Mount Fuji" by Edo period painter Katsushika Hokusai, with other features inspired by traditional Japanese fashion. (3/8)

Jacksonville's Cecil Spaceport Prepares for Launch (Source: Jacksonville Business Journal)
Todd Lindner, director of Cecil Spaceport, says the work going into the spaceport's first horizontal launch is just beginning. It plans to launch by spring 2019. The launch is being planned by Generation Orbit using an air-launch approach that drops the rocket from underneath an aircraft during flight. (3/8)

Vector Founder: “100 Percent” Confident in First Orbital Launch This Year (Source: Ars Technica)
The cofounder of the Vector rocket company, James Cantrell, said this week that he is 100 percent confident that his Vector-R vehicle will launch this year. This launch will occur from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska, carrying a payload of two PocketQube satellites and an Alba Orbital deployer.

"My confidence level is 100 percent," Cantrell said during a telephone interview with Ars on Thursday. "Not to pick on them, but we don't work on SpaceX schedules. We can't afford to run a business like that. We're not giving you schedules that we know we can't live with." (3/7)

Astronaut Encourages Girls to Pursue STEM at UNF Forum (Source: News4Jax)
Hundreds gathered at the University of North Florida to hear astronaut Nicole Stott talk about her experience and to encourage girls to become involved and pursue careers in science, technology and engineering. Click here. (3/6)

Orbital Station Developer Launches Kickstarter Campaign (Source: ePRNews)
The Gateway Foundation is working to build a permanent orbiting space station and wants to enlist an army of drones to repair and maintain space stations and other equipment in the harsh environment of space. And they want the public to help.

“To best develop human habitats in space, on the Moon and Mars we need fleets of advanced drones that can build structures and repair and maintain equipment,” said Dr. Thomas Spilker, Chief Architect of the Gateway Foundation. “There are few technical advances that could do more to accelerate the development of space than autonomous and remote piloted construction, maintenance, repair and survey drones,” he said.

The Gateway Foundation aims to build a permanent orbiting station (with artificial ‘gravity’) as a gateway to our solar system and has launched the Orbital Assembly company with the goal of becoming Earth’s first turn-key space construction company. To advance the concept of drones working in space and attract needed investors the Foundation is launching a Kickstarter campaign to produce a high-quality video that describes why drones are necessary to our future in space. (3/1)

Hypersonics Top Priority for DOD R&D Efforts (Source: Defense News)
Michael Griffin, Defense Department undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, says hypersonic capabilities are a top priority. "I'm sorry for everybody out there who champion[s] some other high priority, some technical thing; it's not that I disagree with those. But there has to be a first, and hypersonics is my first," he said. (3/6)

Jupiter's Jet-Streams Are Unearthly (Source: SpaceRef)
The findings will improve understanding of Jupiter's interior structure, core mass and, eventually, its origin. Other Juno science results released today include that the massive cyclones that surround Jupiter's north and south poles are enduring atmospheric features and unlike anything else encountered in our solar system. The findings are part of a four-article collection on Juno science results being published in the March 8 edition of the journal Nature.

"These astonishing science results are yet another example of Jupiter's curve balls, and a testimony to the value of exploring the unknown from a new perspective with next-generation instruments. Juno's unique orbit and evolutionary high-precision radio science and infrared technologies enabled these paradigm-shifting discoveries," said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio. "Juno is only about one third the way through its primary mission, and already we are seeing the beginnings of a new Jupiter." (3/8)

‘I Went From Bad Student To NASA Astronaut’: Scott Kelly (Source: Inquisitr)
Former American astronaut Scott Kelly says he was a poor student until he found inspiration in Tom Wolfe’s famous book “The Right Stuff” that he read at the age of 18 while pursuing bachelor’s degree in science from the State University of New York Maritime College. According to Scott, this book, which was about America’s early space programs, inspired him to work hard in his studies and to also excel in his career as a NASA astronaut. (3/7)

Rohrabacher's Controversial Russia Ties (Sources: The Hill, SPACErePORT)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s (R-CA) ties to Russia have become a flashpoint as the longtime congressman faces his toughest reelection to date. Rohrabacher, who’s represented Orange County for nearly 30 years, has long been considered one of the most pro-Russia members of Congress. But recent developments in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s election interference have again put the spotlight on that relationship as Rohrabacher fights for his seat.

Rohrabacher has been a vocal member of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics and is the chairman for the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats. He has drawn scrutiny from both parties over his warm relations with Russia. The New York Times reported in May that the FBI warned Rohrabacher in 2012 that Russian spies were trying to recruit him as an “agent of influence.” (3/8)

Barr: Space Competition is More Important Than ‘Starman’ (Source: The Hill)
Broadly speaking, the advent of modern crony capitalism can be traced directly to the 20th century explosion of federal government involvement in virtually every economic activity in which society is engaged, and using taxpayer dollars to mold the marketplace to its agenda. This has produced a class of business people adept at manipulating government, and reducing competition in favor of projects in which they are involved, thereby reaping substantial pecuniary gains.

Although I agree with Gingrich that the “Starman” photos are cool, they hardly will provide the impetus for a major shift in educational foci and career paths for a new generation of young people. It will take far more than that. It will also take far more than one successful rocket launch to rekindle America’s leadership in rocketry that we deliberately surrendered after the phenomenal success of the Apollo moon program in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Regaining leadership in this technology-driven field will take continued success, vast resources and perseverance. Most important, it will take competition. And competitors to Musk there are — including Jeff Bezos’ “Blue Origin” and ULA. The effort will prove more costly and lengthy if the mistake is made to put all our eggs in one basket — no matter how cool the pictures or how convincing the messenger. If America is to regain its leadership in space science, exploration and manufacturing, it will be because we have not closed the door to competition or because we have been taken in by the legerdemain of a master manipulator. (3/7)