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May
5, 2008
Mars Landing Sites Targeted (Source: Baltimore Examiner)
Planetary geologists at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Laboratory in are poring over spectrograph data of the Red Planet,
looking for sites for human exploration. The list is down to six
locations, said an APL official, using data provided by the Compact
Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars on NASA’s Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter. “We’re continuing to extensively map the planet
as much as we can, both at high resolution and the global image,” she
said. (4/28)
Scientists Say Photos Show Two Hot Springs on Mars (Source: AIA)
Scientists have identified what they say may be remains of two hot
springs on Mars. The pictures suggest water may have flowed on Mars
within the past tens of millions of years. "This is the first time that
features that are so close in all of their shapes and details to
springs on Earth have been reported and identified on Mars," said
Carlton Allen of NASA's Johnson Space Center. "This puts the story of
water on the Martian surface in a totally different context." (4/29)
Wanted: Space-Age Dust Removal On Mars (Source:
SpaceRef.com)
NASA's Spirit rover has accumulated a lot of dust during four years of
exploring Mars, especially following last year's dust storms. Only
about one-third of incoming sunlight is able to penetrate dust on the
rover's solar panels to be converted to electricity. As a result,
Spirit is experiencing the lowest energy levels to date and
accumulating a backlog of data waiting to be transmitted to Earth. The
only available cleaning agent would be a timely gust of Martian wind!
(4/29)
NASA, APL Going to the Sun (Source: Science Blog)
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is sending a
spacecraft closer to the sun than any probe has ever gone – and what it
finds could revolutionize what we know about our star and the solar
wind that influences everything in our solar system. NASA has tapped
APL to develop the ambitious Solar Probe mission, which will study the
streams of charged particles the sun hurls into space from a vantage
point within the sun’s corona – its outer atmosphere – where the
processes that heat the corona and produce solar wind occur. At closest
approach Solar Probe would zip past the sun at 125 miles per second,
protected by a carbon-composite heat shield that must withstand up to
2,600 degrees Fahrenheit and survive blasts of radiation and energized
dust at levels not experienced by any previous spacecraft.
Experts in the U.S. and abroad have grappled
with this mission concept for more than 30 years, running into
seemingly insurmountable technology and budgetary limitations. But in
February an APL-led team completed a Solar Probe engineering and
mission design study at NASA’s request, detailing just how the robotic
mission could be accomplished. The study team used an APL-led 2005
study as its baseline, but then significantly altered the concept to
meet challenging cost and technical conditions provided by NASA. (5/2)
NASA to Launch GRAIL
Satellite on Delta II (Source: ULA)
NASA has designated the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory
(GRAIL) mission to fly aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket.
The launch will be provided under terms of a launch service agreement
procured previously by NASA for this vehicle. The liftoff will occur
from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in the third
quarter of 2011.
GRAIL will fly twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the moon for
several months to measure its gravity field in unprecedented detail.
The mission will also answer longstanding questions about Earth's moon
and provide scientists a better understanding of how the Earth and
other rocky planets in the solar system formed. (5/1)
Discovery Arrives at Launch Pad (Source: Florida Today)
Less than a month from launch, Discovery has been moved to its launch
pad, taking a nearly six-hour trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building. The orbiter will receive
its payload on Monday--the 32,500-pound Japanese Kibo laboratory, which
will be added to the International Space Station during a 13-day
mission.
The launch is scheduled for 5:02 a.m. on May 31. Work in the
VAB went so well that crews now have seven contingency days in the
schedule. They started with no schedule padding after bad weather
delayed the arrival of the external tank and the launch about a week.
(5/3)
Hubble Servicing Mission Delayed (Source: SpaceToday.net)
A shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope has been delayed
at least four weeks because of production delays with the shuttle's
external tank. Shuttle Atlantis was scheduled to launch on August 28 on
the long-awaited STS-125 mission to service Hubble, but that mission
will now be pushed back, most likely to early October. That and later
missions are being delayed four to five weeks because of changes in the
production of the shuttle's external tanks to fully incorporate design
modifications made after the Columbia accident. A complicating factor
is that since STS-125 will not be going to the ISS, there is no option
for the shuttle to stay there as a "safe haven" should a problem
prevent the orbiter from returning as planned, requiring a second
shuttle be ready to launch on a rescue mission. The delays also mean
that NASA will perform five missions in 2008, instead of the planned
six. (5/2)
ATK Tests Oldest SRB To Verify Safety Model (Source: Space
News)
Alliant Techsystems successfully test-fired a space shuttle reusable
solid-rocket motor May 1 in the Utah desert. The test verified
that the ATK-built boosters remain safe to use for shuttle launches up
to five years after the propellant has been cast. The seven year old
booster was the oldest space shuttle solid-rocket motor ever fired.
Another main objective of the test was to gather data to aid in the
development of the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle ATK is helping NASA
build. More than 20 microphones were installed at the test site to
collect information that will help engineers predict the lift-off
acoustics of the Ares 1, which will use a longer version of the
solid-rocket booster (SRB) for its main stage. (5/2)
Ares I Thrust Oscillation
Mitigation Options Head Into Trade Study (Source:
NasaSpaceFlight.com)
A trade study has begun on three leading candidates to mitigate Ares
I's Thrust Oscillation problem, as the Tiger Team works through design
immaturity and mass constraints. Active Pulse RCS (Reaction Control
System) - mounted on the aft skirt, Isolation Mounts between the First
Stage and the Upper Stage, and a Tuned Mass Damper are three concepts
that have made the cut as the most favorable options. (4/29)
Lockheed Martin Employee on NASA Panel Eyed in Conflict Case
(Source: Rocky Mountain News)
A Lockheed Martin employee and employees at three other companies
helping to build a next-generation NASA spaceship sit on a board
charged with scrutinizing the spacecraft's construction, according to a
government watchdog. NASA's inspector general also said their
membership on the panel violates the law. The NASA inspector general's
office said six of the 19 members sitting on the Orion review board -
including its chairman - work at companies under contract to build
Orion. Four also hold stock in the companies. The report said their
employment represents a conflict of interest and that the six should be
kicked off the Standing Review Board. (5/2)
White House Race Holds Key to Future of Space Program
(Source: Orlando Sentinel)
According to Senator Bill Nelson, as shuttle era winds down, the next
president could deeply alter the future of NASA and Kennedy Space
Center. "And East-Central Florida has an opportunity to
influence the next president because, at the end of the day, Florida is going to be important
this November." His remarks were made at a Brevard County workshop intended to help
chart a strategy to deal with the looming job cuts and the post-Shuttle
gap in human spaceflight. There were few answers, however, beyond
continuing to look for ways to attract more commercial space business
to the region and to secure additional funding for NASA to speed up
Constellation.
Clinton was the first candidate
to outline support for "robust human spaceflight" and is seen as NASA's
biggest booster of the three. But there are questions on how committed
she is to the Bush administration's plans for exploration to the moon
and then Mars. McCain recently worried space supporters by backing a
plan to freeze all federal discretionary spending -- including NASA's
budget -- except on defense and homeland-security programs. Obama
supports human spaceflight but wants to use money from NASA to fund
education reforms. County commissioners said they were planning to send
invitations to each candidate to tour KSC. (4/29)
Prospect of US Science Debate Wanes (Source: Physics World)
Organizers of ScienceDebate 2008 are “disappointed” but “not surprised”
that the three main US presidential candidates have ignored invitations
to participate in a public debate on science that was scheduled to take
place May 2. John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, declined the
invitation for a debate at any time in early May. Hillary Clinton, one
of the two remaining Democratic candidates, told the organizers that
the invitation had gone to her “scheduling” department, while Barack
Obama, the other Democratic candidate, acknowledged receipt of the
invitation but did not confirm whether he would attend. (5/2)
Texas Delegation Pushes for Larger NASA Budget (Source:
AIA)
Twelve House members from Texas, along with 18 others from other
states, are leading an effort to boost NASA's budget, a move they say
will close the gap between the retirement of the space shuttle and the
launch of the next generation of spacecraft. The budget is now set at
$17.3 billion, and the lawmakers are urging their colleagues to boost
it by $2 billion.
Top Dems Tout Lampson as Voice of NASA (Source: Houston
Chronicle)
The House Democratic leadership is trying to help Rep. Nick Lampson
(D-Tex) survive a tough re-election fight by advertising that he would
be in line to take over the subcommittee overseeing NASA next year — if
he wins in November. The rare pre-election commitment by allies to
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal) underscores efforts on Capitol Hill to
strengthen the Stafford Democrat's bid for a second two-year term in a
Republican-leaning district long represented by Tom DeLay, the former
House Majority leader. Lampson's Republican opponent, Pete Olson, said
the move was "just another favor from Nancy Pelosi and just another
example of how he's indebted to her and her brand of left-wing
politics." (5/2)
House Panel Second Guessing NASA's Zero-G Contract
(Source: Space News)
Congressional investigators are scrutinizing NASA's decision to give
Zero Gravity Corp. a shot at conducting the type of weightless flights
for researchers and astronauts the agency traditionally has conducted
with its own C-9 aircraft. The House Science and Technology
subcommittee opened an investigation in April after Democratic staffers
traveled to JSC for a briefing on NASA's parabolic flight program. [Editor's
note: From the outset, NASA program managers at JSC have seemed
inclined to oppose any plans to privatize their parabolic flight
program.]
Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) sent letters to NASA Administrator Mike
Griffin requesting materials related to the Zero-G deal. The letters
included multiple allegations disputed by Zero-G, among them that the
company conducted a flight for a "Girls Gone Wild" video. Zero-G has
long denied any association with "Girls Gone Wild" and Mantra Films
said the featured flight was conducted from Moscow and not by Zero-G. The
letters also question whether paying Zero-G for parabolic flights is a
better deal for NASA than flying the C-9, and whether Zero-G is
sufficiently committed to serving NASA.
A document review by subcommittee staff should be completed this week.
In a May 1 statement, Zero-G CEO Peter Diamandis said Zero-G is
investing $1 million to modify its 727 for NASA flights this summer.
Although the total potential value of NASA's contract with Zero-G is
$25.4 million, the agency is technically committed only to a single
week's worth of Zero-G flights for around $300K. Diamandis was
confident that investigators will find that flying with Zero-G is a
good deal for NASA. (5/3)
NASA Opposes KSC Senate Hearing (Source: Florida Today)
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson wants the subcommittee overseeing NASA to have a
hearing this summer in Brevard County about the future of Kennedy Space
Center, but NASA opposes the idea, Nelson said Monday. "I'm sad to tell
you, NASA has asked me not to have a meeting, because they don't want
to stir up the people," Nelson said during a Brevard County Commission
workshop on space issues. His comments came during a meeting that also
featured appearances by U.S. Reps. Dave Weldon and Tom Feeney, and a
brief video address from U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
They said they were working against budget odds to narrow the projected
five-year gap in manned space flight from KSC. And they stressed the
need to frame that gap as an issue of national security importance, not
just one that affects local jobs, in order to achieve any change in
policy or funding. Feeney said China and others are chipping
away at leadership in space, and in math and science education, that
the United States once took for granted.
Weldon stressed the security and financial risks of relying on Russian
launch vehicles to access the International Space Station, and the
threat to astronauts' safety if Russian rockets should be unable to
reach the station.
Nelson painted a dire picture, saying a continuation of existing
policies would leave KSC "on life support." In response to Nelson's
remarks about his subcommittee hearing, a NASA spokesman said, "If any
congressional committee schedules a hearing involving NASA, we will be
there to support it and answer any questions." (4/29)
Senate Panel Adds $350 Million for T-Sat, Shifts Missile
Defense Priorities (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee added $350 million to the
president's request for the Transformational Satellite (T-Sat)
communications system and shifted missile defense funding toward
fielded systems at the expense of developmental programs in its markup
of the 2009 Defense Authorization bill April 29. (5/2)
The Satellite Shootdown:
the Rest of the Story (Source: Space Review)
The intercept of USA 193 earlier this year
required the cooperation of multiple agencies and the combination of
data from various sources. Robert Eleazer compares that to an earlier
effort to create a "Space Test Range" during the SDI era.
Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1113/1 to view the article.
(4/28)
Army to Launch Sats After 50 Year Lull (Source:
Military.com)
The U.S. Army plans to build and launch into orbit a constellation of
satellites for the first time in roughly 50 years. And it plans to
build the cluster of eight miniature communications satellites within
as little as nine months. The roughly $5 million effort is part of the
Army's commitment to what is known as Operationally Responsive Space.
This is "a pathfinder project to fulfill an urgent need for beyond line
of sight communications capability," said James Lee, chief of strategy
and policy for Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama. (4/28)
Raytheon Lands Contract to Upgrade Army Satellite Terminal
System (Source: AIA)
Raytheon will build and install an upgrade for an Army satellite
communications system as part of an $86.7 million contract. The Secure
Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal will be capable of handling
four times more data after the upgrade. (4/29)
Loral Spins A Giant Web In Space (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
Loral and ICO Global Communications have successfully deployed the ICO
G1 satellite's large antenna reflector. ICO G1 is a Loral designed
spacecraft that incorporates a 12 meter antenna reflector designed and
built by Harris Corp. of Melbourne, Florida. The reflector utilizes a
gold-plated mesh reflective surface and a unique new Harris design that
allows a very large antenna reflector to stow safely and easily on the
Loral 1300 satellite platform. The reflector size enables the increased
performance typically required for mobile interactive media services.
(4/30)
Price Drove General Dynamics Satellite Contract Win
(Source: Space News)
General Dynamics underbid its competitors to win a $116 million
fixed-price contract to build the spacecraft for the Landsat Data
Continuity Mission (LDCM), securing its first major piece of new NASA
business in nearly six years. The Arizona-based unit beat out offers
from three other firms, among them Colorado's Ball Aerospace, which
appeared well-positioned for such contracts (Ball will still build a
key LCDM instrument).
But the job of building the host satellite platform and integrating
Ball's instrument onto it is going to the General Dynamics team, which
put forward what NASA judged to be the best deal. According to a NASA
official, Ball and California-based Loral had stronger technical
proposals and better overall track records, but General Dynamics
offered a "significant price advantage"
NASA, however, was forced to overhaul its LDCM acquisition plans in
2006 to appease U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who wanted to see
Goddard take a more hands-on role in the high-priority mission. In
place of a single fixed-price contract for the entire mission, NASA
adopted an approach in which LDCM was broken into three separate
contracts: one for the instrument, one for the satellite, and a third,
yet to be awarded, for mission operations. Virginia-based Orbital
Sciences Corp. also bid on LCDM, but its price was "significantly
higher than all other offers," NASA's decision document said. (5/3)
XM, Sirius Extend Deadline For Concluding Merger Deal
(Source: Space News)
XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio have agreed to begin
extending their merger agreement in two-week increments if the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission fails to approve the merger before
the initial deal expires May 15, the companies announced April 30. (5/2)
DARPA to Test Hypersonic Planes Atop Minotaur Rockets
(Source: AIA)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency will start testing
expendable dart-shaped Hypersonic Technology Vehicle-2 demonstrators in
May 2009. The hypersonic test planes will launch using Orbital Sciences
Minotaur solid-fuel rockets from Vandenberg Air Force Base. They will
use global positioning systems and inertial measurement units to
navigate. (4/30)
Launch Pad Decision Time
at Orbital
(Source: Spaceports Blog)
After being selected by the NASA to demonstrate a new space
transportation system for cargo to the Space Station, Orbital Sciences
Corp. is expected to make a final decision on launch pad utilization
between the Wallops Island Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia
or the Cape Canaveral Spaceport this week. The initial announcement
included a proposal to launch from Virginia's fledgling FAA-licensed
commercial spaceport. But after intense lobbying by Florida aerospace interests,
Orbital Sciences Corp. opened the launch site to bid. Both states have
reportedly offered packages to lure the new Taurus II medium-lift
rocket. (5/4)
Former Titan Launch Tower Demolished for SpaceX (Source:
CFL-13)
After more than 40 years hosting rockets, a Cape Canaveral launch pad
came crashing down Sunday. More than 200 pounds of explosives were used
to bring down the Titan launch tower. When it was built, the tower was
the largest moving object on Earth. The 265-foot tall tower was used to
launch projects such as NASA's Cassini probe. The site will now become
the new home to Space X's new Falcon rockets. Much of the tower's
debris will be recycled, which is about 6,500 tons of steel. Money made
from selling the material will pay for the demolition. (4/28)
SpaceX VP on Web Seminar on May 5 (Source: CSA)
Dr. Jeff Ward, SpaceX Vice President, Avionics, will be featured on the
May 5 Innovation in Aerospace and Space Exploration Webinar. The event
will begin at 2:15 p.m. (PDT). Click here to participate. Enter
your name and email address, and meeting password ("innovation"), then
click "Join Now".
Notes on the State of the RLV Industry in 2008 (Source:
Space Review)
While NASA has all but abandoned efforts to develop reusable launch
vehicle technology, RLV efforts continue elsewhere in government and
the private sector. Taylor Dinerman explores the status of those
efforts, including some surprising new developments from a large
aerospace company. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1114/1 to view the article.
(4/28)
Virgin Galactic Seeks Space Agents for Mideast Flight Sales (Source:
ArabianBusiness.com)
Virgin Galactic will be inviting travel agents to boldly go where no
travel agent has gone before. Travel agents will have the opportunity
to apply to sell space travel in partnership with the Virgin Galactic
Accredited Space Office in Dubai, with selected applicants
joining a shortlist from which the chosen sales agents will be
announced. "We want to create a network of agents in the Middle East who are knowledgeable,
well informed and know how to deliver the highest levels of service
when selling unique travel experiences," said Carolyn Wincer, head of
astronaut sales. (5/1)
FAA Names Associate Administrator For Commercial Space
Transportation (Source: Aero-News Network)
The FAA has named George C. Nield as associate administrator for
commercial space transportation. The FAA's Office of Commercial Space
Transportation (AST) licenses and regulates US commercial space launch
and reentry activity, as well as the operation of non-federal launch
and reentry sites, and federal regulation of private human space flight
activities.
Nield had served at the FAA as deputy associate administrator since
2003, and has been acting associate administrator since February. In
2003, Nield joined the FAA from the Orbital Sciences Corp., where he
worked as senior scientist for the Advanced Programs Group. Previously,
he served as manager of the Flight Integration Office for the Space
Shuttle Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and later worked on both
the Shuttle/Mir Program and the International Space Station Program.
(4/30)
Satellite Firm Prepares For Commercial Launches by China
(Source: Wall Street Journal)
Helping to boost Beijing's commercial ambitions in space, French
satellite operator Eutelsat Communications Group SA has purchased
precedent-setting insurance enabling it to use Chinese rockets for
future launches, according to company and industry officials. Covering
as many as nine satellites, the insurance package is the first time
since the 1990s that China's Long March rocket has
been designated to put a large telecommunications satellite into orbit
for a mainstream Western operator.
India's PSLV Rocket Launches
Multiple Satellites (Source: SpaceToday.net)
An Indian PSLV rocket launched a remote sensing satellite and nine
smaller spacecraft early Monday. The "core alone" PSLV, which has no
strap-on boosters, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan spaceport and
placed its payload of ten satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit at an
altitude of 637 km. The primary payload on the PSLV is Cartosat-2A, a
high-resolution remote sensing satellite capable of taking images with
a resolution of one meter. (4/28)
Bigger Rockets to Help India Tap $3 Billion Global Launch Biz
(Source: Economic Times)
The perfect launch of 10 satellites, two Indian and eight foreign,
simultaneously by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-9 has catapulted
the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) into a new orbit. The
world record mission not only demonstrates capability to launch small
satellites but also puts ISRO’s commercial arm, Rs 660-crore Antrix
Corporation, in a competitive position to capture a portion of the over
$3-billion global satellite launch business. But if ISRO seeks to tap
this market aggressively, it will have to shift focus to launch bigger
rockets and heavier satellites.
Globally, the 720-ton Ariane 5 can effectively put a five-ton satellite
into orbit. But the one way fare is a whopping $120 million. Other
rockets capable of putting heavy satellites into space like Atlas V can
take up to eight tons into orbit, but are rarely available for non-US
missions. Likewise, the Delta IV rocket is primarily for US military use. Most
commercial satellites weigh between three tons and five tons and Ariane
5 can carry two into space at once. (4/29)
Indian Manned Space Mission Possible in 7 Years (Source:
The Hindu)
In about seven years from now, India will be able to send two of its
astronauts into space aboard its Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV), said an Indian official. The go-ahead to the manned
mission project is awaited. The manned mission will be preceded by
three unmanned ones to the moon. The Indian Space Research
Organization’s first unmanned mission to the moon — sending
Chandrayaan-1 into lunar orbit — will take place in the third quarter
of 2008. The GSLV would be able to take a crew of two astronauts into
low-earth orbit. (4/29)
South Korea's First Astronaut Suffers
Back Injury
(Source: SpaceDaily.com)
South Korea's first astronaut Yi
So-Yeon is suffering from back injuries after a grueling descent to
Earth, a doctor said Wednesday. Yi's Russian-designed Soyuz capsule
landed hundreds of kilometers off target on April 19 in an irregular
landing that subjected the crew to huge gravitational forces. She was
admitted to an air force hospital Tuesday after cancelling television
interviews. (4/30)
Land Launch Rocket Places First Satellite Into Orbit
(Source: SpaceToday.net)
The first mission for the Land Launch commercial venture successfully
placed an Israeli communications satellite into orbit early Monday. The
Zenit-3SLB lifted off from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan and placed the Amos-3
satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite, built by
Israel Aerospace Industries, weighs 1,270 kg at launch and carries a
set of Ku- and Ka-band transponders. The launch was the first for Land
Launch, a joint venture between Sea Launch Company and Russian firm
Space International Services. Land Launch used a modified version of
Sea Launch's Zenit-3SL launched from Baikonur and is designed to serve
the market for smaller GEO satellites. (4/28)
Khrunichev and ILS
Announce Launcher Quality Initiative (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
Khrunichev Space Center and its partner
International Launch Services have announced a broad-based quality
initiative for Khrunichev and all of its subcontractors. "This will
reinforce our dedication to quality across the board, ensure we improve
our performance and enhance our position as a leading space company,"
said Vladimir Nesterov, Khrunichev General Director. (4/30)
Russians Building Space Tourist Vehicle (Source: Spaceports Blog)
A private Russian company has ordered the Myasishchev Experimental
Machine-building Plant to design a tourist spacecraft to compete in the
global market to loft humans to space and back. "The enterprise is
working on documentation and a draft design and is completing the
technical feasibility study for the system. A private Russian company
is fully financing the project," a spokesperson said, but declined to
name the exact firm. The suborbital spacecraft would launched from
several kilometers altitude by a transport aircraft. The vehicle would
carry two pilots and 14 passengers with the number of passenger seats
capable of being increased in the future. (5/4)
MacDonald Dettwiler Tries to Salvage Alliant Deal (Source:
CanWest)
MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates does not rule out selling
ownership of Radarsat 2 to the Canadian government if it means
salvaging a $1.33-billion deal with U.S. company Alliant Techsystems
(ATK). MDA is trying to save a proposed deal to sell one of the
company's divisions to ATK. (5/1)
Lack of Government Vision is Hurting Canada's Space Industry,
Observers Say (Source: CBC)
Hailed as a triumph for Canadian sovereignty, the federal government's
decision to block the proposed sale of key units of MacDonald,
Dettwiler and Associates could signal a turning point for Canada's
space industry. What direction the industry moves in from here rests
largely with the government, say industry observers. "What we need is a
top-down national space policy," said one former space agency official.
(5/2)
SpaceTEC Workforce Group
Plans National Meeting in Virginia (Source: ERAU)
College and university partners in the National Science
Foundation-sponsored SpaceTEC program will meet in Hampton, Virginia,
on May 5-8 to discuss progress toward the development of a national
aerospace technology training/certification program. Officials from Brevard Community College provide leadership for
the national effort. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a partner and will
attend the Virginia meeting along with
colleges from eight states and the Community College of the Air Force.
The SpaceTEC certification is designed for the aerospace technical
workforce and is similar in scope to the FAA's Airframe and Powerplant
(A&P) certification, which is required of workers who maintain and
repair commercial aircraft systems. Headquartered at the Cape Canaveral
Spaceport and hosted by Brevard Community College, SpaceTEC is also
supported by the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Navy and Air
Force, and NASA. (5/2)
NASA Modifies Michoud External Tank Contract to Retain
Workforce (Source: NASA)
NASA has signed a $39.5 million contract modification with Lockheed
Martin Space Systems, New Orleans, to implement an external tank
program employee retention plan. Incentives are being provided to
eligible external tank personnel to ensure mission success and
construction of the remaining external tanks to support Space Shuttle
Program requirements through September 2010.
The contract will end September 30, 2010. This modification brings
the total value of the contract, awarded in October 2000, to $2.967
billion. The contract calls for the delivery of 18 external tanks to
NASA. Eleven tanks remain to be delivered. Work will be performed at
NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans; NASA's Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.; and NASA's Kennedy Space Center,
Florida. (4/30)
Florida Workshop Raises
New Concerns About NASA's Plans (Sources: ERAU)
NASA's policy of "ten healthy centers" is not consistent with the
agency's plans for Kennedy Space Center, which Senator Bill Nelson said
would be on "life support" unless policies change for retiring the
Space Shuttle and implementing the Constellation program. During an
April 28 workshop, elected officials and labor representatives
expressed deep concerns about the loss of skilled workers who will be
required to support Constellation. Although some officials suggested
the Space Coast is more prepared for the
Shuttle retirement than it was for the Apollo cancellation, one County Commission member pointed out that
the Shuttle impacts could be worse than anticipated since they will be
exacerbated by an ongoing national recession.
By doing nothing to shorten the post-Shuttle gap, Congressman Dave
Weldon said NASA would be laying off U.S. workers so Russia can hire more Soyuz
workers in Moscow. Potential solutions
discussed included adding Shuttle flights to delay the retirement,
accelerating Constellation's Ares rocket development, accelerating the
COTS human transport option, and switching from the Ares-1 to an
Atlas-V carrier vehicle for Orion. Also discussed was the need for NASA
to transfer appropriate projects to KSC to retain the skilled
workforce, and for improvements at the Eastern Range to help bring new
commercial and military programs to the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. (4/29)
Space Issues Pass in Florida Legislative Session (Source: ERAU)
The Florida Legislative Session came to an end Friday and a flurry of
space-related bills were passed with broad support. Included were a
Spaceflight/Informed Consent bill, a Qualified Space Contractor Tax
Refund bill, $14.5 million for launch infrastructure modifications at
the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, $4 million for Space Florida operations,
$500K for a suborbital spaceflight research and training program, $1.25
million for an aerospace workforce training initiative, and a $40
million Reusable Space Vehicle Industry Prize Program (matching $20
million from the state with $20 million in private investments).
Left for next year was the Space Technology & Research
Diversification Initiative (STRDI), which aimed to establish a
multi-university space research effort that would move the state beyond
its economic reliance on launch-related programs. STRDI was passed by
the House but did not clear a Senate committee in time. (5/3)
Space Project Recognized By Colorado Legislature (Source: PR Log)
The Colorado General Assembly has recognized the 8th Continent Project
and the Colorado School of Mines for their “efforts to integrate space
technology and resources into the global economy” through a joint
resolution. The resolution praised the project for accelerating the
emergence of the space commerce in Colorado and around the world, and
for "organizing 'Space 2.0', the emerging generation of entrepreneurial
space-related business ventures that will further expand Colorado's
global reputation as an international hub for technology and commerce.”
Based at the Colorado School of Mines, the 8th Continent Project is the
world’s most comprehensive effort to integrate space technology and
resources into the global economy. The 8th Continent provides the
infrastructure and resources to solve a wide range of challenges from
renewable energy development to biomedical advances to global security.
Located in Colorado, home of one of the most
concentrated entrepreneurial, investor and aerospace talent communities
in the world, the 8th Continent Project brings space down to Earth with
the industry’s first trade association, business incubator, funding
network and research center, all working together to develop the next
generation of space-related business ventures. More information can be
found at http://www.8cproject.com. (5/2)
'Rockets' Pre-launching
with Sheboygan Spaceport Education Week (Source: Sheboygan Press)
Sheboygan's annual aerospace adventure will add another dimension this
year as a weeklong educational program at the Sheboygan Armory marks
the countdown to Rockets for Schools. More than 800 children will
participate in the first-ever Spaceport Sheboygan Pre-Launch Preview
Education Week. Organizers hope the event will build enthusiasm for the
$21 million Great Lakes Aerospace, Science and Education Center planned for the armory.
The armory — which the city donated to the project — will be
temporarily retrofitted this week to give students and educators a
glimpse of the future. (5/4)
Four Former Astronauts
Enter Hall Of Fame (Source: CFL-13)
NASA honored its best and brightest during the 2008 U.S. Astronaut Hall
of Fame induction ceremony. Joining the Hall of Fame this year are
former astronauts John Blaha, Loren Shriver, Bryan O'Connor, NASA's
chief of Safety and Mission Assurance at NASA Headquarters in
Washington, and Bob Cabana, center director of NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The four men join the
ranks of space pioneers such as Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Alan
Shepard, Sally Ride and John Young. (5/3)
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Event Calendar
Dr. Jeff Ward, Vice
President, Avionics, SpaceX, May 5
AA247, Innovation in
Aerospace and Space Exploration, Stanford University, Webinar
2:15 pm, Pacific Daylight Time
https://stanford.webex.com/stanford/j.php?ED=101371592&UID=1034815612&PW=a98de4262f3c5f21592639201e
Meeting Number: 926 021
322
Meeting Password: innovation
Embry-Riddle Long Beach
Campus Plans Open House on May 7 & 14 (Source: ERAU)
CSA member Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will hold an
informational open house for graduate and undergraduate degree programs
on May 7 and May 14 at its Long Beach campus. The May 7 event is
focused on graduate-degree programs, including Project Management, MBA
and Master of Aeronautical Science. The May 14 event is focused on
undergraduate-degree programs, including Professional Aeronautics,
Aviation Maintenance Management, and Aviation Business Administration.
Two sessions on both days are scheduled, at 11:30
a.m.
and 5 p.m. The campus facility is
located near the Long Beach Airport at 5001 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach 90815. Please call 562-627-5870
or send an e-mail to la.center@erau.edu
for information and reservations. (4/22)
California Space Center Meeting Planned in Santa Maria on May 9
A community update is
planned for the California Space Center project, a multi-purpose,
multi-year community project located on 66 acres outside the front gate
of Vandenberg Air Force Base. The proposed project includes a launch
viewing site, visitors center, education complex, conference center,
IMAX-like theatre, and a Vandenberg Air Force Base contractor/mission
support facility. The project will highlight the past, present, and
future of the base, including its residents and activities. The event
is planned for 9:00 a.m. until 11:00
a.m.
at 801 South Broadway, Santa Maria, California. Contact Dianna Minor at
mailto:dianna.minor@californiaspaceauthority.org or 805-349-2633 x110.
JPL Plans Briefing to
Industry on May 13
The Hilton in Glendale will be the site of a May
13 JPL Briefing to Industry, sponsored by the National Space Club West
Coast Committee. This conference provides a forum for the JPL
leadership to engage industry partners by providing insight into future
business opportunities at JPL. It brings JPL decision makers into
direct contact with industry personnel. Register now at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=151289.
California Space Authority Plans
Space Day in Sacramento on May 13
CSA's twelfth annual Space
Day in Sacramento is planned on May 13. A
morning orientation will be followed by meetings throughout the Capitol
with various legislative leaders. A lunch is also planned with members
of the Governor's Administration and with leaders from NASA
Headquarters. The afternoon will be spent in meetings with more
legislators, followed by a reception in the Governor's Counsel
Chambers. Visit
http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/spacedaysacto2008/registration.html
for information (4/4)
AIAA Aerospace Workforce
Conference Planned in Washington DC on May 13-14
Inside Aerospace—An
International Forum for Aviation and Space Leaders, a conference
focusing on aerospace workforce issues, will be held on May 13-14 in Washington DC. Visit
http://www.aiaa.org/agenda.cfm?lumeetingid=1949&viewcon=agenda&pageview=2&programSeeview=1&formatview=2
for information.
TechHorizons UCR 2008
Planned May 13-14
University of California Riverside’s Bourns College of
Engineering will present TechHorizons 2008 on May 13-14 which will
examine exciting new research now taking place in UCR labs that will
help us attain energy sustainability. Special focus will be on
alternative energy (including solar), advanced materials and advanced
environmental technologies. This event is a collaboration between UCR
and Japan’s Tohoku University in Riverside’s sister city of Sendai. To register please visit
www.techhorizons.engr.ucr.edu
NDIA's 5th Annual National
Small Business Conference is planned for May 19-21
The National Defense
Industrial Association (NDIA) plans a small business conference at the
Hyatt Regency La Jolla, in San Diego, on May 19-21. Early-bird
pricing ends May 9. Visit
http://www.ndia.org/Template.cfm?Section=8140&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=20646
for information.
Responsive Access to Space Conference Planned in Dayton on May 19-23
RASTE 2008 is the premier forum to meet the challenges of Affordable
and Responsive Space Access through technology exchange and
collaboration. This will be achieved by bringing together the space
access system integrators and sub-system providers to share, exchange
and transition the technologies into the next generation space launch
vehicles. The RASTE 2008 seeks to accelerate the development of the
emerging commercial space launch industry by establishing and
continuing an exchange and collaboration between engineers, developers,
planners, and managers in the community. Visit http://www.usasymposium.com/raste/RASTEexhibitreminder.html
Planetfest 2008 Planned at
Pasadena Hilton on May 25
Planetfest 2008 is a
one-day live data event with special guests from the space community.
When NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory receives the signal that Phoenix is safely down, people
around the world will stand up and cheer. And when that first picture
of Mars comes down -- I can tell you from personal experience -- people
will still be standing and cheering even louder. Sharing these moments
with others is exciting, memorable, and just plain fun. Phoenix is about to make
exploration history. Celebrate it with us. Come to Planetfest 2008!
Order your tickets today at the Early Bird Special at
http://www.planetary.org/explore/topics/planetfest08/
Berlin International Aerospace
Show Planned May 27 - June 1
With more than 1,000
exhibitors from over 40 countries, more than 115,000 trade visitors and
about 250,000 visitors in total, ILA Berlin Air Show is one of the
world’s largest aerospace trade shows. ILA provides best access to the
EU and particularly to the markets in Central and Eastern Europe. The
El Camino College CITD in partnership with CSA, Hannover Fairs USA, and
the U.S. Commercial Service, is offering a discounted rate for small to
medium size California aerospace companies to
exhibit at the El Camino booth and to take advantage of the online
business matchmaking service. Registration
deadline is May 7. For more information, contact: LeeAnne Haworth,
Manager, International Program and Partnerships, (805) 349-2633, x120.
Visit http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/images/events/BerlinAirShow-1.pdf
International Space Development Conference Planned in Washington DC on May 29 - June 1
The theme for ISDC 2008 is "The New Pace of Space." With NASA fully
engaged in building the next generation of space exploration vehicles,
and the commercial space sector beginning to test fly their new
personal spaceships, we have entered the next space age. Visit http://isdc.nss.org/2008/ -.
Discount Registration to CSA Members!
CSA Co-Hosts Satellite
Conference in San Diego on June 10-12
The California Space
Authority is co-hosting a joint conference on satellite communications
on June 10-12 in San Diego. For more information on
the 26th International Communications Satellite Systems Conference
(ICSSC), and the ISCe 2008 satellite & communications conference,
visit http://www.isce.com/.
Teacher Workshops Planned
Near California Spaceport on June 14
NASA and the California
Space Authority encourage teachers to participate in the Delta II
launch of the Jason-2 Satellite: NASA and NOAA’s Ocean Surface
Topography mission. For all interested school educators &
administrators: this is a unique opportunity to learn about realworld
Earth and atmospheric science, rocket science (no previous knowledge
necessary), and OSTM/Jason-2’s cutting-edge satellite instrument
technology. This educational program will provide a general
introduction to the NASA/NOAA OSTM/Jason-2 mission and a variety of
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) workshops with
specific science behind the Jason-2 satellite instruments. Visit
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/ostm.html.
Joint Propulsion
Conference Planned in Connecticut on July 20-23
This is the AIAA's premier
event for engineering and management professionals focused on space
technologies, systems, programs, and policy. Visit
http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=230&lumeetingid=1874 for
information.
2008 Regolith Excavation
Challenge Planned at CalPoly on Aug. 2-3
CSA is sponsoring the
Regolith Excavation Challenge on August
2-3, 2008, on the campus of
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Visit
http://regolith.csewi.org/
Navy Gold Coast Conference
Planned on August 27-28
The San Diego Chapter of
NDIA (National Defense Industrial Association) is proud to present the
2008 "Navy Small Business Opportunity Conference." It has also come to
be known as simply the "Gold Coast" Conference. The Navy Co-Sponsors of
this event are NAVSEA, NAVAIR, SPAWAR, NAVSUP, NAVFAC and the Navy's
Office of Small Business Programs. Visit
http://2008goldcoast.ndia-sd.org for information.
APSCC 2008 Satellite
Conference & Exhibition Planned in Korea on Sept. 22-25
The satellite industry's
premier conference for business and networking opportunities in Asia is planned for September 22 - 25, 2008 at the Hotel Lotte, Jeju, Korea. To register visit
http://www.apscc.or.kr/event/apscc2008.asp. Registration Discount to
CSA Members!
Supplier Transformation
Forum Planned in Redondo Beach on Oct 7
Save the date! The third
annual Supplier Transformation Forum, inclusive of multiple primes,
government agencies and all levels of the supply chain, will be held on
October 7, 2008 at Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach. More
information soon. Here’s info from last year’s forum: http://www.innovatecalifornia.net/2_2_forum_details/
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