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National / International Items
McCain Releases Space Policy Document (Sources:
SpaceRef.com, McCain Campaign)
In addition to featuring space images and references on his Florida campaign website Senator John McCain has
issued a space policy document on his national campaign website.
According to the document, as President, John McCain will: ensure that
space exploration is top priority and that the U.S. remains a leader;
commit to funding the NASA Constellation program to ensure it has the
resources it needs to begin a new era of human space exploration; and
review and explore all options to ensure U.S. access to space by
minimizing the gap between the termination of the Space Shuttle and the
availability of its replacement vehicle.
The policy document further commits that McCain would: ensure the
national space workforce is maintained and fully utilized; Complete
construction of the ISS National Laboratory; seek to maximize the
research capability and commercialization possibilities of the ISS
National Laboratory; maintain infrastructure investments in
Earth-monitoring satellites and support systems; seek to maintain the
nation's space infrastructure; prevent wasteful earmarks from diverting
precious resources from critical scientific research; and ensure
adequate investments in aeronautics research. Click here to view the policy
document. (8/13)
Apollo Astronaut
Represents McCain at Mars Society Event (Source: Space Politics)
Last week's annual Mars Society Convention featured a panel pitting
Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham, representing John McCain, with Lori
Garver, representing the campaign of Barack Obama. The 90-minute debate
didn’t produce a lot of new revelations, but did offer some insights
into the campaigns' philosophies. There was a sharp contrast between
Cunningham and Garver. Garver has been working space policy issues for
a long time, and recently has been working with the Obama campaign.
Cunningham, on the other hand, does not appear to have an active role
in the McCain campaign, at least on space issues; he mentioned that
after he was invited to participate he had to read up on what both
campaigns had said on the issue.
Cunningham expressed support for keeping the shuttle flying past 2010
as the best way to deal with the gap. (Although it wasn’t clear if he
was speaking for the campaign or simply expressing his opinion.) “It’s
going to cost a couple of billion dollars a year to extend the life of
the shuttle, if you can do it still,” he said. Trying to accelerate
Constellation, by comparison, is “getting to be a much stickier wicket,
in fact, that may not be possible.” However, he was not impressed with
Obama’s pledge in his speech earlier this month to fly at least one
additional shuttle mission. “Adding one more launch isn’t going to do
diddly for either the workers or the space program or Florida, but it
might buy a few votes from those people who are down there.”
On the topic of COTS, Cunningham, was somewhat skeptical. “I don’t
expect a whole lot to come to NASA out of COTS” other than some
technology, he said. Companies like SpaceX, he noted, are learning how
difficult it is to do things like human spaceflight. “There’s a reason
why manned spaceflight is so expensive: it takes a whole lot more in
terms of capability, redundancy, and things like that than any of the
civilian rocket developers are doing today.” (8/15)
Garver Represents Obama at Mars Society Event (Source:
Space Politics)
One of the better insights from the Mars Society debate was when Lori
Garver was asked why Obama had changed his stance on funding
Constellation. Obama and his staff early on, she explained, “did feel
that Constellation was a Bush program and didn’t make a lot of sense.”
That was reinforced by feedback from the scientific community, she
added, that didn’t think human spaceflight was as valuable as robotic
scientific work. However, after hearing from people in both the space
and education communities, “they really thought it through, they
recognized the importance of space.” Now, she said, “he recognizes that
Constellation really is exploring with humans and robots beyond low
Earth orbit” and that he truly supports it, rather than supporting it
only as a tool to win votes in Florida.
Garver dropped a hint that a President Obama might be willing to
reconsider that Constellation vehicle architecture. “Senator Obama has
talked about Constellation and has not specified a specific
architecture,” she said. “I think one of the reasons for that is that
until you have the office, until you’re there and know what’s going on
with these programs, you’re not going to make a commitment to it.” (The
answer came in response to a question about the use of EELVs in the
exploration program, not about alternatives like DIRECT.) (8/15)
Obama Campaign Releases Space Policy Plan (Source: Obama
Campaign)
Following a series of meetings with space industry leaders, the Obama
campaign has finalized a space policy document titled: Advancing the
Frontiers of Space Exploration. The document contains sections dealing
with Space Science and Exploration; Earth-Oriented Research; Promoting
International Cooperation and Keeping Space Secure; Developing New
Technologies; and Educating the Public. The document is posted at http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/policy/Space_Fact_Sheet_FINAL.pdf. (8/16)
Obama: Let's Go to Moon, and Maybe Mars (Source: Orlando
Sentinel)
Sen. Barack Obama released a comprehensive space policy Saturday that
endorsed sending astronauts back to the moon by 2020 as a possible
precursor for going to Mars -- the first time he has committed to that
goal -- and said the reach for the stars should be a U.S.-led
international effort. "Human exploration beyond low-earth orbit should
be a long-term goal and investment for all space-faring countries, with
America in the lead," the policy paper said.
It was notably silent on what role might be played by Kennedy Space
Center, which faces the loss of as many as 6,500 jobs when the shuttle
stops flying. Obama did promise to "work with the space industry to
ensure retention of workforce and technical capabilities" during the
gap. Obama's campaign released the seven-page paper to four Florida
newspapers Saturday, 24 hours ahead of its national unveiling. It
showed a clear effort to seize the initiative on space policy in
Florida from his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, who is scheduled
to meet privately with aerospace industry officials in Cocoa on Monday.
(8/17)
Florida Banking on Candidates' Space Promises (Source:
Florida Today)
When Sen. John McCain comes to the Space Coast on Monday, he might not
realize that his visit resulted from a year-long effort by members of
the aerospace industry in Brevard County. Facing a loss of thousands of
jobs when the space shuttle stops flying in 2010, county leaders last
year mounted a far-reaching lobbying effort and used all their
political contacts to elevate the future of America's human space
flight program to a national issue. The diligence has begun to pay off,
as both presidential candidates have made promises that Floridians plan
to make sure they keep.
"As a community, we would expect those to be followed through," said
Lynda Weatherman, president and chief executive officer of the Economic
Development Commission (EDC) of Florida's Space Coast. McCain's newest
policy statement promises more funding and an effort to minimize the
gap. But those are just promises made on the campaign trail so far, and
local officials say they are pushing for more.
McCain is the fourth presidential candidate to visit Brevard County
this year. Republicans Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani campaigned here
during the primary season, and Obama hosted a town hall meeting two
weeks ago in Titusville. McCain and Obama have realized that Central
Florida has a lot of votes up for grabs, and saying the right things
about the space industry is a way to grab some of them. "It's an issue
you can speak to that will get the attention of tens of thousands of
families," said Dale Ketcham. "We intend to keep this issue front and
center through November," Ketcham said. "I would be surprised if that's
the last we see of them." (8/17)
Senator Obama and Re-Establishing the National Space Council
(Source: Space Review)
In a speech in Florida earlier this month, presidential candidate
Barack Obama proposed re-establishing the National Aeronautics and
Space Council. Ferris Valyn explains how a new council could help
redefine national space policy and tap into the broader space
community. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1186/1 to view the article.
(8/11)
The (Not So) Big Switch (Source: Space Review)
When Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said earlier this
month that he would not delay NASA's Constellation program by five
years if elected, it was seen as a major shift in policy. However, Jeff
Foust notes, that statement was more of a reconciliation of
contradictory statements the campaign had issued on the topic since the
end of last year than a new development. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1187/1 to view the article.
(8/11)
Experts: Reliance on Russia Makes NASA Weak (Source: CNN)
Experts are growing increasingly concerned that the United States will
have to rely entirely upon Russia to take astronauts to and from the
international space station for at least five years. Observers say the
situation is all the more worrying as after NASA announced a delay in
the launch of its next-generation Orion spacecraft. NASA's dependency
upon the Russian Soyuz space capsules and rockets to carry astronauts
to the station is the result of a five-year gap between the scheduled
retirement of the shuttle in 2010 and the debut of its replacement in
2015.
The agency had hoped it could narrow this gap by accelerating the
initial launch of the craft to 2013 but announced Monday that because
of inadequate funding and technical issues, the Constellation space
program would not be ready for testing until September 2014. Although
the new date is still within the March 2015 absolute deadline, many
experts say NASA's reliance upon Russia to take astronauts into space
has placed the agency in an unnecessary position. Click here to view the article.
(8/14)
Russian Invasion Threatens the Space Station (Source:
Orlando Sentinel)
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., acknowledged Tuesday that Russia’s
five-day invasion of the Georgian province of South Ossetia makes it
extremely unlikely that Congress will vote to exempt the Russian-built
Soyuz capsule from a law that bans trade with nations that sell nuclear
material to Iran. NASA had been counting on the waiver to enable it to
continue carrying people and cargo to the space station after the space
shuttle is retired in 2010. The Soyuz is NASA’s only proven alternative
to get to the station. (8/13)
US, Allies Weigh Punishment for Russia (Sources: AP, NASA
Watch)
"Scrambling to find ways to punish Russia for its invasion of
pro-Western Georgia, the United States and its allies are considering
expelling Moscow from an exclusive club of wealthy nations and
canceling an upcoming joint NATO-Russia military exercise, Bush
administration officials said Tuesday." (8/13)
USA Alleges Firm Stealing its Workforce (Source: Florida
Today)
NASA's shuttle fleet operator is suing the developer of a
next-generation rocket that will launch American astronauts, saying the
company is pirating away skilled engineers needed to safely fly 10
final shuttle missions. United Space Alliance filed suit Friday in
Brevard County Circuit Court against Alliant Techsystems Inc., or ATK,
seeking damages for fraud and breach of contract.
Additionally, USA is seeking an injunction that would prohibit ATK from
hiring USA employees with skills considered critical to safely
completing the shuttle program. "We're not going to court complaining
that ATK is threatening shuttle safety -- not by a long shot," said a
USA spokesman. "But what we are saying is that as long as we're
responsible to our customer for ensuring a capable and focused work
force to safely fly this system, we're going to take the actions that
we feel are necessary to preserve and protect that ability." ATK
officials said there is no basis for the suit.
The suit claims that USA in July 2006 signed a letter contract with ATK
to provide engineering expertise to support the design and development
of the Ares 1 rocket. A copy of the complaint says the contract called
for ATK to hammer out a long-term pact with USA for the design
engineering services. The suit, which asks for damages in excess of
$15,000, claims ATK failed to negotiate a long-term deal in good faith,
as required by the letter contract. Instead, the suit alleges that ATK
reduced the scope of the work covered by the contract while
aggressively recruiting and hiring USA engineers who had been doing the
work cut from the pact. (8/16)
Aerospace Needs New Wave
of Recruits for Industry's Future (Source: AIA)
AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey underscores the need for a
concerted effort on the part of the aerospace industry to address a
looming workforce shortage. Insufficient numbers of college students
are studying engineering and related fields, and too few high-school
graduates are adequately prepared for aerospace-related degrees.
Industry leaders are taking steps to address the issue, including such
efforts as the AIA-sponsored Team America Rocketry Challenge. Read
Blakey's comments here. (8/13)
Saving America's Space Program (Source: Space Review)
Last month NASA released a study which concluded the current
Constellation architecture was superior to an alternative, DIRECT, that
has been developed by some current and former NASA engineers. Stephen
Metschan responds to that study and argues time is short to prevent the
destruction of shuttle infrastructure that could be used by DIRECT.
Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1188/1 to view the article.
(8/11)
NASA Backs Troubled Rocket
Design
(Source: New Scientist)
Embattled NASA officials say they are sticking to plans to develop a
rocket called Ares I after rumors surfaced that it was considering
switching to a design based on the boosters that send the space shuttle
into orbit. Last week, a blog published by the Orlando Sentinel,
Florida, reported that the design had fallen out of favor after serious
vibrations arose in tests. Doug Cooke of NASA's Exploration Systems
Mission Directorate says he has heard no such talk among senior
management. The agency says it has found a way to cancel out the
vibrations using giant springs at the base of the rocket. (8/16)
NASA Selects 'Tuned' Mass Dampers to Solve Ares I Oscillation
Problem (Source: Flight Global)
NASA's Constellation program leadership has selected actively 'tuned'
mass dampers to solve the Ares I crew launch vehicle's (CLV)
first-stage oscillation problem. The damper mass is a spring or springs
that will be located either inside or outside the first-stage's aft
skirt and can be actively "tuned" to respond to the oscillation
frequency of the Ares I first-stage solid rocket motor (SRM). The
problem to be solved was a potential coupling between thrust
oscillations in the SRM and vibration modes in the CLV. (8/11)
NASA's Slips Internal Target for First Manned Orion Flight
(Source: SpaceFlightNow.com)
NASA's internal planning date for the first manned launch of the new
Orion spacecraft has slipped one year, from September 2013 to September
2014. The new schedule, managers said today, reflects a more realistic
assessment of projected funding, contract realities and technical
requirements in the absence of any significant additional support from
Congress.
The agency's public commitment to initial operations with the Orion
spacecraft remains March 2015, nearly five full years after the shuttle
Endeavour flies that program's final mission in the spring of 2010.
Between the shuttle fleet's retirement and the debut of Orion, U.S.
astronauts will be forced to hitch rides to orbit aboard Russian Soyuz
spacecraft. (8/11)
NASA Terminates Spacesuit Contract (Source: SpaceToday.net)
NASA has terminated a contract it issued two months ago to a company to
develop new spacesuits for use on the Constellation program. NASA said
that "corrective action is appropriate" in justifying its decision to
cancel the contract with Oceaneering International, which won the
Constellation Space Suit System contract in June, but did not specify
what led to that conclusion beyond a "compliance issue". According to
one report, NASA had neglected to request a "cost accounting standards
disclosure statement" from Oceaneering.
The losing bidder, Exploration Systems & Technology, a joint
venture of Hamilton Sundstrand and ILC Dover, had filed a protest of
the contract award, but the GAO had not completed its review when NASA
decided to terminate the contract. The original contract award was
perceived as something of an upset, given the long history Hamilton
Sundstrand and ILC Dover had developing spacesuits for NASA. (8/16)
NASA Safety Panel Worries About Moon Ship Design (Source:
AP)
NASA is not properly emphasizing safety in its design of a new
spaceship and its return-to-the-moon program faces money, morale and
leadership problems, an agency safety panel found Monday. The Aerospace
Safety Advisory Panel cited "surprising anxiety among NASA employees"
about the Constellation moon program and said the project "lacks clear
direction." Its 143-page annual report specifically faulted the
agency's design of the Orion crew capsule for not putting safety
features first.
Officials in charge of the program, defending the design safety at a
news conference, wouldn't say whether astronauts are among the worried
employees. Astronauts would have to fly in the Orion crew capsule, with
a first launch planned by 2015. Past NASA spaceships were built with
enough backup safety systems "to ensure safety and reliability," from
the start, the report said. But it said that because of weight problems
with the Orion design, NASA has used a different approach, one "without
all safeguards included" from the beginning. (8/11)
NASA Delays Robotic Moon Mission Until 2009 (Source: AP)
NASA has delayed the launch of an unmanned spacecraft to the moon to
scout for potential landing sites for astronauts. The moon craft is the
first step in NASA's program to send astronauts back to the moon and
beyond. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was supposed to blast off from
the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in early December aboard an Atlas V
rocket.
NASA officials insist they could have met the original target. The
delay will cost the space agency up to $7 million a month, but the
extra costs were built into the program's reserves. The swap means NASA
will miss the Bush administration's stated goal of exploring the moon
with a robotic spacecraft by 2008. NASA plans to land astronauts on the
moon by 2020. (8/14)
Preparations Begin for New European Mission to Mars
(Source: Imperial College)
Scientists searching for life on Mars are now preparing for the most
in-depth probe of the Red Planet ever undertaken. The European Space
Agency’s ExoMars mission will search for evidence that life may exist,
investigate the Martian upper atmosphere, and analyze the physical
characteristics and properties of the planet’s surface and interior.
With a scheduled launch date of 2013, scientists are already developing
and testing the instruments and technologies that will be vital to the
mission’s success. (8/11)
Europe Starts Taking Proposals for Mobile Satellite Project
(Source: AIA)
The European Commission is taking applications from satellite operators
for mobile satellite services operating in the 2GHz bands, a spectrum
specifically reserved for covering all member states. The EC will base
its decision on technical and commercial ability of the providers as
well as the speed at which all the member states will be covered. (8/11)
Europeans Will Fly to Space, With India’s Help (Source:
Central Chronicle)
Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier, the only European to have been in
space four times, assessed that India would be able to send European
astronauts into space within seven years. “Europe does not have
autonomous means to send people to space as we have taken a political
decision not to do so but India will be sending men into space by
2013-15,” he said. Endorsing his view, Science and Technology Minister
Kapil Sibal said, "I think it is well within our capability to do that.
We have enormous potential in space technology and satellite launching.
Chandrayan is going to be launched very soon. Man in space is not very
far behind."
Nicollier has offered to help India select and train astronauts.
"Director of ISRO's (Indian Space Research Organization's) Satellite
Center, TK Alex, showed some interest in my offer of training
astronauts during a brief discussion I had with him," he said. (8/14)
Panel Wants Massive U.S. Military Space Reshuffling
(Source: Aviation Week)
A blue-ribbon panel of national security space experts is calling for a
number of "bold steps" - including the abolishment of the National
Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile
Systems Center (SMC) as they exist today - to shake up today's
ineffective national security space procurement and operations
structures and provide cohesive governance of this increasingly
vulnerable area for the Pentagon. The so-called Allard Commission has
briefed its findings to the director of national intelligence (DNI),
deputy defense secretary and a number of senior USAF and intelligence
officials.
The report from the National Security Space Independent Assessment
Panel, which is the seven-member panel's formal title, will be
published soon, and it is not yet clear if the Bush administration will
adopt its findings prior to leaving office in January 2009. The most
radical of the group's recommendations fall in the area of leadership,
which was found to be woefully lacking across the U.S. government.
First, the re-establishment of the National Space Council, chaired by
the National Security Advisor is needed, says retired Lt. Gen. Ed
Anderson, now a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton. This would shift
senior authority for space policy from the vice president's office and
puts it only one step removed from the president.
The panel argues that this is needed to allow a senior official
authority to implement national space policy and - perhaps more
importantly for the often-at-odds intelligence community and Defense
Department - adjudicate roles, missions, requirement and funding
disputes directly from the White House. Click here to view the article.
(8/14)
Space Invaders (Source: The Atlantic)
On February 20, a U.S. Navy cruiser launched a single SM-3 missile that
slammed into a failed spy satellite carrying a half ton of toxic rocket
fuel about 130 miles over the Pacific. As advertised by the Pentagon in
a Valentine’s Day briefing, the destruction of the satellite was quick,
clean, and complete. The impact blew the target to bits and vaporized
the fuel; most of the debris was incinerated as it fell to Earth.
There was, however, one bit of alarming fallout: coming after China’s
earlier, successful test of an antisatellite missile on one of its own
old weather satellites, the U.S. shootdown may have marked the opening
of a new arms race in space. Not only was the U.S. destruction of its
own satellite less transparent and straightforward than billed, but it
looks to have been part of a larger U.S. effort, mostly out of public
view, to develop antisatellite weapons and to militarize space, with
potentially catastrophic consequences.
The world has twice decided that allowing weapons in space is a bad
idea. Early dreams of using nuclear warheads to destroy enemy
satellites foundered because neither the United States nor the Soviet
Union could figure out how to keep the explosions from also damaging
their own spacecraft. In the Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967, both
sides agreed to ban weapons of mass destruction in space. Then, in the
1980s, after many antisatellite tests with nonnuclear weapons, the two
superpowers stopped destructive testing. Development was too expensive,
and kills could send debris zooming into other satellites. (8/16)
Space Command Pushes for GPS Launch Tracking (Source: Air
Force Times)
Air Force Space Command is hoping to add technologies and methods to
its satellite launching operations over the next decade that will save
money on infrastructure and personnel. Switching to GPS satellite-based
tracking of rockets after they lift off and using more automated
destruct capabilities for vehicles that veer off course are two of the
ideas. The plan is based on a launch range study that was started 18
months ago and is expected to be finished shortly, Wilson said. The
study is intended to lay the groundwork for the upgrades’ budgeting and
contracts. (8/16)
Florida Pad Could Host Launch by 2010 (Source: Florida
Today)
The first commercial launch from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station could come as early as 2010 or 2011, said
Space Florida President and CEO Steve Kohler. "We have customers we are
talking to," said Kohler. Using SLC 36 is subject to completion of an
environmental analysis. The action grants the property to the state
under a real-estate license for an initial term of five years. The
launch complex can accomodate light to medium rockets. Meanwhile,
Kennedy Space Center would continue to explore possibilities for a
larger commercial launch complex at KSC. (8/11)
Florida Governor Celebrates Launch Pad -- But No Talk of How
to Pay For It (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Gov. Charlie Crist came to Cocoa to celebrate last week's announcement
by Space Florida and the U.S. Air Force that a new commercial launch
pad will be built on the site of what was Launch Complex 36 at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station. The 47-year-old complex will be rebuilt as
a multi-use launch site for commercial business and research. Declared
the ever-buoyant governor: “We are truly on our way to establishing a
space-based, biotech corridor that stretches all the way from Florida
to the International Space Station.”
But what Crist, and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, didn't say is that it will
cost an estimated $100 million or more to rebuild the launch pad, which
was retired by the Air Force in 2004. And right now, essentially all
the money available is $14.5 million appropriated by this year's
Legislature. With the state economy still in the toilet -- and
economists about to declare this week that the state's budget has
slipped into deficit -- it's not at all clear where the rest of the
money will come from. (8/11)
Up Aerospace, Lockheed Martin Launch from New Mexico Spaceport
(Source: NMSA)
New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) announced a successful launch of
a test flight vehicle for Lockheed Martin by UP Aerospace from
Spaceport America on August 12. The brief test flight was a non-public,
unpublished event at the request of Lockheed Martin, who is testing
proprietary advanced launch technologies. “Today’s launch successfully
lifted off at 7 a.m. local time at the beginning of our three-hour
launch window. We are very pleased to be a small business partner with
Lockheed Martin on their research and development technology programs
by supplying low-cost, fast turnaround launch operation,“ said UP
Aerospace President Jerry Larson. (8/13)
MEASAT Damaged by Crane at Baikonur Spaceport (Source:
SpaceDaily.com)
Orbital Sciences is helping to support its customer, MEASAT Satellite
Systems in replanning the MEASAT 3a satellite mission following an
accident that occurred over the weekend that damaged the spacecraft.
While at the Baikonour spaceport in Kazakhstan, an overhead crane
operated by MEASAT's launch service provider accidentally impacted the
MEASAT 3a satellite. A team of MEASAT and Orbital engineers are
currently assessing the extent of the damage to determine the next
course of action, which may result in the satellite being returned to
Orbital's satellite manufacturing facility for repair and retesting.
(8/13)
Measat, GeoEye Launches Delayed (Source: SpaceToday.net)
Two launches of commercial satellites planned for later this month were
delayed Tuesday, and in one case could be postponed for months. The
Measat 3a communications satellite was scheduled for launch on August
21 on a Land Launch Zenit-3SLB from Baikonur, but over the weekend the
spacecraft was damaged by a crane at the launch processing facility.
Separately, the August 22 launch of the GeoEye-1 commercial remote
sensing satellite from Vandenberg has been pushed back to September 4.
A telemetry aircraft normally used to support launches is unavailable,
and range officials will instead use a ship located in the Pacific well
downrange of the launch site to relay data from the launch, hence the
delay. (8/13)
Russian Rocket to Launch U.S. Commercial Satellite Aug. 19
(Source: RIA Novosti)
A Russian Proton-M rocket carrying an Inmarsat communications satellite
will be launched Aug. 19. The rocket is to be launched by the
Russian-American joint venture International Launch Services from the
Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan. The agency earlier said an onboard
computer failure was discovered in the Breeze M booster during
prelaunch testing, causing the launch to be postponed from August 14.
The Inmarsat-4 satellites, built by EADS Astrium, are among the largest
and most sophisticated commercial communication satellites in the
world. (8/15)
Ariane 5 Launches Dual
Payloads in Fifth Mission of 2008 (Source:
SpaceFlightNow.com)
Europe's workhorse Ariane 5 rocket took off from a South American
spaceport Thursday on its third launch in barely two months, this time
with Japanese and U.S. television broadcasting satellites. The rare
daytime launch occurred at the Guiana Space Center along the northeast
coast of South America. The rocket unleashed the 10,626-pound Japanese
Superbird 7 satellite about 26 minutes after liftoff. After jettisoning
a dual payload adapter, the stage released the smaller AMC 21 to
complete the Ariane 5's fifth mission of the year. (8/14)
Iran Launches Home-Built
Satellite Rocket (Source: AFP)
Iran said it had launched a rocket carrying a test-satellite into space
on Sunday, in a move that could further exacerbate tensions with the
West over its nuclear drive. "The Safir (Ambassador) rocket was
successfully launched. All its systems...are Iranian made," Reza
Taghipour, head of Iran's space agency, said, adding that a "test
satellite was put into orbit." Western governments, which suspect Iran
is trying to build an atomic weapon, have voiced concern that the
Islamic republic's space program could be put to military use. (8/17)
The Race to Build a Green Rocket (Source: Plenty)
Space may soon be a tourist destination. A handful of well-funded
private companies are jockeying to be the first to blast paying
customers to the edge of space, where they’ll experience weightlessness
and stare out into the void. These suborbital flights are expected to
begin next year. And there’s a surprising twist to this new space race:
The companies aren’t just competing to launch first; several are also
vying for bragging rights to the greenest rocket. Firing off rockets to
give rich tourists a stellar view may sound inherently un-eco,
especially given the conventional airline industry’s contributions to
global warming. There’s no arguing that the practice will emit
greenhouse gases, but space industry leaders Xcor Aerospace and Virgin
Galactic tout their programs as “environmentally benign.” (8/14)
Editorial: Hawaii's Aerospace Industry, The Next Frontier
(Source: Hawaii Reporter)
I would like to invite the public to a very exciting one day conference
sponsored by the State Senate and House Economic Development
Committees. On August 21, experts in aerospace will converge at the
State Capitol auditorium for a conference titled: Hawaii's Aerospace
Industry, The Next Frontier. Thirty experts from the mainland and
Hawaii will share their work, accomplishments, ideas, and vision on the
aerospace industry and how Hawaii can continue to position itself to
become a key player in the near future.
Many exciting aerospace ventures are being carried out or planned for
and Hawaii has played an important role. We are a major contributor and
beneficiary of the global aerospace industry, and guests panelists from
federal and Hawaii-based aerospace institutions/companies/agencies and
leaders in emerging dual-use technologies, astronomy, planetary
geosciences, next-generation aviation, space launch, and aerospace
education will present their work and achievements. (8/16)
Final Frontier ... Future Boom (Source: Canberra Times)
In the not-too-distant future you could fly from Sydney to London and
the trip would take three hours about the length of a decent in-flight
movie or the time taken to check-in. Add a few more years and you could
honeymoon in hotels in zero-gravity or take a holiday to the moon.
These are some of the possibilities Cosmos magazine editor-in-chief
Wilson da Silva predicts will be born out of advancements in space
travel, and it will happen sooner than many might think.
Speaking to the Sunday Canberra Times in the lead-up to a talk at the
Australian National University on Friday as part of National Science
Week, da Silva said we were on the cusp of a new era in travel with the
next 20 years likely to see a boom in the development of high frontier
space. It would be led by joy flights into sub-orbital space before
more "useful" flights to other destinations in the world were created.
This would be followed by advancements in orbital travel which if
demand was there would lead to development such as hotels in space.
Like the boom and advancement in aviation in the 1920s it would again
be driven by the private sector. (8/17)
Psychologists Show New Ways to Deal with Health Challenges in
Space (Source: APA)
As NASA prepares to send humans back to the moon and then on to Mars,
psychologists are exploring the challenges astronauts will face on
missions that will be much longer and more demanding than previous
space flights. Psychologists outlined these mental health challenges
Thursday at the American Psychological Association's 116th Annual
Convention, and introduced a new interactive computer program that will
help address psychosocial challenges in space. Visit http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-08/apa-psn080708.php to view the article.
(8/14)
Microbes Could Travel from Venus to Earth (Space.com)
Venus, with its boiling-hot surface, doesn't seem a likely place to
find ET. But a new paper argues not only that Venusian clouds could
harbor microbial life, but also that the life there could potentially
hitch a ride aboard the solar wind to Earth. The possibility for
microbial life on Venusian clouds has been suggested before, though
it's still not widely thought to be likely. However, the assertion that
this life could potentially float from Venus to Earth is novel, and
contentious. The clouds on Venus are thought to be the planet's best
bet for life because the temperatures there are cooler than at the
too-hot surface, and water vapor has been detected in the atmosphere.
(8/11)
PSI Director Promotes 13-Planet Solar System (Source:
SpaceDaily.com)
Mark Sykes says that if a non-stellar object is massive enough to be
round and orbits a star, it ought to be a planet. The key here is that
once an object gets that big, important geophysical processes begin.
Under this scenario, the smallest known planet in the solar system
would be Ceres, the largest and most massive object in the asteroid
belt between Mars and Jupiter. (8/13)
Pluto’s "Moon" Meets Definitions of Plutoid and Dwarf Planet
(Source: Science News)
Pluto got the boot from planethood in 2006. But one of the dwarf
planet’s moons, Charon, could get an upgrade, thanks to discussions
August 14 during the Great Planet Debate Conference in Laurel, Md.
“Charon is not a satellite,” Keith Noll, a planetary scientist at the
Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, said during the
meeting. “It meets the definitions of plutoid and dwarf planet, and if
it weren’t orbiting Pluto, it would be a dwarf planet.”
But when the International Astronomical Union redefined planet and
created the label dwarf planet, the group listed Charon as one of
Pluto’s satellites — Nix and Hydra being the other two. In 2006, the
IAU also wrote, “The idea that Charon might qualify to be called a
dwarf planet on its own may be considered later,” as a footnote to
their definitions of planet and dwarf planet. Stirring even more
controversy into Pluto’s demotion, the footnote was removed from the
IAU’s statement of resolutions two days after it was published, says
Harvard University astronomer Owen Gingrich, who chaired the committee
that worked on defining a planet. (8/16)
Satellite Firm GeoEye Must
Restate Profits (Source: AIA)
Satellite company GeoEye this week said it must restate its accounting
for 2005 through 2007. The restatement will lower profit for the period
by $31 million. It also noted that a major government customer has cut
back on orders after a delay this year in launching the satellite,
known as GeoEye-1. (8/14)
Magellan Aerospace Announces Quarterly Results (Source:
Magellan)
Consolidated revenues for the second quarter of 2008 were $172.1
million, an increase of $21.8 million or 14.5% over the second quarter
of 2007. Gross profits of $17.8 million (10.4% of revenues) were
reported for the second quarter of 2008 compared to $16.2 million
(10.8% of revenues) during the same period in 2007. Gross profit, as a
percentage of sales, declined over the second quarter of 2007 due to a
change in product mix. The decline in the value of the U.S. dollar
versus the Canadian dollar during the second quarter of 2008, when
compared to the second quarter of 2007, continued to mask the total
impact of the improvements made by the Corporation. (8/12)
Loral Reports Second
Quarter 2008 Financial Results (Source: Loral)
Loral Space & Communications announced that combined revenues and
Adjusted EBITDA, including both the satellite manufacturing and the
satellite services segments for the quarter were $383 million and $120
million, respectively. Combined segment revenues and Adjusted EBITDA
for the first six months of the year were $769 million and $220
million, respectively. After eliminating the results of Telesat,
revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter were $208 million and $15
million, respectively, and $427 million and $14 million for the first
six months, respectively. (8/11)
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California
Aerospace Events Calendar
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.
Supply Chain Event Planned
in Lockheed Martin, Palmdale and Antelope Valley College on Sep. 2-4
CSA is supporting three
upcoming supply chain events, all providing opportunities for suppliers
to network with their customers, partners and service providers, to
attend production tours and to learn concepts to increase global
competitiveness: The Introduction to 21st Century Supply Chain
Management Seminar is designed to provide a competitive edge &
opportunities for aerospace & related industry suppliers. The
Department of Labor, LMCO, Boeing, Raytheon and NGC sponsorship have
enabled CSA to offer these events without fee; space is limited.
Registration will open on August 15 at
http://www.innovatecalifornia.net. Contact Christine Purcell at
310.283.7323 or email
mailto:christine.purcell@californiaspaceauthrority.org.
AIAA Space 2008 Conference
& Exposition Planned in San Diego Sep. 9-11
The San Diego Convention
Center will host Space 2008 on Sep. 9-11. This AIAA sponsored event
will focus on space as an underpinning our commercial, civil, and
military sectors. Three of the top issues in the upcoming
election—-economic competitiveness, the global war on terror, and the
need for increased global climate change monitoring—-are all dependent
on our technological and operational achievements in space. Visit
http://www.aiaa.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 at the Hotel Lotte, Jeju, Korea. To
register visit http://www.apscc.or.kr/event/apscc2008.asp. Registration
Discount to CSA Members!
Space Angels Network
Issues a Call for Applicant Companies for Sep. 26 Event
Space Angels Network, LLC,
a national network of seed- and early-stage investors focused on
aerospace-related ventures, has issued a Call for Applicant Companies
to its first Aerospace Venture Forum to be held in Los Angeles on
September 26, 2008. The Forum will be a full-day event that showcases
promising aerospace ventures and allows entrepreneurs to present their
investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of active accredited
investors. Visit http://www.spaceangelsnetwork.com for information.
3rd Annual Supplier
Transformation Forum Planned at Northrop Grumman Space Park on Oct. 7
The 3rd annual Supplier
Transportation Forum is planned at Northrop Grumman Corp. Space Park on
Oct. 7. The event will include multiple primes, agencies and their
supply chains. The Department of Labor, LMCO, Boeing, Raytheon and NGC
sponsorship have enabled CSA to offer these events without fee; space
is limited. Registration will open on August 15 at
http://www.innovatecalifornia.net. Contact Christine Purcell at
310.283.7323 or email
mailto:christine.purcell@californiaspaceauthrority.org.
Supply Chain Event Planned
in Boeing, Huntington Beach on Oct. 27-29
CSA is supporting three
upcoming supply chain events, all providing opportunities for suppliers
to network with their customers, partners and service providers, to
attend production tours and to learn concepts to increase global
competitiveness: The Introduction to 21st Century Supply Chain
Management Seminar is designed to provide a competitive edge &
opportunities for aerospace & related industry suppliers. The
Department of Labor, LMCO, Boeing, Raytheon and NGC sponsorship have
enabled CSA to offer these events without fee; space is limited.
Registration will open on August 15 at
http://www.innovatecalifornia.net. Contact Christine Purcell at
310.283.7323 or email
mailto:christine.purcell@californiaspaceauthrority.org.
AEi Systems 2008 WCCA
Workshop Planned in Los Angeles on Nov. 13-14
A two-day intensive Worst
Case Circuit Analysis Training Workshop will focuses on the fundamental
skills required to perform a WCCA. Seats are limited. For additional
information visit www.aeng.com/wccaclass.asp or call 310-216-1144.
Air Force Week in Los
Angeles November 14-21
A number of events are
planned throughout Los Angeles County showcasing the Air Force. The Air Force Week program is part of a proactive
initiative to increase communication with the public. Each Air Force
week may include community visits and talks by Air Force officials,
flight demonstration team performances and displays providing an up
close and personal look at the Air Force men and women serving on the
front lines. For a complete schedule of events visit:
http://www.losangeles.af.mil/airforceweekinla.asp
First Annual NASA Business
Symposium & Awards Ceremony Planned at JPL Nov. 17-18
This symposium provides a
forum for attendees to learn about NASA/JPL plans for future missions
in space and Earth Science, including associated programs, initiatives,
and business and/or teaming opportunities. Attendees will learn about
the skills, resources, and technologies needed to achieve the agency's
missions, programs and research. Business-to-business networking with
NASA, JPL and prime contractors will be the objective throughout the
two-day event. Visit http://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/boo/2008sbsym/ for
information.
California Space Enterprise SpotBeam Awards Dinner Planned
Nov. 19
The California Space Authority is now accepting nominations from its
members and partners for this year's California Space Enterprise
SpotBeam Awards. The SpotBeam Awards dinner is scheduled for November
19 in Los Angeles. Visit http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/awards.html
for information.
California Space Authority
(CSA) Annual Membership Meeting Planned for December 4
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm at The
Sheraton Gateway LAX in the California Room. Join us for cocktails and
appetizers while networking with the CSA Board of Directors and fellow
CSA members. The Annual Membership Meeting is
hosted by CSA. RSVP to mailto:Elizabeth.Burkhead@californiaspaceauthority.org
Aerospace Medical
Association Meeting in Los Angeles on May 3-7
The 80th Annual Scientific
Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association will be held May 3-7,
2009, at the Westin Bonaventure hotel in Los Angeles. For questions
about the meeting, please contact Gloria (703-739-2240 x 106) or Sheryl
(703-739-2240 x 107). Click here to view the "Call for Papers" for the
event. http://www.asma.org/pdf/meeting/2009-call-for-papers.pdf
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Last Week’s DOD
Contract Awards in California
AeroVironment Incorporated, Simi Valley, Calif.,
was awarded on Aug. 13, 2008, a $17,757,543 firm-fixed price contract
for additional Army Standard Raven Systems and Raven initial spares
packages. Work will be performed in Simi
Valley, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Jan. 30, 2008. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone
Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
General Atomics
Aeronautical system, San Diego, Calif.,
was awarded on Aug. 14, 2008, a $10,487,251 cost-plus-fixed fee
contract for logistics support for the IGNAT/Sky Warrior alpha unmanned
aircraft system. Work will be performed in San
Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on
Jun. 27, 2008. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile
Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
ECC International, LLC, Burlingame, Calif.,
was awarded on Aug. 13, 2008, a $9,979,477 firm-fixed price contract
for the Afghan National Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal School camp
and garrison upgrade. Work will be performed in
Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, and is expected to be completed by Aug.
13, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the
end of the current fiscal year. Five bids were
solicitedon Jul. 13, 2008, and two bids were received. U.S. Army
engineer District, Afghanistan, is the contracting activity.
Science Application
International Corp., San Diego, Calif.,
was awarded on Aug. 14, 2008, a $6,081,000 time and materials contract
for post deployment/post production software support and fielding,
training, logistics, documentation, engineering and technical support
services for the Joint Network Management System. Work
will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and Fairfax, Va., and
is expected to be completed by Aug. 14, 2009. Contract
funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Jun. 17, 2008. CECOM
Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J. is the contracting activity.
US Foodservice/Joseph Webb
Division, Vista,
Calif. is being awarded a maximum $34,585,000 firm fixed price,
prime vendor contract for full line food distribution services. Using
services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. There
are no other locations of performance. Contract funds will not expire
at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising
second option year. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 3
responses. The date of performance completion is August 17, 2009. The
contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP),
Philadelphia, Pa.
McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a
$17,394,620 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost
plus fixed fee contract (N00383-06-D-001J) to incorporate post
production and performance based logistics support requirements
necessary for the continued safe and effective operations of fielded
F/A-18 A-D aircraft. This modification provides support for the Navy,
Marine Corps; and the governments of Australia, Canada, Spain, Finland,
Switzerland, Kuwait, and Malaysia. Work will be performed in St. Louis,
Mo. (76 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (21 percent); Warner
Robins, Ga. (2 percent); and Santa Clarita, Calif. (1 percent),
and is expected to be completed in Dec. 2008. Contract funds in the
amount of $903,305 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($12,574,529; 72
percent) and the Governments of Canada ($1,461,918; 8 percent); Spain
($1,016,986; 6 percent); Australia ($794,520; 5 percent); Finland
($677,991; 4 percent); Kuwait ($423,744; 2 percent); Switzerland
($360,183; 2 percent); and Malaysia, ($84,749; 1 percent) under the
Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent
River, Md. is the contracting activity.
Cameron Bell Corporation,
Government Solutions Group, Charleston, S.C., is
being awarded a potential maximum $9,980,891
indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (delivery order),
cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide technical and engineering
services in support of the Cyber Asset Reduction Security (CARS)
program at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego,
Information Technology Enterprise networking environment. Support
includes: knowledge management, content management, systems mapping,
architectural integration, analysis, planning, design and
implementation of new systems, subsystems and critical items to support
requirements. Work will be performed at selected Space and Naval
Warfare Systems activities within the United States, including: San
Diego, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Norfolk, Va.; New Orleans, La.; and
Charleston, S.C., and work is expected to be completed Aug. 2013.
Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
This contract was negotiated as a sole source agreement in accordance
with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source (FAR Subpart
6.302-1). There is only one source, Government Solutions Group,
qualified and capable of performing the work at a reasonable price to
the Government. The use of any other contractor would involve a
substantial duplication of costs not expected to be recovered through
competition. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Calif.,
is the contracting activity.
Northrop Grumman Systems
Corp.,
Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $16,124,867 modification to
previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-6311) to provide integration
services for mission packages that will deploy from and integrate with
the Littoral Combat Ship. The Navy’s plan is to use spiral development
to improve mission capability in identified mission areas. The LCS
mission packages are developed and acquired separately from the LCS sea
frame. Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y., (32 percent);
Washington, D.C., (26 percent); Panama City, Fla., (15 percent);
Hollywood, Md., (15 percent); San Diego, Calif., (5 percent);
Dahlgren, Va., (5 percent); and Newport, R.I., (2 percent), and is
expected to be completed by Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire
at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command,
Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.
US Divers Co., Inc., Vista, Calif.,
was awarded on Aug. 8, 2008, a $5,478,180 firm fixed price indefinite
delivery/ indefinite quantity contract, contract for purchase of
portable helicopter oxygen delivery systems. Work will be performed in Vista,
Calif., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2013. Contract
funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was
one bid solicited on Sept. 20, 2007, and one bid was received. US Army
Research, Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Md., is the contracting activity.
Cubic Applications, Inc., Lacey, Wash., a member
of the Cubic Corp., family of companies, is being awarded a $31,711,289
firm-fixed-price contract. The Security Cooperation Education and
Training Center (SCETC) provide the Training and Education Command
oversight of the Marine Corps advisor pre-deployment Training Program
for military advisor transition teams and also for training of other
security cooperation teams. SCETC is also responsible for ensuring
security cooperation teams deployed to various countries throughout the
world who receive customized pre-deployment training. Work
will be performed at Camp Pendleton, Calif; Camp Lejeune, N.C.;
and Twenty Nine Palms, Calif., and work is expected to be
completed Dec. 2012. Contract funds will expire at the end of the
current fiscal year. This effort was competed as a full and open
competition procurement, with seven offers received to the
solicitation. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Orlando, Fla., is the
contracting activity.
Teza Design, San Diego, Calif.,
is being awarded a maximum $7,500,000 (base and options - with a
guaranteed minimum of $5,000) firm-fixed-price,
indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect/engineering contract
for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering services in the
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of
responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for engineering
studies and reports, site investigation reports, preparation of
requests for proposals for design-build projects, preparation of fully
designed plans and specifications for invitation for bid projects, cost
estimates, evaluations and construction support services. Work will be
performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other
government facilities within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR including, but
not limited to California, (87 percent), Ariz., (5 percent),
Nev., (5 percent), Colo., (1 percent), N.M., (1 percent) and Utah, (1
percent), and work is expected to be completed Aug. 2009 (Mar. 2013
with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of
the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as an
8(a) Small Business set-aside via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website,
with six proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
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