Follow Google Lunar X Prize on Twitter

Editor's note: Google Lunar X Prize is looking to get 500 Twitter followers. Why not help them out!

Surprise: ODIN Is More Expensive Than The Real World

Final Memorandum on Review of NASA's Consolidation of Information Technology Purchases under the Outsourcing Desktop Initiative (Redacted)

"We found that by consolidating category 1 IT purchases, NASA could achieve efficiencies and associated benefits including cost effectiveness, through value-added services included in the cost of an IT purchase made through ODIN. We determined that for category 3 IT purchases, in some instances, ODIN's prices for specific items were higher than prices advertised by IT suppliers dealing through the Internet. During our review, we also found that NASA does not have formalized procedures for negotiating price modifications from ODIN and does not provide instructions for employees on how to seek and identify lower costs than ODIN's for category 3 IT purchases. Providing price negotiation procedures and instructions could provide NASA cost savings for category 3 IT purchases in the future."

ARC's New Green Building

NASA ARC Solicitation: Construction of Collaborative Support Facility Building N232

"NASA/ARC is hereby soliciting information about potential sources for the construction of a Collaborative Support Facility, Building N232. NASA Ames Research Center plans to construct a new building to be located on the existing Bush Circle at Moffett Field, California. The building and the on-site work shall be constructed as sustainable entities. The project is being designed with a goal to achieve LEED-NC v2.2 Platinum Certification. The requirements for sustainable construction will be contained throughout the contract documents."

SpaceX Announces DragonLab

SpaceX DragonLab

"DragonLab provides a platform for in-space experimentation, including recovery of pressurized and some unpressurized payloads, as well as deployment of small spacecraft. As a complete system, DragonLab provides for all aspects of operation: propulsion, power, thermal control, environmental control, avionics, communications, thermal protection, flight software, guidance, navigation and control, entry, descent and landing and recovery. SpaceX will host a DragonLab Users Workshop on November 6, 2008."

NASA Patents Sold at Auction

Ocean Tomo Auctions Announces Impressive $12.8M Results from Fall 2008 Live Intellectual Property Auction

"We are delighted that exclusive rights to our patents were sold at auction. Not only does this sale maximize the value of the award-winning HHT technology by transferring it to a commercialization partner, it also benefits the U.S. taxpayers and the domestic economy," said Nona Cheeks, chief of NASA Goddard's Innovative Partnerships Program Office. "This is a great start and validation of our partnership with Ocean Tomo to commercialize NASA-funded technologies. There were several institutional hurdles to overcome to allow us to participate in the auction and given the many challenges, we've found the dedication of the Ocean Tomo team to be truly impressive."

SMD Turns Its Back on Suborbital Science

NASA Request For Information: Scientist Participant Suborbital Science Pilot Program - FLIGHT RESEARCH - Science Mission Directorate

NASA Request For Information: Scientist Participant Suborbital Science Pilot Program - SERVICE PROVIDERS - Science Mission Directorate

"The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recognizes the advancement of the commercial suborbital spaceflight industry and requests information on potential human-tended flight experiments enabled by this capability. NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is in the formulation phase of a possible new program to fly government-sponsored payloads and researchers on commercial suborbital systems with the intent of advancing SMD's goals and objectives. Responses to this RFI will be used to inform NASA's program planning."

Editor's note: These twin RFIs were initially issued on 28 Feb 2008 with responses due on 28 March 2008.  Some time after Alan Stern quit his job at NASA as SMD AA, his replacement, Ed Weiler, decided that he was uninterested in this program and pulled back from it.  Weiler rewrote the RFI such that it was now just a study and extended the due date to 5 December 2008. Weiler then took the money that had been set aside for it and moved it elsewhere. When asked, SMD told the Administrator's office that this funding was still there when in fact it was not.  When eventually caught in this contradiction, Weiler said that he'd put the money back - but he then dragged his feet and was caught a second time without having restored the funding.

The original intent of this program was to utilize the growing potential of the emerging U.S. suborbital space access industry. Not only would NASA get access to frequent, meaningful, and cheap microgravity, it would also help to support this growing market sector. Alas, it would seem that Ed Weiler's interests are elsewhere - on non-human spaceflight. Backward thinking at a time when NASA should be looking forward.

Odyssey Moon Partners With NASA

Private U.S. Company to Partner with NASA for Lunar Lander Development

"Odyssey Moon Ventures LLC, a U.S. company developing commercial systems for lunar exploration, announced today that it has partnered with NASA for the development of a robotic lunar lander. The unique public-private partnership will combine NASA expertise with innovative approaches to commercial space systems, resulting in new industrial capabilities for the company and benefits to the American space program. The partnership was established through a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement signed with the NASA Ames Research Center on October 30th, 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, NASA will provide technical data and engineering support to Odyssey Moon Ventures in support of the company's efforts to develop its "MoonOne" (M-1) robotic lunar lander."

SNC Buys Spacedev

SpaceDev Signs Agreement to Be Acquired by Sierra Nevada Corporation

"SpaceDev, Inc. announced [Monday] that it has signed an agreement to be acquired by privately-held Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). Under the agreement, SNC would acquire for cash the outstanding equity of SpaceDev for the gross purchase price of $38 million, which after certain deductions is expected to result in a net price to holders of SpaceDev common stock between $0.68 and $0.72 per share. The expected price represents a premium of between 42% and 50% over the average closing price of SpaceDev's common stock over the 30 trading days preceding this announcement."

Lon Rains Moves From Space News to Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Names Lon L. Rains Director of Communications for Space Technology Sector

"Northrop Grumman Corporation has named Lon L. Rains director of communications for the company's Space Technology sector, where he will guide efforts to increase the visibility of the company's capabilities in civil and military space, missile defense and high-energy lasers."

Making a Business Case For NASA

Space exploration vital to our economy, Opinion by former NASA Stratcomm Chief Bob Hopkins, Orlando Sentinel

"Whatever the outcome, the space economy is expanding all around us, and if we do not make the commitment to a comprehensive national space strategy and fully funding it, we will most assuredly see our nation's economic and technological standing fall behind our competitors. If we find it in the national economic interest to provide for a $700 billion bailout to Wall Street, we can surely make the relatively modest investment -- less than 3 percent of the bailout funding -- needed in space exploration, technology, research and science to ensure continued U.S global economic and technological leadership in the future. Commitment to space is vital to our economy."

Spacehab Subject to NASDAQ Delisting

SPACEHAB Announces Receipt of NASDAQ Staff Determination Letter

"SPACEHAB, Incorporated, a leading provider of commercial space services, today announced its receipt of a NASDAQ Staff Determination letter on October 7, 2008 indicating that the Company has failed to regain compliance with NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(4), and that its securities are, therefore, subject to delisting from The NASDAQ Capital Market. The Company plans to request a hearing before a NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel to present its plan of compliance and request continued listing pending the completion of the plan. However, there can be no assurance the Panel will grant the Company's request for continued listing."

Jim Benson

SpaceDev Founder Jim Benson Dies

"SpaceDev, Inc. announced today that SpaceDev Founder and Board Member James Benson, 63, died peacefully in his home. Benson was diagnosed in 2007 with a glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor, the cause of his death early this morning.

Mr. Benson had resigned from an operational role in SpaceDev in September 2006. He retained a seat on the Board of Directors of SpaceDev where he had continued to support the Company that he founded in 1997."

NASA Spinoffs 2008

Spinoff 2008 Highlights NASA Innovations In Everyday Life

"The 2008 edition of NASA's annual Spinoff publication celebrates the agency's 50th anniversary and highlights 50 new examples of how NASA technology is being put to use in everyday life. This anniversary edition features a 50-year timeline of NASA-derived technologies from historical programs and projects, and a summary of award-winning NASA technologies included in Spinoff over the years. Spinoff 2008 lists many of the latest NASA innovations now in the commercial marketplace. These innovations have resulted in healthcare advances, transportation breakthroughs, public safety benefits, new consumer goods, environmental protection, computer technology and industrial productivity."

Ken Davidian Heading for FAA AST

From: exploration-bounces@lists.hq.nasa.gov
To: exploration@hq.nasa.gov
Sent: Thu Oct 09 13:07:08 2008

Dear members of the ESMD listserv... As many of you have undoubtedly heard by now, I have decided to take a position with the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) within the FAA. AST is responsible for issuing licenses and permits to companies like SpaceX who want to launch rockets commercially.

As I understand it, I'll be doing the same sort of activities that I've been doing here (encouraging commercial space activities, helping to develop policy within the agency, etc.) both here and abroad. With the recent successful launch of SpaceX's Falcon 1, and with at least three teams vying to win the Lunar Lander Challenge, AST is really busy trying to keep up with all the commercial space activities going on. Also, the regulatory side of the business is experience that I lack, so I look at this job change as an in-depth training rotation for me. It will provide me a great opportunity to broaden my experience base, hopefully making me more valuable if/when I get an opportunity to come back to NASA.

As you can imagine, I'm really excited about diving head-first into that hive of activity!

At the same time, having had the chance to stand-up Centennial Challenges, and then working on the Commercial Development Policy here within ESMD, and now at the agency level, as well as helping to define the process of soliciting commercial participation in partnership agreements, has been a dream-job for me here with NASA. I've been kept busy, worked with top-notch people, challenged on a daily basis, and been given limitless opportunity to excel. Those are job characteristics you can't find just anywhere, and they are proof that NASA is consistently rated the best government agency in which to work. I will definitely miss working at NASA, probably more than I know.

Going to the FAA will be my first foray into the world of another gov't agency (I'm such a NASA-boy... I'm only months away from getting my 20 year pin with NASA!), but since my first interaction with them back in 2002, I've been impressed with their mission and the people there, as well, so I don't think this is a leap of any great distance. Besides, the AST offices are just a couple of blocks from here, located across the street from the Hirshhorn Museum, so this move is not physically a big one, either!

I'm sending this message now because I wanted to wait until I had confirmation of an official separation date from NASA, and I just received that a couple minutes ago. My last day as a NASA employee will be Oct 25 and my first day as an FAA employee will be Oct 26. (You might see me in the halls on Monday, the 27th, as I go through the check-out process as I will be on travel starting on the 21st through the 26th.)

I want everybody to know that I'm not running away from anything here at NASA, but running toward an office that is smack-dab in the middle of commercial space. If there's one thing I've learned as I've moved from job to job, is that it always boils down to the people. Here at HQ, the people have been great know and great to work with. I want to thank all the bosses I've had (who are still here), including Carl, Gale, Geoff, John (G) and John (O), Doug, Tom, Rick, and everybody else I've had the pleasure and privilege to work with. I don't know when, but I'm sure our paths will meet again soon...

Thanks!

Ken Davidian

P.S. I'm sure I'm forgetting something and someone(s), and I apologize for that. But don't worry, I promise not to send out an addendum! This email is too long already! Ciao!

What's Next for SpaceX?

Next for SpaceX: Falcon 9, NASA, Humans and the Moon?

"With a successful Falcon 1 launch under their belt, SpaceX has set its sights on hauling cargo for NASA with the larger Falcon 9 rocket, transporting crews to the International Space Station in its Dragon capsule, and landing on the Moon with a modified Falcon 1 rocket."

SpaceX Launch Successful (broadcast Friday, October 3rd, 2008), Science Friday

"3:00 pm EDT: Guest: Elon Musk, CEO and CTO, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), Hawthorne, California"

Richard Garriott Is Going To Be Busy

First Second Generation Astronaut, Richard Garriott, to Perform Research while in Space in Cooperation with NASA

"Space Adventures, Ltd., the only company that provides human space missions to the world marketplace, announced today that their orbital spaceflight client, Richard Garriott, will participate in a suite of experiments in cooperation with NASA during his 10-day mission. Mr. Garriott is scheduled to launch on October 12 onboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan en route to the International Space Station (ISS). He will be joining the Expedition 18 crew which includes NASA astronaut Michael Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov."

Charles Simonyi Wants to Go Back

Space Adventures' Orbital Spaceflight Candidate, Charles Simonyi, Plans Spring 2009 Return Flight to the ISS

"Space Adventures, the only company that provides human space missions to the world marketplace, announced today that Charles Simonyi, Ph.D., intends to train with the Soyuz TMA-14 crew in preparation for a spring mission to the International Space Station (ISS)."Having a repeat orbital client demonstrates to the world that participating in a space mission is truly a magnificent and awe-inspiring experience. It is also an excellent example that the marketplace is even larger than previously anticipated because of the potential occurrence of clients who fly on multiple occasions," said Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures. "We congratulate Charles on his continued commitment to commercial spaceflight. We look forward to assisting him in preparation for the spring 2009 mission."

SpaceX Update - ORBIT (with Video)

SpaceX Successfully Launches Falcon 1 to Orbit

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) announces that Flight 4 of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle has successfully launched and achieved Earth orbit.

With this key milestone, Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to orbit the Earth. Source: Space Exploration Technologies Corp."

Video below

Dice-K Sues Space Adventures

Wannabe Space Tourist Wants $21 Million Back Over Scuttled Mission, Wired

"The Japanese internet tycoon who paid $21 million to become the first space tourist to walk outside the International Space Station wants his money back. In a lawsuit, Daisuke Enomoto, 37, claims that Space Adventures, the private firm with connections to the Russian Federal Space Agency, "deceptively and fraudulently" induced him to pay $21 million for a 10-day orbital sojourn that never materialized."

Daisuke Enomoto
Why Dress Silly in Space? He's Rich - Therefore He Can., earlier post
Daisuke Enomoto Grounded, earlier post
Space Tourists Check Out Their Spacecraft, earlier post

SpaceX Falcon Flight Tuesday?

SpaceX Update: Flight 4 of Falcon 1

"As mentioned in my update last month, we do expect to conduct a launch countdown in late September - as scheduled. Having said that, it is still possible that we encounter an issue that needs to be investigated, which would delay launch until the next available window in late October. If preparations go smoothly, we will conduct a static fire on Saturday and launch sometime between Tuesday and Thursday (California time)."

New President for Odyssey Moon U.S. Operations

Former NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Jay Honeycutt Announced As President of Odyssey Moon U.S. Operations

"Veteran U.S. Civil and Commercial Space executive Jay Honeycutt has been named President of Odyssey Moon Ventures LLC, responsible for all Odyssey Moon U.S. programs and commercial launch operations.

Odyssey Moon intends to develop and commercialize innovative technologies to offer frequent, low cost and reliable access to the lunar surface for private and government customers."

Solar Power Satellites One Step Closer

Key Step to Space-Based Solar Power Achieved

"During the week of May 5-9, 2008, a key step on the path to Space-Based Solar Power was achieved: a "first-of-a-kind" long-range demonstration of solar-powered wireless power transmission using a solid-state phased array transmitter located on the U.S. island of Maui (on Haleakala) and receivers located on the island of Hawai'i (Mauna Loa) and airborne. The demonstration, achieved by Managed Energy Technologies LLC of the U.S. and sponsored by Discovery Communications, Inc., involved the transmission of RF energy over a distance of up to 148 kilometers (about 90 miles): almost 100-times further than a major 1970s power transmission performed by NASA in the Mojave Desert in California."

Dodd Weighs In On Space Suit Competition

Dodd Calls for Fairness in New NASA Space Suit Competition

"Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) recently sent a letter to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Michael Griffin expressing concern about how the recent competition for the new Constellation Space Suit System was executed. The competition resulted in NASA awarding the new contract to Oceaneering International, a firm that specializes in deep sea diving suits, instead of Connecticut-based Hamilton Sundstrand, the company that has manufactured America's space suits for more than 40 years. This decision has since been withdrawn by NASA due to concerns voiced by the NASA Inspector General and a protest filed by Hamilton Sundstrand with the Government Accountability Office (GAO)."

SpaceX Gets USAF License

SpaceX Receives USAF Operational License for Cape Canaveral Launch Site

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has been granted an Operational License by the US Air Force for the use of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Florida coast. Receipt of the license, in conjunction with the approved Site Plan, paves the way for SpaceX to initiate Falcon 9 launch operations later this year. "We are developing Falcon 9 to be a valuable asset to the American space launch fleet," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "The support we received from General Helms and the US Air Force has been immensely helpful in developing the pathfinder processes necessary for SpaceX to realize commercial space flights from the Cape."

ZeroG Is Flying NASA Weightless Flights

New NASA Space Experiment Rack To Undergo Flight Tests

"A new space experiment rack under development by NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and Space Florida will undergo initial tests this week. The rack will fly aboard NASA's first commercially-provided research flights on Zero Gravity Corporation's reduced gravity aircraft.

Flight testing of the FASTRACK Space Experiment Platform will be performed on four consecutive days between September 9-12 from Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston."

Sports and Space

Former NFL Player Ken Harvey Taking Sports to New Astronomical Heights

"Many people have heard of Space Tourism, Space Commercialization and Space industrialization, but now there's Space Sportilization - the intersection of space, sports and entertainment. Ken Harvey a former four times NFL Pro Bowl Linebacker, with the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins, and Allen Herbert, an Aerospace Engineer, have coined the term Space Sportilization as part of their company's offering. Their company, JAKA Consulting Group, uses sports as an entrance way into out- of- the- box thinking."

The Moon is Mine - ALL Mine, I tell You!

For Sale: Moon and Mars, NY Times

"Would you like to buy some real estate on Mars or the Moon? No, this would not be the equivalent of buying the Brooklyn Bridge, at least according to a review of legal precedents and treaties published in the Journal of Air Law and Commerce. The authors, Alan Wasser and Douglas Jobe of the Space Settlement Institute, conclude that the international Outer Space Treaty prohibits nations from claiming sovereignty over the Moon or Mars, it does not preclude private land claims, and they point to legal precedents establishing the necessary condition for anyone making a land claim: living there."

Editor's note: Sorry Al and Doug: I claimed all of the lunar surface 5 minutes before you guys did - whenever that was. How? Because I say so.

Today on the Space Show

Editor's note: Today on the Space Show: Richard Garriott will appear live from Russia on this live streaming Internet radio show. Listen LIVE 9:30-11:30 AM PDT.

Twittering XCOR Rocket Flights

Editor's note: Check out the rocketshadow Twitter feed from XCOR. Henry Vanderbilt got tapped for right seat with Rick Searfoss flying. Check in to see how that flight is going.

Going Into Space

Going to Space? First Stop: Eight Months of Grueling Training in Russia's Star City, WIred

"... Then you have to fork over $30 million to Space Adventures, a company that serves as go-between with the Russian space program. Just don't call its clients space tourists. "That term implies you are there to take photos and hang out," Garriott says. "I'm trying to prove you can actually be a valuable contributor to the activities on board the space station." He notes that he'll be conducting research on protein crystal growth on behalf of a biotech firm. But he doesn't deny that he's really going up because it will be a friggin' blast. "I'd be misleading you if I didn't admit that it's a very selfish activity," he says."

Today's Mangled NASA Procurement Notice Title

Editor's 11:05 am EDT note: DESTINY MISSION CEONCPET FOR THE JOINT DARK ENERGY MISSIN - JDEM

Editor's 11:35 am EDT update: An email to the NASA purchasing agent and a correction was made in a matter of minutes! Now THAT is efficiency!

SpaceX Telecon on Falcon 1 Launch Failure

SpaceX Determines Cause of Falcon 1 Launch Failure

"According to Elon Musk: We have a definitive understanding of what went wrong on Flight 3. The problem was due to a design error not a production or quality assurance issue. The thrust transient was longer than it was for the prior flight. The previous flight had an ablatively cooled engine. Flight 3 had a regeneratively cooled engine. The gap between engine cut off and staging was 1.5 seconds - which was fine for the ablatively cooled engine on Flight 2. But on Flight 3, with the regeneratively cooled engine, there was some residual thrust after engine shut down and this caused the first stage to be pushed back toward the second stage after separation and there was a recontact between the stages."

Editor's note: SpaceX puts everything on line - live - and comes back with a cogent failure analysis within a matter of days - for all the world to see. Contrast this with NASA's Ares/Constellation program wherein test failures are hidden and design flaws are suppressed.

I think I know who will get hardware on-orbit first.

Design Your Own Google Lunar X PRIZE T-Shirt

Google Lunar X PRIZE T-Shirt Design Competition!

"We've got rockets. We've got rovers. We've got a race. But what we don't have is a creative, original T-Shirt that perfectly captures the spirit of exploration and innovation of the Google Lunar X PRIZE.

And is any world-wide competition complete without a cool T-Shirt? No! So we're reaching out to you, our biggest fans, to help us solve this grand challenge, in true X PRIZE Foundation fashion (no pun intended)."

Falcon Launch Video and Message from Elon Musk

Audio recording of short press conference (quality is poor, sorry)

From: Elon Musk
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 9:45 PM
To: Space Exploration Technologies
Subject: Plan Going Forward

Elon

Video below

Full Up Falcon 9 First Stage Firing

SpaceX: First 9 Engine Firing of Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle (with video)

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX ) conducted the first nine engine firing of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle at its Texas Test Facility outside McGregor on July 31st. A second firing on August 1st completed a major NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) milestone almost two months early. At full power, the nine engines consumed 3,200 lbs of fuel and liquid oxygen per second, and generated almost 850,000 pounds of force - four times the maximum thrust of a 747 aircraft. This marks the first firing of a Falcon 9 first stage with its full complement of nine Merlin 1C engines . Once a near term Merlin 1C fuel pump upgrade is complete, the sea level thrust will increase to 950,000 lbf, making Falcon 9 the most powerful single core vehicle in the United States."

WhiteKnightTwo Unveiled

Virgin Galactic Rolls Out Mothership "Eve"

"Virgin Founder, Sir Richard Branson and SpaceShipOne designer, Burt Rutan, today pulled back the hangar doors on the new WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft that will ferry SpaceShipTwo and thousands of private astronauts, science packages and payload on the first stage of the Virgin Galactic suborbital space experience. The rollout represents another major milestone in Virgin Galactic's quest to launch the world's first private, environmentally benign, space access system for people, payload and science. Christened "EVE" in honor of Sir Richard's mother, who performed the official naming ceremony, WK2 is both visually remarkable and represents groundbreaking aerospace technology."

Former Space Tourist Prefers Robots

Mark Shuttleworth: life on Mars, Ubuntu in emerging markets, Ars Technica

"[Shuttleworth] also shared his views about the future of the space program and the importance of reaching for the stars. Although he believes that manned research efforts in space are too costly and less efficient than more automated approaches, he contends that humanity's experience in space will be essential for shaping a future in which society extends beyond earth's sphere."

Odyssey Moon Team Grows

Dr. Paul Spudis Announced as Chief Scientist of Google Lunar X PRIZE Contender Odyssey Moon Limited

"Dr. Paul D. Spudis has been named Chief Scientist of Odyssey Moon Limited, the first official contender for the $30M Google Lunar X PRIZE. Dr. Spudis is an outspoken advocate of the Moon as a focus of scientific exploration and human settlement and has served on numerous advisory committees, including the US Presidential Commission on the Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy. The announcement was made during a NASA Lunar Science Institute conference at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California."

Gutting COTS - Update

NASA eyes buying Japan's cargo spacecraft, Reuters

NASA eyes purchasing Japan's HTV spacecraft, Daily Yomiuri

"In April, NASA started a project to assist U.S. companies' development of a spacecraft to succeed the space shuttle. However, it is uncertain whether it will be possible for the successor vehicle to be developed in the two years left before the space shuttle is to be scrapped, prompting NASA to discuss buying foreign spacecraft. The U.S. Congress has a psychological resistance to buying Russian spacecraft, and the ATV's transport capacity is smaller than that of the HTV. NASA, therefore, is considering ordering HTVs."

Editor's note: If this is true, it is clear that Mike Griffin is going out of his way to undermine COTS and the American companies that seek to provide these services to the ISS. And where is the money going to come from to buy these flights? I guess we can just call this J-COTS from now on.

Editor's Update: NASA released the following statement;

NASA Statement on Inaccurate Reports About Japanese Cargo Services

"Contrary to news reports, NASA has not officially or unofficially been discussing the purchase of H-II Transfer Vehicles (HTV) -- uninhabited resupply cargo ships for the space station -- from the Japanese Space Agency, or JAXA."

Sirius/XM Merger Update

Satellite radio saga takes unexpected turn, AP

"Adelstein, the potential deciding vote, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he would support Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s $3.1 billion buyout of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. if the companies agree to a six-year price cap and make one-quarter of their satellite capacity available for public interest and minority programming, plus other conditions."

Hamilton Sundstrand Fights Back

Hamilton Sundstrand protests NASA contract, AP

"Hamilton Sundstrand has protested NASA's selection of a Texas company to supply the space agency's next-generation space suit. The subsidiary of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp. and a partner company filed the protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office on Monday. Company officials do not believe they got adequate information from NASA about why Hamilton Sundstrand lost out, the company said in a statement."

Hamilton Files Protest On NASA Spacesuit Decision, Wall Street Journal

Changing Horses, earlier post

SBIR Goes Weightless

NASA Innovative Partnerships Program: Small Businesses to Fly New Technologies on Zero-Gravity Flights

"NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program has selected seven Small Business Innovation Research program, or SBIR, companies to participate in reduced-gravity test flights in early September. The companies will have the opportunity to test their newly developed hardware on an aircraft that simulates the weightless conditions of spaceflight. The fights will the first by NASA's Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training program, called FAST."

Stealth "NASA" Future Technology Contest

"Create the Future" and Win, NASA Tech Briefs

"The 2008 NASA Tech Briefs "Create the Future" Design Contest, presented by SolidWorks Corp., opens for entries on July 7. The seventh annual contest welcomes innovative design ideas in the following categories: Machinery, Equipment, and Component Technology; Consumer Products; Medical; Safety and Security; Transportation; and Sustainable Technologies. The Create the Future contest awards a Grand Prize of $20,000 and six First Prizes (one for each category) of Hewlett-Packard workstations. All qualified entrants receive a Create the Future Design Contest T-shirt."

Editor's note: NASA allows this publishing company to use the NASA name and logo so as to tout NASA technology and its applications. Indeed, the "about" link says "NASA Tech Briefs is... An official publication of NASA." Yet NASA PAO never seems to pay any attention to what this magazine/website is doing - all while NASA's Strategic Communications folks try to make taxpayers see that the agency does things of clear value with their tax dollars - you know: "spinoffs". Go figure.

Another Hasty Procurement Decision by ESMD Uncovered

NASA OIG: Final Memorandum on the Review of NASA's Plan to Build the A-3 Facility for Rocket Propulsion Testing

"We found that NASA's Upper Stage Engine (USE) Element Manager, located at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, reviewed the J-2X rocket propulsion testing options and selected the A-3 test stand to be built at Stennis without the required formal reviews or recommendations of the NRPTA, or NASA's RPTMB. This occurred because NASA did not appropriately engage the NRPTA as required by the NRPTA Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The NRPTA MOA and the RPTMB Operating Procedures require member reviews and recommendations prior to major test facility investments or modifications. In addition, we found that the processes contained in the the NRPTA MOA and the RPTMB Operating Procedures are not included in either a NASA Policy Directive or NASA Procedural Requirements."

The Spirit of Steve Fossett?

Virgin Galactic WhiteKnightTwo Photos, Mojave Skies

"Virgin Galactic has released a series of photos for media use showing both the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo under construction at Scaled Composites.

Virgin has two of these planes on order, and this first one will reportedly be named The Spirit of Steve Fossett."

NewSpace 2008

NewSpace 2008: Creating the Future or Living in the Past? July 17-19, 2008 in Crystal City, VA

"The Space Frontier Foundation's Annual NewSpace conference is the premier networking event for bringing together the movers and shakers of the space industry for the perfect mix of professional work and fun. A change in the White House administration presents a golden opportunity to fix problems in the nation's space program and push for further government support of entrepreneurial "NewSpace" ventures. The United States is reaching a crossroads in space development, with the opportunity to create an exciting new future rather than live in the past. The Space Frontier Foundation aims to help light that fire of change with NewSpace 2008."