Augustine's Laws - and Ares 1

Keith's note: Norman Augustine, current chair of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, and former president and chief operating officer of Lockheed Martin, wrote a book a few years ago titled "Augustine's Laws" in which he attempts to codify the rules that govern or guide doing business - especially with the Federal government. How many of these laws apply to NASA's current predicament with Ares 1 - if so, how?

Law Number I: The best way to make a silk purse from a sow's ear is to begin with a silk sow. The same is true of money.

Law Number LII: People working in the private sector should try to save money. There remains the possibility that it may someday be valuable again.

Stennis Caught up in Possible Contract Rigging

U.S. Joins Whistleblower Suit Alleging SAIC Rigged Contract, Washington Post

"The charges of bid-rigging relate to a 2004 contract for a computing center at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, which has provided state-of-the-art supercomputing resources to the military for the past 15 years. The whistleblower suit alleges that the request for proposals was crafted to make it virtually impossible for any company besides SAIC to win."

Earth's Biggest Comsat

Ariane 5 soars to another heavy-lift success in lofting the TerreStar-1 mobile communications satellite

"The Ariane 5's 31st consecutive mission success was another record-setting flight for this workhorse Arianespace launcher - lofting the world's largest commercial satellite, TerreStar-1, from the Spaceport in French Guiana today."

Va. Firm to Offer Pocket-Size Satellite Phone, Washington Post

"To look at it, you wouldn't know it's a satellite phone -- and that's the idea. Reston-based satellite firm TerreStar Networks is gearing up to launch a smartphone and phone service this year that will combine terrestrial wireless service with its upcoming satellite service."

Details of Sea Launch Financial Problems Revealed

Court filings detail Sea Launch's bankruptcy, Spaceflight Now

"Sea Launch reported assets between $100 million and $500 million and estimated debt of almost $2 billion. The company will explore the potential sale of one or more of its business units during the bankruptcy proceedings, officials said. The company has long been on shaky financial ground and has "struggled to recognize the success envisioned" when it was formed in 1995, according to the filing."

More Poor Excuses On NASA's Fear of the Metric System

NASA Gets Heat For Ditching Metric System on New Shuttle Replacement, Popular Science

"The commercial spaceflight sector, who had hoped to use the Orion and Ares systems for a variety of missions, is not too happy. "We in the private sector are doing everything possible to create a global market with as much commonality and interoperability as possible. But NASA still can't make the jump to metric." Mike Gold of Bigelow Aerospace told New Scientist."

NASA Inspector General's Assessment of NASA's Use of the Metric System, G-00-021 (2001)

"As the United States continues its slow transition to the metric system, NASA must decide whether it wants to be a leader or a follower in the transition process. Both roles come with a cost. If NASA chooses to push forward with the Agency's use of the metric system, near-term costs may increase and short-term risk (both to schedule and mission success) may rise to some degree. However, if the Agency follows the aerospace industry's slow transition to SI, the protracted period during which NASA uses mixed metric and English systems may further increase costs and risks for NASA programs."

NASA Finds The Metric System Too Hard To Implement for Constellation, Earlier Post

"NASA claims that it wants to have meaningful international participation in the implementation of VSE/ESAS yet it walks away from the system of weights and measures used by the majority of the people on this planet. Moreover, this decision clearly seems to fly in the face of established NASA - and Federal - policy."

NASA criticised for sticking to imperial units, New Scientist

"NASA recently calculated that converting the relevant drawings, software and documentation to the "International System" of units (SI) would cost a total of $370 million – almost half the cost of a 2009 shuttle launch, which costs a total of $759 million. "We found the cost of converting to SI would exceed what we can afford," says Hautaluoma."

Keith's note: That's a goofy answer. Why couldn't ESMD have simply directed that things be done in metric in the first place - in compliance with NASA's own regulations (note the OIG report from 2001 years before Constellation was even started). That way there'd be no "conversion" cost.

Oh yea, interesting how Grey just told us what a shuttle launch "costs".

Saving Jobs at KSC

Space Florida and United Launch Alliance Partner to Secure Launch Complex 41
 
"What: A news briefing discussing the $100 million conduit financing package and partnership between Space Florida and United Launch Alliance which demonstrates Florida's ability to rapidly address the needs of the industry.

Who: Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp and Frank DiBello, Interim President, Space Florida."

Keith's note: I am told that at this event Florida Lt. Governor Kottkamp will announce a $100 Million transaction that will be described as saving 700 or so Florida-based jobs.

Financial Problems at Sea Launch

Sea Launch Files Chapter 11 to Address Financial Challenges

"Sea Launch Company L.L.C. and Sea Launch Limited Partnership and subsidiaries ("Sea Launch" or "Company"), a leading provider of launch services to the commercial satellite industry, has filed voluntary petitions to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in Wilmington. The members of Sea Launch have unanimously determined that Chapter 11 reorganization is in the best interests of the Company, its customers, shareholders, employees and other related parties."

GAO Report on COTS Released

NASA: Commercial Partners Are Making Progress, but Face Aggressive Schedules to Demonstrate Critical Space Station Cargo Transport Capabilities. GAO-09-618

"During the course of our review, we found NASA's management of the COTS project has generally adhered to critical project management tools and activities and the vast majority of project expenditures were for milestone payments to COTS partners. NASA has established fixed-price, performance-based milestones in its agreements with commercial partners and partners are only paid once the milestone has been successfully completed. NASA has also taken several steps since the beginning of the COTS project to ensure that risks were identified, assessed, and documented, and that mitigation plans were in place to reduce these risks. NASA has communicated regularly with its partners through quarterly and milestone reviews and provided them with technical expertise to assist in their development efforts and to facilitate integration with the space station. As of the end of fiscal year 2008, NASA has spent $290.1 million, with 95 percent of project funding spent on milestone payments to COTS partners."

Sen. Shelby's Crusade Against Commercial Space

A Brief History Review for Sen. Richard Shelby, Commercial Space Gateway

"Sen. Richard Shelby (R. - Ala.) is unhappy because NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese intends to use $150 million of the $400 million NASA received as part of the stimulus package to support the development of commercial space transportation for delivering cargo and personnel to the space station. His rationale reveals an astounding lack of historical perspective. During a May 21st hearing of the Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee hearing, the Senator stated, "I believe that manned spaceflight is something that is still in the realm of government, because despite their best efforts, some truly private enterprises have not been able to deliver on plans of launching vehicles." I guess he missed the successful launch of Space Exploration Technologies' (SpaceX) Falcon 1 rocket on Sept. 28, 2008."

Keith's note: It is quite obvious by now that Sen. Shelby is doing his level best to protect MSFC (and jobs in Alabama) from any possible commercial competition for the role of the seemingly doomed Ares 1 rocket and its phantom (and unfunded) sibling the Ares 5. He will clearly stoop to whatever level is required. Stay tuned - he is not done yet.

COTS Thoughts From Jim Muncy

Dear Space Media Professionals:

I've been following the House Appropriations Commerce Justice Science bill's actions on COTS basically all week. I've even posted a couple times to various blogs in response to correct/incorrect guesses, based on my understanding of what is happening.

In the interests of trying to clarify the questions/concerns, if not calm everyone down, here are some facts and then some hypotheses:

. First of all, we're only talking about the COTS program managed by SOMD. None of this has anything to do with funding levels for Commercial Resupply Services for ISS, which is the actual service purchase managed by the ISS Program Office within ESMD.

. Second, as has been suggested by a few people, it is true that the COTS program's budget request for FY2010 is much smaller than that for FY2009: only $39.1 million. That full level is funded within the House's FY2010 bill. This was expected, because the original COTS program, which is currently only funded to cover capabilities A-C (i.e. cargo), is expected to complete in FY2011. Less money is needed in FY2010 and FY2011 because both SpaceX and Orbital will have received the bulk of their funding by then, with only the final milestones to complete.

. Third, the FY2009 "enacted level" is actually a combination of the funds provided by the Omnibus Appropriations Conference report for FY2009 ($153 million) *and* the funding proposed for Commercial Crew and Cargo Development in the President's Recovery Act ($150m).

Now, here comes the speculative part.

What the Committee's "Terminations and Reductions" list certainly APPEARS to say is that the bill reduces not the funding request for FY2010 for COTS, but the total amount of funding available in FY2009.

In Congressional parlance, this is called a Rescission, basically a rescinding of an appropriation.

But is the Committee actually cutting FY2009 Budget Authority, i.e. reducing the enacted level of appropriation, from $303m to whatever that minus $113.9 million is?

You see, it turns out that $153 million minus $39.1 million is exactly $113.9 million.

In other words, the cost of the COTS program is going down in FY2010 from the FY2009 level by $113.9 million.

Now, you might ask: are you saying they are pretending to save money that was going to be "saved" anyways... because the program *is* coming to its natural conclusion in FY2010 and FY2011? Might they be posturing to look like they're fiscally conservative at a time of economic crisis and concern about government spending and debt?

I would never say this.

But I believe this is what's going on. They are saying that the FY2010 bill is a reduction from the previous funding level, which of course it is. And they are counting this as a saving. Even though - perhaps especially because - it doesn't cause anyone any actual pain.

Just to check, I went to the Committee website just now and read the actual bill text. It includes a section of rescissions of previous appropriated balances. Guess what? NASA doesn't have any.

So, in case I contributed to anyone's worries, my apologies. My cynicism about policy got in the way of my cynicism about public relations.

- Jim

P.S. Feel free to post the above as you see fit.

Post-Griffin COTS: Dead or Not Dead?

Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act Terminations & Reductions, House Appropriations Committee

"NASA, commercial crew and cargo: program phase out 2009 enacted: ‐113,900 2010 Request: 0"

Keith's note: According to some sources this is not a "cut" to COTS - if you read the top of this chart it says "Terminations & Reductions" and the "0" in 2010 therefore means "zero cuts to the 2010 request."

Stay tuned.

Shelby holding up NASA stimulus funding, Space Politics

"Space News reports in its print edition this week that Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) is holding up the release of "most if not all" of the $1 billion allocated to NASA in the stimulus bill approved earlier this year. The problem is that NASA is planning to spend $150 million of the $400 million appropriated to exploration for ISS commercial resupply activity, including early work to support commercial crew missions to the station."

Industry and Government Leaders to Explore Future of Commercial Space Transportation of Crew and Cargo

"Industry and government leaders will meet on June 18 to explore the promising future of commercial space transportation -- of humans as well as cargo -- in meeting government and private sector needs in low Earth orbit. The special half-day event, "Innovations in Orbit: An Exploration of Commercial Crew and Cargo Transportation," will feature panelists and speakers from NASA, the FAA, and the private sector, discussing a broad array of innovative commercial space transportation concepts. Organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the discussion is free and open to the public, and takes place on Thursday, June 18, at 1:00 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Capitol Room A, Lobby Level, 400 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20001."

Meet Space Pup, Goddard's Technology Transfer Mascot

Space and Back Coloring Book

"What is Technology Transfer? Many times the tools NASA creates can also help us do things better here on Earth. When NASA sees a way to put a tool that they use in space to use for something in our world, they "transfer" that technology to a company that can use it. This is called "Technology Transfer." Each of NASA's ten Field Centers has people whose job it is to find new uses for the tools their scientists have developed. This coloring book was put together by the people at the Technology Transfer Program office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. With the help of Space Pup, Goddard's technology transfer mascot, we'll show you how we use some of those space technologies here on Earth!"

Report on Space Commerce Online

Report on the Space Economy Symposium Finds Space an Essential Part of Global Economic Infrastructure

"The Space Economy Symposium, an initiative of George Mason University in collaboration with Phillips & Company and the Space Enterprise Council, was held March 13, 2009, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. The goals of this half-day Symposium were to make space a central part of the national economic policy discussions and to ensure that space is recognized as an essential component of national competitiveness in a global economy. Through presentations, panel discussions, and participant interaction, the Symposium promoted new perspectives and insights about the present and future impacts of space on the economy, the roles of government, industry and entrepreneurs in developing the Space Economy, and trends in commercial space that are driving economic growth."

Innovation in Aerospace Workshop

Marshall Institute: Innovation in Aerospace

"During much of the 20th century, the aerospace industry drove innovation in the U.S. economy.  Thus, it earned the moniker, "the space age."  By the end of the century, however, developments in information technology, biological sciences, and biotechnology seemed to eclipse aerospace as a major driver of innovation in the United States.  Indeed, the "information revolution" replaced the "space age" as an off-hand reference to the century.  ... The Marshall Institute is holding a workshop to explore the means of promoting greater creativity and innovation in the aerospace industry.  In particular, the workshop will examine the challenges, lessons, and applicability of the information technology industry's practices for the aerospace community and the experience that innovative firms have had in working with government agencies."

Bigelow Wins a Crucial Round Against ITAR

Red tape in orbit, Economist

"A small company has won an important legal challenge to America's space-technology export-control regime ... In December 2007, a company called Bigelow Aerospace, filed the first legal challenge to America's rules for exporting space technology. It disputed the government's claim that foreign passengers travelling on a spaceship or space station were involved in a transfer of technology. The outcome suggests that there may be a chink in the armour of the export-control regime."

Under the existing rules, any non-American passengers on its space stations would have to comply with onerous export-control rules. These take months to satisfy and could plausibly even require government monitors to be present whenever the foreigner was near American space technology. Even training on the ground in a mock-up module is deemed a transfer of technology and therefore subject to controls."

Space Business Forum Twitter Updates

Keith's note: Ken Davidian is Twittering notes and updates from the Space Business Forum currently underway in New York City at @cswiki.

Guy Laliberté - a "Poetic Social Mission in Space"

"The Canadian and Russian space agencies will host a simulcast press conference from Montreal, in Canada and Moscow, in Russia to announce that Guy Laliberté - Founder of Cirque du Soleil and the ONE DROP Foundation - has begun training for a groundbreaking voyage to the International Space Station (ISS): a Poetic Social Mission in Space on behalf of the ONE DROP Foundation and its dream of "Water for all, all for water."

Keith's note: You can watch the press event live here

Space Adventures Announces Founder of Cirque du Soleil as 1st Canadian Private Space Explorer

Keith's update: Unsubstantiated Space Adventures hype via Twitter: ec_anderson "Guy Laliberte would be first Artist in Space, will be developing an artistic, poetic, project that will entertain and delight all!". I beg to differ. Alan Bean, an artist in his own right, flew in space 40 years ago. And of course, there are other artists who have flown in space. Richard Garriott (another Space Adventures customer) created works of art while aboard ISS. Ed Lu played the piano, etc.

Guy Laliberté, Space Tourist

Keith's 2 June 5:48 am note: Multiple sources report that the mystery Canadian entrepreneur who will fly aboard Soyuz TMA-16 crew this September is Guy Laliberté, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cirque du Soleil.

Guy Laliberté, WIkipedia
#562 Guy Laliberte, Forbes: Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

3 June Updates:

Cirque du soleil confirms founder Guy Laliberte space-bound in September, CP

"The Cirque du soleil has confirmed that founder Guy Laliberte will become Canada's first space tourist when he blasts off on board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in September. The 49-year-old Laliberte, who is already in Moscow for Thursday's official announcement, will also become the third Canadian to visit the International Space Station this year."

Cirque du soleil founder going into space: report, CTV

"A website that covers NASA is reporting that Guy Laliberte, the founder of the Cirque du soleil, will visit the International Space Station this September. "NASA Watch," which has no official links with the American space agency, says it has learned from multiple sources that Laliberte will fly into orbit aboard a Soyuz spacecraft."

From stilt-walker to spacewalker, Toronto Star

"Multiple sources report that the mystery Canadian entrepreneur who will fly aboard Soyuz TMA-16 crew this September is Guy Laliberte," wrote space journalist Keith Cowing on his closely followed blog, NASA Watch.

Who Is The Mystery "Canadian entrepreneur"?

Press Conference: Space Adventures Announces Spaceflight Intention of Canadian Entrepreneur

"Space Adventures, Ltd., the only company that provides human space missions to the world marketplace, invites members of the media to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in Montreal and to the Press Hall of The Expocentre (International Exhibitions and Conventions Center) in Moscow as they announce the identity of a Canadian entrepreneur who is slated to launch with Soyuz TMA-16 crew this September. The announcement will take place on Thurs., June 4th 2009 at 9:30 a.m. EDT."

Keith's note: Hmm, I wonder who this might be? OK - I'll guess: Bob Richards - he's certainly a "Canadian entrepreneur". Anyone care to speculate?

(P.S. Bob is flattered, but sadly says "it's not me".)

Flip Flopping by Nelson on COTS-D?

Is Sen. Bill Nelson flip-flopping on NASA's COTS-D space program?

"... Well, in case you assume that this exchange means that Sen. Nelson has become a champion of COTS D as a possible way to generate more Space Coast jobs and help fill the gap between the end of the space shuttle program next year and whenever the next rocket program is ready, think again. In comments to several space boosters over the last two days, Nelson has made it clear that he is not necessarily supporting COTS D. Here is what he told the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday during a visit to Kennedy Space Center: "Whatever you heard, I want to make sure you understand I wasn't specifically pushing COTS D. What I was pushing was launch complex 36 [at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]. ... COTS D first off is a human-rated program and that has not been sanctioned by NASA yet."

ITAR - Commercial Spaceflights: Foreign Customers Stay Home

Commercial Spaceflights May Be Restricted, AviationWeek

"The way U.S. export controls work for space technologies could prevent commercial space operators from taking non-U.S. citizens on spaceflights, and the industry is urging reform of the system to prevent U.S. companies from being overtaken by foreign competitors."

Editor's Update: If non-US citizens can't fly you can bet their money will move to friendlier shores that will embrace them and the nascent US industry be will dealt a major blow.

PlanetSpace: COTS Protest Denied

PlanetSpace, a partnership set up by Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and Alliant Techsystems Inc has had its protest denied by the U.S. Government Accountability Office on Wednesday.

SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corp can now resume work on contracts worth up to $3.5 billion. The contracts call for a total of 20 flights to the space station to deliver cargo after the space shuttles are retired in 2010.

From the GAO Docket:

PlanetSpace, Inc. (NNJ08ZBG001R)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Outcome: Denied Date Decided: April 22, 2009

Previous: PlanetSpace Has Filed With the GAO a Protest to the Selection Decision of NASA Under the ISS Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) Competition

"After a careful review of all the facts and in consideration of all of the source selection documentation provided to date, PlanetSpace has filed a protest to NASA's award of the ISS Commercial Resupply Services Contract. PlanetSpace offered a superior proposal. It received a higher Mission Suitability score, from NASA's Source Evaluation Board (SEB), and was lower in Cost than one of the two proposals selected by NASA. Thus, the PlanetSpace proposal represented better value to the Government. We believe that the GAO will find that flaws in the procurement justify award to PlanetSpace. We look forward to the GAO's review of this case."

Bart Gordon Expresses Concern over SCNS Award

Chairman Gordon Disappointed in NASA's Decision to Award Contract Despite Ongoing Investigation

"Today, NASA awarded a $1.2 billion award for the Space Communications Networks Services (SCNS), despite an ongoing investigation into organizational and personal conflicts of interest."

Small Wonder Space Florida Is Having Problems

Editor's note: Small wonder Space Florida is having problems. At a time when people question its value, you'd think that their media people would be making things available to the press in the easiest possible format for them to utilize. You would think. Instead, they picked the goofiest way imaginable to send out a press release: the sent a picture of it. No online database or search engine is going to find it like this - nor are any news services going to send it out to their readers - unless someone takes the time to retype it. That is not too likely. They did send me a text version (posted here) - but their media rep told me that she was told to send it out as pictures for "security reasons".

No Soyuz Seats Left To Sell

Space Tourism Program Still Ticking, FreeSpace, Discovery News

"Space Adventures, the Virginia-based firm that so far has cornered the market on commercial spaceflight, isn't letting a little thing like no more flight opportunities spoil its business plans. In a conference call with reporters, company president Eric Anderson said the ongoing flight of space tourist Charles Simonyi (they prefer the term "spaceflight participant") shouldn't be its last."

Selling Crap to NASA

Prosecutor: Faulty part could have destroyed shuttle, Houston Chronicle

"A Friendswood man pleaded guilty Monday to selling NASA a space shuttle part that prosecutors allege could have endangered astronauts' lives. Richard J. Harmon, 60, the former owner of Cornerstone Machining Inc. in Alvin, pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge of fraud involving a space vehicle part. U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes scheduled Harmon's sentencing for June when he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine."

NASA Joins Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope

NASA and Microsoft To Make Universe of Data Available To The Public

"MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- NASA and Microsoft Corp. announced Tuesday plans to make planetary images and data available via the Internet under a Space Act Agreement. Through this project, NASA and Microsoft jointly will develop the technology and infrastructure necessary to make the most interesting NASA content -- including high-resolution scientific images and data from Mars and the moon -- explorable on WorldWide Telescope, Microsoft's online virtual telescope for exploring the universe. "Making NASA's scientific and astronomical data more accessible to the public is a high priority for NASA, especially given the new administration's recent emphasis on open government and transparency," said Ed Weiler, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington."

NASA OIG Report on ASRC Aerospace Corporation's Performance

NASA OIG: Evaluation and Oversight of NASA's University-Affiliated Spaceport Technology Development Contract Needed Improvement

"We found that performance evaluation factors used to assess ASRC Aerospace Corporation's performance were not TO-specific and did not provide the basis for a fair and objective assessment of the USTDC contractor's performance. Because performance evaluation factors were not TO-specific and tied to desired outcomes as required by acquisition regulations, the performance evaluations provided little evidence that the approximately $2.2 million in USTDC award fees for FY 2007 were fully justified or were an accurate reflection of the contractor's performance."

NASA Announces Agreements With 3 MMO Firms

NASA To Sign Agreement With Three Companies to Participate in a Massively Multiplayer Gaming Initiative

"Officials from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are finalizing negotiations for a Space Act Agreement (SAA) with three gaming companies whose joint proposal for a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game has been selected for collaborative development. The three companies - Project Whitecard, Inc., Virtual Heroes, Inc., and Information In Place/WisdomTools - teamed up to create a proposal for "Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond," a game concept developed for NASA's MMO gaming initiative, which is designed to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects and career fields."

Scott Parazynski Joins Wyle

Veteran Astronaut Scott Parazynski Joins Wyle Business Development Staff in Houston

"A former astronaut and veteran of five space shuttle flights has been named a director of business development for Wyle's Integrated Science and Engineering Group based in Houston, Texas. Dr. Scott Parazynski joins Wyle to assist in the company's continued growth and diversification providing integrated science, engineering, and human health and performance services to the Federal Government. He will also assume the role of medical director for Wyle's Antarctic operations including support of the National Science Foundation's United States Antarctic Program. Wyle is competing for this program as a team member of Antarctic Research Support (ARS), a joint venture between CSC and EG&G."

Scott Parazynski: Everest Part Deux, in 3-D

Editor's note: You can follow Scott's climb at onorbit.com/everest and on Twitter at SPOTScott

Interesting Developments at ARC

NASA, Universities Unveil Plans to Build New Campus at Ames

"The University of California, Santa Cruz, (UCSC) and Foothill-De Anza Community College District today announced a dynamic new partnership with NASA Ames Research Center to establish a sustainable community for education and research at the NASA Research Park at Moffett Field."

Editorial: Great partnership in the making at NASA Ames, San Jose Mercury News

"Hurdles remain. After completing environmental reviews on the land, the partners must find a private developer with the heft to design and build the community. But within a decade, we could look back at this as a pivotal moment when the region's colleges and universities broke down barriers between them in pursuit of a new frontier."

Space Enterprise Council - Gone?

Editor's note: Sources report that the Space Enterprise Council was recently eliminated by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Y'all C'mon Down And Feed at the Trough

NASA JSC Solicitation: Recovery Industry Day for Construction

"National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, TX, is hereby soliciting firms for attendance at the "RECOVERY Industry Day for Construction." Recovery Industry Day for Construction will consist of informative presentations to Industry regarding construction services, associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) - Cross Agency Support, to be performed at NASA-JSC. Recovery Industry Day is open to all firms (Large and Small Businesses); both companies that have performed work at JSC and those that have not performed work at JSC, and who are interested in pursuing construction contracting opportunities under NAICS Codes 238160 Roofing Contractors and 236220 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction."

Space Economy Symposium

Congressman Parker Griffith (D-AL) to Keynote Space Economy Symposium

"The Space Economy Symposium is an initiative of George Mason University in collaboration with Phillips & Company and hosted by the Space Enterprise Council of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Friday, March 13, 2009. The purpose for the Symposium is to initiate a robust policy dialogue to gain greater understanding of space-related activities as a key contributor to national competitiveness. Through presentations, panel discussions, and participant interaction, the Symposium will promote new perspectives and insights about present and future impacts of space on the economy, the roles of government, industry and entrepreneurs in developing the space economy, and trends in commercial space that will drive the space economy."

NASA Awards Spacesuit Contract - Again

 NASA Awards Contract for Constellation Spacesuit for the Moon
 
"NASA has awarded an interim letter contract to Oceaneering International Inc. of Houston to begin work on the design, development and production of a new spacesuit system for the Constellation Program. The system will protect astronauts during voyages to the International Space Station and exploration of the moon's surface. The letter contract requires Oceaneering International to begin work on the basic period of performance while NASA and the company negotiate the contract's final terms."

Burying The Hatchet, earlier post
Dodd Weighs In On Space Suit Competition, earlier post
Hamilton Sundstrand Fights Back, earlier post
Changing Horses, earlier post

Space Florida Is Under Increased Scrutiny (Updated)

Space Florida's President tries to build bridges with critics, Orlando Sentinel

"Space Florida President Steve Kohler -- under fire from legislators and space boosters for his group's checkered record of business development -- is trying to enlist the help of his critics in the aerospace community to improve the agency's image and effectiveness. In an email sent last Friday to members of the industry group that is planning an upcoming industry day in Tallahassee, Kohler acknowledged that the agency is facing "a time of focused scrutiny" from what he described as "few in the broader stakeholder community."

Florida's space boosters failed to launch, critics say, Orlando Sentinel

"Tallahassee lawmakers created Space Florida in May 2006 to rescue Florida's languishing aerospace industry from new competition in other countries and elsewhere in the United States. Hopes for the agency were as big as space itself. It promised to bring new commercial-launch opportunities to a state already jittery at the upcoming retirement of the space shuttle and the thousands of job losses that will go with it. Now, nearly three years and $50 million later, the agency is becoming known more for generating controversy and critics than jobs and new business."

Statement by Space Florida President Steve Kohler

"It is important that Space Florida be given the opportunity to refute inaccuracies outlined in the Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009 Orlando Sentinel story headlined: "Florida's Space Boosters Failed to Launch, Critics Say."

Firm's achievements will ensure state's status as industry leader, Orlano Sentinel

"It is unfortunate the Orlando Sentinel chose to print a one-sided article about Space Florida on Sunday ("Critics blast Space Florida as $50M waste"). The article failed the readers and the aerospace industry when it neglected to mention any of the achievements made in ensuring Florida remains a vital space leader for the future."

Space Florida agrees to freeze launch complex spending, Orlando Sentinel

"The chairman of a state Senate committee reviewing Space Florida's work said Thursday he would push to freeze about $10 million in public financing intended to help build a much-heralded commercial launch complex at Cape Canaveral. State auditors recommended the freeze on spaceport funds for the Launch Complex 36 project in a review of the Brevard-based agency's performance earlier this year because the agency hasn't yet finalized a master plan for the $55 million facility."

Beam Me Up

Centennial Challenges 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges

"This notice is issued in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2459f-1(d). The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges are now scheduled and teams that wish to compete may now register. The NASA Centennial Challenges Program is a program of prize contests to stimulate innovation and competition in space exploration and ongoing NASA mission areas. The 2009 Power Beaming Challenge is a prize contest designed to promote the development of new power distribution technologies. The 2009 Tether Challenge is a prize contest designed to develop very strong tether material for use in various structural applications. The Spaceward Foundation is administering both Challenges for NASA."

Editor's update: You'd think that IPP would want to tell people about this ... all I can find is last year's stuff.

No Calls or Faxes - Just Email- Thanks.

NASA Solicitation: FY2009 IPP SEED Fund Call Announcement

"Point of Contact

Name: Mr. Michael F Battaglia
Title: Technology Infusion Manager
Phone: 000-000-0000
Fax: 000-000-0000
Email: mbattaglia@nasa.gov"

Editor's update: I am told that this procurement notice is being modified. The notice itself tells people to contact the field center they are interested in and gives a link for contact information. Since the process whereby you input these notices requires contact information - and does not have a way to tell people to contact field centers - the "000" values were entered.

Spacehab Becomes Astrotech

SPACEHAB Announces Corporate Name Change to Astrotech

"SPACEHAB, Incorporated (NASDAQ: SPAB), a leading provider of commercial space services, announced today that it is changing its corporate name to Astrotech Corporation. The shareholders of the Company's common stock authorized the corporate name change at the annual meeting held on Feb. 10, 2009. SPACEHAB has filed for and received approval for the name change with the state of Washington. "Astrotech Corporation is a name that more accurately reflects the Company's current mission and vision for future growth," said Thomas B. Pickens III, SPACEHAB's chairman and chief executive officer. "By aligning our corporate name with our core business offering, we are communicating to the investment community and customers the Company's new focus."

Tom Rogers

Editor's 16 Feb note: I have just learned that Tom Rogers has died.

Thomas F. Rogers, 85 - Defense Official Became Space Tourism Booster, Washington Post

"Thomas F. Rogers, 85, a physicist and former Defense Department deputy director who, in retirement, became a prominent advocate for outer-space tourism, died Feb. 13 of kidney failure at the Vantage House nursing home in Columbia. Mr. Rogers spent much of his early career as a research administrator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as deputy director of defense research and engineering at the Pentagon."

Editor's note: Memorial services are being held Saturday - Feb. 21 at 1 P.M. at the Vantage House 5440 Vantage Point Road, Columbia, MD 21044.

Satellite Collisions: Sooner Or Later ...

Two satellites collide in orbit, SpaceflightNow

"In an unprecedented space collision, a commercial Iridium communications satellite and a presumably defunct Russian Cosmos satellite ran into each other Tuesday above northern Siberia, creating a cloud of wreckage, officials said today. The international space station does not appear to be threatened by the debris, they said, but it's not yet clear whether it poses a risk to any other military or civilian satellites."

SpaceX COTS D Dragon Video

SpaceX: Support NASA Exploration and COTS Capability D (plus video)

"This will be a very big year for SpaceX and the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. In 2006, SpaceX won the NASA COTS competition to demonstrate transport of cargo and optionally crew to and from the International Space Station. Under that agreement, SpaceX will conduct the second flight of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and first flight of its Dragon spacecraft in 2009. The final flight, scheduled for 2010, will demonstrate Dragon's ability to berth with the Space Station."

Does Kazakhstan Launch Satellites From Submarines?

Date set for Sumbandila satellite launch, Buanews

"The date for the launch of the much-anticipated SumbandilaSat science satellite has been set for 25 March by the Department of Science and Technology. The Sumbandila, a low-orbit satellite which will collect data to be used to monitor and manage disasters such as floods, oil spills and fires within Southern Africa, will be launched into space from a sub-marine in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. In October 2005, the Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, announced that South Africa would be embarking on a 3-year, R26 million integrated capacity building and satellite development project. Mr Mangena said at the time that the 80kg low earth orbit satellite would rotate the earth at a 500km height and provide the country with affordable access to space technology and data. "

Editor's note: Looks like the Kazakhi navy has entered the launch service market.

Heinlein Prize Trust announces Microgravity Research Competition

Heinlein Trust and SpaceX Announce Competition to Promote Research Innovation in Zero Gravity

"The Heinlein Prize Trust announces the Microgravity Research Competition to reward innovation in the use of microgravity to advance biotech, nanotech, combustion, metallurgy, and other fields. Sponsored by the Trust and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), the competition offers a $25,000 prize and transportation to and from Low Earth Orbit for the winning experiment aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft."

PlanetSpace Files COTS Protest

PlanetSpace Has Filed With the GAO a Protest to the Selection Decision of NASA Under the ISS Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) Competition

"After a careful review of all the facts and in consideration of all of the source selection documentation provided to date, PlanetSpace has filed a protest to NASA's award of the ISS Commercial Resupply Services Contract. PlanetSpace offered a superior proposal. It received a higher Mission Suitability score, from NASA's Source Evaluation Board (SEB), and was lower in Cost than one of the two proposals selected by NASA. Thus, the PlanetSpace proposal represented better value to the Government. We believe that the GAO will find that flaws in the procurement justify award to PlanetSpace. We look forward to the GAO's review of this case."

NASA awards to space station cargo haulers on hold, Reuters

"The GAO declined immediate comment on the protest, other than to say that NASA would have 30 days to respond to the complaint and that it would issue a ruling by April 29. NASA, meanwhile, said only that it was required to suspend work on the contracts in response to the complaint."

A Falcon Stands Ready To Fly

SpaceX's Falcon 9 on Launch Pad at Cape Canaveral (with photos)

"SpaceX announced its Falcon 9 launch vehicle was successfully raised to vertical on Saturday, January 10, 2009, at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Cape Canaveral, Florida -- two days ahead of schedule. This operation was a critical step in validating a variety of system interfaces and launch processes in preparation for the maiden flight of Falcon 9 later this year. SpaceX completed the Falcon 9 vehicle integration in a horizontal position on December 30, 2008. After integration, Falcon 9 was lifted and mated to a transporter erector system, designed and built by SpaceX, which carried the 17 foot diameter, 180 foot long rocket to the launch pad. On January 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM EST, SpaceX began the process of raising Falcon 9 and approximately 30 minutes later, Falcon 9 stood vertical at the Cape."

A Real Spinoff that NASA Has Seemingly Forgotten About

New Aerospace Technology, 'Aerogel,' the Highest Insulating Material in Existence, Now Available to the Building Industry

"Taking the newly discovered Aerogel insulation technology developed by NASA, which is the highest insulating material in existence, Thermablok(TM) developed an amazing product that may soon become a requirement in the building industry. Aerogel, also referred to as "frozen smoke," has been difficult to adapt to most uses because of its fragility. The patented Thermablok material however overcomes this by using a unique fiber to suspend a proprietary formula of Aerogel such that it can be bent or compressed while still retaining its amazing insulation properties."

COTS Wars?

NASA May Face Protest Over Recent Commercial-Cargo Contract, Wall Street Journal

"A NASA source selection panel ranked Orbital's overall proposal and its projected costs less favorably than bids submitted by the PlanetSpace team and a third bidder, Space Exploration Technologies Inc, according to one person familiar with the details. But William Gerstenmaier, the senior agency official who made the decision, opted to go against those rankings, according to people familiar with the details. Mr. Gerstenmaier, for example, disregarded the management strengths the selection board said stemmed from the participation of Boeing and Lockheed. Instead, NASA in the end cited PlanetSpace's "complete lack of experience as a prime contractor," according to documents provided to the bidders."

COTS Commercial Cargo Winners: Orbital and SpaceX

Confusion over "The Pentagon's Rockets"

Obama Moves to Counter China in Space With Pentagon-NASA Link, Bloomberg

"President-elect Barack Obama will probably tear down long-standing barriers between the U.S.'s civilian and military space programs to speed up a mission to the moon amid the prospect of a new space race with China. Obama's transition team is considering a collaboration between the Defense Department and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration because military rockets may be cheaper and ready sooner than the space agency's planned launch vehicle, which isn't slated to fly until 2015, according to people who've discussed the idea with the Obama team."

Editor's note: There are several things getting mixed up in this story. EELVs are not the Pentagon's rockets. They were developed (partially) with DoD money so as to assure that the DoD had viable commercial launch options. But they have always been sold on a commercial basis (currently by Boeing/Lockheed Martin- ULA) for use by both DOD and non-DoD customers alike. NASA's New Horizons and MRO were launched on one (Atlas) as have been a number of commercial communications satellites on both Atlas V and Delta IV EELVs.

The Obama Administration may well be thinking of pairing up NASA and DoD to compete with China, but that is a different issue than using EELVs which you can buy today from the ULA catalog.

Editor's update: Looks like the Washington Examiner and ZDet fell for the Bloomberg story too as they rewrote their story around its inaccuracies.

Text of FAA Approval of Spaceport America

FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation Notice of Approval on a Record of Decision for the Spaceport America Commercial Launch Site

"In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of the ROD for the Spaceport America Commercial Launch Site, Sierra County, New Mexico. The ROD provides the FAA's final environmental determination and approval to support the issuance of a Launch Site Operator License to the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) to operate Spaceport America, as proposed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) published in November 2008."

Insight Into SpaceX and COTS

SpaceX: More NASA Launches, Less Money, FreeSpace, Discovery News

"I attempt to cover the news without bias, but privately I cheered NASA's selection of startup SpaceX and innovative Orbital Sciences over The Big Three collaborative (not automakers, aerospace contractors) bidding on $3.5 billion of government work to deliver stuff to the International Space Station. I thought it was a little weird that SpaceX's share, totaling $1.6 B to start, covered 12 missions, while Orbital, which got an additional $300 million, was responsible for eight. In a conference call with reporters to announce the award, NASA's spaceflight chief Bill Gerstenmaier said the agency didn't see anything out of line with Orbital's bid."

COTS Pick: A Sea Change?

NASA Rejects Trojan Horse, Motley Fool

"On Christmas Eve-Eve, NASA finally announced the results of its long-running Commercial Resupply Services competition, and as the tidbit above correctly points out, neither Lockheed nor Boeing (nor Alliant Techsystems, for that matter) wound up in the winners circle. What you may not know, is that none of these three companies were actually bidding for the contract at all, at least not directly. Instead, these three giants of the aerospace industry chose to hitch their carts to a foal of a company named PlanetSpace, which acted as the prime contractor in the bid. Turns out, NASA was not amused -- nor impressed."

COTS Commercial Cargo Winners: Orbital and SpaceX

NASA Awards Space Station Commercial Resupply Services Contracts

"NASA has awarded two contracts -- one to Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., and one to Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, Calif. -- for commercial cargo resupply services to the International Space Station. At the time of award, NASA has ordered eight flights valued at about $1.9 billion from Orbital and 12 flights valued at about $1.6 billion from SpaceX. These fixed-price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts will begin Jan. 1, 2009, and are effective through Dec. 31, 2016. The contracts each call for the delivery of a minimum of 20 metric tons of upmass cargo to the space station. The contracts also call for delivery of non-standard services in support of the cargo resupply, including analysis and special tasks as the government determines are necessary."

Falcon 9 Gets Real

SpaceX Falcon 9 to Be Fully Integrated by December 31

"Yesterday we lifted the first stage off the shipping truck and lowered it onto the integration assemblies (shown below). With all of the F9 hardware currently at or on its way to the Cape, we are on track for a fully integrated launch vehicle by year's end. Barring any unforeseen delays, the second stage and fairing are expected to arrive at the Cape by December 28th and will be mated on December 31st, just in time for the New Year. The erector is also on track towards operational status in early January, with the base assembly to be aligned and tacked by December 26th and welding to be complete early in the New Year."

XCOR Fires Lynx Engine

XCOR Aerospace Completes Successful First Test Fire of Engine for Lynx Suborbital Launch Vehicle

"XCOR Aerospace, Inc., announced today that it has successfully completed its first test fire of the rocket engine that will be used to power its Lynx suborbital launch vehicle to the edge of space. liquid oxygen and kerosene. The engine was fired Monday, December 15th, 2008 at XCOR's rocket test facility located at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The first test of the engine was performed using pressure-fed propellants whereas the final version of the engine will be fed using XCOR's proprietary cryogenic piston pump for liquid oxygen and a similar piston pump for kerosene."

Google Lunar X Prize Announcements Tuesday, Wednesday

Google Lunar X PRIZE Announces Two New International Competitors at Google Headquarters

"Two new international teams in the Google Lunar X PRIZE, a $30 million competition by the X PRIZE Foundation to land a vehicle on the Moon, travel 500 meters, and transmit a "Mooncast" back to Earth, were announced today in a tele-press conference from Google Headquarters. The announcement was held as part of a Team Summit at Google Headquarters and NASA Ames. These recent additions bring the total number of teams to 16, from seven different countries."

Google Lunar X PRIZE to Announce 'Mystery Team' at NASA Ames

"The X PRIZE Foundation will reveal the identities of a "Mystery Team" competing for the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE during a media briefing hosted at NASA's Ames Research Center on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008."

Editor's 16 Dec note: It would seem that MicroSat Systems has something to do with the so-called "Mystery Team". Stay tuned.

Mystery Team for the Google Lunar X Prize Reveals Team at NASA Ames Research Center

"Next Giant Leap, a small company that was the fourth team to register for the Google Lunar X-Prize, publically announced its name and team members at a press conference held today at the NASA Ames Research Center. The lead systems integrator is MicroSat Systems, Inc., known for its innovation in small spacecraft."

Today's Video: Orbital Skydiving

Editor's note: This is just too cool. Stop what you are doing and watch this video. Turn up the sound too. Thanks to William Pomerantz at X Prize on Twitter.

Video Below

Another SpaceX Test Success

SpaceX Draco Thruster Performs Long-Duration Firing and Restart (with video)

"Just days after the successful full mission-length test firing of the nine-engine first stage of Falcon 9, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) marked another significant advance with the performance of its smallest rocket engine, Draco. Known as a "thruster," the new engine fired continuously for ten minutes in a specially constructed vacuum test chamber that simulates the space environment. After a ten-minute thermal soak period, Draco was restarted for an additional minute, simulating its typical use in space. Performed at the SpaceX Texas Test Facility outside McGregor, this marks the longest firing of the Draco thruster, as well as the longest test on the new vacuum test stand, built by SpaceX and first put into operation in March 2008."

Suborbital Science: While NASA Drags Its Feet ...

Secretive Space Vehicle Tested at Private Texas Site, space.com

"Blue Origin is now noting that, in addition to providing the public with opportunities to experience spaceflight, New Shepard will also provide frequent opportunities for researchers to fly experiments into space and a microgravity environment. To help shape this activity, the group has announced that interested parties should contact Blue Origin's independent representative for research and education missions, Alan Stern, the former NASA chief of space science."

Griffin on Space Commerce

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin: Risk and Rewards in Commercial Space

"I would like to take this opportunity to speak about something of interest to me and many of you assembled here: the role of prizes, such as NASA's Centennial Challenges, in spurring innovation through competition. I also want to talk about how and why NASA not only should, but must, pursue and nurture appropriate partnerships with the emerging commercial space sector when it is reasonably within the grasp of such firms to meet our needs. I believe that these issues are important, and I have been consistent in my emphasis upon them throughout my tenure as Administrator."

Mixed Messages From NASA on Parabolic Flight Commercialization

Editor's note: According to a Twitter posting Peter Diamandis "Mike Griffin announced that NASA is moving 100% of their parabolic flights from the C9 to our 727". This is a very smart move by Mike Griffin and NASA and is also very good news for space commercialization.

Alas, not everyone has gotten that message at JSC it would seem. There is a confusing solicitation notice "NASA JSC Solicitation: DC-9 Flight Training" that was released on 5 December 2008 from JSC which states "The Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) currently uses a DC-9 aircraft to support the Reduced Gravity Program at the Johnson Space Center. The members of the Division's aircrew, who fly the DC-9, have all completed the required DC-9 initial transition training. The objective is to acquire DC-9 aircrew refresher training. This training shall thoroughly cover aircraft systems, operational procedures, normal/abnormal procedures, and systems integration for the DC-9 aircraft."

Why is JSC seeking to continue DC-9 aircrew proficiency for parabolic flights if Mike Griffin is moving provision of these flights to a private sector vendor?

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin: Risk and Rewards in Commercial Space

"We have conducted several flight tests with the Zero-G Corporation to determine whether they can meet the requirements for microgravity experiments that are currently performed on the government C-9 aircraft. These test flights included five experiments from small businesses developing technology under the auspices of NASA's SBIR program. While the tests are not yet complete, project managers are confident that Zero-G can meet NASA's needs. Thus, we are planning for the transition of all microgravity flight activities from the NASA C-9 to the commercial aircraft, while the C-9 continues to support Space Shuttle operations and acts as a backstop for the commercial microgravity service if necessary."

Today's Video: XCOR Lynx Suborbital Experience

XCOR Lynx Suborbital Experience Video

"XCOR partners with RocketShip Tours to provide a complete suborbital experience for our customers. Hear our chief test pilot, former NASA astronaut Richard Searfoss, describe the experience."

ODIN Accepts a 15% Markup on Everything

NASA ODIN Internal Memo: ODIN Catalog Product Pricing Instruction

"For years, NASA civil servants have actively worked to get the best value for information technology (IT) products and services. Many have followed a "cost re-determination" process when the ODIN catalog price is greater than 15 percent of that of a tier-one vendor, such as Office Depot, CDWG, or PCMall. This instruction is being issued to formalize a "best practice" that has been in use for the past year. ... If you find IT peripherals that are priced 15 percent or more below the ODIN catalog price, then you should notify the delivery order contracting officer technical representative (DOCOTR) at your Center or submit a quote request to the ODIN vendor."

Reader note: "This is absurd! Why can't we just buy the better value instead of the bloated ODIN price? The policy seems to be gouge ya if they can, but if you find a better price (and you will), fill out some paperwork and maybe they will lower ODIN's price."

Editor's note: Another way to look at this: A 15% cost differential between ODIN costs and real world costs is apparently not an issue for ODIN management. They will happily charge that. Apparently, ODIN will only consider changes in pricing if it is more than 15% cheaper to buy it outside of ODIN - and only if YOU do the research and then YOU tell them about it.

One More Thing America Cannot Do?

Initial Evaluation of ADN as Oxidizer in Solid Propellants for Large Space Launcher Boosters

"NASA/GRC has a requirement to produce a more environmentally friendly oxidizer for solid rocket boosters. The oxidizer is called ammonium dinitramide (A.D.N.).

NASA/GRC intends to purchase the items from The Swedish Defence Research Agency (called FOI for Forskningsinstitut) to produce a more environmentally friendly oxidizer for solid rocket boosters. The oxidizer is called ammonium dinitramide (A.D.N.). The U.S.A. had terminated their research in this area in the late 1990's due to the budget reductions from the work funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The oxidizer, A.D.N., was found to have some sensitivity to temperatures that made its density low with poor packing of the oxidizer particles. The research proposed by the F.O.I. has begun to overcome these issues with temperature sensitivity and oxidizer density. Currently, the F.O.I. is the only organization that has the capability of performing this research. Their organization has significantly invested in this oxidizer development and garnered world-renowned propellant experts from several nations to complete their current internal research goals and developments."

Editor's note: Really? No one in America can do this research?

Perhaps NASA Should Have Gone To Priceline.com

NASA Extends Contract with Russian Federal Space Agency

"NASA has signed a $141 million modification to the current International Space Station contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency for crew transportation services planned through the spring of 2012. The firm-fixed price extension covers comprehensive Soyuz support, including all necessary training and preparation for launch, crew rescue, and landing of a long-duration mission for three station crew members. The crew members will launch on two Soyuz vehicles in the fall of 2011."

Editor's note: That's $47 million per crew member flown up and down. That is much more than the $30 million that Richard Garriott paid for his flight and all of the ancillary training and support services that went with it. I wonder what SpaceX would charge? The Transition Team seems to be interested as well.

Constellation Drags - SpaceX Moves Ahead

SpaceX Adds Two DragonLab Missions to Manifest

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) announces the addition of two DragonLab missions to its manifest, as a result of demand from a successful workshop held at SpaceX headquarters on November 6 to introduce the new DragonLab product. The first two flights are scheduled for 2010 and 2011 respectively from the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch site at Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX is currently working contractual arrangements with multiple prospective customers. DragonLab is a free-flying, reusable spacecraft capable of hosting pressurized and unpressurized payloads to and from space. It is the newest commercial offering from SpaceX. DragonLab launches to orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle."

AIA Effort to Present Value of Aerospace to Obama Team

Aerospace and Defense Manufacturers Launch Outreach Campaign

"The Aerospace Industries Association is launching an outreach campaign to underscore the value of the aerospace and defense industry to our nation's economic health. The initiative, aimed at the incoming administration and Congress, will encourage leaders to consider the industry as an economic driver that will help our nation overcome our current financial challenges."

Editor's note: Those of you who get the Washington Post print edition were greeted with a full page advertisement in this morning's edition about this effort by the AIA.

Smooth iPhone Killer?

Nokia Launches N97 Wants to Dominate iPhone, OnOrbit Gadget Blog

"The Nokia N97 has a large 3.5" touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard. The home screen of the Nokia N97 features the people, content and media that matter the most to the user. This is one smartphone specifically designed to be the king of social networking. Friends, social networks and news are available by simply touching the home screen."

XCOR is Selling Tickets

RocketShip Tours to Sell Rides to Edge of Space Aboard XCOR's Lynx

"Jules Klar, founder of Phoenix, AZ-based RocketShip Tours, has announced that his company will immediately begin selling rides to the edge of space for $95,000 per flight. Participants will fly XCOR Chief Test Pilot and three-time Space Shuttle Pilot and Commander, Rick Searfoss said the Lynx will carry people or payloads to the edges of space up to four times a day."

No Frills Tickets to Space to Go on Sale, Discovery

"It has been more than 10 years since Rick Searfoss, a retired Air Force colonel, test pilot and NASA shuttle commander has been in space, but that is about to change. His new gig should put him beyond the atmosphere as often as four times a day -- and maybe put you in the cockpit right next to him."

Coming Soon From the Same Folks Who Brought You NOMAD

NASA Integrated Communication Services NICS

"The purpose of this synopsis is to provide notification to industry that NASA/MSFC intends to release in the near future a draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for the purpose of communicating the preliminary requirements of the pending "NASA Integrated Communications Services (NICS)" acquisition.

XCOR Is About To Start Selling Suborbital Seats

XCOR Aerospace to Announce Ticket Sales for Suborbital Space Flights on December 2nd

"On Tuesday, December 2, XCOR Aerospace, builder of the 2-seat Lynx rocket-powered suborbital launch vehicle, is introducing its General Sales Agent for ticket sales and will announce a price that is substantially lower than prices quoted by leading competitors. XCOR will introduce its new partner, a well-known and established travel entrepreneur with extensive experience in high-end adventure travel, who will outline the total Lynx flight experience, from initial screening, to training, and finally, the flight itself."

Elon Woke The Locals Up Again Last Night (Video)

SpaceX Successfully Conducts Full Mission-Length Firing of its Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle (with video)

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) successfully conducted a full mission-length firing of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle's first stage at its McGregor Test Facility in Texas, on November 22. For the static test firing, the first stage remains firmly secured to the massive vertical test stand, where it fired for 178 seconds or nearly three minutes - simulating the climb of the giant rocket from the surface of the Earth towards orbit."

Massive rocket test in McGregor rattles Central Texas, Waco Tribune

"The orange glow seen over McGregor late Saturday night wasn’t a bomb explosion or a Martian invasion. Around 10:30 p.m., SpaceX, a private space exploration technologies company, tested its nine-engine Falcon 9 rocket at the McGregor Airport."

Video below

This statement was issued to local residents by SpaceX this evening:

"Dear Greater Waco Area Residents,

The launch vehicle engines tested last night will soon take cargo, and eventually crew, to the International Space Station. Falcon 9 represents the only medium to heavy lift rocket that is 100 percent Made in America and with this vehicle—SpaceX will bring leadership in launch back to the US. The leadership role is currently held by former Soviet Republics, France, and China."

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."

NewSpace 2008 - Two Weeks Away

NewSpace 2008: Creating the Future or Living in the Past?, Space Frontier Foundation

"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", says William J. Watson Executive Director, Space Frontier Foundation.

Spacehab Cancels COTS Space Agreement With NASA

Editor's note: According to NASA sources, Spacehab notified NASA on 29 May 2008 that it was requesting that its COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) Space Act Agreement (SAA) be terminated within 30 days. The reason given by Spacehab is an inability, on Spacehab's part, to meet SAA-specified milestones with the use of internal funds. NASA will terminate the SAA on 28 June 2008. Spacehab has confirmed this information but says that no formal press release is expected at this time.

SPACEHAB Statement on COTS Loss Mitigation Strategies, earlier posting
Spacehab Realigns Corporation - Company Positioned to Capture NASA COTS Business, earlier posting
NASA Signs Commercial Space Transportation Agreements, earlier posting

Today's Video: Prizes? We Don't Need No Steenking Prizes!

Editor's note: This interesting video "Bounty Hunters!", by Politico.com, talks about John McCain's proposal for a $300 million prize for an advanced electric car battery, Barak Obama's suggestion that President Kennedy did not need to offer a prize to get America to the Moon (that the government was better), the X Prize, and Darth Vader's pursuit of the Millenium Falcon.

Students Design Space Mission Patch

Challenger Center Student Design Selected to Represent Richard Garriott's Educational Mission to the International Space Station

"This spring Challenger Center for Space Science Education invited students to use their creativity to design an original piece of art for a student mission patch for private space explorer, Richard Garriott. As the next civilian to fly to space, Richard plans to engage students around the world with his flight to the International Space Station planned for October 2008. The design was intended to symbolize the adventure and discovery of spaceflight. The winning design by Sarah Nakata, a student from the Brownsburg Challenger Center in Indiana, will appear on a special t-shirt that Richard will fly into space."

Kwaj Launch Traffic Drives Falcon I Launch Date

SpaceX pushes back target date for next Falcon 1 launch, SpaceflightNow

"The military informed SpaceX last week that mandatory support equipment and tracking stations in the Pacific Ocean are booked through the end of July, forcing officials to delay launch of the next Falcon 1 rocket, the company's founder said Friday. Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Space Exploration Technologies Corp., said the U.S. Army range at Kwajalein Atoll will be busy with other activities for the next month. "Launch is no sooner than late July to early August," Musk said. "We will use the time to do additional checkouts."

Surprising Contributor to Spaceport Tax PAC

Richardson's presidential campaign donated to help get spaceport tax passed

"Gov. Bill Richardson's unsuccessful presidential campaign was the largest contributor to a political action committee that pushed for passage of a spaceport tax referendum in Sierra County last April, according to reports submitted to the New Mexico Secretary of State's office. The Richardson for President campaign gave $10,000 to People for Aerospace of Sierra County on April 8, two weeks before the April 22 vote in which Sierra residents overwhelmingly approved the tax, clearing the way for a spaceport taxation district."

Ouch. That's Gotta Hurt.

GAO Sustains Boeing Bid Protest - Agency Recommends Air Force Reopen the Bid Process

"The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today sustained the Boeing Company's protest of the Department of the Air Force's award of a contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation for KC-X aerial refueling tankers. Boeing challenged the Air Force's technical and cost evaluations, conduct of discussions, and source selection decision."

Odyssey Moon Adds Alan Stern To Its Team

Former NASA Science Chief Alan Stern joins Odyssey Moon, the first registered competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE

"Odyssey Moon, a commercial lunar enterprise, announced today that former NASA Associate Administrator Dr. Alan Stern has accepted a role with the Isle of Man-based company. Dr. Stern was a recognized engine of change and innovation as chief of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, championing new science programs while being a stalwart advocate of cost and value control when he served at NASA."

ISS As A Space Port

Space Adventures Announces Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin as Orbital Spaceflight Investor and Founding Member of Orbital Mission Explorers Circle

Space Adventures Announces Agreement for the First Private Mission to the International Space Station

"Space Adventures, the only company that provides human space missions to the world marketplace, announced today that it has finalized an arrangement with its long-standing partner, the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation (FSA), to launch the first private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2011. This private spaceflight opportunity will be a fully dedicated mission of the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft with two seats available for private space explorers, along with a comprehensive package of mission services including science, education and media program options."

NASA - Google Relationship Expands

NASA And Google Announce Lease at Ames Research Center

"NASA and Google Inc. Wednesday announced plans to develop a new high-technology campus at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Under the terms of the 40-year agreement, Google will lease 42.2 acres of unimproved land in NASA Research Park at Ames to construct up to 1.2 million square feet of offices and research and development (R&D) facilities in a campus-style setting.

Today's announcement is the latest in a series of collaborations dating back to September 2005, when NASA and Google announced plans to work together on a variety of technology-focused R&D activities. NASA and Google signed a memorandum of understanding that year, launching negotiations for this development in NASA Research Park. Located at Ames, NASA Research Park is a world-class, shared-use educational and research-and-development campus."

ILS Goes Russian

Khrunichev Purchases Majority Interest in International Launch Services

"ILS International Launch Services Inc., a world leader in launch services for commercial satellites, announced today that Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center acquired the shares of ILS owned by majority shareholder, Space Transport Inc. Financial details were not disclosed. The transaction was completed today. Vladimir Nesterov, General Director of Khrunichev, said: "Building on our strong working relationship with the ILS team, this transaction will cement ILS's leadership role in the commercial launch services industry."

Growing Your Own Moon Base

To ISRU or Not to ISRU, This is the Dumbest Question, Dennis Wingo, SpaceRef

"In Situ Resource Utilization or ISRU is the use of materials derived at the location in space that you have traveled to. This is mostly associated with the Moon, Mars, or the Asteroids. Without ISRU there simply is no long term human space program. Why? We simply cannot afford to take everything with us at prices exceeding two hundred thousand dollars per kilogram for the Moon and even more for Mars. Therefore, for any rational human space exploration program, the question is not why but how, when, and where we implement ISRU."

Innovation Transfusion

NASA Solicitation: Request for Information for NASA Innovation Transfusion Developmental Assignments

"The NASA Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) is hereby requesting information from organizations interested in hosting NASA employees participating in the NASA Innovation Transfusion project. The goal of the Innovation Transfusion project is to increase the flow of new ideas into NASA by increasing connections between NASA employees and outside organizations that are creative leaders in areas that could benefit NASA missions.

The Innovation Transfusion project has two elements: Innovation Ambassadors and Innovation Scouts. The Innovation Ambassadors program will provide a temporary developmental assignment for select members of NASA's technical workforce. The Innovation Scouts program will provide for small teams of NASA employees to participate in focused workshops with a host external organization to exchange information on specific technical innovations."

Aerospace Industry Closes Ranks In Support of NASA Budget Increase

Letter From Aerospace and Technology Company Leaders to Congressional Leaders Regarding NASA's FY 2009 Budget

"As leaders of our nation's largest aerospace and technology companies, we employ hundreds of thousands of Americans and know first hand the formidable challenges in today's global marketplace. We write to thank you for your past support of NASA and to urge you to enact a top-line increase for NASA's FY 2009 budget. Without this increase, our nation faces the very real risk of losing our uniquely critical industrial base and human space access capability."

How To Beat Mike Griffin's Orion to ISS

SpaceX Claims Crew Transfer Ability By 2011, Aviation Week

"If NASA decides by this summer to proceed with the development of crew transfer capability under the agency's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk says his company could be ready to conduct crew flights to the space station by early 2011. NASA is funding SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corp. to develop cargo capability for the International Space Station (ISS) under COTS, but so far has held off on greenlighting the crew transfer portion of the program, known as "COTS D." Only SpaceX has been actively working on a COTS D concept, with Orbital focused exclusively on cargo at this point."

Googling The Moon

Reaching for the moon: Interview with Robert Richards, CNN

"Robert Richards is CEO of Odyssey Moon Ltd, the first contenders for the Google Lunar X Prize, a $30 million prize fund for the first commercial team to land a craft on the moon and send back video footage. CNN spoke to him about his inspiration, his career and the potential of the moon as a resource for Earth."

Wow - that's a lot of commuting

Four NASA Glenn contractors charged with fraudulent billing, Ohio.com

"Four contractors working to shut down a nuclear reactor at a NASA facility in northern Ohio have been charged with fraudulently billing the government, a federal prosecutor said Thursday. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Edwards said the four men were accused in an indictment of overbilling a total of $347,664 by falsely claiming they were entitled to per-diem mileage reimbursements."

Boeing is Hiring (If They Win FDOC)

Boeing Seeks Mission Support Systems Talent for NASA Work

"The Boeing Company is seeking talented mission operations specialists with current NASA experience in the Houston area in support of its bid for NASA's Facilities Development and Operations Contract (FDOC). Current Mission Support Operations Contract employees are encouraged to submit a contact form at http://active.boeing.com/defense-space/space/fdoc/ to receive information on an open house scheduled for May 17."

For those of you who don't think prizes work

Winning the Water Problem, Islamica Magazine

"Having discovered that millions of Bangladeshis could be poisoned through arsenic in their drinking water, a non-profit foundation launched a prize for the man who could prevent the crisis. The prize was won by a Bengali chemist who has not only cleaned up the water, but also gave all of his million-dollar prize money away."

Gen Y Crowd Takes Notice of NASA Spinoff For Seniors

iShoe: NASA Technology Aids Senior Citizens, College Mogul

"The iShoe won't help senior citizens walk on the moon, but its NASA technology will help rehabilitate the wearer's ability to balance. The insole was originally developed for NASA to enable astronauts to balance in outer space, where it has been tested extensively by astronauts aboard the space shuttle and Mir space station. For $10, the piece of NASA technology is a steal. Especially since it not only helps to reduce falls, but automatically notifies caregivers by phone if a fall were to occur."

Expanding NASA's Influence in SIlicon Valley

NASA, universities begin talks on research park, Mountain View Voice

"Local universities, lead by UC Santa Cruz, have begun formally discussing the creation of a major new campus at Moffett Field intended to conduct research on space travel. UCSC, Santa Clara University, the Foothill-De Anza College District and Carnegie Melon University have all signed a letter of intent with NASA Ames, with all of them seeking a major presence in the NASA Research Park planned for Moffett."

Bulldozers On The Moon

Click on image to enlarge

Cat shoots for the moon - Company teams with NASA to build habitats, roads on lunar surface, Journal Star

"Caterpillar and NASA - the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - are getting closer to having the right earthmoving - er, moonmoving - equipment available to put on the moon in less than a decade to build habitats, roads and other infrastructure that could sustain life on the lunar surface. "We're pretty far along. I would say our partnership with Caterpillar is right on schedule," said Lucien Junkin, NASA's chief engineer of the Chariot project the two have been working on since 2006."

Editor's note: This is all very cool, but I can't seem to find the agreement or solicitation whereby this "partnership" between NASA and Caterpillar was put in place. Of course, it is certainly quite logicial for NASA to work with companies who already engage in many of the activities that will be performed on the moon. I am wondering why NASA has not made more public mention of this agreement and the interesting work it facilitates.

Video, Caterpillar (link is sometimes not functioning)

Editor's update: I have now learned that this partnership is the result of one of the NASA Innovative Partnership Program’s (IPP) FY 07 Seed Fund awards.

New Ways Of Building Satellites

NASA Ames Partners with m2mi for Small Satellite Development

"Under the terms of a cooperative research and development agreement, only the third in NASA's history, NASA Ames and m2mi will work together to develop very small satellites, called nanosats, for the commercialization of space."

Self-healing computers for NASA spacecraft, ZD Net

"As you can guess, hardwired computer systems are much faster than general-purpose ones because they are designed to do a single task. But when they fail, they need to be totally reconfigured. This can be just a costly problem in a lab on Earth, but it can be vital in space. This is why a University of Arizona (UA) team is working with NASA to design self-healing computer systems for spacecraft."

A Trip Around The Moon for $100 million

$100m moon mission to be ultimate holiday adventure, Business 24/7

"A 10-minute suborbital flight into space seems so last season. Now, for a cool $100 million (Dh367m) you can go to the moon. Space Adventures is offering a two-week vacation to stay at the International Space Station (ISS) and in the future, even a six-day extension for a trip around the moon should you fancy."

Voters Approve Spaceport Tax

Sierra County voters embrace spaceport tax, Las Cruces Sun-News

"Sierra County voters on Tuesday turned out in record numbers to give Spaceport America officials the funding and the taxation district the state needs to build the facility. With all precincts reporting, 65 percent of voters approved of the 1/4 of 1 percent gross receipts tax increase."

Another Big Step Forward for SpaceX

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract to SpaceX

"NASA has awarded Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, a NASA Launch Services contract for the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles. The NASA Launch Services contracts are multiple awards to multiple launch service providers. Twice per year, there is an opportunity for existing and emerging domestic launch service providers to submit proposals if their vehicles meet the minimum contract requirements."

Just Send Rubles

Russia will not need space tourism when space program well financed -analysts, Interfax

"There are plans to manufacture four Soyuz spacecraft in 2009 to launch crews to the ISS," [Vitaly Lopota, the president of the Energia space rocket corporation] said. If the Russian space program was financed in full, Russia would not need to make money on space tourism, Krasnov said. "If we lack money, we will have to launch space tourists," he said."

Russia looks at all options to invest its oil billions abroad, Times Online

"Russia could soon follow the Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and invest billions of dollars in direct overseas investments if, as expected, its national welfare fund is given more freedom to invest."

Editor's note: Interesting how the govenrment-owned Energia is now using a quasi-state controlled news outlet to lobby for increased government funding for Russia's space program. One upon a time Russia's space program was so broke the only way to could continue was with outside financial help - from the U.S. and selling seats on Soyuz flights. Now, I guess, those Russian petro-Rubles are easier to find. Too bad. In retrospect, the commercial space traveler program has given the ISS a more cosmopolitan face since its inception and has injected some actual commercialism into the otherwise (multi) government-controlled ISS.

Skunkworks Lite

Spaceport launch tests future spacecraft, KRQE.com

"Lockheed Martin Corporation is now using the spaceport to advance some of its less-publicized technology. This prototype of Lockheed Martin's new spacecraft is only one-fifth the size the future vehicle would be."

Swimsuits on Steroids

Critics Claim NASA Swimsuit is Technological Doping, TSN

"NASA had a hand in designing the LZR, and Speedo claims it makes swimmers go two per cent faster. "They say that the suit is rocket science, but the stats are not rocket science," Schubert said. "The proof is in the performance."

The Couch Slouch: Speedo's $550 swimsuit a stroke of genius, Seattle Post Intelligencer

"So there is a new swimsuit, designed with help from NASA and its wind tunnels, made of low-drag, lightweight, polyurethane fabric that repels water. This otherworldly apparel is causing quite a splash -- my goodness, did I just write that? -- in the underworld of swimming. The swimsuit, made by Speedo, is called the LZR Racer. The cost of this swimsuit is $550, or twice the amount of my annual clothing budget."

Speedo: Innovation in the Aqua Lab, Business Week

"To reduce hydrodynamic drag, Aqualab began testing some 60 fabrics, with the help of a NASA wind tunnel, before coming up with a model made of extremely fine yarn that is densely woven together."

Russia Talking About 9 Person ISS Crew

Putin orders construction of new space launchpad, vows to give boost to space industries, AP

"Perminov said Friday that Russia may stop selling seats on its spacecraft to "tourists" starting in 2010 because of the planned expansion of the international space station's crew. He said the station's permanent crew is expected to grow from the current three to six or even nine in 2010. That will mean that Russia will have fewer extra seats available for tourists on its Soyuz spacecraft, which are used to ferry crews to the station and back to Earth."

How To Get NASA To Underwrite Your New Product

ATK Plans Commercial Ares I, Aviation Week

"ATK, which is building the first stage of NASA's Ares I crew launch vehicle by recycling the solid-fuel booster it builds for the space shuttle, wants to make the same capability available to other users for missions without crews. Ron Dittemore, president of ATK Launch Systems, said the human-rating that led NASA to build the Ares I first stage around the shuttle booster should also be attractive to other customers with "high-value" payloads, including the Defense Dept. and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)."

Reader note: Great news taxpayers! First NASA pours money into a problematic launch vehicle and then ATK gets to use the beneficiary of that public investment as a product to sell - for profit. What a concept!

Ares I Vibration Problem Fixable, Aviation Week

"Horowitz, now an independent aerospace consultant whose clients include ATK, the Ares I first-stage contractor, and a "greybeard" advisor to NASA through the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, served on the tiger team that reviewed the thrust oscillation issue after it arose last fall. Garry M. Lyles, the senior NASA engineer who headed that review panel, is scheduled to brief Congress on his findings the week of March 31."

ESMD's Revolving Door
ESMD's Revolving Door - Update

Ottawa Says No To ATK Buyout of MDA

Ottawa rejects space firm's sale to U.S., Globe and Mail

"Federal Industry Minister Jim Prentice confirmed Thursday morning that he has taken the unprecedented step of rejecting the planned $1.3-billion sale of Canada's leading space company to U.S. interests, concluding that the deal would not be in the best interests of the country. Mr. Prentice's office issued a brief statement acknowledging that, as The Globe and Mail reported, he wrote to Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) on April 8, to advise them that, "based on the information received at this time, he is not satisfied that the proposed sale of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to ATK is likely to be of net benefit to Canada."

Canadian Government Rejects MDA Sale to ATK, For Now, Nano2Sol by Marc Boucher

"... And while there are jobs at stake, perhaps this case has shown the government that investing in space is important to Canada's interests and that they should try to revive an industry that has been neglected for some time."

House of Commons - Radarsat-2 Testimony, March 5, 2008, Nano2Sol by Marc Boucher

Radarsat-2 Commercial and Technical Documents, Nano2Sol by Marc Boucher

"With all the discussion about the sale of MDA's space division to ATK I thought it might be useful to provide some background documents that explain what Radarsat-2 is and it's impact. Of note, the Canadian Space Agency Departmental Performance Review for 2007 lists the total expected cost of Radarsat-2 to be $421.6 million."

Spacehab has NASDAQ Issues Again

SPACEHAB Announces Receipt of Nasdaq Staff Deficiency Letter

"SPACEHAB, Incorporated (NASDAQ:SPAB), a provider of commercial space services, today announced that the Company's common stock has closed for more than 30 consecutive days below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market under Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(4)."

U.S. Risks Losing Space Leadership Role - Boeing

Boeing Chief: U.S. Should Lead in Space Tech, Defense News

"James Albaugh, Boeing president and chief executive, warned that the United States risks losing a leadership role in space if Congress and military leaders don't reinvest in new space technologies over the next decade. "We can't afford the so-called rebuilding years of our space capability," he said during an April 8 speech at the National Space Symposium, here. "The next decade must be about reaffirming our leadership role in space."

Local Economics and a National Space Program

Saving tech transfer at Glenn, Ediorial, Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A relative handful of companies that benefited from collaborating with Glenn, or at least looking over the shoulders of its scientists and engineers, are bound to be disappointed. Most residents of Northeast Ohio won't feel a thing. That doesn't mean the Glenn Alliance for Technology Exchange was a bad idea. On the contrary, it was a great idea."

Loss of NASA jobs isn't just Brevard's problem; it's regional concern, Orlando Sentinel

"Likewise, the aerospace industry in Central Florida is much more than space exploration. It is about research and medical science; it is about quality of life; it is about a powerful and positive economic impact; it is about homeland security and space tourism. And, most important, it is about the future of the Central Florida region."

Space Watch Watch

The Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk, Watch Report

"There aren't a lot of people who need a watch that can survive the airless void of space, but Richard Garriott happens to be one of them. He's headed for the International Space Station and some extra-vehicular activity (spacewalking). Garriott could have just chosen to wear the vacuum-rated Omega Speedmaster, or maybe a Fortis Cosmonaut, but instead he turned to one of my favorite watchmakers: Seiko."

Richardson and Griffin to Talk Spaceports

Gov. Richardson meets with feds to secure financial help for Spaceport, Las Cruces Sun News

"Gov. Bill Richardson and the director of New Mexico's spaceport made the rounds in Washington this week, trying to secure federal help in the state's push toward space commercialization. There were no immediate business or funding agreements but the effort could produce long-term payoffs after Richardson secured expressions of support from NASA's top boss and a key congressional leader. Richardson and Spaceport America executive director Steve Landeene met Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with NASA's Administrator Michael Griffin."

The Party Is Over at KSC

NASA: Up To 6,400 Job Losses at KSC When Shuttle Retires, Orlando Sentinel

"In the bleakest employment forecast for Kennedy Space Center yet, a NASA report due out on Tuesday estimates that as many as 6,400 contractors could lose their jobs at KSC by 2011 right after the space shuttle is retired. With no rockets to launch, the KSC workforce, whose primary mission is to prepare NASA spacecraft for liftoff, is expected to go from 8,000 contract jobs today to between 1,600 and 2,300 in 2011."

NASA To Hold News Briefing on the Space Shuttle to Constellation Workforce Transition Report

"NASA will hold a teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, April 1, to discuss a report to Congress on the agency's workforce strategy while transitioning from the Space Shuttle Program to the Constellation Program.

The briefing participants are:
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington
- Rick Gilbrech, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters"

Today's Video: XCOR Lynx Flight Profile

"The LYNX suborbital vehicle now under development at XCOR Aerospace."

Falcon 9 Engine Firing VIdeo - Note: Play This One Loud

SpaceX Conducts First Three-Engine Firing of Falcon 9 Rocket

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) conducted the first three-engine firing of its Falcon 9 medium to heavy lift rocket at its Texas Test Facility outside McGregor, on March 8, 2008. At full power the engines generated over 270,000 pounds of force, and consumed 1,050 lbs of fuel and liquid oxygen per second. This three-engine test again sets the record as the most powerful test yet on the towering 235-foot tall test stand. A total of nine Merlin 1C engines will power the Falcon 9 rocket."

XCOR Introduces The Lynx

XCOR Wins Contract for Operations Demonstrations With New Suborbital Vehicle

"The Air Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded, pending successful contract negotiations and signature by the Government Contracting Officer, XCOR Aerospace a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to develop and test operationally responsive features of one of the firm's commercial vehicles. The suborbital space vehicle, named the Lynx, is designed to carry a pilot and a person or payload on suborbital flights."

Space Adventures Buys ZeroG

Space Adventures Announces the Acquisition of Zero Gravity Corporation
 
"Space Adventures, Ltd., the world's leading space experiences company, announced that as of January 1, 2008, the company completed an acquisition of the Florida and Las Vegas based Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G) by increasing its equity stake to 100% ownership. .. Diamandis, also a co-Founder of Space Adventures, will continue as the CEO of the ZERO-G operating unit, but also joins as Managing Director of the parent company Space Adventures, Ltd. Byron Lichtenberg, co-Founder of ZERO-G and former NASA astronaut, will continue as CTO of ZERO-G."

Odyssey Moon RFI Released

Odyssey Moon - Request for Information for a Payload Flight Opportunity on the Odyssey Moon "MoonOne" (M-1) Lunar Lander

"Odyssey Moon Limited (OML) is a private commercial lunar enterprise offering lunar services and products to aid humanity's sustained return to the Moon. Odyssey Moon will be sending a series of small robotic missions to the Moon in support of science, exploration and commerce in the coming decade. In December 2007, the company was unveiled as the first official competitor for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. It was also announced that mission design work had begun by the company's prime contractor, MDA Space Missions of Canada."

Space Spinoffs Cut Both Ways

Google Earth showed protesters way to conquer parliament, Times Online

"Demonstrators revealed yesterday that they had used Google Earth to plot their protest on the roof of the Houses of Parliament last week against the expansion of Heathrow, writes . The website, which allows users to zoom in on satellite photographs of Earth, "showed us all the walkways, steps and other details we needed to make our way across the roof from the door to the far side where the public could see us", said Leo Murray, one of the five protesters."

COTS and Constellation Procurement Notices

NASA JSC Solicitation: ISS Commercial Resupply Services

"NASA/JSC plans to issue an RFP for the following Commercial item/services: cargo upmass, disposal and return to and from the International Space Station, nonstandard services and special studies as defined in the Statement of Work."

NASA Solicitation: Constellation Program Ground Processing Services

"The purpose of this notice is to apprise interested parties of the current planning schedule for competition of the Constellation (Cx) ground processing, provide high level information on the potential requirements, acquisition approach, and solicit industry input."

Cross-Waiver of Liability: Final rule

NASA: Cross-Waiver of Liability: Final rule

"SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is amending its regulations which provide the regulatory basis for cross- waiver provisions used in the following two categories of NASA agreements: agreements for International Space Station (ISS) activities pursuant to the ``Agreement Among the Government of Canada, Governments of Member States of the European Space Agency, the Government of Japan, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Government of the United States of America concerning Cooperation on the Civil International Space Station'' (commonly referred to as the ISS Intergovernmental Agreement, or IGA); and launch agreements for science or space exploration activities unrelated to the ISS."

Blue Origins' New Launch Site

Blue Origin Buys Texas Ranch as Launch Site, SpaceRef

"According to sources, Jeff Bezos' company Blue Origin has reportedly bought a 32,000 acre ranch a few miles north of Sierra Blanca, Texas to use as a launch site."

Buying Back Our Own Inventions

NASA GRC Solicitation: Configuration Support for the United Kingdom Disaster Monitoring Constellation Satellites

"NASA/GRC intends to utilize the services of Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd. (SSTL). The United Kingdom (UK) DMC is the only spacecraft with an Internet Protocol (IP) router onboard-the Cisco router in Low Earth Orbit (CLEO). SSTL is the sole provider of IP compliant satellites that NASA can utilize to perform delay/disruption tolerant networking (DTN) research. NASA has already obtained licenses to transmit and receive at the DMC satellite frequencies required for the satellite ground station support."

Editor's note: How sad (and utterly uncreative) that the only place i.e. "sole source" that Mike Griffin can find this on-orbit functionality - one using U.S. developed software/hardware - is from an offshore provider. Someone sure dropped the ball on this one.

Orbital Wins COTS Funding

Editor's update: According to NASA's Doug Cooke the winning proposal of the COTS-1 re-competition is worth $170 million. 13 companies competed and submitted proposals in November 2007.

Results of the review were presented to Cooke last Thursday. The Space Act Agreement will be made with Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC).

OSC is looking to develop an new medium class launch vehicle they call the Taurus II. The first stage will use LOX/Kerosine liquid fuel using Aerojet engines. ATK would develop the Castor-derived solid fueled second stage.

The COTS Visiting Vehicle would be the payload - and will have variants that can deliver pressurized cargo using a MPLM derivative developed by Alenia or unpressurized cargo using a derivative of the Express Logistics Carrier being designed and developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for use on the ISS.

The OSC proposal mentions possible crewed missions but did not formally propose that option. OSC will be using DART and Orbital Express hardware and experience in the design of their proximity and operations concepts.

OSC plans to launch the Taurus II COTS flights from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Weightless Over Silicon Valley

NASA's Ames Enables Commercial Weightless Aircraft Flights

"Commercial, weightless flights will be offered this weekend at Moffett Field, Calif., under the terms of an agreement with the Zero Gravity Corp, Las Vegas. Although corporation officials said the first flight scheduled Saturday, Feb. 16 is already sold out, additional flights will be scheduled later this year."

Blaming Others For Ares/Constellation Woes

CBS NEWS STS-122 STATUS REPORT: 48 (Scroll Down)

"Q: [HARWOOD] On a different topic, the Ares rocket and the Constellation program continue to generate questions among outside observers as to viability of the rocket system, due to vibration and other issues, and the overall architecture of the moon program. Why is that?

A: [GRIFFIN] Let me get down to the bottom of it. There were winners and losers in the contractor community as to who was going to get to do what on the next system post shuttle. And we didn't pick (Lockheed Martin's) Atlas 5, in consultation with the Air Force for that matter, because it wasn't the right vehicle for the lunar job. Obviously, we did pick others. So people who didn't get picked see an opportunity to throw the issue into controversy and maybe have it come out their way.

Griffin: Sore Losers Conspire to Undo NASA's Ares 1, Orlando Sentinel Write Stuff Blog

"This is not so much an argument that people are having with NASA, and it's not about the Constellation architecture. It's about winning contractors versus losing contractors, and losing contractors spotting an opportunity coincident with an election year to reopen what was a settled issue three years ago," Griffin said. A prolonged fight, he added, could be a disaster for America's civil space program."

Critics say NASA's new rocket Ares, which is to take astronauts to the moon, is flawed, Orlando Sentinel

"NASA argues that the Atlas V as it stands is not robust enough to lift its 25-ton Orion crew capsule into space. Nonetheless, the news that entrepreneurs intend to employ an off-the-shelf rocket -- one that NASA rejected as being too expensive and unsafe to modify for its purposes -- was immediately seized on by Ares I critics. James Muncy, a Virginia-based space-policy consultant, said Bigelow's move means that commercial operators are going to be putting people into orbit years before NASA finishes developing Ares I. "That's great news for Americans worried about a gap in human spaceflight, but it could undercut some of the rationale for NASA's rocket plans." ... "The developments are worrying John Logsdon, the director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, who is concerned that the criticism of Ares I -- some legitimate, some driven by ego and profit -- could end up destroying Constellation and with it the first new vision of space exploration in 35 years. "It's not a bad plan," he said, "We just need to adjust it some."

Editor's note: Oh, so now Lockheed Martin is to blame for Ares/Constellation woes, eh Mike? Isn't it curious that Lockheed Martin seems to have had much more success (on its own) countering the technical issues that NASA felt that it could not surmount (with regard to the Atlas V and human rating) when Lockheed Martin used their own money to do so - with market potential as a key motivator? What is it that Lockheed Martin sees that Mike Griffin has missed?

Is NASA's Interest in COTS Fading?

NASA May Buy Russian Transport Services, AP

"NASA hinted that it might rely on Russian rockets to deliver crew and cargo to the international space station when the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010 if private space companies fail to fill the gap."

Kistler Loses GAO Protest

B-310741, Rocketplane Kistler, January 28, 2008, GAO

"The National Aeronautics and Space Administration could use a Space Act agreement under that agency's "other transactions" authority, and was not required to use a procurement contract, for the development and demonstration of a space transportation system, where the principal purpose of the announcement was not to acquire goods or services for the direct benefit of the agency, but to stimulate a public purpose authorized by law.

The protest is denied."

Virgin's Green Spaceship

Richard Branson's Remarks at the Unveiling of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo

"If our new system could carry only people into space, that would be enough for me, because of the transforming effect it will have on the thousands who will travel with us. It is quite clear from every astronaut that I've ever spoken to -- including Brian Binnie and Mike Melvill -- that seeing the planet from out there, surrounded by the incredibly thin protective layer of atmosphere, helps one to wake up to the fragility of the small portion of the planet's mass that we inhabit, and to the importance of protecting the Earth."

Virgin Galactic Unveils Spaceship Designs

"Virgin Galactic today unveiled the design of its new, environmentally benign, space launch system based on the X Prize winning technology of SpaceShipOne, which successfully flew into space for the third time in October 2004 and won the $10m Ansari X Prize. The construction of the White Knight Two (WK2) mothership, or carrier aircraft, is now very close to completion at Scaled Composites in Mojave, CA and is expected to begin flight testing in the summer of 2008. It is the world's largest, all carbon composite aircraft; it has a unique high altitude lift capacity, capable of launching SpaceShipTwo and its eight astronauts into sub-orbital space flight."

Googling NASA

Google's Schmidt to NASA: Be more 'open', CNet

"Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt on Thursday suggested NASA could learn a few things from his company. Speaking at a luncheon series to commemorate the agency's 50th anniversary this year, Schmidt urged the space agency to take after what Google attempts to accomplish with its products: Build open, collaborative systems, not closed ones--a reference to NASA's legacy of creating mission-specific vehicles. Create simple platforms upon which others can build. And while you're at it, why not let spacecraft talk to each other?"

A Googleplex grows in D.C., CNet

"Last month, Google's 20 or so Washington employees moved a few blocks, to a 27,000-square-foot space that occupies one floor of a glassy building at 1101 New York Ave. (entrance shown here) in the heart of downtown, not far from K Street and its abundant lobby shops."

Google CEO and Chairman Speaks at NASA 50th Anniversary Event

"On Thursday, Jan. 17, the chairman and chief executive officer of Google, Eric Schmidt, will be the featured speaker for part of a lecture series honoring NASA's 50th anniversary."

Honoring Pete Conrad and Innovation

NASA and X PRIZE Foundation to recognize 2007 Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award Winners

"The winners of the 2007 Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award will be recognized at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on January 18, 2008. NASA will unveil a Spirit of Innovation traveling exhibit, and the X PRIZE Foundation will announce plans for the Conrad Award Scroll to be carried to the International Space Station in the fall of 2008."

ATK-MDA Deal Is Not Good News In Canada

Geospatial Businesses of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates

"Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK) announced that it has negotiated definitive agreements with Canadian-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (TSX: MDA), to acquire its Information Systems and Geospatial Information Services businesses for $1.325 billion (CDN)."

ATK'S Acquisition of MDA's S[ace Division is Bad for Canada, Nano2Sol.com

"Yesterday's acquisition of Canada's MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) by Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is bad for Canada for so many reasons. It's reminiscent of when Avro Canada closed down and most of their talent headed to the US and were instrumental in helping them with the Apollo program."

RocketPlane Loses Herrington

Herrington Resigns from Rocketplane, The Chickasaw Nation

"Former astronaut and retired Navy Commander John Herrington resigned Dec. 21 from Rocketplane Global, Inc. "I was fortunate during my tenure at Rocketplane to work with an incredibly talented group of professionals," said Cmdr. Herrington. "My decision to leave was a difficult one."

NASA Gives Commercial Parabolic Flight Contract to Zero Gravity Corp

NASA Awards Contract for Microgravity Aircraft Services, NASA GRC

"NASA has awarded a contract to Zero Gravity Corporation of Las Vegas to manage and operate an aircraft to perform reduced gravity parabolic flights while carrying NASA-operated experiments and personnel. The parabolic flights will provide the means to replicate the reduced gravity environment of space for various areas of research needed to further NASA's understanding of space travel. These include aeronautical research, fluid physics, combustion, material sciences and life sciences."

Zero Gravity Corporation Wins NASA Contract to Provide Parabolic (Weightless) Flights for Research and Personnel Training

Eight-Year-Old Boy Enjoys Adventure of A Lifetime as Youngest Person in History to Experience Zero Gravity Flight

Hurry Up And Buy Those Soyuz Tickets

Russia sees end of road for space tourism, AFP

"Space tourists may have to seek alternative transport after 2009 due to a lack of room on the Russian capsule serving the International Space Station, Russia's space agency chief said Thursday. "It has to do with international agreements that stipulate that from 2009 the (ISS) crew must be made up of six people if Japanese and European scientific modules are launched," said Roskosmos chief Anatoly Perminov."

Confusing Story about Rocketplane

Rocketplane still on track for launch, The Journal Record

"Founded in 2001, the project touted the ability to eventually send civilian travelers into space on suborbital flights for those willing to pay a price nearing several hundred thousand dollars for a trip. Rocketplane opened its Oklahoma City office in 2004. The company is led by CEO George French. Subsequent tax credits by the Oklahoma Tax Commission is 2004 amounted to $18 million in transferable credits. In addition NASA committed to more than $200 million with several strings attached. So far, Rocketplane has not lived up to its requirements set forth by NASA. In addition, the company sold its state tax credits in an effort to fund its suborbital spacecraft. Financial problems have also led to cutbacks and layoffs at the company."

Editor's note: If I read this article the way it is written I get the impression that NASA is providing $200 million to support a space tourism project. That's news to me. Or does this represent confusion on someone's part between Rockeplane's suborital space tourism project and Rocketplane Kistler's COTS activities?

COTS In Stealth Mode Within JSC Organization

Reader note: "You seem to get answers... So... With all of the recent interest in COTS and NASA's attempt at commercialization, why is it that at JSC, they don't even have a website linked to the main JSC organization chart??

http://www6.jsc.nasa.gov/orglist/scripts/structure/orglist/index2.cfm

QA - Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office [No website]

Furthermore, here's the list of personnel in QA at JSC.[below]  In my opinion, that's not a whole lot of folks dedicated to the pursuit of commercialization."

(281)483-2166   BULK, TIMOTHY A(ORG-QA)(NASA)           JSU00Q92     1/704A     QA      

(281)480-7427   CARPENTER, EDWARD J(JOE)(ORG-QA)(BAH)   JSU00KCN 2525 Bay Area Blvd/204   QA/BAH  

(281)212-1469   GAUNTT, RACHEL L(ORG-SA)(WLS)           JSU00T59 1300 HERCULES/116    QA/W4   

(281)244-7508   HORKACHUCK, MIKE(ORG-QA)(NASA)          JSU0024D     1/704E     QA111   

(281)483-5483   KELSO, ROBERT M(ORG-QA)(NASA)           JSU001XP     1/842      QA      

(281)244-7064   LINDENMOYER, ALAN J(ORG-QA)(NASA)       JSU001P4     1/704B     QA      

(281)483-1992   MANNERS, BRUCE A(ORG-QA)(NASA)          JSU00N6Z     1/704G     QA111   

(281)244-2404   MEEHAN, KEVIN M(ORG-QA)(NASA)           JSU00ER2     1/704A     QAZC    

(281)483-3662   RUEMMELE, WARREN P(ORG-QA)(NASA)        JSU0072S     1/704A     QA111   

(281)792-5570   STONE, DENNIS A(ORG-QA)(NASA)           JSU000HF     1/840      QA      

(281)483-4626   SURBER, MICHAEL R(MIKE)(ORG-QA)(NASA)   JSU003Z0    4S/3900B    QA      

(281)483-0819   TAYLOR, STARR F(ORG-QA)(NASA)           JSU00IZR     1/704      QA      

(281)244-7097   THORN, VALIN B(ORG-QA)(NASA)            JSU000DE     1/704C     QA      

(281)483-0819   WASHINGTON, DEOBRAH A(ORG-QA)(4WS)      JSU00T3W     1/704      QA      

More COTS News

Space Florida to assist PlanetSpace with NASA bid, Orlando Business Journal

"Space Florida has agreed to assist PlanetSpace in its efforts to develop an orbital launch facility at Cape Canaveral. The facility, which could provide up to 346 new jobs, is part of PlanetSpace's attempt to develop commercial orbital transportation services as part of a request for proposals issued by NASA. The project would include manufacturing, training and research and development facilities expected to generate an economic impact of $313 million annually to the state."

Altair Items Now For Sale

Editor's note: Altair logo- themed T-shirts, coffee mugs, sweatshirts, polo shirts - and wall clocks -

- now on sale.

SpaceX Moves Ahead With COTS

SpaceX Successfully Completes NASA Systems Requirements Review for Dragon Spacecraft Demonstration to Berth at International Space Station (with video animation)

"Under COTS, SpaceX will conduct three Falcon 9 / Dragon flights, demonstrating the ability to approach, berth, and ultimately deliver cargo to the $100 billion International Space Station (ISS), and return cargo to Earth. On this third demonstration, the Dragon spacecraft will approach the ISS and hold its position nearby. Then, according to the SpaceX plan, a robotic arm on the station will capture Dragon and guide it to a berthing port on the Harmony module."

Kistler COTS Issues Hold up Entire COTS Program

Joint Explanatory Statement to Accompany Consolidated Appropriations Amendment Division B--Commerce, Justice, Science

"The amended bill provides $160,000,000 for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, which is intended to demonstrate private sector technologies that could potentially resupply the International Space Station in the future. However, the Appropriations Committees note that one of the two COTS contracts is currently in dispute, and are concerned by NASA's recent decision to re-compete the disputed contract before all challenges have been resolved. In doing so, NASA could potentially create a liability to fund three proposals instead of two as originally envisioned, increasing the costs of this program to the taxpayers. Therefore, NASA is directed not to select a new contractor until all challenges are decided. Further, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is directed to perform a full review of COTS program expenditures and management."

Boeing Avionics Win = Jobs in Alabama

Boeing: Most Ares I Avionics Work To Be Done In N Alabama, AP

"The Boeing Company (BA) said northern Alabama will be the home base for much of its work on a guidance system for the Ares I rocket, the new spacecraft being built to take Americans back to the moon and beyond. On Wednesday, NASA awarded a $799 million contract for the avionics work to Boeing, which is expected to bring scores of jobs to Huntsville, home of the Marshall Space Flight Center."

Another High Power Lunar X Prize Team is Forming

Dr. William 'Red' Whittaker and Raytheon Company Collaborate to Pursue Google Lunar X Prize, Astrobotic Technology

"Astrobotic is planning for Raytheon to begin work on a contract basis with the scope of Raytheon's work to be expanded upon completion of certain financing goals by Astrobotic. It is anticipated that 15 or more professional engineers from Raytheon will be devoted to the Astrobotic lunar program. Dr. Whittaker is the Fredkin Professor of Robotics, Director of the Field Robotics Center, and founder of the National Robotics Engineering Consortium, all at Carnegie Mellon University."

Editor's note: Word has it that the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is looking to partner with Carnegie-Mellon and Raytheon in a Google Lunar X-Prize bid. Word to proceed with planning awaits the approval of the University's upper management in the next few weeks. A final decision to proceed with the project would be made in late March 2008.

Investing In Space Biz

Money In Space, Aviation Week

"The third installment this year of the Space Investment Summit was held Dec. 5-6 in San Jose, in the heart of the Silicon Valley. It mixed some big names - Boeing, EADS Astrium, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Space Systems/Loral and United Space Alliance - with venture capitalists."

A Secret No Longer

Atlas V Poised for NRO Secret Mission, Aviation Week

"A secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) spacecraft is poised for launch Dec. 10-11 from Cape Canaveral on board a U.S. Air Force Atlas V rocket. Details emerging about the mission indicate that the Atlas V will launch a Boeing Satellite Data System (SDS) type relay satellite."

FAA Wants to Shut Mojave Air and Space Port Down

Mojave Air and Space Port in danger of losing designation, Antelope Valley Press

"The nation's first inland spaceport could lose that designation by the end of the year. The Federal Aviation Administration informed officials at the Mojave Air and Space Port of its intention to suspend or revoke the space launch site operator's license Dec. 31. "I have no reason to be optimistic we're going to keep our spaceport license," said General Manager Stu Witt, reporting on the issue to the East Kern Airport District board of directors Tuesday. The district governs the Mojave Air and Space Port. At issue are questions by the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation regarding the facility's plans for safely storing and handling the energetic chemicals used by rocket companies."

Odyssey Moon Unveils Google Moon Prize Attempt

History Making Mission For Google Lunar X PRIZE Competition Unveiled by Odyssey Moon

"San Jose, CA, December 6th, 2007 - The first team to complete registration for the $30M Google Lunar X PRIZE unveiled its plans today at the Space Investment Summit in San Jose, California. Representatives of Odyssey Moon announced their plans to make history with the first private robotic mission to the surface of the Moon and their intent to win the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition. Odyssey Moon's inaugural mission will involve a unique small robotic lander designed to deliver scientific, exploration and commercial payloads to the surface of the Moon."

Ares 1 Upper Stage Announcement

NASA Set to Announce Final Major Ares I Contract

"NASA will host a news conference Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m. EST to announce the selection of a contractor for the upper stage instrument unit avionics for the Ares I rocket. The avionics unit is the central system that provides guidance, navigation and control for the launch vehicle during ascent as it carries the Orion spacecraft to low Earth orbit."

SpaceX Moves Ahead

SpaceX chief eyes public offering in 2 years, Reuters

"[Musk] said SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket had been selected by an unspecified U.S. government client over Lockheed's Atlas 5 for a launch, but declined to give details. Two test firings of the Falcon 1 rocket, designed for light satellite lifts, have failed to reach orbit, but the second attempt validated the riskiest and most difficult parts of its new design, the company has said."

Start Your Rocket Engines

NASA and NASCAR: Together at Last, Wired

"Eleven years after The Onion published their epic satirical story "NASA, NASCAR Merge," NASA and NASCAR officials have announced that the December 6th, 2007 Shuttle flight will carry the green starter flags for the 50th anniversary running of the Daytona 500. (NASA will also be turning 50 in 2008.)"

Bob Bigelow Profile in Air & Space

Mr. B's Big Plan, Air & Space

"Having pledged five times that much--more than half his net worth--to build inflatable space habitats using technology pioneered, then abandoned, by NASA, Bigelow, with a company of roughly 125 employees, is aiming even higher. His goal is to send people to a larger, habitable module called Sundancer by 2010. By 2012, he hopes to place a full-size, 330-cubic-meter (11,700-cubic-foot) module, the BA 330, in orbit, with more to follow later."

Elon Musk - Inc.com's Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrepreneur of the Year: Elon Musk, Inc.com

"Yet the kingmakers of innovation--the academics, the investors, the bloggers--tend not to talk about Musk. They dwell on idea people like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, the 23-year-old wunderkind whose high-concept notions about social networks have made him the hottest thing in business. Or they talk about prognosticators, people like MIT's Nicholas Negroponte, whose One Laptop per Child program has captured the imaginations of moguls, wonks, and Davos attendees everywhere. Elon Musk isn't a software geek or a self-styled visionary. He's not particularly young or brash or handsome, and he can come off as kind of a jerk. He isn't hawking new technology, and he's quite shy. Yet he just might change the world."

Glenn Mahone Heads for Aerojet

Editor's note: Aerojet will shortly be announcing that it has named Glenn Mahone to be its Executive Director of Strategic Communications in Aerojet's Washington, D.C. office. Mahone recently served as vice president for defense contractor Systems Application and Technologies, Inc. Prior to that he served as the AA for Public Affairs at NASA HQ.

Garriott Gets A Back Up

Space flight dream nears, Herald Sun

"A Thrill-seeking Melbourne multi-millionaire is one small step from being the first Australian private citizen in space. Self-described "thrillionaire" Nik Halik has been named as the back-up crewman for next year's October commercial flight to the International Space Station. While excited by the announcement, Mr Halik said it was just one step towards his real dream - being one of the first to colonise the moon."

Things Are Getting Interesting at ARC

NASA Ames ready for liftoff - Giant research park at Moffett will include office space, 1,000 housing units, Mountain View Voice

"A 5.6 earthquake was only the second thing to shake City Hall on Tuesday night, after a NASA Ames official announced the agency would be taking bids next year on a massive research park at Moffett Field that will provide homes and office space for private companies, NASA and several colleges. Michael Marlaire, NASA Ames director of partnerships, said the research park would become "a goldmine for the informal meeting" -- in other words, the casual exchange of ideas -- as college students worked and lived next to employees from NASA and companies like Google."

Company floats Zeppelin idea, Mountain View Voice

"After noticing the controversy over the Google founders' jumbo jets last month, Los Gatos-based Airship Ventures is putting out feelers to see what Moffett neighbors would think of up to 1,000 Zeppelin flights a year out of the airfield. The company aims to provide tours of the San Francisco Bay Area for $500 a person in its 264-foot Zeppelin NT airship -- which is slightly longer, but much quieter, than a Boeing 747."

Foothill-De Anza among those eyeing Research Park - Local district joins UC, San Jose State in bid to create 'super campus', Mountain View Voice

"Besides creating a consortium of federal agencies and private high tech firms, the NASA Ames Research Park at Moffett Field will include a strong educational presence — and the Foothill-De Anza Community College District hopes to get in on the game."

NASA and Google at 2

NASA, Google partnership still taking flight, SF Chronicle

"More than two years after forging a partnership that technology insiders hoped would spawn a new era of innovation in Silicon Valley, Google and NASA have few tangible products to show for their collaboration. But that that doesn't faze Google's managers, who say the goal is to get employees brainstorming and promote the space program - not to create flashy products. "Google didn't enter into this partnership saying 'How are we going to change this product and that product?' " said Dan Clancy, engineering director at Google. "The tangible results are that we have a lot more interaction between our staff and their staff."

Training Backups for Spaceflight

Space Adventures Offers Unique Opportunity to Participate in Richard Garriott's Orbital Spaceflight Mission as Back-up Crew Member

"Today, Space Adventures, Ltd., the world's leading space experiences company, announced that for the first time the coveted opportunity to train as a private space explorer alongside one of its orbital spaceflight candidates, and among professional astronauts, is now available to the public."

Small Fire During SpaceX Demolition

Small Fire During Demolition Work at Space Launch Complex 40, SpaceX

"Cape Canaveral, Florida - November 7, 2007 - At 10:45 AM, a fire began during demolition activities at SpaceX's Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40). The Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Fire Department arrived 9 minutes later and promptly extinguished the flames. There were no injuries to personnel or smoke inhalation, and no damage to surrounding property."

NIAC Rises From The Dead to Make Time's Best Inventions Of The Year

Spandex Space Suit, The Best Inventions Of The Year, Time

"With manned space exploration in the doldrums, maybe what NASA needs is a new outfit for its astronauts. Enter Dava Newman, a professor of aeronautics at MIT, who is developing the Bio-Suit. It's a formfitting space suit made of elastic polymers that improve mobility."

Editor's note: Alas, Time magazine has honored a project of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts. Earlier this year Mike Griffin made a stupid decision and killed NIAC - and work on all these advanced concepts came to a halt.

Killing NIAC, earlier post

XCOR Makes Time's Best Inventions Of The Year List

Rocket Science, The Best Inventions Of The Year, Time

"It's hard to find a filling station in space, but it's easy to find methane, abundant on many planets and moons. NASA is taking advantage of that with a methane-fueled [XCOR] rocket (above and in tests at right). Future probes could save weight by carrying a little fuel, then gassing up en route just like any long-distance traveler."

Mike Griffin on Exploration and Competitiveness

Space Exploration: A Measure of American Competitiveness - Speech by NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin

"It is my goal to get these critics to recognize that the development of space is a strategic capability for our nation, a view completely in keeping with the founding principles of the American nation - pushing back the frontier. There was a time when the land upon which we stand here in Chicago lay far beyond our western frontier. Today, that frontier lies in space. We've sent out the first few explorers, and they returned with wondrous tales. In President Kennedy's famous words, "Now is the time to take longer strides". The geography of our solar system dictates that these next strides will again be to Earth's moon - three days journey away. But this time, a lunar outpost will follow soon afterward, allowing us to exploit its resources and its vantage point."

Shana Dale on Small Business and NASA

NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale's Blog: NASA and Small Business

"NASA's OSBP is working to provide small businesses with enhanced access to NASA and with more opportunities to do business with the Agency. At Business Opportunity Expos, small businesses have the opportunity to present their capabilities to NASA small business specialists and procurement and technical personnel from throughout the Agency and communicate with large businesses that support NASA. The 17th annual NASA Business Opportunities Expo was held on October 16 near Kennedy Space Center and was attended by approximately 900 people and featured 175 exhibitors. These expos also are a means for small businesses to network with each other and develop long lasting business relationships."

SpaceX Continues Falcon 9 Preparations

SpaceX Breaks Ground at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) held official ground breaking ceremonies today at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, opening a new era in commercial space operations. SLC-40 will be the primary launch site for SpaceX's new Falcon 9 launch vehicle, with operations beginning in late 2008."

Global Forum on Space Economics

NASA HQ Solicitation: Global Forum on Space Economics

"NASA Headquarters (HQ), Office of Communications Planning, is planning to procure a membership to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Global Forum on Space Economics. The OECD provides a unique forum whereby governments of up to approximately 30 democracies, other non-governmental organization (NGOs), and the private sector work together to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of globalization."

Global Forum on Space Economics, OECD

Bigelow Is Looking to Buy a Ride

Bigelow Aerospace to offer $760 million for spaceship, New Scientist

"Bigelow Aerospace intends to spur development of a commercial space vehicle to take people into Earth orbit by offering to sign a contract worth $760 million with any company that can meet their criteria, company president Robert Bigelow says."

Lunar Lander Prize Announced

NASA Offers $2 Million Lunar Lander Competition Prize

"During the X PRIZE Cup Oct. 27-28, NASA's Centennial Challenges Program will offer prizes totaling $2 million if competing teams successfully meet the requirements of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. The challenge will take place at Holloman Air Force Base, in Alamogordo, N.M. The purpose of the lunar lander challenge is to accelerate technology development leading to a commercial vehicle that could one day be capable of ferrying cargo or humans back and forth between lunar orbit and the moon's surface."

What Happens in Vegas - Stays in Space

Editor's note: Have a look at these images from Genesis II. Either Bigelow Aerospace is going to run a gambling operation in low Earth orbit ("Bigelow Bingo") or he has lots of little itty bitty numbered satellites he is going to deploy.

Bingo in Soace, Bigelow Aerospace

Ames/Google Jet Update

Google guys get grand garage, Mountain View Voice

"In July, the company signed a two-year contract with NASA allowing its owners to use the coveted Moffett airstrip whenever they liked, along with the hangar space, in exchange for $2.6 million and the right to place scientific instruments on the planes. The deal, negotiated behind closed doors, was announced in mid-September."

Mary Cleave's New Gig

Dr. Mary Cleave Appointed to Board of Directors of Sigma Space Corp.

"Sigma Space Corp. announced the appointment of Dr. Mary Cleave to its Board of Directors, effective October 1st, 2007. Dr. Mary L. Cleave was the Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate until March of this year. She also served as deputy associate administrator (advanced planning) in the Office of Earth Science at NASA Headquarters."

Son of COTS Solicitation Released

NASA JSC Solicitation: Commerical Space Transportation Services Phase 1 Demonstration

"As a continuation of the COTS Phase 1 project, NASA/JSC plans to solicit proposals from all interested industry participants for Earth to orbit space flight demonstrations of any combination of the following mission capabilities:
A) External unpressurized cargo delivery and disposal,
B) Internal pressurized cargo delivery and disposal,
C) Internal pressurized cargo delivery, return and recovery,
D) Crew Transportation."

Spaceward Games 2007 Update

Spaceward Games Heads into the Home Stretch and Opens to the Public, Space Elevator Reference

"Qualifying lasted until the early hours of the morning with Centaurus the last team trying to qualify but failing at 1:00 am. At this point four teams have qualified to compete for this years chance at NASA's Centennial Challenge prize for power beaming which has a $500,000 prize. They are: ..."

The Space Elevator Reference - Videos and other updates

Live webcams - provided by SpaceRef.com and OnOrbit.com, The Space Elevator Reference

Son of COTS Announced

NASA to Open New Competition for Space Transportation Seed Money

"NASA announced Thursday it will conduct a new competition for funding that remains in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Project, known as COTS. The new competition follows NASA's decision to terminate its funded agreement with aerospace firm Rocketplane Kistler of Oklahoma City, which repeatedly failed to meet agreed-upon milestones in its effort to develop and demonstrate commercial transportation capabilities to low Earth orbit."

NASA Updates Media on Status of COTS Project Thursday

"Thursday, NASA will provide an update about the status of the agency's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Project, also known as COTS. NASA will host a news media roundtable at 2:30 p.m. EDT at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St., S.W., Washington. Alan Lindenmoyer, manager of the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, will participate in the briefing."

Editor's 18 Oct note: Once again ESMD seems to be going out of its way to screw up media participation. The only notice I am aware of was emailed late this morning. I only got mine in my email account an hour before the event itself. Did ESMD just dream up this telecon today? Or did they know about it yesterday? Its almost as if PAO and ESMD just don't care any more.

Editor's 19 Oct update: I just got a media advisory from JSC for an upcoming event that was held yesterday:

"From: info@JSC.NASA.GOV
Subject: [HSFMEDIA] NASA UPDATES MEDIA ON STATUS OF COTS PROJECT THURSDAY
Date: October 19, 2007 10:35:46 AM EDT
To: HSFMEDIA@JSC-LISTSERV-01.JSC.NASA.GOV
Reply-To: HSFMEDIA@JSC-LISTSERV-01.JSC.NASA.GOV"

Either this proves that JSC PAO sends things out without reading them - or people in that office never took that Calendar 101 class. Either way the word "inept" pops up in my mind.

Spaceward Games 2007 Update

Spaceward Games 2007 Update, The Space Elevator Reference

"This afternoon teams had the opportunity to improve on their qualifying results of yesterday. Because of the bad weather yesterday, provisional qualifying was held indoors to see if teams could attach their climbers and show they could climb the ribbon, stop and descend the ribbon safely. All the teams except Centaurus succeeded."

The Space Elevator Reference - Videos and other updates

Live webcams - provided by SpaceRef.com and OnOrbit.com, The Space Elevator Reference

While RPK Flops SpaceX Moves Ahead

SpaceX Successfully Completes NASA Critical Design Review for First Commercial Transportation System to the International Space Station

"SpaceX has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its first Falcon 9 / Dragon mission as part of the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration program. During a three day period, SpaceX hosted a group of over forty top level NASA representatives and key SpaceX customers for a review of the design of the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft and associated ground systems for the first COTS demonstration mission."

Space Solar Power Interest On The Rise

New Space Solar Power Organization Announced - The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy, NSS

"The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE), a new organization advocating investment in space-based solar power technologies to address the planet's future energy needs, was announced today at the National Press Club. The coalition of thirteen leading research organizations and space advocacy groups focused their inaugural event on the announcement of a new study of space-based solar power led by the National Security Space Office (NSSO).'"

Advance Comments on NSSO-led Study on Space-Based Solar Power, Space Frontier Foundation

Do As I Say - Not As I Do

Rocketplane Kistler President Resigns, SpaceNews

"RpK came in with a lot of promises and a half baked business plan and the market place is weeding them out," [David] Gump said. "It's disingenuous to now say they were shocked - shocked - they would have to compete for ISS cargo business. That was plan[ned] in the original ISS cargo announcement. Everybody who bid knew it.

Editor's note: With regard to "... a lot of promises and a half baked business plan": You know what they say about people who live in glass houses, David...

Spacehab's Challenges and Opportunities

Spacehab Announces Receipt of NASDAQ Staff Determination Letter

"SPACEHAB, Incorporated (NASDAQ:SPAB), a leading provider of commercial space services, today announced its receipt of a NASDAQ Staff Determination letter on October 2, 2007 indicating that the Company fails to comply with NASDAQ Marketplace Rules 4310(c)(4) and 4310(c)(3), and that its securities are, therefore, subject to delisting from The NASDAQ Capital Market."

Texas Investor Eyes Space Station as Orbiting Pharma Lab, WIired

"Pickens' father made a fortune in oil, became a corporate raider, and now runs a hedge fund. He's worth $2.5 billion. No wonder his son looked to the heavens to make his fortune. Spacehab recruited the younger Pickens earlier this year to turn the company around. The 20-year-old penny stock firm has a market cap of about $5 million.'"

Garriott in Space; But Wait - There's More

Texas Man Linked to Past and Future of Space Exploration by Sputnik and Soyuz, NY Times

"And, [Richard Garriott] added, he is hoping to accomplish something on the flight that no other space tourist has done: take a spacewalk, an option Space Adventures announced last year for an extra $15 million. "But that is NOT yet set in stone," he wrote. He has had two suited-up training sessions in a Russian underwater facility, he said, and "It's MUCH harder than it looks." Air pressure stiffens the suit, and every movement is a struggle."

More Bad News For Kistler

Editor's note: Word has it that Randy Brinkley has left Rocketplane Kistler.

The Real Story Behind NASA Spinoffs

How NASA helped invent Silicon Valley, CNET

"Several companies in what would become Silicon Valley benefited from the ambitious goals and budget largesse of the Apollo space program," said Dag Spicer, the senior curator of the Computer History Museum, in Mountain View, Calif. "The stringent quality and performance requirements of (integrated circuits) for Apollo allowed early semiconductor companies to learn at government (that is, public) expense, a technology that would soon have broad application and whose price would plummet as these companies perfected manufacturing methods."

Spacehab Fails to meet NASDAQ Standards

Spacehab Announces NASDAQ Deficiency Notice and Going Concern Qualification, Spacehab

"SPACEHAB, Incorporated (NASDAQ:SPAB), a leading provider of commercial space services, today announced its receipt of a notice from NASDAQ Staff on September 25, 2007 stating that the Company does not comply with Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(3). Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(3) requires the Company to have $500,000 of net income from continuing operations for the most recently completed fiscal year or two of the three most recently completed fiscal years; or $35,000,000 market value of listed securities; or $2,500,000 in stockholders' equity."

Second Generation Astronaut To Fly

Richard Garriott, 1st Second Generation Astronaut, Plans Flight to International Space Station

"Space Adventures, Ltd., the world's leading space experiences company, announced today that famed game developer Richard Garriott, son of former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, has begun preparations for a "commercially active" mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Mr. Garriott's spaceflight, currently planned for October 2008, will be the first in a series of missions that will accommodate commercial activity aboard the ISS. Involvement from the private sector can include scientific and environmental research and educational outreach programming."

Reader note: A comment about news item "Richard Garriott, 1st Second Generation Astronaut": actually he will become the SECOND second generation astronaut. Sergey Volkov, who is the son of cosmonaut Aleksandr Volkov, is scheduled to fly in April 2008 (Soyuz TMA-12). This is half a year before Richard Garriott's flight.

NASA Means Business

NASA Means Business Student Competition 2008 Program Announcement, Texas Space Grant Consortium

"The NASA Means Business Student Competition program invites undergraduate and graduate students to employ their skills to help NASA articulate the contributions of space exploration to everyday life. This year's challenge is: Help NASA to increase the number of corporate researchers, university researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors who utilize the Nation's investment in spaceflight to grow their investments in knowledge and commerce."

WH Agrees With DOD GPS Recomendation

White House Statement Regarding Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, White House

"Today, the President accepted the recommendation of the Department of Defense to end procurement of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites that have the capability to intentionally degrade the accuracy of civil signals. This decision reflects the United States strong commitment to users of GPS that this free global utility can be counted on to support peaceful civil activities around the world."

ULA's Take on COTS

United Launch Alliance Response to Request for Information for Commercial Space Transportation Services

"ULA is working closely with SpaceHab to investigate the compatibility of flying the DreamChaserTM on an Atlas. As a lifting body, the DreamChaserTM provides unique challenges to integrate on an existing launch vehicle, including loads, controllability, and performance, in addition to the human-rating considerations. Our initial studies have leveraged the considerable experience gained during NASA's Orbital Space Plane (OSP) Program that baselined EELVs for launch of numerous OSP configurations, including similar lifting body concepts. This provided an excellent baseline from which we conducted numerous Trade Studies focused on risk reduction and design integration to meet an ILC of 2011. The initial studies have indicated that the risks associated with integrating the DreamChaserTM on an Atlas are manageable and can be accomplished."

Weightless With My iPhone

Earth's First (Repeatedly) Weightless iPhone, SpaceRef [See video]

Editor's note: "iPhones experienced weightlessness almost as soon as the first clumsy consumer bought - and dropped - one. The other day I had a chance to take my iPhone aboard a Zero Gravity Corporation weightless flight sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Foundation. My iPhone experienced a dozen weightless episodes - and still works just fine. I decided to play the Apple iTunes TV advertisement featuring U2's "Vertigo" on my iphone." [See video]

I will have something a little more substantive about this experience online in a day or so.

Clearing the Air on ARC Airfield Use

NASA ARC Internal Memo; Aircraft Use at NASA Ames Moffett Airfield

"You may have seen stories recently in the news media regarding agreements between NASA Ames and the principals of Google to operate aircraft out of Moffett field. Here are the facts: ..."

Wanting To Have It Both Ways

NASA gives Google founders a coveted parking place for their private jet, IHT

"How did the two billionaires get such a coveted parking place? Officials at NASA Ames Research Center said the space agency signed an agreement signed last month that allowed it to place instruments and scientists on planes owned by principals of H211, which in addition to the Boeing 767-200 includes two Gulfstream Vs, to collect scientific data on some flights. In exchange, NASA will receive about $1.3 million in annual fees for being host to the plane at Moffett, said Steven Zornetzer, associate director for institutions and research at NASA Ames Research Center. "It was an opportunity for us to defray some of the fixed costs we have to maintain the airfield as well as to have flights of opportunity for our science missions," Zornetzer said. "It seemed like a win-win situation." NASA said it had already run one mission on one of the Gulfstream Vs to observe the Aurigid meteor shower Aug. 31."

Editor's note: Funny how the folks in Mountain View don't complain about free Google WiFi and all of the benefits (taxes, jobs) that come from having Google in their midst. Now Google and NASA (another big employeer) find a way to help defray the costs of keeping a local asset functioning and suddenly that's not good? You can't have it both ways folks.

NASA Ends RpK's COTS Hopes

NASA Cuts Funds for Private Space Venture, Wall Street Journal

"U.S. space officials, after several attempts to help resuscitate a private space venture led by closely held Rocketplane Kistler Inc., have issued a default letter effectively cutting off future federal assistance for the proposed $1 billion reusable rocket project, industry officials said."

RpK's COTS Contract Terminated, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

"NASA has informed Congress it is terminating its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement with Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) because the company has failed to meet financial milestones. Aides said that after reviewing the company's performance, the space agency sent RpK formal notification Sept. 7 saying that additional activity under the agreement is "not in the best interest" of NASA."

Mega Space Prize

Largest Space Prize Ever to Be Announced at Wired's NextFest September 13th, Wired

"The X Prize Foundation (the people who brought you the $10 million dollar Ansari X Prize for the first private sub-orbital flights won by Scaled Composites' Burt Rutan) just sent out an invitation to the September 13th, 2007 announcement of their next, and largest ever, space prize. Did I say space prize? I did."

The following teaser video is on YouTube:

ILS Proton Fails

Proton Fails Just After Liftoff, Spaceflightnow.com

"Two minutes after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan tonight, a Russian heavy-lifting Proton rocket suffered a malfunction of its second stage, leading to apparent destruction of a Japanese satellite payload riding aboard the booster."

Since when does MSFC do smallsats?

NASA MSFC Solicitation: P-POD Microsatellite Launcher With Supporting Technical Assistance

"NASA/MSFC has a requirement for spacecraft deployment and launch vehicle integration support. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is proposing to purchase a Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD). In order to accomplish CubeSail Mission level activities, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center intends to build and fly a 3U CubeSat called the CubeSail, on a USAF-STP Minotaur IV launch that is tentatively schedule for the third quarter of FY09."

Editor's note: Since when does MSFC do smallsats? Or are they just trying to take yet another project away from ARC? Who is paying for this?

Training To Begin For Virgin Galactic Astronauts

Virgin Galactic Astronauts to Start Centrifuge Training, Wired

"The first 100 people to fly on Virgin Galactic's sub-orbital space flights will be headed to Philadelphia to get their first taste of the G-forces of space launch and re-entry. The first Founder Astronauts will begin their two day experience, hosted at the National Training and Aerospace Research Center (NASTAR) center, in September and Virgin Galactic expects to accommodate all of the participating Founders by mid-October."

NASA StratComm Misses a Really Cool Spinoff

Star Trek medical device uses ultrasound to seal punctured lungs, University of Washington

"Engineers at the University of Washington are working with Harborview doctors to create new emergency treatments right out of Star Trek: a tricorder type device using high-intensity focused ultrasound rays. This summer, researchers published the first experiment using ultrasound to seal punctured lungs. ... The research was funded the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute."

Spinoff Fact Checking Needed at StratComm, earlier post

"SMC Decision: The Administrator directed that the Office of Communications Planning thoroughly vet NASA claims that the Agency was responsible for the research that enabled technologies ultimately used by the general public (e.g., smoke detectors) with in-house experts before it can be included in Agency messages.

SMC Action: The Office of Communications Planning is to vet the current list of NASA "spinoff" technologies being used in the Office's message testing with in house experts, specifically the Innovative Partnership Program Director Doug Comstock, Howard Ross of PA&E, and, with specific regard to smoke detector technology, Aeronautics Research Associate Administrator Lisa Porter, due by the next meeting."

Editor's note: It would seem that while NASA StratComm staff are off checking to see if their unsubstantiated and antiquated claims about the proverbial "spinoffs" the agency seems to fling off (so they would suggest) at a furious pace, they missed this real spinoff alltogether - one that is indeed right out of Star Trek and funded by NASA's own NSBRI! The "communications" within NASA's "Strategic Communications" would seem to need an upgrade.

Boeing Wins Ares I Upper Stage Contract

Boeing Selected to Build NASA's Upper Stage for Ares I

"The Boeing Company has been awarded a NASA contract valued at approximately $514.7 million to produce the upper stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle. This element provides the navigation, guidance, control and propulsion required for the ascent of the second-stage Ares I into low -Earth orbit."

Serve Yogurt - And Win NASA Contracts!

NASA GSFC Solicitation: Military and Aerospace FPGA Applications Conference

Editor's note: I just love these "extra consideration Items" - especially: "Government rate for hotel rooms for 2 nights prior to the conference and 2 nights later at a reduced room block level" .... "yogurt during the continental breakfast". I can understand the extra night aspect - this way dozens of NASA civil servants and other attendees can show up early and/or stay late and get a mini-vacation in November in Palm Beach out of this (the Amendment 01 states "We require the availability of government room rate for approximately 25-30 guests two days before and after the conference.").

What has me baffled, however, is why having yogurt at breakfast is considered an "extra consideration" in this formal government procurment activity.

A Good Day for Xcor

XCOR Rockets onto Inc.'s "500 Fastest Growing Companies"

"Each year, Inc. Magazine ranks the 500 fastest growing companies in America based on the percentage increase of revenue over a three-year period. It announced on August 23 that XCOR Aerospace, of Mojave, California, made the list. The small, privately-held California C-Corporation was ranked No. 446 overall with 646 percent three-year revenue growth from 2003 through 2006."

Set Back for Armadillo

Crash destroys rocket ahead of X Prize contest, New Scientist

"The front-runner for a $2 million NASA competition to build mock lunar landers has lost one of its two main vehicles in a fiery crash. The company, Armadillo Aerospace, says it will enter a smaller vehicle instead, but outsiders say the upset will level the playing field and add suspense to the upcoming contest."

Rocketplane Kistler Is In Trouble

Private-Rocket Venture Failing to Win Investors, Wall Street Journal

"In a potentially serious blow to privately supported space-exploration efforts, a project to develop a private-sector rocket to serve the International Space Station has failed to secure investors. Negotiations between a group of prospective commercial investors and a reusable-rocket venture led by closely held Rocketplane Kistler Inc. have broken down, according to industry officials familiar with the details. Alternative funding for the $500 million needed to keep the project on track is uncertain, these officials said."

Here's Your Chance to Use the ISS

Opportunity for the Use of the ISS by U.S. Non-government Entitites for Research and Development and Industrial Processing Purposes

"In preparation for the ISS post-assembly phase, NASA is announcing limited opportunities for U.S. non-government entities to conduct R&D activities on the ISS. Under this arrangement, NASA may enter into Space Act Agreements with such entities to allow access to NASA facilities, personnel and technical information as the need and situation warrants, however, there will be no provision of funds. Respondents will be responsible for financing their own activities."

How To Attract The Middle Age White Guy Crowd

Legendary Band Three Dog Night to Open Strategic Space and Defense 2007, Space Foundation

"Legendary music icons THREE DOG NIGHT will open Strategic Space and Defense 2007 with a performance on Tuesday, 9 October 2007.  Presented by the Space Foundation and Space News, Strategic Space and Defense 2007, a global security conference for space and defense professionals, will take place at the Qwest Center Omaha Convention Center in Omaha, Neb., 9 -- 11 October 2007.  The opening ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in the lower level of the Qwest Center."

Editor's note:Wow. This makes me want to make my reservations right now! I wonder how much this cost - probably enough to send a student to college for a year. Oh well, I am sure my fellow 50+ white male cohorts will be singing along and clapping ...

IAM Sues NASA for Misconduct

IAM Sues NASA for Misconduct

"The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today filed suit in the United States District Court in the District of Columbia against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for interfering in the negotiations for a new contract for almost 500 workers represented by IAM Local Lodge 2061 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The IAM-represented employees provide launch services to NASA through the United Space Alliance (USA), a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and the Boeing Co. A copy of the complaint is available at www.goiam.org."

Help NASA Innovate

General Engineer: "This position is that of the Program Executive for the Innovation Incubator program element, Innovative Partnerships Program Office, located within HQ, NASA. The mission of this organization is to provide leveraged technology for NASA's Mission Directorates, Programs, and Projects through investments and technology partnerships with industry, academia, government agencies, and national laboratories. The programs and initiatives directed by the NASA IPP foster technology partnerships, commercialization and innovation in support of NASA's overall mission and national priorities. The incumbent of this position is responsible for providing management and oversight of several activities which encourage new sources of innovation and technology to help NASA achieve it's mission objectives including the Centennial Challenges program which encourages creative solutions to specific technological problems of the Agency."

CEV Mobile Launcher Solicitation

NASA KSC Solicitation: Construction of the Constellation Crew Launch Vehicle Mobile Launcher

"NASA/KSC is issuing Request for Proposal (RFP)] NNK07201535R for the Construction of the Constellation Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) Mobile Launcher (ML). This RFP is for the construction of the Constellation CLV ML. This acquisition will be conducted as a negotiated full and open competition. The ML acquisition evaluation is being conducted in two parts due to the aggressive Constellation Program schedule and need for the ML."

And Now For Something Different In Space ...

Spacecraft Projection Galaxy, Bigelow Aerospace

"History in the making. For the first time, Bigelow Aerospace is able to project images on the outside of a spacecraft!"

Undaunted

Accidents Won't Stop Private Space Industry's Push to Final Frontier, Wired

"The private space industry suffered a setback last Thursday when an explosion ripped through a rocket-engine test area in the California desert, killing three workers and seriously injuring three others. The industry's first fatal accident is already becoming a defining event in the history of commercial spaceflight -- it's the private rocketeers' Apollo 1."

Geveden @ TBE

Geveden takes over as new Teledyne president Wednesday, Huntsville Times

"Rex Geveden takes over as the new president at Teledyne Brown Engineering on Wednesday. Geveden, 46, worked at Teledyne in the 1980s as a technologist. He would go on to a 17-year career at NASA, where he rose to the No. 3-ranking official, associate administrator."

NASA KSC ITAR Run Amok

Editor's update: Note from the originator of this USENET thread: "Just got off the phone with the Export Control compliance guy from GD/NASA-KSC. There is *not* an ITAR issue with the stuff I've listed on my website He also pointed out that GD is *not* trying to censor Saturn V stuff. Whoever did that previously, it is NOT General Dynamics."

Editor's update: Slashdot readers are having fun with this topic.

Saturn V pictures are now ITAR Controlled, Sci.Space.History

"But then I got this message from a contact who worked at KSC: "However, just before we left KSC, a guy from the NASA Export Control Office (which is run by some contractor, maybe Analex?) came by our office on an "inspection" and told us we had to take down all the Saturn V drawings we had around ... now, these were just old NAA public relation drawings, plus a few commercially-purchased posters showing the Saturn V internals in very rough detail. He said they were all covered by ITAR and therefore had to be locked up! We kept telling him some were purchased at the Visitor Center Gift Shop, but he did not care. He ended up coming around with an armed security cop until we took them down and shredded them."

Editor's note: Check out all of this ITAR-violating goodness at MSFC. And this report online at Astronautix.com probably means a life sentence in prison for someone if the KSC ITAR Cops have their way. Meanwhile, I guess they will have to throw big bags over the restored (and publicly accessible) Saturn V's on display at JSC, MSFC, and KSC.

The following International Traffic In Arms Regulations regulations lay out what is not covered under ITAR controlled information. Be thinking about 40 year old Apollo program infomration - and how widely it has been distributed - as you read this:

§ 120.11 -- Public domain.

Public domain means information which is published and which is generally accessible or available to the public:

(1) Through sales at newsstands and bookstores;

(2) Through subscriptions which are available without restriction to any individual who desires to obtain or purchase the published information;

(3) Through second class mailing privileges granted by the U.S. Government;

(4) At libraries open to the public or from which the public can obtain documents;

(5) Through patents available at any patent office;

(6) Through unlimited distribution at a conference, meeting, seminar, trade show or exhibition, generally accessible to the public, in the United States;

(7) Through public release (i.e., unlimited distribution) in any form (e.g., not necessarily in published form) after approval by the cognizant U.S. government department or agency (see also § 125.4(b)(13) of this subchapter);

(8) Through fundamental research in science and engineering at accredited institutions of higher learning in the U.S. where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly in the scientific community. Fundamental research is defined to mean basic and applied research in science and engineering where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from research the results of which are restricted for proprietary reasons or specific U.S. Government access and dissemination controls. University research will not be considered fundamental research if:

(i) The University or its researchers accept other restrictions on publication of scientific and technical information resulting from the project or activity, or

(ii) The research is funded by the U.S. Government and specific access and dissemination controls protecting information resulting from the research are applicable.

Scaled Composites Family Support Fund

Scaled Composites Family Support Fund, NSS

"As many of you have heard, there was a serious accident last week at Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan's pioneering company. Three lives were lost, including Charles 'Glen' May, an NSS member who was a leader within NSS's Huntsville HAL5 Chapter. In addition, three employees suffered serious injuries. Scaled has announced information on a fund for those wishing to support the families of the deceased as well as the injured and their families. The National Space Society urges all of its members to give generously to support these heroes."

Statement by the Members of the Personal Spaceflight Federation Regarding the Recent Incident in Mojave

"After the work and sacrifice of many, the space frontier is now being opened by private enterprise. As leaders of companies and organizations who are engaged in this undertaking, we are committed to striving for the highest level of safety for the public, our customers and our employees. We can do no less."

Putting Things Into Perspective

Tragedy in the New Space Race, MSNBC

"In comments to The Associated Press, X Prize founder Peter Diamandis took a similar tack. "This was an industrial accident. This has nothing to do with spaceflight," he was quoted as saying. On a technical level, Diamandis is totally correct: The accident is outside the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration, and is being handled as an occupational safety matter by Scaled, the Mojave Airport and Spaceport, and the state of California. But when you set aside the technicalities, the cause that brought Glenn May, Eric Blackwell and Todd Ivens to Mojave has everything to do with spaceflight."

Deadly Explosion at Mojave

3 killed, 3 injured in explosion at rocket test site in Mojave, LA Times

"Authorities said the blast occurred about 2:30 p.m. at a remote site on the northeastern fringe of Mojave airport, a small, county-run commercial facility about 95 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Rutan, looking tired and disheveled, appeared at a 20-minute evening news conference at the desert airport. He told reporters that the blast occurred as the company was testing the propellent flow system for SpaceShip Two, the intended successor to the pioneering Sp