Richardson Withdraws Name for Cabinet (with Video)
MSNBC
NBC’s Lisa Myers reported last month: “The allegations now being investigated by a federal grand jury involve whether Richardson as governor steered state bond business to a firm whose founder made substantial contributions to Richardson’s political action committee. Two former state officials involved in the bond deals told NBC News that they testified before a grand jury in Albuquerque last week. One official says prosecutors focused on whether Richardson or staff pushed to give business to CDR Financial Products. It specifically asked about what’s called pay to play.”
Richardson to withdraw as Commerce secretary
MSNBC
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.
“Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact,” he said Sunday in a report by NBC News. “But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.”
Continue reading ‘Richardson Withdraws as Commerce Secretary as Investigation into Business Dealings Deepens’
NASA May Face Protest Over Recent Commercial-Cargo Contract
Wall Street Journal
The losing bidder hasn’t made a final decision, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is slated to brief competitors as early as next on the reasons behind its decision. But PlanetSpace officials, according to these people, already are consulting with lawyers and believe they may have legal grounds to challenge the agency’s selection.
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.
Continue reading ‘NASA’s COTS Contract Could Face a Challenge’
Pursue commercial opportunities in space
Op-Ed by Space Florida President Steve Kohler
Orlando Sentinel
With satellite-related consumer services on the rise — GPS navigation, satellite TV and radio — there will be increasing interest in launching new generations of satellites from locations like Florida. What may be less obvious are space-related applications for life sciences, biotech and pharmaceuticals.
Continue reading ‘Space Florida Chief Lays Out Plans for 2009 and Beyond as Shuttle Program Winds Down’
Spaniard to be first diabetic space traveller
The Hindu
A Spanish climber will become the first diabetic traveller to outer space in September next year, where scientists will conduct three tests on him as part of their efforts to try out a new insulin. Josu Feijoo, a native of the northern Spanish city of Vitoria, told EFE in an interview that he has volunteered on previous occasions for trials of new diagnostic techniques, including one that enables blood glucose levels to be transmitted to doctors in real time from anywhere in the world. His space travel is being sponsored by a Spanish businessman he did not name.
Continue reading ‘Spanish Adventurer to Test New Insulin Drugs on Suborbital Virgin Galactic Flight’
XCOR’s Lynx suborbital vehicle, which may be sufficiently capitalized and far enough along to weather the current economic storm. Other companies may not be as lucky.
Future of Commercial Spaceflight Uncertain, But Promising
Space.com
But one big issue looms for NewSpace next year, said Jeff Foust, an aerospace analyst, journalist and publisher, as well as editor and publisher of the respected website, The Space Review. And that topic of trepidation is the state of the economy.
“This is going to affect companies in the industry in two ways. One, it’s going to make it that much more difficult for companies to raise the money needed to develop their vehicles,” Foust told SPACE.com.
Continue reading ‘For NewSpace, the Future’s Uncertain and Chapter 11 is Always Near (Let It Roll Baby Roll)’
Spaceport sales tax begins
Las Cruces Sun-News
New sales taxes to help pay for the construction of a state-owned spaceport took effect Thursday in Doña Ana and Sierra counties. Sales tax rates grew by 1/4 of 1 percent in cities and unincorporated areas of the counties. The change added an extra 25-cent charge to a $100 purchase.
Within the city limits of Las Cruces, the sales tax rate increased from 7.125 percent to 7.375 percent, according to a sales tax schedule from the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. In Truth or Consequences, the rate increased from 7.25 percent to 7.5 percent.
Brooks centrifuge slated for new use
MySanAntonio.com
Now, the agency running City-Base is mapping big plans to market the centrifuge, which has trained NASA astronauts going back to the 1960s-era Gemini program, as the hub for a young space-tourist industry fueled by the rich and famous.
“It’s an emerging industry. That is exactly what we’re looking at,” said Donald Jakeway, CEO of the Brooks Development Authority. “That’s where it is, in the beginning, but like anything else over time you may not need to be a millionaire or billionaire to do that.”
Space Adventures Books Junket
Aviation Week
“Space Adventures, the Virginia firm that arranges for well-heeled tourists to fly to the International Space Station on Russian Soyuz vehicles, is booking a “VIP Launch Tour” for slightly less well-heeled tourists who want to see Charles Simonyi off on its second orbital trip. For $16,000-$24,000 a person, the company will provide a four-day tour to the Baikonur Cosmodrome…”
The headline says it all. We now know how much it will cost to become the first private citizen to walk in space. Virginia-based Space Adventures is now advertising spacewalks at ISS for $45-$55 million. Meanwhile, if you just want to go up there for a little vacation, the price tag has soared to $35-$45 million.
The question is: Which filthy rich tech titan will be the first to go where hundreds have gone before? Will it be Google billionaut Sergey Brin? Or two-time Microsoft billionaut Charlies Simonyi? The world awaits breathlessly.
