The International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-133 crew member on space shuttle Discovery. (Credit: NASA)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL/GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. (July 8, 2014) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) today announced a collaboration on technology applications that will aim to develop and deploy a next-generation high-resolution, multi-band hyperspectral imaging system onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

(more…)

Eu:CROPIS spacecraft (Credit: DLR)

SEATTLE, July 8, 2014 (Spaceflight Inc. PR) — Spaceflight Inc., the company reinventing the model for launching small satellites into space, today announced it has signed the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to a launch services agreement for the Eu:CROPIS mission. The Eu:CROPIS spacecraft is scheduled for a rideshare launch on a Spaceflight SHERPA vehicle in 2017.

(more…)

Credit: NASA

Wilmington, DE & London, UK, July 7, 2014 (NSR PR) — NSR’s Nano and Microsatellite Markets report, released today, finds increasing reliability and capabilities driving uptake of 1-50 kg satellites across all applications, operators, and regions. In 2013 this nascent market surged into view with a trebling of total launches compared to 2012, and this higher launch rate will be sustained through the remainder of the decade and beyond. Opportunities exist to use nano/micro satellites both as a complement to existing GEO assets and as independent missions.

(more…)

SpaceShipTwo on final approach during a glide flight on Jan. 17, 2014. (Credit: Douglas Messier)

LAS CRUCES, NM, July 7, 2014 (Virgin Galactic PR) – Virgin Galactic, the privately-funded space company owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi’s aabar Investments PJS, announced today that it has awarded hospitality contracts to two local New Mexico businesses as part of its commitment to invest in the local community.

Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces and World Class Gourmet were carefully selected by Virgin Galactic to be its first official hotel and catering partners, serving the needs of its Future Astronauts who will travel to space from Spaceport America. The New Mexico community and its businesses will be integral to the on-the-ground experience and Virgin Galactic is now starting to select and work with local partners to ensure an authentic, high quality experience.

(more…)

On Oct. 4, there will be a celebration in Mojave, Calif., of the 10th anniversary of the winning of the Ansari X Prize. It looks as if neither of the vehicles involved in the historic flight will be at the dusty Mojave Air and Space Port for the festivities. SpaceShipOne, which Brian Binnie flew on the prize-winning flight, was long ago shipped off to the National Air and Space Museum […]

London, UK – 07 July 2014 (Space Angels PR) – Space Angels Network, a global network of early-stage investors focused specifically on commercial space, aerospace, and aviation ventures, is proud to announce its expansion to the Asia-Pacific region via a new Hub in Sydney, Australia.

Hubs are physical or virtual offices either led by members of the Space Angels Network management team or represented by honorary investor members, and enable greater access to innovative new ventures and facilitate interaction between like-minded investors across the globe. These regional Hubs provide a platform for organizing Space Angels Network members through events, investor presentations, and member meetups. Tim Parsons, Space Angels Network member and Founding Executive of delta-v SpaceHub, will act as the primary point of contact for the new Sydney Hub, representing Space Angels Network in the region.

(more…)

This week on The Space Show with David Livingston: 1. SPECIAL TIME: Monday, July 7, 2014: 9:30-11 AM PDT; 11:30 AM – 1 PM CDT; 12:30-2PM EDT: We welcome Syracuse University Professor and author DR. HENRY LAMBRIGHT regarding his new book, “Why Mars: NASA and the Politics of Space Exploration.” 2. Tuesday, July 8, 2014:,7-8:30 PM PDT (10-11:30 PM EDT, 9-10:30 PM CDT): OPEN LINES tonight. All STEM & Space […]

A completed dome on a holding fixture at the Plug Weld Tool (PWT). (Credit: NASA/MAF)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (NASA PR) — NASA continues to make progress toward its next giant leap to send humans farther into the solar system than ever before, including to an asteroid and eventually to Mars.

This week, the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) has passed its Critical Design Review — a major milestone for the program which proves the first new design for America’s next great rocket is mature enough for production.

(more…)

Dr. Rabi Mehta uses smoke and lasers to inspect the flow pattern around an Adidas Brazuca football. (Credit: NASA)

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (NASA PR) — Fans across the globe have been cheering on their team during the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 2014 World Cup tournament. These fans include NASA engineers, who used the lead-up to the tournament to test the aerodynamics of this year’s new ball design, developed by Adidas and dubbed the Brazuca ball.

Although NASA is not in the business of designing or testing balls, the tournament provides an opportunity to explain the concepts of aerodynamics to students and individuals less familiar with the fundamentals of aerodynamics.

(more…)