Florida Today reports that officials are moving forward with the conversion of the Shuttle Landing Facility for commercial use: NASA has applied for a federal permit to dredge and fill 40 acres of wetlands that link to the Indian River Lagoon to pave the way for commercial spacecraft that could launch and land where the space shuttle once touched down. The application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is […]
AUTHOR
Doug Messier
Garvey rocket launch in the Mojave. (Credit: Garvey Spacecraft Corporation)
NASA has selected Garvey Spacecraft Corporation and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) that will fund research into using 3D additive machining to produce a nanosat launch vehicle.
“The technical innovation proposed here expands upon early research into the viability of additive machining (AM) for liquid rocket engine components and other emerging capabilities to initiate TRL 6 flight test evaluations of candidate applications that could enhance the affordability of a small launch vehicle (SLV) booster stage,” the proposal summary states.
The good folks at the Florida Space Development Council have provided this handy update on the fates of space initiatives during the current legislative session. It looks like it’s been a good session overall, with most objectives achieved. All approved measures are subject to veto by Gov. Rick Scott. 2014 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SPACE ISSUES – UPDATED 5/4/14 ISSUE/BILL HOUSE STATUS SENATE STATUS COMMENTS Space Florida Ops Budget ($10 Million) Funded […]
Mars colony (Credit: Mars One)
Amersfoort, May 5, 2014 (Mars One PR) – Mars One announced that 353 hopefuls from around the world have been eliminated from the selection program to become the first human Mars colonists. The number of people remaining in this once in many lifetimes opportunity is now just 705.
This week on The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston: 1. Monday, May 5, 2014, 2-3:30 PM PDT(5-6:30 PM EDT, 4-5:30 PM CDT): We welcome MICHAEL LISTNER, ATTY who will be explaining the recent SpaceX lawsuit & other space legal issues in the news.. 2. Tuesday, May 6, 2014:, 7-8:30 PM PDT (10-11:30 PM EDT, 9-10:30 PM CDT): ROBERT (BOB) ZIMMERMAY returns for a special program on the Russian-NASA space […]
The one who doesn't jump is a Moskal pic.twitter.com/8dGwfmuvZn — Dmitry Rogozin (@DRogozin) May 2, 2014 Russia’s lovable neo-Stalinist deputy prime minister has suggested that NASA use a trampoline to send astronauts to the International Space Station instead of riding on the Soyuz spacecraft.
Commercial Spaceflight Federation Statement on House Appropriations Committee FY15 NASA Budget Washington D.C. – Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released its Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, allocating Federal spending for several agencies including NASA. The bill provided a welcome increase in NASA’s funding. “I’m encouraged to see Congress prioritizing NASA’s mission and supporting it with strong funding,” said CSF President Michael Lopez-Alegria. “Unfortunately, the increase was not evenly distributed and two […]
By Douglas Messier
Managing Editor
NASA has selected Jon Goff’s Altius Space Machines for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to develop an aerobraking and aerocapture system using an electromagnetic coil that would allow CubeSats to explore other planets and their moons.
The project, which is being done in cooperation with MSNW LLC of Redmond, Wash., involves technology that can be scaled up for larger robotic and human missions to Mars and other worlds. The electromagnetic systems would allow for significant mass savings in the size of the spacecraft.
Altius’ work focuses on the Multi-Purpose Interplanetary Deployable Aerocapture System (MIDAS), which could be packaged into 6U CubeSats sent to Mars, Venus, or Jupiter’s moon Europa.
A House Armed Services subcommittee has proposed developing a domestic alternative to the Russian RD-180 engine that United Launch Alliance (ULA) uses for the Atlas V rocket: The legislation passed by a House subcommittee Wednesday calls for up the U.S. military to spend up to $220 million next year to kick off full-scale development of the engine, which could be ready for flights no later than 2019. The bill states […]
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is seeking proposals to participate in the technology advancing partnerships challenge, a new initiative managed by Kennedy’s chief technologist to enhance the development of new technologies to meet specific agency mission objectives. Technological areas of emphasis for the challenge include: robotics, telerobotics and autonomous systems; human health, life support and habitation systems; human exploration destination systems; ground […]