The Space Generation Advisory Council is pleased to announce its partnership with the IAF’s Entrepreneurship and Investment Committee (EIC) to organise and run the 2014 IAF-EIC/SGAC Emerging Commercial Space Paper Competition for Students and Young Professionals – $pace is Business!

The competition challenges university students and young professionals worldwide to develop new ideas and perspectives on opportunities and challenges facing space entrepreneurs and investors today.

(more…)

FYI: There is no truth to reports about us buying land or renting hangars in Puerto Rico (though we’re sure it’s lovely there)” — Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) March 10, 2014

MENLO PARK, CA / LOS ANGELES, CA (B612 PR) – Broken Bells are proud to announce an exciting partnership with the B612 Foundation beginning with the band’s April West Coast tour. During these dates, $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the B612 Foundation to help fund their Sentinel Mission, one of the most important space missions for humanity—one that seeks to protect Earth while preparing for future exploration. More information pertaining to the B612 Foundation can be found below.

(more…)

This week on The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston: 1. Monday, March 10, 2014, 2-3:30 PM PDT(5-6:30 PM EDT, 4-5:30 PM CDT): We welcome back DR. ERIC SEEDHOUSE regarding his new book, “Suborbital: Industry at the Edge of Space.” 2. THURSDAY, March 13, 2014:, 7-8:30 PM PDT (10-11:30 PM EDT, 9-10:30 PM CDT): We welcome back DR. ROBERT ZUBRIN regarding the Mars Society Mars Artic 365 campaign. 3. Friday, […]

By Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

In a move that would have a major impact on how Virgin Galactic and other space companies operate, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has introduced legislation that would simplify the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) permitting and licensing procedures for new commercial spacecraft.

The Suborbital and Orbital Advancement and Regulatory Streamlining Act (SOARS) also would broaden the definitions of launch vehicles and launch services to include the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft and spaceflight participant training conducted aboard it.

Another section of the measure would require the FAA to undertake a three-year demonstration project “to evaluate the benefits of using experimental aircraft for both the direct and indirect support of commercial space launch and reentry activities.”

(more…)

Hartley 2, Close Up This image from the High-Resolution Instrument on NASA’s EPOXI mission spacecraft shows part of the nucleus of comet Hartley 2. The sun is illuminating the nucleus from the right. A distinct cloud of individual particles is visible. This image was obtained on Nov. 4, 2010, the day the EPOXI mission spacecraft made its closest approach to the comet. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD

NASA has selected Honeybee Robotics of New York City for two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II awards for work on a comet surface sample return mission and the development of a nano-drill that could be used on that mission.

“The proposed Phase II investigation will focus on the development of spacecraft systems required to obtain a sample from the nucleus of a comet, hermetically seal the sample within a capsule, and return the sealed sample to an orbiting spacecraft which can return the sample to Earth,” according to the proposal summary.

(more…)

SpaceX’s third commercial cargo flight to the International Space Station is set to blastoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Sunday, March 16 at 4:41 a.m. EDT.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. (Credit: A. Savin)

RIA Novosti has the latest space pronouncements from Russia’s Josef Stalin-admiring Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, whom Vladimir Putin has put in charge of revamping the defense and space sectors. And boy, does he sound confused.

To summarize:

• It is intolerable that Russia has only three percent of the world’s space revenues, which come almost exclusively from launch vehicle contracts
• The future lies with companies becoming more competitive, creating more public-private partnerships, and securing additional outside funding
• However, the government is consolidating much of the space industry — except for big companies like Energia and Khrunichev — under one government-controlled corporation, which might tend to limit competition, partnerships and outside investment
• To encourage companies to deliver spacecraft on time, Rogozin would cut into their revenues with larger fines.

Read the full story.

If you want to read more about Rogozin’s efforts to reform Russia’s defense and space industries, this essay from The Moscow Times titled, “Rogozin’s Three Ring Circus,” is fascinating look at his neo-Stalinist approach to reform.

(more…)

A note from Sierra Nevada Corporation: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) will host a news conference on Tuesday, March 11, to announce a newly expanded Space Act Agreement. Under this new agreement, Marshall will provide technical expertise to SNC as it plans for integration of on-orbit science payloads on its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Teledyne Brown Engineering, which will provide support to SNC under a Teaming […]

Airport at the former Roosevelt Roads naval base.

UPDATE: Virgin Galactic has denied the report.

Reports have surfaced that Virgin Galactic is looking to operate out of a decommissioned U.S. Navy facility named Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico. The base could host both suborbital space tourism flight, but it would also be ideal for launching small satellites.

Caribbean Business reports that Sir Richard Branson’s company has purchased 11 hangars at the former base, which is run today as the José Aponte de la Torre Airport. The general aviation airport has an 11,000-foot long runway.

However, another report by Agencia EFE says that no deal has been reached.

(more…)