SOAR spaceplane atop an A-300. (Credit: S3)

Madrid, 26 June 2013 (S3/Elecnor Deimos PR) — Swiss Space Systems – S3, the new Swiss aerospace company, was officially launched on 13 March this year. Its goal is to develop, manufacture, certify and operate unmanned suborbital shuttles to launch small satellites up to 250 kg by 2018.

Today the firm is announcing the signature of a broad scope memorandum of understanding as further step in the cooperation with Elecnor Deimos established earlier this year. This partnership will allow S3 to count on DEIMOS as key technology supplier and strategic partner, leveraging on its experience in space programmes for the development of a new generation small satellites launch system, and then enter the next stage of developing a manned version of its suborbital shuttle.

(more…)

Arkyd 100 spacecraft. (Credit: Planetary Resources)

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, June 26, 2013 (3D Systems PR) –- 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) and Planetary Resources, Inc. today announced that 3D Systems has joined Planetary Resources’ core group of investors and will be a collaborative partner in assisting Planetary Resources to develop and manufacture components of its ARKYD Series of spacecraft using its advanced 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions.

(more…)

The crew of Shenzhou-10 after 15 days in space. (Credit: CNSA)

Three Chinese taikonauts returned safely to Earth today after completing what officials described as a completely successful 15-day mission to the Tiangong-1 space station.

The reentry capsule of Shenzhou-10 landed safely in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 8:07 a.m.. All three astronauts were in good physical condition.

Nie Haisheng, commander of the Shenzhou-10 crew and a second-time space traveler, was the first to emerge out of the module, followed by Wang Yaping, the only female astronaut of the mission, and Zhang Xiaoguang.

(more…)

Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser shuttle. (Credit: Sierra Nevada)

Sparks, Nev., – June 25, 2013 (SNC PR) – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has successfully completed another Dream Chaser^® milestone under NASA’s Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement. The CCiCap Investment Finance milestone represents SNC’s commitment to significantly invest its own dollars into the design, development and testing of the Dream Chaser Space System. The milestone, which was originally scheduled to be complete in July, was completed in early June, a month ahead of schedule.

(more…)

There is still time to sign up the Space Hacker Workshop takes place July 20-21 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field. The workshop is sponsored by Citizens in Space, a project of the United States Rocket Academy, and SpaceGAMBIT, an international collaboration of citizen scientists operating through makerspaces, hackerspaces, and community groups.

At the two-day workshop, citizen scientists and hardware hackers will learn how to do “space on the cheap”. Participants at the workshop will learn how they can build and fly experiments in space, and even fly in space as citizen astronauts, through the Citizens in Space program.

(more…)

Large Class Stage I solid rocket motor static test. (Credit: ATK)

Arlington, Va., June 25, 2013 (ATK PR)  – ATK (NYSE: ATK) and the United States Air Force successfully tested the newly developed Large Class (92-inch diameter) Stage I solid rocket motor May 23 at ATK’s test facilities in Promontory, Utah.

(more…)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL., June 25, 2013 (CASIS PR) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization managing research onboard the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, today announced the funding of an unsolicited proposal with the Department of Veterans Affairs for approximately $300,000 to utilize the ISS discovery platform to evaluate known and novel anti-cancer drug therapies.

(more…)

KIRUNA, SWEDEN (Spaceport Sweden PR) — Spaceport Sweden, on behalf of Kiruna Lappland Ekonomisk Frening, is seeking proposals to support in the planning and development of a space visitors and science center at Kiruna Airport, the proposed site for Spaceport Sweden, in Kiruna, Swedish Lapland.

(more…)

Florida Senator Bill Nelson

There is some good news and some bad news about the NASA budget from Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).

The good news is that the Senate version of it will likely be far more generous than the House version discussed last week.

The bad news is that Congress is so dysfunctional that the space agency’s spending will get caught up in a much larger dispute over raising the nation’s debt ceiling, as it did last year. That could once again delay budget decisions until the week between Christmas and the new year.

The House version of the budget would keep NASA’s spending for the next two years at $16.8 billion, which is what it received this year under the cuts mandated by sequestration. The Obama Administration has requested nearly $17.8 billion for NASA for FY 2014.

(more…)

Stéphane Israël speaks to reporters during the Paris Air Show press conference. (Credit: Arianespace)

PARIS (Arianespace PR) — Arianespace’s new chairman and CEO today detailed his perspectives for the company’s future – continuing the focus on operational excellence with the Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega launcher family, while also ensuring maximum of flexibility and agility in responding to changes and trends in the space lift marketplace.

Speaking to reporters at the Paris Air Show, Stéphane Israël said Arianespace has earned its position as the world’s no. 1 launch services provider, and he will ensure the company maintains the tools and resources necessary to retain this leadership.

(more…)