Space News reports that leading European space experts are urging ESA to change course on its Ariane 6 rocket, which they say has an inflexible, dead end design:
Europe’s Air & Space Academy says the French and European space agencies are moving in the wrong direction on the future Ariane 6 rocket and should delay development in favor of a redesign that provides more growth potential.
Asteroid Ida
Space News is reporting the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) is calling for the development of an international network of ground-based telescope to to track potentially dangerous asteroids and other objects.
The NEO study group recommended coordinating investments already made or under way in ground telescopes and the occasional satellite and sending the NEO data to a central clearinghouse, which would then forward them to national space and civil protection agencies as needed. The study group was chaired by Sergio Camacho, secretary general of the Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, which is based in Mexico….
Artist’s conception of a Bigelow lunar habitat. (Credit: Bigelow Aerospace)
Space News has a detailed report on the on-going NASA-Bigelow Aerospace study of deep space exploration:
Bigelow Aerospace has produced a report for NASA that shows how the agency could use privately operated space systems beyond low Earth orbit.
A draft of the report, essentially a catalog of space systems and technologies that companies like Bigelow have proposed flying in space, was delivered to NASA’s top human spaceflight official during a May 23 press conference at NASA headquarters here. The report is the first deliverable due to the agency under a nonexclusive, unfunded Space Act Agreement the North Las Vegas, Nev.-based developer of inflatable space habitats signed with NASA in March.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., MAY 29, 2013 (Space Florida PR) – Space Florida, the state’s aerospace development organization and spaceport authority, has recently welcomed a new interim Board Chair and three new members to its Board of Directors.
Vancouver, Canada & Silicon Valley, USA, May 28, 2013 (ILOA/Moon Express PR) – The International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA), based in Hawai`i and led by American businessman and educator Steve Durst, today unveiled flight test hardware for the first private telescope that will be launched to the Moon in 2015. Designed and built under contract from ILOA by Silicon Valley-based Moon Express, Inc., the International Lunar Observatory precursor (ILO-X) will capture never before seen images of the Galaxies, Stars, Planets, Moon and Earth and be accessible to educators, researchers and the general public in a pioneering experiment to democratize access to space exploration.
Bill Nye talks with XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson during the Space Tech Expo in Long Beach last week.
Arkyd 100 spacecraft. (Credit: Planetary Resources)
Bellevue, Washington – May 29, 2013 – Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, has launched a campaign for the world’s first crowdfunded space telescope to provide unprecedented public access to space and place the most advanced exploration technology into the hands of students, scientists and a new generation of citizen explorers.
Pretty much what I figured. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1458134548/arkyd-a-space-telescope-for-everyone-0
Event: NASA’s Asteroid Initiative Call for Ideas Time: 9:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 Location: NASA Headquarters James E. Webb Auditorium, 300 E Street, SW, Washington, D.C. Click here for directions Watch the event on NASA TV (starting 9 a.m. EDT on 18 June) Capacity Note: Onsite-attendance will be limited by seating capacity. Register now On June 18, NASA will host an event in which experts […]
KIEV, Ukraine (Ukrainian Space Agency PR) — On May 21, 2013, the Verkhovna Rada [Parliament] of Ukraine has adopted the draft law, “On Ratification of the National Trust for Science and Technology Space Program for 2013-2017.”
Funding for the program is 2.58 billion hryvnia ($316 million), including the state budget – 1.12 billion hryvnia ($137.2 million).
