The U.S. Air Force has awarded SpaceX the first two contracts under a new $900 million program aimed at increasing competition in the launch market:
SpaceX will use its Falcon 9 v1.1 to boost NASA’s Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) in November 2014 and the Falcon 9 Heavy for launch of a Space Test Program satellite in September 2015, says Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, program executive officer for Air Force space programs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2012 (Golden Spike PR) — On the eve of the 40 th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 17, the last human exploration of the Moon, Former Apollo Flight Director and NASA Johnson Space Center Director, Gerry Griffin, and planetary scientist and former NASA science chief, Dr. Alan Stern, will unveil “The Golden Spike Company” – the first company planning to offer routine exploration expeditions to the […]
Paris, 4 December 2012 (Novespace PR) – – Who has never dreamed of emulating the astronauts or their childhood comic book or science fiction heroes, flying weightlessly and freely through the air?
It’s a common enough occurrence in Hollywood : a writer completes a draft of a script and, after reading and digesting the brilliant scribe’s latest masterpiece, the producer/director/whatever ladles out immense praise. After spending the requisite amount of time building up the writer’s fragile ego so it ascends to the Olympian heights that is an Academy stage, the reviewer lays the hammer down.
“But, I do have a few notes….”
In other words, heed my pearls of wisdom and get started on the rewrite. You’ve got a lot of work to do.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has been getting very similar notes from its bigger, more powerful cousin, the European Union (EU). The union loves — just loves — ESA’s work, great stuff. However, ESA needs to do better — and it might be able to do so by coming under the control of the EU.
The Golden Spike Company plans to have a very significant public participation role in its plan to return humans to the moon by 2020, according to informed sources.
The goal is to give the general public a ringside seat to not only the flight but also the development and construction of the hardware involved, sources said.
Golden Spike is going to involve a very significant public participation role in the lunar mission.
WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — Building on the success of Curiosity’s Red Planet landing, NASA has announced plans for a robust multi-year Mars program, including a new robotic science rover set to launch in 2020. This announcement affirms the agency’s commitment to a bold exploration program that meets our nation’s scientific and human exploration objectives.
“The Obama administration is committed to a robust Mars exploration program,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. “With this next mission, we’re ensuring America remains the world leader in the exploration of the Red Planet, while taking another significant step toward sending humans there in the 2030s.”
Launch of Atlas V NRO satellite on June 20, 2012. (Credit: ULA)
The Pentagon has opened up its launch contracts for both large and small satellites to competition, but in a way that will likely disappoint upstart launch provider SpaceX.
For large payloads, the U.S. Air Force will go forward with a scaled back bulk buy of up to 36 Atlas V and Delta IV rocket cores over the next five years from its current sole-source supplier, United Launch Alliance. It will open up an additional 14 cores to competitive bidding, giving SpaceX the opportunity to bid with its Falcon rockets.
For smaller payloads, incumbent provider Orbital Sciences Corporation will face competition from SpaceX and Lockheed Martin Corporation for launch contracts worth up to $900 million.
Local school districts in New Mexico are benefiting from a sales tax that voters in two counties approved to help support the construction of Spaceport America: Local schools received about $1.9 million from a Spaceport America sales tax over the past year — money officials said pays for a host of science, math and aerospace activities for students. Officials from the Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District and […]
A great shot of SpaceShipTwo from below during a glide flight on Aug. 11. (Credit: John Griffith)
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 3, 2012 (Quantum3D PR) — Quantum3D, Inc., a leading provider of visual computing solutions for government and commercial applications, today announced Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, has ordered Quantum3D’s six-channel Independence® IDX 7000 image generator. Virgin Galactic will use Quantum3D’s most advanced real-time image generator to train pilots on spaceship equipment and command.
This week on The Space Show with David Livingston…. 1. Monday, Dec.3, 2012, 2-3:30 PM PST (5-6:30 PM EST, 4-5:30 PM CST): We welcome back Futron’s DAVID VACCARO and JONATHAN BELAND to discuss the Futron 2012 Space Competitive Report. The Executive Summary is a free download from here: www.futron.com/sci_exe_summary_download_form.xml. 2. Tuesday, December 4 , 2012, 7-8:30 PM PST (10-11:30 PM EST, 9-10:30 PM CST): We welcome back DR. MARTIN SCHWAB […]
