A familiar looking symbol can be seen at the Mojave Air and Space Port in this satellite photo from Google Maps. This is actually the “A” in Mojave in the spaceport’s logo.
Now you might be forgiven for thinking that this letter looks more than a little bit like an insignia from a certain science fiction show about a bunch of star trekkers called….believe it or not….Star Trek. Let’s take a looksie, shall we?
Workers have begun pre-construction preparations for the rebuilding of Runway 4-22 at the Mojave Air and Space Port, General Manager Stu Witt said on Tuesday. Runway 4-22 is the shortest of the three runways at the spaceport in California’s High Desert, and it is in the worst shape. It will be out of commission until March. The crosswind runway will be widened from 50 to 60 feet, outfitted with lights, […]
November 20 (FAA PR) –– The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation has added eight new members to its Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) to provide recommendations about the agency’s oversight and regulation of the commercial space transportation industry.
In addition to the new appointments, FAA has also announced that Michael N. Gold will serve as the new chairperson of COMSTAC. Gold is currently Bigelow Aerospace’s director of D.C. Operations and Business Growth.
LONDON (UKSA PR) — The UK Space Agency is set to invest £1.2 billion [$1.9 billion] in some of Europe’s biggest and most lucrative space projects, providing the UK with increased leadership in a rapidly growing global sector and building on the British space industry’s £9.1 billion [$14.5 billion] contribution to the economy.
From satellite communications to Mars rovers and nuclear space batteries to weather satellites, the direction of Britain’s investment in European space projects was decided today as the Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, finalised negotiations for the UK at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ministerial Council in Naples.
Wrapping up two days of meetings in Naples, Italy, ESA’s ministers decided to back a plan to provide a service module for NASA’s Orion MultipurposeCrew Vehicle (MPCV) but delayed any decision about the continent’s next generation launcher.
Ministers secured investments for the detailed definition studies of the new launcher Ariane 6 and the continuation of the development of Ariane 5 ME adapted, with the goal to develop as many commonalities as possible between the two launchers. These activities are funded for two years with a decision on the continuation of both launchers to be taken in 2014.
Ministers gave the green light for Europe to provide the service module of NASA’s new Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) as an in-kind contribution for ISS operations for 2017–20. This decision is strategically important for Europe as it will enable a cooperation between ESA and NASA on the future human space transportation system.
LOS ANGELES, CA, Nov 20, 2012 (SpaceIL/Odyssey Moon PR) — SpaceIL and Odyssey Moon Ltd., two teams competing in the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, announced today a joint teaming deal to pursue the competition purse. Odyssey Moon, the first team entrant in the Google Lunar X PRIZE, is joining SpaceIL, the most significant international teaming deal in the private $30 million race to the Moon. Together, the alliance formed under team SpaceIL will compete in the competition and, according to many, the most likely team to succeed in this dramatic race to the Moon.
Mojave Air and Space Port. (Credit: Douglas Messier)
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
Tenants on the north side of the Mojave Air and Space Port will be getting power, water and high-speed fiber services early next year under a $1.3 million project approved by the East Kern Airport District Board of Directors on Tuesday.
Chief Operating Officer Kevin Wojtkiewicz estimated that the work could take two to three months to complete.
SS/L workers assemble the ABS-2 satellite at the SS/L manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, Calif. Ex-Im Bank approved $461 million of credit to financing the export of American-made satellites to Hong Kong. (Credit: SS/L)
Washington, D.C. (Ex-Im PR) – In a decision that will support thousands of high-tech jobs in the U.S., the board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has authorized two transactions aggregating $461 million to underwrite the export of American-made satellites to Hong Kong.
In the first transaction, the Bank authorized a $171.29 million direct loan to ABS to finance the purchase of a FS1300, C/Ka/Ku-band geostationary satellite from Space Systems/Loral Inc. (SS/L) and insurance from Aon. The satellite is scheduled to launch in 2013.
Additionally, the Bank authorized a separate $289.71 million direct loan to ABS to facilitate the purchase of two 702SP C- and Ku-band geostationary satellites from Boeing Satellite Systems International (Boeing), insurance from Aon, technical support, and the launch of both of the satellites with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9.
The British Interplanetary Society reports that retired NASA astronaut Nicholas Patrick has joined Blue Origin, which is developing commercial suborbital and orbital spacecraft.
The British-born Patrick, who retired from NASA on May 31, served as mission specialist on STS-116 in 2006 and STS-130 in 2010, spending more than 26 days in space. He walked in space three times, playing a vital role in the installation of the Tranquility module and Cupola of the International Space Station.
Michael Lopez-Alegria
Washington D.C. (CSF PR) – On Monday, November 19, the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation announced that Michael Lopez-Alegria, President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation would be the vice-chair of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC).
COMSTAC provides information, advice and recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration on all matters related to U.S. commercial space transportation.
