WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA invites scientists from around the country to submit proposals to perform biological research aboard the International Space Station. The NASA Research Announcement (NRA), “Research Opportunities in Space Biology,” opened Sept. 30.

This NRA challenges scientists to propose experiments that could provide answers to questions about how life adapts and responds to microgravity. Selected investigators will have the opportunity to take advantage of new cell, plant and animal research facilities being developed for the space station. Proposals should demonstrate benefits to astronauts living and working in the harsh environment of space during long-duration missions. They also should improve medicine and health care for humans on Earth.

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Paragon Space Development Corp. workers move the NASA-funded air revitalization unit into a testing chamber. (Credit: Paragon Space Development Corp.)

NASA PR — A technology designed for use by astronauts in the hazardous environment of space has found a lifesaving use in another dangerous occupation, but this time on Earth, or rather under it: coal mining.

Paragon Space Development Corp. of Tucson, Ariz., is providing the air revitalization system it matured under a NASA Space Act Agreement to Mine Shield LLC of Lancaster, Ky., for use in its underground miner refuge chambers. These air-tight metal chambers are used by miners as lifesaving havens when trapped underground, providing air, water and food until rescued.

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ATK employees at the company’s Promontory, Utah facility prepare a segment of a qualification motor for NASA’s Space Launch System for transport. (Credit: ATK)

Promontory, UT, Oct. 2, 2012 (ATK PR) –ATK and NASA held an event to highlight progress made in manufacturing the first ground test motor and cost-saving process upgrades for manufacturing the solid rocket booster for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). These changes have reduced assembly time by approximately 46 percent, saving millions of dollars in projected costs for the SLS system.

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Brevard County, Fla., Sept. 28, 2012 (EDC PR) – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast is pleased to announce that it has developed an economic development incentive fund designed to assist in expanding existing Brevard County high-tech and manufacturing businesses and attracting new businesses to the Space Coast.

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LOS ANGELES, CA, Oct 2, 2012 (Odyssey Moon PR) — Douglas, Isle of Man-based Odyssey Moon Ltd. and Israeli-based NSL Satellites Ltd., in partnership with NanoRacks LLC of the U.S., together will fly a number of educational microgravity experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). The next launch of an experiment is scheduled for October 7th on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.

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WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA has awarded three contracts totaling $137.3 million to improve the affordability, reliability and performance of an advanced booster for the Space Launch System (SLS). The awardees will develop engineering demonstrations and risk reduction concepts for a future version of the SLS, a heavy-lift rocket that will provide an entirely new capability for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.

The initial 77-ton (70-metric-ton) SLS configuration will use two 5-segment solid rocket boosters similar to the boosters that helped power the space shuttle to orbit. The evolved 143-ton (130-metric-ton) SLS vehicle will require an advanced booster with more thrust than any existing U.S. liquid- or solid-fueled boosters. These new initiatives will demonstrate and examine advanced booster concepts and hardware demonstrations during a 30-month period.
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Roscosmos Head Vladimir Popovkin. (Credit: Roscosmos)

The Russian space sector has between 72,000 and 92,000 excess workers, which makes the industry bloated and uncompetitive, Roscosmos head Vladimir Popovkin said on Monday.

“The capacity that existed in the Soviet Union is not needed today. There is a lot of obsolete technology that needs to be gotten rid of. It is also impossible to continue to maintain 242,000 workers with the industry using about 48 percent of capacity. The country can’t feed them. There should be a maximum 150,000-170,000 people working in the sector,” Popovkin said.

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Video Caption: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and its newest Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) partners are embracing the American spirit as they advance their integrated rocket and spacecraft designs for the future of human spaceflight.

Artist conception of LEA hypersonic vehicle. (Credit: ONERA-MBDA)

Aviation Week reports on upcoming tests of Europe’s LEA hypersonic program:

Full-scale wind tunnel tests of the LEA, the European hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle, are poised to get under way in France, setting the stage for the buildup to flight tests in Russia….

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The Lurio Report FOR PRICING & SUBSCRIPTIONS: <https://www.thelurioreport.com/subscribe.html> CCiCap Decision Process, Next SpaceX Flight to ISS, Company Progress Roundups, Uwingu Funded Vol. 7, No. 11, October 1, 2012 Contents: Quick Updates SpaceX’s First Regular Supply Flight to ISS & Commercial Flight Manifest Roundups of Company Status and Progress: Masten Aerospace Loses Vehicle, But Improved Version is Nearly Ready Virgin Nears Transition to Rocket Propelled Test Flights October Flight for Armadillo’s […]