Roscosmos head Vladimir Popovkin says “extreme measures” are required to prevent the Russian space industry from becoming competitive uncompetitive with Western nations where productivity is two to four times higher. “If nothing changes, we won’t be able to sell [Russian space technology] in 2015, because Western equipment will be priced 33 to 50 percent lower,” Popovkin said. In order to raise productivity, Roscosmos ought to be converted into a space […]
AUTHOR
Doug Messier
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL., September 27, 2012 (Space Florida PR) – Space Florida – the State of Florida’s spaceport authority and aerospace economic development agency – will be hosting an industry day for architectural engineering and general contracting companies on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at the South Campus location of the organization, located just outside the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station gate on 100 Spaceport Way.
ORBITEC Vision rocket engine. (Credit: ORBITEC)
Madison, Wisc. (ORBITEC PR) — Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC™) recently conducted several key rocket engine technology demonstrations at its large engine test facility in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Under observation by representatives from both NASA and the US Air Force, ORBITEC successfully completed a series of tests on its Vision flight rocket engine that enhances the maturation of ORBITEC’s advanced technology acoustic igniter , vortex/cold wall combustion chamber, and carbon-carbon lightweight nozzle extension technologies. The Vision engine will be flight-demonstrated later this year launched out of Mojave, CA.
Benicia, CA (SXC PR) — Juliet Vercelli-CTC, LS in Benicia, CA recently signed an agreement as a Certified Reseller for Space Expedition Corporation. Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) , a Netherlands company general sales agent for XCOR Aerospace, Inc.
This is an exciting adventure as SXC will begin commercial flights in 2014. The operations will take place in a special spaceport both on the Dutch island of Curacao and the Mojave Desert, CA.
TOKYO (JAXA PR) — As a result of the successful launch of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 3, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries LTD. (MHI) have agreed to privatize the H-IIB launch service today according to the “Basic Agreement on Development and Launch Service of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle.” With today’s agreement, JAXA will procure launch and transportation services from MHI when a payload is […]
UP Aerospace Spaceloft XL rocket
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
Spaceport America will host suborbital launches by Armadillo Aerospace and UP Aerospace, each of which will mark a “first” for the desert launch base. New Mexico Spaceport Authority Executive Director Christine Anderson outlined the missions in a PowerPoint presentation to the NMSA board on Monday.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (September 26, 2012) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization now managing research on the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, announced today that it is assuming management responsibility for the Facebook and Twitter social media accounts previously operated by NASA, starting October 1, 2012.
Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (Sept. 24, 2012) – Space Florida has closed on a $62.5M credit facility with Bank of America to support the construction of the Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
On Monday, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority approved spending $9.5 million on lengthening the runway at Spaceport America and building a welcome center for tourists near Truth or Consequences.
SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo circle over the Mojave Air and Space Port during a successful glide flight on July 18, 2012. (Credit: Bill Deaver)
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
Officials at Spaceport America estimate that Virgin Galactic will make its first operational SpaceShipTwo flights from the New Mexico facility in February 2014.
That estimate is included in a PowerPoint presentation given by New Mexico Spaceport Authority Executive Director Christine Anderson on Monday to the NMSA board.