Liberty cargo module being berthed at the International Space Station. (Credit: ATK)

ARLINGTON, Va., July 17, 2012 (ATK PR) – ATK successfully completed the last Liberty space transportation system milestone under the company’s unfunded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA for the Commercial Crew Development Program (CCDev-2).

The final milestone under the SAA was a Program Status Review (PSR) for the Liberty system. During the PSR, the Liberty team presented NASA with detailed progress of the program, including integrated master schedule, DAC cycle status, system requirements, software status, flight test plan, system safety review, ground processing certification plan and schedule for initial operation capability.

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Arlington, Va. (AIA PR) — A new economic impact analysis concludes that 2.14 million American jobs could be lost if the Budget Control Act’s sequestration mandate takes effect on January 2, 2013. That is the date that budget cuts of $1.2 trillion start throughout government unless Congress and the administration agree on a solution.

Dr. Stephen S. Fuller, Dwight Schar Faculty Chair and University Professor and Director for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, in conjunction with Chmura Economics and Analytics, conducted the study on behalf of the Aerospace Industries Association.
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FARNSBOROUGH, England (UKSA PR) — The ‘Civil Space Strategy’ setting out the direction for the UK space sector over the next four years was published Tuesday 10th July at the Farnborough International Airshow. The Strategy sets out the UK Space Agency’s framework supporting the growth of the sector over the next four years.

The Civil Space Stratey [sic] was formally unveiled to the international space community gathered for Space Day at Farnborough. The Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts discussed the Strategy in his speech to the Space Conference as well as revealing the latest results of the Size and Health of the UK Space Sector.

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (NASA PR) — NASA has selected United Launch Services LLC of Englewood, Colo., to launch the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) and Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) spacecraft. The spacecraft will launch in October 2014, July 2014 and November 2016, respectively, aboard Delta II rockets from Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

NASA also has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, Calif., to launch the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Jason-3 spacecraft in December 2014 aboard a Falcon 9 v1.0 rocket from Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

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NanoRacks has completed an investigation in why a number of student experiments recently sent to the International Space Station were not properly activated. The company’s explanation is reproduced below. MixStix Non-Activation Investigation Reaches Conclusions Investigation Conclusion: Michael Johnson and his team have concluded that the failure of the research hardware for NCESSE to have been activated took place because of a flaw in the training procedures. Previous crews were given […]

The Lurio Report FOR PRICING & SUBSCRIPTIONS: <https://www.thelurioreport.com/subscribe.html> XCOR Expands to Texas, Europe and New Space, Virgin’s Orbital Launcher Vol. 7, No. 9, July 16, 2012 Contents: Quick Updates XCOR To Expand, Relocate HQ and R&D to Midland, Texas “New Space Ventures Daily”(?) Dear Acquaintances, Personal Update –  The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Conference and Beyond – New Space and Europe Excalibur Almaz Cosmica’s Payload Alliance With EMXYS and Passenger […]

This week on The Space Show with David Livingston… 1. Monday, July 16, 2012, 2-3:30 PM PDT (5-6:30 PM EDT, 4-5:30 PM CDT): DR. BRIAN LAUBSCHER is back to provide us with space elevator updates and to talk about the upcoming Space Elevator Conference. 2. SPECIAL TIME: Tuesday, July 17, 2012, :2-3:30 PM PDT (5-6:30 PM EDT, 4-5:30 PM CDT): We welcome MICHAEL CIANNILLI of NASA who will talk with […]

Texas Gov. Rick Perry and XCOR Chief Pilot Rick Searfoss examine a mockup of the Lynx. (Credit: XCOR)

DALLAS, July 13, 2012 (USRA PR) — The United States Rocket Academy welcomed this week’s announcement that XCOR Aerospace will establish a new Commercial Space Research and Development Center in Midland, Texas.

“Texas is on the verge of becoming the Space State,” said United States Rocket Academy chairman Edward Wright. “XCOR will be the fourth company testing fully reusable suborbital rocketships in Texas.”

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL., July 13, 2012 (Space Florida PR) – Space Florida – the State of Florida’s spaceport authority and aerospace economic development agency – announced the winning logo for the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge today after tallying votes via Facebook and the Space Florida Website.

The winning logo was designed by Mike Poller from Miami, Florida.

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