IXV rendering (courtesy of CNES)

By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor

With both Europe and Japan taking steps toward independent human access to space, officials from JAXA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) are meeting today to discuss collaboration on an orbital vehicle that would be able to re-enter the atmosphere and be recovered safely.

The goal of the workshop is to gather innovative ideas for a preliminary study of a future atmospheric re-entry demonstrator to be launched aboard Europe’s Vega rocket, according to an ASI press release.

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by Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor

Scaled Composites will hold an open house and jobs fair during the Mojave Air and Space Port’s Plane Crazy Saturday event on April 21. East Kern Airport District Board member Cathy Hansen announce the Scaled open house during a meeting of the board on Tuesday.

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Spaceport Sweden’s PR — Spaceport Sweden is now taking the next step towards its vision of becoming a world leading spaceport, where one of the targets is to enable space travel for private individuals, and welcome Ms Carina Johnsson onboard as Operations Manager. Carina previously worked at the Swedish Space Corporation, SSC, where she, among other things was responsible for the visitor center and program at Esrange Space Center. Ms […]

By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor

Pity the poor Russian space agency, Roscosmos.  After more than a year of launch accidents, harsh criticism from the nation’s rulers, a change in leadership at the top, and the appointment of a high-level czar to clean up the mess at the failure-prone space agency, word leaked out recently of a long-range plan for the nation’s space effort that would land cosmonauts on the moon and accomplish many other cool space activities.

This would normally be a positive sign that officials could point to as evidence of a space agency turning itself around. Unfortunately, the leak occurred amid a series of very public disputes and embarrassments that have overshadowed everything else. The problems have included a dismal response to a cosmonaut recruitment effort, an alleged brawl between two of Russia’s top space officials over a smoking hot model/business escort turned personal press secretary who seems ill suited for her job, a call for Roscosmos’ leader to step down, and a demand by the deputy prime minister for everyone to shut the frak up.

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By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor

As was announced late last year, the Indian space agency isn’t going to send astronauts into orbit on its own anytime soon. However, ISRO will send an orbiter to Mars next year, which would be the nation’s first interplanetary probe and only the second time it has sent a spacecraft beyond Earth orbit. Meanwhile, the Chandrayaan-II mission continues to slip into the future as ISRO gears up for several advanced rocket tests.

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Skolkovo PR — In the Russian government last week introduced a draft “Strategy for the development of space activities before 2030,” prepared by the Russian Space Agency with participation of a number of enterprises and organizations of missile and space industry and related industries. Representatives of the Cluster Space Technology and Telecommunications Fund “Skolkovo” noted with satisfaction that the developers have considered the document a number of suggestions of the experts of the Fund, aimed at the development of innovative activity in space activities.

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HOUSTON – (NSBRI PR) – In recognition of her ongoing support of the nation’s human spaceflight program, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is the 2012 recipient of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s (NSBRI) Pioneer Award.

The senior senator from Texas was honored today during the official opening of a new 16,400-square-foot Consolidated Research Facility that NSBRI shares with the Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Space Medicine (CSM). The Facility includes office space, four laboratories, meeting rooms, and science and education collaboration areas.

NSBRI President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey P. Sutton said that Hutchison is deserving of the Pioneer Award because of her contributions to the advancement of human spaceflight, including space biomedical research.

“During her time on Capitol Hill, Senator Hutchison’s leadership and commitment to strengthen the nation’s human space exploration program has been exemplary,” Sutton said. “Both NSBRI and CSM are grateful for her efforts on the Hill and for her support to make the Consolidated Research Facility a reality.”

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This welcome sign on the north end of town is a bit dated. Hopefully sometime in the next year, they can replace with a picture of SpaceShipTwo. Or maybe the Lynx. (Credit: Douglas Messier)

By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor

Spring has come to Mojave at last. And with it this season of renewal has come clear skies, warm temperatures and snakes. Lots and lots of snakes. (“I hate snakes! I hate ’em!” — Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark. I love that movie.)

But, I digress. This is a busy time at the Mojave Air and Space Port. Let’s take a look at what’s up in the desert.

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Elvis' frenemy, Robert Goulet (Credit: Vera Goulet)

by Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor

Rumor has it that Elvis Presley hated — just hated — singer Robert Goulet. It seems that while Elvis was in Germany serving in the Army, the velvety voiced singer was putting the moves on one of King’s girls back home.  Nobody did that to the King, baby! And so began a lifelong enmity between the two former friends.

One day, the story goes, Elvis was watching television when Goulet appeared on it. Rather than just changing the channel like any other mortal, the King took out his revolver and shot out the television screen, sending sparks everywhere and members of his Memphis Mafia diving for cover.

Did this actually happen? Yes. But, Goulet said that he was actually friends with Elvis and that he didn’t take the shooting personally:

He also shot 50 other people. They told me that he had about a hundred sets in the basement. And he’d shoot the damn thing out – you know he was on pills and he didn’t know quite what he was doing and he’d BANG! and they’d look at each other and say, “Get another set!”…The point is I knew he was not himself so therefore it wasn’t anything to do with me. He shot out Mel Torme. He shot out Frank [Sinatra]. But I get all the credit.

I recalled that story this week as Congress began its annual hearings on NASA’s budget. Every time I watch one of these things on NASA TV, I want to pull an Elvis and shoot out the television. Only I don’t have a TV or a gun, so I watch online. And since I don’t have 100 spare computers sitting around, I just avoid the hearings all together.

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