The StarLab rocket hangs beneath the wing of a Starfighter jet recently during taxi testing. The rocket, about the size of an air-to-air missile, was built by the 4Frontiers company to launch experiments into space. Photo credit: NASA/Gianni M. Woods

By Steven Siceloff
NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center

The final pieces of a unique squadron of supersonic fighters arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Jan. 19, where they will be reassembled and put to work with a private company aiming to use them for research and microgravity training.

The new planes were part of a group of five F-104 fighters bought by Starfighters Inc. from the Italian Air Force. The company already had four of the aircraft, but that wasn’t enough for the company to pursue a number of different opportunities.

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G. Madhavan Nair

ISRO’s former chairman and three other officials have been disciplined for their roles in the controversial Antrix-Devas Multimedia S-band deal:

In an unprecedented disciplinary action, four of the biggest names in the space community, including former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) G Madhavan Nair, have been barred from occupying any government position — current or in future — for their role in the Antrix-Devas deal, in which a private company was accused to have been wrongfully allotted S-band frequencies for radio waves.

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A4H PR – Tampa, Florida – Astronauts4Hire is pleased to announce that it has become a sponsor of the 2012 Next-generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort in Palo Alto, California from February 27-29, 2012. The NSRC will bring together researchers from government, industry, and academia in the largest forum of its kind focused on the research and education capabilities of new suborbital vehicles.

“Astronauts4Hire grew out of NSRC-2010 and was a NSRC-2011 sponsor,” said Brian Shiro, President and CEO of Astronauts4Hire, “so it is fitting that we will once again support the suborbital research community by sponsoring the NSRC-2012. This will be a prime opportunity for A4H to demonstrate how far it’s come in its second year and where it’s going in the future.”

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Washington, D.C., CSF PR , Tuesday, January 24, 2012 — The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is pleased to announce that three more companies have joined the Commercial Spaceflight Federation as Associate Members: Arkyd Astronautics, Logyx LLC, and NIAR.

Alex Saltman, CSF Executive Director, said, “We are thrilled to be able to welcome these three new Associate Members to the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. It’s a testament to the continued growth of the commercial spaceflight industry as our organization continues to expand.”

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The Republican presidential debate in Tampa included a question about the space program that was answered by the two front runners. A transcript is below followed by some analysis. BETH REINHARD: Governor Romney, this is the state that put the first men on the moon. America right now has no way to put people into space except to hitch a ride with the Russians. Meanwhile, the Chinese are ramping up […]

NASA has done it again. The acronym happy space agency has changed the name of its commercial human spaceflight (CHSF) program. The program formerly known as Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) is being succeeded by Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap). Try to say that acronym 10 times. Or even thrice. Go ahead. I’ll wait…no, try it again…ah, not even close… See what I mean? Impossible. The change reflects the next stage […]

ARLINGTON, VA — AIA PR — The U.S. space industry is losing its competitive edge and risks falling short of future national security requirements unless government reforms our export control system and promotes the international competitiveness of U.S. industry, according to a new report released by AIA.

“A strong and globally competitive space industrial and supplier base is a major national security asset,” said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey. “Reforming America’s export control system and promoting space exports will better serve our national security and bolster our economy and technological leadership.”

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Marco Antonio Raupp

Brazilian Space Agency President Marco Antonio Raupp has been appointed by President Rousseff to take over the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. He succeeds Aloizio Mercadante, whom the president appointed to head the Ministry of Education. The former education minister, Fernando Haddad, left to run for mayor of Sao Paolo.

“I consider an honor and a challenge the new mission that is entrusted to me,” Raupp said in a statement. “I am absolutely aware of the unprecedented demand for science, technology and innovation make a vital contribution to social and economic development of Brazil.

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Interior view of Dragon spacecraft. (Credit: SpaceX)

2012 | YEAR OF THE DRAGON
SPACEX PR

Today marks the start of the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar, and this year, SpaceX’s Dragon will become the first privately developed spacecraft to visit the International Space Station.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Coalition for Space Exploration (Coalition) today announced veteran aerospace communicators Lon Rains of Northrop Grumman and Mary Engola of Ball Aerospace will lead the Coalition in 2012. Rains and Engola will serve as the new chair and deputy chair, respectively. Each will serve a one-year term, effective January through December 2012.

The Coalition for Space Exploration is a group of space industry businesses and organizations collaborating to ensure that the United States remains the leader in space, science and technology.  By reinforcing the value and benefits of space exploration with the nation’s leaders, the Coalition intends to build lasting support for a long-term, sustainable, strategic direction for space exploration. Through marketing, communications and outreach efforts, the Coalition highlights the benefits of a robust American space program.

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