Falcon 9 launch. (Credit: Chris Thompson)

ORBCOMM/SpaceX PR — FORT LEE, N.J. & HAWTHORNE, Calif.– ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC) and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) today announced the launch schedule for ORBCOMM’s second generation (OG2) satellites. The updated plan includes launching the first OG2 prototype satellite on the first Cargo Re-supply Services (CRS) mission in mid-2012, followed closely by an additional launch of two OG2 satellites into a high inclination orbit as a secondary payload in late 2012. In early 2013, SpaceX plans to launch eight to twelve OG2 satellites, and the remainder of the constellation of 18 OG2 satellites is expected to be launched in 2014. All launches are expected to be on Falcon 9 rockets.

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Titan Balloon A Flagship class Titan Explorer mission is conceived with montgolfiere (hot air balloon) to circumnavigate the surface of Titan at jetliner altitudes, but allow occasional descents to the surface. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NSC PR — TILLAMOOK, OR  — Near Space Corporation (NSC), a leading innovator of terrestrial and planetary exploration balloon technology, has received a Phase Two NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) award to fund work that will help enable future airborne exploration of Saturn’s moon Titan.  NSC’s winning proposal was among 85 selected from a total pool of 428 submissions.

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The Silicon Valley Space Business Roundtable has added two new organizational members: Taksha University and Boreal Information Technologies.

Taksha University

Founded as Taksha Institute in 1976, Taksha University is a dynamic, not-for-profit, independent institution of higher learning, engaged in research projects and education activities. Our teaching staff consists of carefully selected, highly qualified instructors who offer a wide range of experience and talent to meet the varied needs of our community, as well as serving professionals in academia, healthcare, government service, industry and business, and other walks of life.

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Russia successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1a rocket with a cluster of six Globalstar-2 communications satellites aboard today, closing out a 13-month period that has seen seven launch failures. Roscosmos reports that the Fregat upper stage fired as planned and that the six satellites separated cleanly. The spacecraft are owned by Globalstar and were built by Thales Alenia Space. On Dec. 23, a Soyuz-2.1b failed after its Fregate upper stage malfunctioned, resulting […]

Lifeboat Foundation PR — Minden, NV — The 2011 Lifeboat Foundation Guardian Award has been given to Richard Branson in recognition of his creation of Virgin Galactic, the $25 million Virgin Earth Challenge, the Virgin Green Fund, and of Virgin Unite.

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The crew of the International Space Station wishes everyone a very happy new year.

What: National Space Society/Space Exploration Alliance 2012 Legislative Blitz When: Sunday, February 26 through Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Description: Every February, as the U.S. Congress begins its deliberations on the federal budget, NSS members visit Representatives and Senators in their offices in Washington, DC, in support of the Society’s most important space-related agenda items for the year. This event, held over a three-day period, typically involves meetings with over one […]

China is looking forward to a busy 2012 in space, with 20 launches planned and at least one crew visiting its Tiangong-1 space station. The nation succeeded in launching 18 rockets in 19 attempts during 2011, surpassing the United States in total launches in a year for the first time. The U.S. launched 18 rockets with 17 successes this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. (Credit: A. Savin)

Newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has been tasked with overseeing Russia’s accident-prone space sector and corruption-riddled military procurement process.

The AP reports that Rogozin, a nationalist politician who previously served as Russia’s NATO ambassador, has vowed to use an “iron hand” to fight corruption in the defense industry and to make sure that “every ruble, every kopeck” is used as planned. According to one estimate, 1 in 5 rubles spent in the defense sector is lost to theft and fraud.

Rogozin said he expects a report from Roscosmos on Thursday concerning the cause of the Dec. 23 failure of a Soyuz launch vehicle, which sent debris raining down on Siberia. It was the seven launch failure in the past 13 months.

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A bad day for the Titan rocket. (Credit: USAF)

It’s only two days after Christmas, but the holiday cheer that usually extends through New Year’s Day seems to have worn off for some pundits. Some are looking back in horror, others ahead with trepidation…

Lunar scientist Paul Spudis says good riddance to the year in space in Annus Horribilis: Space in 2011. So, what went wrong? The space shuttle program ended, the commercial crew effort appears doomed, NASA’s new mission statement lacks any actual missions, the Space Launch System is a bloated mess, the James Webb telescope is sucking the life out of the science budget, and John Marburger passed away.

Gee, that does sound bad. Now, I’m seriously depressed…and I was pretty happy until just now.

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