NMSA PR — Attendees at ISPCS 2011 will have an opportunity to tour the nearly-completed Spaceport America on Friday, Oct. 21, following the conference. Spaceport America and New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) staff members will provide attendees with exclusive insight into the project.

“On behalf of the NMSA, we are enthusiastic about hosting the ISPCS tour to Spaceport America this year,” said Christine Anderson, Executive Director of the Spaceport Authority. “I hope you will be as excited about the progress we have made as we are! The commercial space industry is making great strides and we are happy to be part of that bright future.”

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An electric propulsion engine. Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA PR — WASHINGTON — NASA has selected five companies to develop concepts for demonstrating solar electric propulsion in space. These capabilities are important for the agency’s future human exploration missions to deep space.

The selected companies, pending successful contract negotiations, are:

— Analytical Mechanics Associates Inc., Hampton, Va.
— Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo.
— The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, Calif.
— Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colo.
— Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, Calif.
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In The Space Review this week…. Flashlights in the dark Later this week the National Reconnaissance Office may declassify details about two of its early Cold War satellite reconnaissance systems as part of ceremonies marking the office’s 50th anniversary. Dwayne Day offers a preview of what we may learn about the KH-7 and KH-9. Space science caught in a Webb Cost overruns have put the future of the James Webb […]

Briefing Participants:

—William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate
—Doug Cooke, deputy associate administrator for HEO
—Beth Robinson, NASA Chief Financial Officer

12:02 EDT: Waiting for the briefing to begin….some guitar heavy, Latin influenced instrumental music…

Here we go…..

William Gerstenmaier

• 8.4 meter diameter core stage — same size as the shuttle tank – compatible with facilities at Cape, with tech developed for Constellation
• shuttle main engines — three engines initially, grow to five engines
• build upper stage and rest of rocket at the same time — commonality between the core and the upper stage — if they don’t need upper stage, can fly without it….don’t have to design upper stage at a later time….can use the same tooling….
• SRBs used for the first and maybe second test flight….will compete with full-up procurement activity for liquid boosters….
• plan to build the core and be able to change the strap-on boosters….
• starts with 90 MT capability and grows to 130 MT with bigger boosters and upper stage
• J-2X upper stage developed for Constellation program
• early version will use off-the-shelf space shuttle main engines
• other existing technologies such as space shuttle plumbing could be used

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NASA News Audio Live Streaming NASA Announces Major Decisions for Future Human Spaceflight Noon EDT, Wednesday Sept. 14 NASA leaders will discuss the new Space Launch System that will take American astronauts farther into space than ever before. The briefing participants are: –William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate –Doug Cooke, deputy associate administrator for HEO –NASA Chief Financial Officer Beth Robinson Audio of […]

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden explains the Space Launch System program.

A NASA animation showing the lift off of the Space Launch System.

The SLS announcement is being made in the Senate Building, not at NASA as is the custom

Senator Bill Nelson makes the opening remarks — he explains the configuration and safety features of the Senate designed launch system….A bit odd…

Bolden up second…..he calls Kay Bailey Hutchison (a fellow Episcopalian)  the “queen bee” of this rocket system….

Bolden reads some prepared remarks….new chapter in American space exploration….a great day for NASA and the nation….yada yada yada…..did our due diligence on this thing….

First development flight targeted for 2017 with future flights to follow…

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NASA PR — NASA is ready to move forward with the development of the Space Launch System — an advanced heavy-lift launch vehicle that will provide an entirely new national capability for human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. The Space Launch System will give the nation a safe, affordable and sustainable means of reaching beyond our current limits and opening up new discoveries from the unique vantage point of space. The Space Launch System, or SLS, will be designed to carry the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, as well as important cargo, equipment and science experiments to Earth’s orbit and destinations beyond. Additionally, the SLS will serve as a back up for commercial and international partner transportation services to the International Space Station.

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A4H PR – Tampa, Florida –Astronauts4Hire is proud to announce it is now officially a public charity with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions donated to Astronauts4Hire are fully tax-deductible retroactive to the founding of the organization on April 12, 2010. Astronauts4Hire is also now eligible to apply for government and foundation grants, which will further broaden its access to resources and strengthen its ability to serve the commercial spaceflight industry.

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