A Russian Soyuz-U rocket failed earlier today, causing a Progress freighter bound for the International Space Station to crash into eastern Russia. Media reports indicate that the third stage shut down prematurely.

At a press conference, NASA ISS Program Manager Mike Suffredini said that the failure would not have a major impact for the time being on operations at the space station, which was resupplied last month by the space shuttle Atlantis. He said the station could probably last until early next year without further resupply.

(more…)

FAA NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) Issue Date: August 23, 2011 at 1335 UTC Location: VAN HORN, Texas near SALT FLAT VORTAC (SFL) Beginning Date and Time: August 24, 2011 at 1200 UTC Ending Date and Time: August 24, 2011 at 1700 UTC Reason for NOTAM:  DUE TO ROCKET LAUNCH ACTIVITY WITHIN A 17 NM RADIUS OF 312706N Type:  Space Operations Airspace Definition: Center: On the SALT FLAT VORTAC (SFL) 125 […]

Sen. Richard Shelby and his Gang of Five try to make life even more miserable for the denizens of Florida’s Space Coast. Predictable…but sad.

NewScientist reports that NASA isn’t the only space agency interested in attaching a Bigelow module to the International Space Station: Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas, Nevada, which has built an expandable Kevlar-based space station module, is currently working on two ISS-related deals. Bigelow director Mike Gold, a member of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, says the firm is in “advanced discussions” with the commercial Japanese Manned […]

NASA has released the executive summary of Booz Allen Hamilton’s independent analysis of the Space Launch System (SLS), Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) and the required ground systems. The review says that near-term cost estimates are fairly reasonable, but that longer-term cost figures are overly optimistic and that programs reserves are insufficient. A key section of the executive summary is below, with my emphasis added:

In general, the estimates prepared by SLS, MPCV, and 21CGS are consistent with Analysis of Alternative (AoA) level estimates and are reasonable point estimates for budget planning in the near-term 3-5 year budget horizon. They are serviceable in that they represent the basis to build upon for future life-cycle cost estimates of the quality required for long-term budget formulation and the development of program baselines. None of the estimates reviewed by the ICA Team support establishment of long-term budgets or detailed baselines consistent with NPR 7120.5 requirements. They are, however, reasonable AoA estimates appropriate for supporting trade studies and comparative analyses. All three Program estimates assume large, unsubstantiated, future cost efficiencies leading to the impression that they are optimistic. A scenario-based risk assessment, which excludes cost estimating uncertainty and unknown-unknown risks (historically major sources of cost and schedule growth), reveals all three Programs’ reserves are insufficient.

The key findings and recommendations are reproduced after the break.

(more…)

NASA Ames Director Pete Worden calls synthetic biology one of the most crucial fields required for humans to live off planet Earth. But what is synthetic biology? And what can it do for us? John Cumbers of the NASA Ames Synthetic Biology Innovation Laboratory explains in this exclusive video.

Sales decline image courtesy of officeclipart.com

Already facing the possibility of deep cuts in its FY 2012 budget, NASA’s financial prospects have become increasingly bleaker over the past week on several fronts, including further reductions and large costs in two high-profile programs.

Last Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget sent out a memorandum to all federal departments asking them to plan for reductions when preparing their FY 2013 requests:

Unless your agency has been given explicit direction otherwise by OMB, your overall agency request for 2013 should be at least 5 percent below your 2011 enacted discretionary appropriation. As discussed at the recent Cabinet meetings, your 2013 budget submission should also identify additional discretionary funding reductions that would bring your request to a level that is at least 10 percent below your 2011 enacted discretionary appropriation.

NASA received $18.45 billion in the current fiscal year. A five percent reduction would put spending at $17.52 billion; a 10 percent cut would leave the space agency with $16.6 billion. It is not known whether NASA received “explicit direction otherwise” to ignore the budget  guidance.

Meanwhile, Aviation Week reports that the budgets for two large NASA projects — the James Webb Space Telescope and Space Launch System — are not looking real good.

(more…)

This week on The Space Show with David Livingston…. Monday, August 22, 2011, 2-3:30 PM PDT: There will be no program today as I am taking a personal day off. Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 7-8:30 PM PDT: We welcome Dr. John Deaton, Chair, Human Factors, Director of Research, College of Aeronautics, Florida Institute of Technology. Friday, August 26, 2011, 9:30-11 AM PDT: We welcome Dr. Leroy Chiao to the program. […]

NASA PR — WASHINGTON — NASA has selected three proposals as Technology Demonstration Missions to transform space communications, deep space navigation and in-space propulsion capabilities. The projects will develop and fly a space solar sail, deep space atomic clock, and space-based optical communications system. The proposals selected for demonstration missions are:

• Laser Communications Relay Demonstration, David J. Israel, principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
• Deep Space Atomic Clock, Todd Ely, principal investigator at the California Institute of Technology/NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
• Beyond the Plum Brook Chamber; An In-Space Demonstration of a Mission-Capable Solar Sail, Nathan Barnes, principal investigator at L’Garde Inc., of Tustin, Calif.

(more…)

Space Adventures, Ltd., the only company currently providing human space mission opportunities to the world marketplace, along with their partner Armadillo Aerospace, LLC, released a Request for Information (RFI) solicitation today in an effort to gather information on the industry’s capabilities in designing and fabricating a spacesuit for suborbital spaceflight.  Last year, Space Adventures entered into an exclusive marketing agreement with Armadillo Aerospace, a leading manufacturer of reusable rocket power vehicles, and together the companies are developing a commercial passenger suborbital space program.

“A key part of the development program is the selection of a spacesuit design for integration with the ongoing vehicle cabin mock-up and test program to ensure maximum safety, mobility and comfort for our clients,” said Tom Shelley, president of Space Adventures.  “Space Adventures is playing an active role in the solicitation and selection of a suit design because of the impact that the space suits will have on the experience for our customers.” (more…)