Robert Bigelow was the keynote speaker at the NSS Governors’ Dinner and Gala in Huntsville last night. Standing beneath a Saturn V in a city that forms the heart of opposition to NASA’s commercial approach to human spaceflight, the founder of Bigelow Aerospace laid out his ambitious plans to launch private space stations into orbit by the middle of the decade. The details are laid out in the photos below.
The Liability Atmosphere of Commercial Human Spaceflight James Dunstan Founder, Mobius Legal Group LLC 30 years writing space law The Wrong Model for Space Law We have been thinking about space law all wrong Instead of treating it like the aviation, should treat it like the high seas On high seas, hazards to navigation can be removed Maritime law recognizes rights of salvage and finds on derelict vehicles In space, […]
Dynetics PR – Huntsville, Ala. (May 19, 2011) – Dynetics and Moog will announce today at the International Space Development Conference that Moog has joined the Rocket City Space Pioneers as the newest team member.
Moog brings its heritage and proven flight hardware experience including the ESPA (Evolved Expendable Launch Secondary Payload Adapter). The ESPA was developed under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS) with support from the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program at Kirtland Air Force Base. Unused launch capacity, a growing interest in missions utilizing small satellites and a desire for affordable launch opportunities led to the development. Moog has been an industry partner for control solutions for almost 60 years, providing propulsion, actuation and electronic solutions for military, civil and commercial spaceflight.
NASA PR — During media interviews today, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, commander of the STS-134 space shuttle mission aboard the International Space Station, made the following statement about the future of space exploration: “NASA is leading the way and will continue to do so. We are the lead partner on the International Space Station and when humans go back to the moon and on to Mars, I’m sure it’s going […]
Panelist: SpaceX Costs Offer Hope For NASA Aviation Week A comparison of what it cost Space Exploration Technologies, Inc. (SpaceX) to develop the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, and the estimate of what it would cost NASA to do the same job, offers hope that NASA can focus on deep-space exploration and leave flights to low Earth orbit (LEO) to the private sector, according to a member of the outside panel […]
ETC PR – Southampton, PA, USA. May 19, 2011 – Environmental Tectonics Corporation’s (OTC Bulletin Board: ETCC.PK) (“ETC” or the “Company”) announces the formation of the NASTAR Foundation, a non-profit organization that fosters opportunities for people of all ages to experience the excitement of aerospace exploration.
Core focus areas of the NASTAR Foundation are to:
* Inspire, facilitate, and grow public awareness and participation in aviation and space activities
* Enhance workforce development through life-long learning opportunities
* Support innovative programs that improve science, technology, engineering mathematics (STEM) education
* Facilitate theoretical and applied research to meet the needs of the aerospace industry
* Advance health & safety through the creation of medical and training standards for the commercial space industry
Congratulations are in order for Jon Goff. His start-up, Altius Space Machines, has snagged a round of investment. Joe Landon of the Space Angels Network made an announcement about the funding during a presentation this morning at the International Space Development Conference in Huntsville. The group helps connect entrepreneurs with investors who fund early-stage start-ups. Details of the investment are set to be announced shortly in a press release. Goff […]
Astronaut Shannon Walker activates nanoracks. Image credit: NASA
Adapted from NanoRack and Molecular Devices PR
In what is being hailed as a major step forward for microgravity research, NASA has selected NanoRacks to adapt off-the-shelf laboratory technology to provide astronauts aboard the International Space Station with real-time results from experiments.
NanoRacks has selected the SpectraMax® M5e Multi-Mode Microplate Reader built by Molecular Devices for use as part of the U.S. National Laboratory. The technology will allow for sophisticated analysis of experiments across a range of scientific disciplines and reduce the need to return samples to Earth.
Masten's Xombie vehicle
MASTEN PR — Masten Space Systems and Space Florida announced today the signing of a $400,000 contract under which Masten will perform a series of demonstration flights of a Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) reusable suborbital launch vehicle from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Under the contract, Masten will complete multiple flights. These operations will serve as a pathfinder to assist Space Florida in developing operational requirements for VTVL vehicles, recommending the optimum operational scenario, and determining the program schedule to achieve launch capability as soon as possible.
In conjunction with the demonstration launches to be performed by Masten Space Systems, Space Florida has committed additional funds for Range costs and facilities upgrades at Launch Complex 36. In addition to providing Masten with Range support and the base infrastructure required for future sustained operations, this investment is anticipated to shorten processing timelines at the Eastern Range for other new vehicles, as well as provide a benchmark for Range costs that will enable faster and cheaper setup for other commercial launch providers.
International Space Station
Jeffrey Manber
Managing Director, NanoRacks
Background: NanoRacks is an American commercial company that flies small CubeSat experiments to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle and robotic freighters. Manber is a veteran space entrepreneur who was involved in trying to commercial the Russian Mir space station at the turn of the century.
Hi folks.
ISDC has formally begun. I’m doing updates here on PA and @spacecom on Twitter.
The morning started out with a Plenary session titled, “How Space Gets Done,” in which various experts described the process by which space policy in Washington is formulated. Apparently, it’s a complex, messy and ever changing endeavor done by a small group of folks who all go to the same receptions.
Many of them had the pleasure to study, as I did, under Dr. John Logsdon, professor emeritus from the George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute. Logsdon was a panelist today and had a few choice observations about the state of America’s space programs.
U.S. Lawmakers Question White House About Overhaul of Export-licensing System
Space News
A White House proposal to overhaul the U.S. export-licensing system could face an uphill battle against Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress who say a compelling case has yet to be made for a wholesale restructuring of the process, which strictly regulates the sale of military and dual-use technologies overseas, including U.S. commercial communications satellites and components.
