With SpaceX pushing NASA to allow it to dock it Dragon spacecraft with the International Space Station on its next flight, Russian officials appear to be taking a more conservative approach, RIA Novosti reports:

“We will not issue docking permission unless the necessary level of reliability and safety [of the spacecraft] is proven. So far we have no proof that those spacecraft duly comply with the accepted norms of spaceflight safety,” said Alexei Krasnov, who heads the manned spaceflight department of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos.

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  XCOR CEO Jeff Greason talks space exploration.

Artist's conception of Boeing's commercial crew module. (Credit: Boeing)

Space News’ Peter b. de Selding takes a look at the divergent paths being taken by Boeing and Lockheed Martin as the two aerospace giants adjust to an expected decline in U.S. defense spending over the next decade. Reviewing remarks by company officials during the recent National Space Symposium, he finds that Boeing is focusing its efforts on commercial ventures while its rival is betting is being much more cautious.

Assessing the same forecasts that U.S. Defense Department spending is poised to decline after a decade marked by unparalleled investment in military space assets, Boeing Network and Space Systems is re-entering the commercial market after a disastrous series of missteps a decade ago. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, meanwhile, has not much changed its commercial space posture.

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Dnepr launch vehicle. (Credit: JSC Kosmotras)

Kazakhstan will plans to increase its share in the Kosmotras launch company from 10 percent to 33.3 percent next year, Kazakh National Space Agency Talgat Musabayev said on Friday, ITAR-TASS reports.

Late last year, the country acquired 10 percent of the Moscow-based joint stock company, which has Russian and Ukrainian partners. Kosmotras, also known as Cosmotrans, launches Dnepr rockets from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the Yasny launch complex in Russia.

“That was the first step in Kazakhstan’s accession to its own spaceport. We have not been present there until now; today we take part in space activities and launches,” he said.
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Twenty-one companies submitted proposals for the second round of NASA’s CCDev program. Eight of the proposals made it past the initial screening process, and NASA made four awards. The breakdown: The Winners The Boeing Company  — $92.3 million Sierra Nevada Corporation — $80 million SpaceX — $75 million Blue Origin — $22 million The Runners Up ATK Aerospace Systems Excalibur Almaz, Inc. Orbital Sciences Corporation United Launch Alliance, LLC And […]

The flight log for SpaceShipTwo’s fifth glide test on Good Friday. Flight: 56 / GF05 Date: 22 Apr 11 Flight Time: 14 min, 31 sec SS2 Pilot: Siebold SS2 CoPilot: Shane GS Crew: Binnie, Kelley, Bassett, Tighe, Reid, Keller, Verderame, Maisler, Zeitlin Objectives: Clean release Evaluate stability and control Continued flutter envelope expansion Pilot proficiency Results: Clean release at desired altitude. Glide test objectives complete without issues. Update: Leonard David […]

Longueuil, Quebec, April 19, 2011 – Ten years ago today, Canadarm2 was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. A larger, more robust successor to the Shuttle’s Canadarm, Canadarm2 has provided a full decade of flawless service as the Station’s sophisticated “construction crane,” having assembled the ISS module by module in space.

Canadarm2 has unloaded hundreds of tons of equipment and supplies ferried by the shuttle and assisted almost 100 spacewalks. Endeavour’s last flight later this month will mark Canadarm2’s 28th Shuttle mission. Additionally, the robotic arm performed two “cosmic catches” where it captured, docked and later released two unpiloted Japanese resupply ships (HTV-1 and HTV-2).

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Back in 1980, beleaguered Americans beset by high unemployment, severe inflation, and the hapless Carter Administration had but one question on their minds: Who Shot J.R.?

Yes, dastardly John Ross Ewing Jr. — the oil baron America loved to hate — had been shot by an unknown assailant on the final episode of Dallas‘ 1979-80 season. The March 21 cliffhanger caused an immediate global sensation. Vendors did a boffo business selling “Who Shot J.R.?” t-shirts. Betting parlors worldwide too bets on who dun it. Republicans claimed that a Democrat did it. Star Larry Hagman held out for more money while a writer’s strike delayed the new season well into the fall. The excitement even reached Turkey, where members of Parliament suspended their legislative session so they could get home in time to watch the big reveal.

Finally, on Nov. 21, 1980, a record audience of 83 million Americans watched spellbound as the shooter was revealed. And the culprit was….I’m not going to reveal it now. Not before the break.  But, I can tell you that it may have been the character played by the actress who is the subject of our second installment of “Meet the Celebritynauts”.

Yes, today’s Celebritynaut is…

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RIA Novosti reports that Russia will debut a new version of its venerable Soyuz rocket next year that will launch lighter payloads into orbit. The rocket will be a modification of the standard booster, with the following features: removal of booster rockets use of NK-33 rocket engines on the first stage identical second stage payload capacity of 2.85 tons (6,300 lb) to 200-kilometer orbit. Launches will be carried out from […]

Taurus 2 risk-reduction flight approved for October launch Spaceflight Now NASA has agreed to pay approximately $100 million to Orbital Sciences Corp. for a test flight of the Taurus 2 rocket to reduce risk on future launches to resupply the International Space Station, company officials said Thursday. The test flight is scheduled to blast off in early October from a new launch pad on Wallops Island, Va. The launch will […]

Look out, England! Your royal wedding has some competition in the publicity department from American technology and star power. President Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, will be attending the April 29 launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on April 29. They will join U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from an assassination attempt in January, to watch Giffords’ husband, Mike Kelly, pilot the […]

Google Lunar X Prize competitor Astrobotic Technology — which plans to send a private rover to the moon — has been selected by NASA for a Small Business Technology Transfer Phase 2 award. The company is developing “a scalable gravity offload device [that] simulates reduced gravity for the testing of various surface system elements such as mobile robots, excavators, habitats, and deployables in a relevant environment” in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.

The value of the agreement was not revealed. NASA selected 27 STTR proposals for Phase 2 negotiations. The awards will total $16.2 million.

A full description of Astrobotic’s project follows after the break.

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