Armadillo Aerospace had to scrub the inaugural launch of its STIG rocket for multiple reasons today. The company had hoped to send the rocket to more than 100,000 feet from Spaceport America. An update from Armadillo Aerospace Founder John Carmack on today’s scrub via the aRocket group: Initial attempt was scrubbed at the last minute when an uninvited party (a hunter) entered the exclusion zone. Second attempt had startup transient […]
UPES PR — March 30th 2011, New Delhi, India: An academic research report on Space Tourism in India conducted by students and faculty members of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun in association with the Institute of Air & Space Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada was released by Dr Nasim Zaidi, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
Applauding the efforts of UPES on the accomplishment of this Report, Dr Zaidi, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation expressed his belief that, “In the years to come, this Report, the first ever in the country, will serve as a basic report for future research reports in the rapidly emerging field of space tourism and hence a truly momentous occasion for the Universityâ€. He also stated that the Report was impressive in its contents and perspectives on the present and future challenges of this emerging industry.
Richard Branson
VIRGIN PR — Sir Richard Branson is setting his sights on the final frontier in his latest business venture announced today.
In a universal first Sir Richard has revealed that he has bought the former planet of Pluto for an undisclosed sum.
As a firm supporter of small businesses Sir Richard is hoping to set an example for struggling entrepreneurs facing setbacks by having Pluto reinstated as an official planet, after its declassification by the International Astronomical Union in 1996.
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) USA sent a letter to the White House and Congress yesterday supporting commercial space. The document was signed by 280 members across the nation.
Dear President Obama and Members of Congress,
This year, as we celebrate both the fiftieth anniversary of human spaceflight and the accomplishments of the retiring Space Shuttle fleet, the exploration of space remains as critical as ever. Over the past year, many groups have offered their opinions on the best way for the US government to foster space exploration. However, one critical perspective has been missing from this conversation: that of the next generation. We, the signatories of this letter — 280 students from universities and colleges across the nation — are writing you today to ensure that our voice is heard in this ongoing discussion.
Launch complexes on Wallops Island, Virginia
PRESS RELEASE — Tourism officials from Virginia Beach to southern Delaware will gather April 5 to discuss utilizing upcoming launches from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Virginia’s Eastern Shore to attract visitors to the mid-Atlantic region.
During the luncheon meeting, the nearly 50 officials will learn about the upcoming Department of Defense ORS-1 satellite launch from MARS at WFF, on a Minotaur 1 rocket this spring or summer and will discuss how to use this and other launches this summer as an additional attraction to visitors in the region.
The group has been meeting for nearly two years to discuss the marketing potential of “America’s First Space Coast†with traditional marketing themes they have used in the past. The area is widely known for its beaches and natural attractions. The group wants to take advantage of the rocket launches from Wallops as another activity that would attract visitors to the area.
SpaceX: Something Big Is Coming Elon Musk to Hold Press Conference in Washington Tuesday WASHINGTON – Elon Musk, CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), will hold a press conference on Tuesday, April 5th at the National Press Club in Washington to discuss his company’s latest venture. DATE: Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 LOCATION: National Press Club, Zenger Room 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045 […]
AEROJET PR – SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 30, 2011 – Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, in conjunction with Lockheed Martin and NASA, successfully completed vibration and hot fire acceptance testing on its first development MR-104G mono-propellant rocket engine planned for use on NASA’s Orion Crew Module (CM). Twelve 160-lb. thrust MR-104G engines, arranged in four single-engine pods and four dual-engine pods, provide the full complement of primary and redundant control required for critical maneuvers upon re-entry into the atmosphere.
More than half of the Department of Defense’s $19 billion space budget is spent in California, providing nearly 90,000 high-skilled jobs to the Golden State, the California Space Authority says.
In talking points papers released for CSA’s annual California Space Week Washington DC, the non-profit industry group said that DoD spends $10.6 billion, or 55 percent, of its space budget in the state. CSA officials and aerospace representatives spent three days on Capitol Hill this week lobbying legislators and other officials on behalf of key space priorities.
DoD spends more in California than NASA. CSA says the civilian space agency has $3.6 billion in direct contracts and employs 7,100 people with an annual payroll exceeding $900 million at its three field centers. NASA contributes an additional $14.1 billion in indirect jobs, according to CSA.
The CSA’s talking points memo on DoD spending in California is reproduced after the break.
CNBC’s new program, Divorce Wars, looks into the high-profile split of SpaceX Founder Elon Musk and his novelist wife, Justine. The show premiered on Tuesday but has later airings in the United States and around the world. The Huffington Post reports that although Musk has already remarried, divorce wrangling is still ongoing: Justine is challenging the validity of a post-nuptial agreement she signed six weeks after their wedding, which states […]
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Seven satellite industry companies have agreed to form an industry alliance to increase awareness of the benefits of hosted government payloads on commercial satellites.
The Hosted Payload Alliance (HPA) will serve as a bridge between government and private industry to foster open communication between potential users and providers of hosted payload capabilities.
HPA Steering Committee members are Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, Intelsat General Corporation, Iridium Communications Inc., Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Orbital Sciences Corporation, SES WORLD SKIES U.S. Government Solutions, and Space Systems/Loral.
A note from Space Frontier Foundation Chairman Bob Werb urging NewSpace proponents to light up Congressional phone lines in opposition to Congress’s plans for NASA.
Please remind your Representative & Senators they are not rocket scientists!
Let NASA compete all the best ideas for a Space Launch System…
Don’t mandate an unaffordable/unsustainable “Senate Launch Systemâ€!
Six months into Fiscal Year 2011 the U.S. Congress is still trying to write a budget for a year that’s half over. Down in the weeds of the final “continuing resolution†(CR) will be NASA’s budget for human space exploration.  The House-passed CR provides flexibility for NASA to choose the most affordable and sustainable approach. The Senate’s draft CR, which didn’t even pass the Senate, told NASA to build a 130-ton heavy-lift launch vehicle right away… using current contractors and 1970s era technology.