Monday, December 6, 2010, 2-3:30 PM PST. We welcome Francis French to the program. Mr. French is the Director of Education for the San Diego Air & Space Museum and is an authority on manned spaceflight history. Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 7-8:30 PM PST: We welcome Dan Walt to the program, a procurement expert who has much to say and teach us about NASA and government procurement as he works […]
A video of the “Extraterrestrial Prospecting” session held during the SSI Space Manufacturing 14 conference at NASA Ames Conference Center in October. Presenters discussed remote techniques for assaying and utilizing Near Earth Object resources. Session Chair: Professor Michael F. A’Hearn Water vs. Rocks: Resources for Earth or for Exploration? Prof. Michael A’Hearn, University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy Mining Methods for Asteroid Utilization Brad Blair, Space Studies Institute, and Prof. […]
Some news on Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to India, which included a stop at ISRO and the announcement a pair of commercial agreements:
Much like British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy chose to start his visit to India from Bangalore.
After landing at the HAL Airport, Sarkozy along with his wife Carla Bruni, ministers and business delegates, headed to the ISRO Satellite Centre where he was briefed on the Megha- Tropiques satellite, which is being co-developed by India and France.
Artists conception of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft in orbit
SPACEX AND NASA SCHEDULE UPDATES
Liftoff of the first SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon demonstration launch for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program could occur as early as December 7th, with December 8th and 9th as backup days, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window for all three days extends from 9:00 a.m. to 12:22 p.m. EST. The Dragon capsule is expected to orbit the Earth at speeds greater than 17,000 miles per hour, reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, and land in the Pacific Ocean roughly 3 1/2 hours later.
The COTS Demo 1 launch will be webcast at www.spacex.com. The webcast will begin approximately 45 minutes prior to the opening of the daily launch window, at 8:15 a.m. EST / 5:15 a.m. PST / 13:15 UTC. During the webcast, SpaceX hosts will provide information specific to the flight, an overview of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft and commentary on the launch and flight sequences.
The X-37B sits on the Vandenberg Air Force base runway during post-landing operations Dec. 3. The X-37B, named Orbital Test Vehicle 1 (OTV-1), conducted on-orbit experiments for more than 220 days during its maiden voyage. It fired its orbital maneuver engine in low-earth orbit to perform an autonomous reentry before landing. (Credit: Air Force Space Command)
From SpaceX: Full duration static fire! We’ll continue to review data but today’s static fire appears to be a success.
Inside Tucson Business reports that Paragon Space Development Corporation had completing manufacturing of its Air Revitalization System Engineering Development Unit (EDU) for NASA. The project is being funded under the space agency’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program. The final step is the completion of initial EDU integrated ground testing in Paragon’s ECLSS Human-rating Test Facility is scheduled for completion this month.
A static firing of the Falcon 9 engine was aborted at the last second on Friday afternoon. It has been postponed until Saturday at the earliest. The SpaceX rocket is to carry the first Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The launch is scheduled for Dec. 7. Updates as they come available.
Absent their vertical tails, the two X-34 aircraft were convoyed from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center to the north gate of Edwards Air Force Base via Rosamond Boulevard Tuesday morning, and then overnight on Highway 58 to the Mojave Air and Spaceport Wednesday. (Credit: NASA Dryden/Tony Landis)
Sierra Nevada Studying X-34 As Rocket Testbed
Aviation Week
Sierra Nevada is emerging as the likely front runner to use the former NASA X-34 reusable launch vehicle demonstrator as a flying testbed for its Dream Chaser orbital space vehicle….
30th Space Wing Public Affairs
Dec. 3, 2010
The U.S. Air Force’s first unmanned re-entry spacecraft landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 1:16 a.m. today.
The X-37B, named Orbital Test Vehicle 1 (OTV-1), conducted on-orbit experiments for more than 220 days during its maiden voyage. It fired its orbital maneuver engine in low-earth orbit to perform an autonomous reentry before landing.
Geomicrobiologist Felisa Wolfe-Simon, collecting lake-bottom sediments in the shallow waters of Mono Lake in California. Wolfe-Simon cultured the arsenic-utilizing organisms from this hypersaline and highly alkaline environment. Credit: ©2010 Henry Bortman
NASA PRESS RELEASE
NASA-funded astrobiology research has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth.
Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components.
“The definition of life has just expanded,” said Ed Weiler, NASA’s associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington. “As we pursue our efforts to seek signs of life in the solar system, we have to think more broadly, more diversely and consider life as we do not know it.”
International Space Station
NASA PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON — As the International Space Station transitions from its assembly phase to full utilization as a unique scientific outpost, NASA is investing in the station’s future use by ensuring a wide pool of organizations outside the agency have access to the orbiting lab.
NASA is seeking an independent, nonprofit research management organization to develop and manage the U.S. portion of the station, which was designated a national laboratory in 2005. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010, in addition to extending station operations until at least 2020, also directed NASA to establish this organization to manage station research by other U.S. government agencies, academic institutions and private firms.