The Japanese space agency JAXA has reached an agreement to allow for year-round launches from the Tanegashima Space Center. Currently, the launch period is limited to 190 days due to fishing restrictions.
The Coalition for Space Exploration is running a competition in which you can win tickets to the watch one of the final space shuttle launches in Florida. Prizes All you need to do is to answer five questions about space exploration on the coalition’s website. You will then be eligible for the following prizes: Exploration Digital Prize Package – All participants can download this package, which includes space-themed icons and […]
More Detail Sought On Commercial Crew Plan
Aviation Week
A NASA Advisory Council (NAC) subcommittee is echoing frustrated members of Congress in asking the U.S. space agency to provide more detail and justification for its plan to substitute commercial space taxis for the Orion crew exploration vehicle and its Ares I launcher as a route to the International Space Station (ISS) for astronauts.
Author of “The Nuclear Rocket”, James Dewar joins us to discuss why we should consider moving away from chemical rockets and re-start development of nuclear rockets. Think radiation would be a huge issue? Think again! This is a completely different way of looking at space travel and a very fascinating interview.
The Mars500 crew shares a meal. (Credits: ESA/Mars500 crew)
‘Smooth routine’ and interplanetary birthday party
22 July 2010
Romain Charles writes in his second diary entry about the morning routines, packed feeling on the central corridor and about his first birthday in isolation.
The Space Show schedule for this week: Monday, August 2, 2010: 2-3:30 PM PDT We welcome representatives of AIAA to discuss the upcoming AIAA Space 2010 Conference in Anaheim, CA from August 31-Sept. 2, 2010. Among the guests will be Dr. Klaus Dannenberg, Deputy Executive Director, AIAA and Peter Montgomery, Aerospace Testing Alliance, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB. Tuesday,August 3 , 2010, 7-8:30 PM PDT: We welcome […]
Virgin Galactic's VMS Eve during its third test flight in March 2009 over the California desert. The vehicle was developed in California but will fly commercially out of New Mexico.
Below are excerpts from the newly-released California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan for 2010-12. The plan highlights the benefits of space to the Golden State’s economy (87,000 jobs and $93 billion economic impact), opportunities for growth (NewSpace), serious risks (competition for overseas, high costs, and an aging workforce), and 27 steps that the California Space Authority will take to address those challenges.
CSA PRESS RELEASE
The California Space Authority (CSA) today announced the California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan 2010-2012. Developed collaboratively by approximately 200 senior level and executive space stakeholders representing approximately 100 industry, government, academia and nonprofit organizations throughout California, the Plan showcases the direction of the industry. It also serves as a timely informational resource to enhance awareness among federal and state policy makers as well as the general public.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies has released a report saying that U.S. security is increasingly dependent upon foreign satellite services and launch providers and a weak domestic commercial space base.
Scaled Composites’ Burt Rutan was in Oshkosh this week, although sans the giant airplane (WhiteKnightTwo) and the human megaphone (Richard Branson) that livened up last year’s AirVenture show.
SpacX Founder Elon Musk
Well, this has been Elon Musk Week. The SpaceX/Tesla/Solar City/Real-life Tony Stark/Mogul Guy has been busy perfecting his American accent, appearing on The Colbert Report, and rallying opposition against a House NASA funding bill that doesn’t gives rocket companies like his own enough money to build their commercial rockets.
That’s a lot, right? Yes, but it’s not enough. There’s much more…
The Denver Business Journal has an interview with Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s space division and chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. He argues that NASA should fund Orion for deep space exploration only while robustly funding alternatives like the Dream Chaser vehicle that his company is developing for orbital flights.