XCOR's Lynx suborbital vehicle
XCOR CEO Jeff Greason gave two talks on Friday at the ISDC . The first, which dealt with the company’s business prospects, seems to have been quite upbeat. The other, a luncheon talk about the current debate in Congress over NASA’s human spaceflight plan, was decidedly less so.
Here, the good news…
NASA is considering having a competition for the new ISS lifeboat, a role that the Orion spacecraft has been designated to fill.
SpacX Founder Elon Musk
Just as NASA is struggling to convince Congress that private companies like SpaceX can take over human spaceflight into low Earth orbit, there comes word that company CEO Elon Musk is borrowing money from friends to cover $200,000 in monthly household expenses.
“About four months ago, I ran out of cash,†he wrote in a court filing dated Feb. 23, reviewed by VentureBeat. That’s a problem not just for him but for Tesla, where he is the lead investor and chief product architect, as well as CEO. Musk’s willingness to funnel his own cash into Tesla has for years sustained the faith of fellow investors and reassured would-be car buyers in 2008 when the company’s finances were in perilous shape.
Lockheed Martin could lay off up to 650 employees because of NASA’s decision to downsize the Orion crew capsule.
SpaceX will launch its first Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral no earlier than June 4.
UP Aerospace's SpaceLoft vehicle
One of the goals of the U.S. military is to be able to quickly build and launch payloads into space in order to respond to situations that might arise. The military took a step toward that goal with an experiment earlier this month in New Mexico.
ORS PRESS RELEASE
The Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office participated in the successful launch of the UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL rocket from Spaceport America carrying a payload built in less than one week. The launch took place on May 4 at approximately 6:45 a.m. MDT.
“I applaud the launch and payload teams and am pleased that the ORS payload provided yet another demonstration of our enablers of rapid spacecraft build, integration, test and launch,†said Dr. Peter Wegner, Director, ORS Office. “This launch proved to be a very cost effective way to demonstrate key ORS enabling models of rapid development and build of a payload, integration and test of the payload, and identification and assurance of payload technical readiness. We continue to address the military’s need for responsive, affordable and flexible space systems by using off the shelf components to support a variety of future missions,†added Wegner.
ULA PRESS RELEASE
Celebrating 50 years of launch for one of the most successful rocket programs in U.S. history, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV successfully launched the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIF SV-1 spacecraft at 11 p.m. EDT yesterday from Space Launch Complex-37. Â GPS IIF SV-1 marked the 349th launch in the Delta program’s 50 year history, which began with its first launch on May 13, 1960.
Space Shuttle
Work starts on jobs plan
Florida Today
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez visited Central Florida Thursday as part of his efforts to develop a plan to invest $40 million to help soon-to-be-jobless space workers by bringing in industries that can put them back to work.
Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center
Writing in the Tallahassee Democrat, Space Florida President Frank DiBello thanks the State Legislature for boosting aerospace spending this year, saying the $32 million package will help ensure a vibrant future:
Millions of stakeholders are closely watching the aerospace industry, and this past session, our Legislature let every one know that Florida is committed to a vibrant future as a leader in global space sectors. From Pensacola to Pembroke Pines, tens of thousands of direct employees, small businesses and major suppliers and service providers can rest assured that their leaders recognize the significance of aerospace, and are committed to it for their future and the future of Florida…
The Planetary Society's LightSail-1 solar sail. Credit: Rick Sternbach/The Planetary Society
As Japan prepares to deploy its IKAROS solar sail spacecraft, the Planetary Society’s Lou Friedman has published an update on the non-profit group’s similar effort, LightSail-1, which is set for launch during the second quarter of 2011. An excerpt:
The LightSail-1 spacecraft development is proceeding well. Our engineering team—led by Jim Cantrell—has completed the preliminary design and made critical decisions to select the hardware and subsystem for the final design—crucial milestones to building the vehicle that will demonstrate the value and potential of using sunlight alone to propel exploratory craft through space.
Carl Anthony Tramon as Homer "Sonny" Hickam in "Rocket Boys" the musical.
PRESS RELEASE
Rocket Boys, the musical based on the classic New York Times #1 bestseller by Homer Hickam (also immortalized in the hit Universal Pictures film October Sky starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Hickam), is preparing for an exclusive industry presentation in New York City, Monday, June 7th, at 2pm and 7pm.
Hickam himself is attending the presentation, as are representatives from Universal (which has green-lit the musical to move forward), CBS, and the theatre community. Hickam, besides being a best-selling author, is a frequent guest on national television and radio news and talk shows commenting on the future of America’s space program, coal mining issues, as well as his literary works. He frequently contributes editorials to The Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal.
Rocket Racing League co-founders Granger Whitelaw and Peter Diamandis have filed a patent application for a ‘Rocket Powered Entertainment Vehicle.” The application was submitted last July and published on April 22. The co-applicant is Michael R. D’angelo of Orlando, Florida.
