Space News reports that President Barack Obama has made export control reform a key priority for the new year.

U.S. President Barack Obama has directed his administration to recommend by no later than Jan. 29 steps leading to an overhaul of the U.S. export control regime, according to a presidential directive signed Dec. 21.

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AD ASTRA PRESS RELEASE
January 15, 2009

Ad Astra Rocket Company, a world leader in plasma rockets and MEI Technologies, Inc., a nationwide aerospace, defense and technology company, have joined forces creating a strategic alliance in support of Ad Astra’s Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR®) rocket development.

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An interview with space shuttle technician and Space Tweep Society founder Jen Scheer (@FlyingJenny).

Bolden to review HLV study on Friday – Sidemount in doubt, In-line/SSME boost
NASASpaceFlight.com

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden will review the findings of his “special team” – which he set up to evaluate all Heavy Lift alternatives to the current plan – on Friday. Pre-empting the overview, Exploration Project officials all-but ruled out the Sidemount HLV, whilst noting a couple of In-line heavy lifters – one of which appears to be a DIRECT Jupiter launch vehicle – made it through to the Bolden meeting….

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The Orlando Sentinel reports on efforts by Space Florida President Frank DiBello to turn around his moribund state agency and help stem the job losses that will hit the Space Coast when NASA retires the space shuttle:

He has canceled consultants’ contracts, fired his Washington-based lobbying firm, abandoned — at least for now — the agency’s ambitious plans to create a public-private spaceport and is cutting staff. He has also refocused the agency on projects — however small — that can create jobs and preserve at least some of the launch and high-tech rocket-processing skills that have been honed during the past three decades.

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NEXT GIANT LEAP PRESS RELEASE

Next Giant Leap, a space exploration company competing for the Google Lunar X PRIZE, has officially announced the appointment of Chris Pavlovski as their Director of Marketing. Mr. Pavlovski is currently the CEO of JMG – Jolt Media Group Ltd., a privately held digital media company based in Toronto, Canada.

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State considers making Columbus primary spaceport
TheRepublic.com

Columbus is being considered as the state’s primary port to space under an Indiana House bill that would approve tax incentives for space-technology businesses.

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Ariane 5

ASTRIUM PRESS RELEASE

• Astrium, industrial prime contractor for the European launcher, is to develop a new, more powerful version of Ariane 5
• Ariane 5 ME will have a re-ignitable upper stage and be capable of launching payloads of up to 12 tonnes into orbit
• Contract worth €150 million over two years

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a contract with Astrium for the initial development phase of its programme to enhance the performance of the Ariane launch vehicle and make it even more competitive.

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Crist visits Jacksonville to tout spaceport
Financial News & Daily Record

Gov. Charlie Crist visited Jacksonville Wednesday to talk to leaders of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) about the future of a spaceport at Cecil Field after the facility was recently licensed for horizontal launches of spacecraft.

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National Geographic will produce a four-episode program about Virgin Galactic to air in the spring.

ASTRIUM PRESS RELEASE

“Johannes Kepler”, the second unmanned European cargo spacecraft for the International Space Station (ISS), is currently undergoing its first flightworthiness and functionality tests as a fully integrated unit at the Astrium facility in Bremen. Preparations for the final system tests are running at full capacity.

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The construction of Spaceport America has helped to propel Las Cruces, NM to number 9 on a list of best small cities in America.