Boeing posts wider loss, reaffirms 787 schedule
Reuters
Boeing Co. on Wednesday posted a larger-than-expected quarterly loss on costs related to its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner program, but the world’s second-largest planemaker reaffirmed that the aircraft is on track to fly this year.
The loss, combined with a lowered 2009 earnings outlook, sent shares down in early trading, although most of the details in the earnings statement had been previously publicized.
Shelby lashes out at White House space committee
Orlando Sentinel
Republican Senator Richard Shelby launched a preemptive strike on President Barack Obama’s blue ribbon space panel the day before it was due to release its final report, calling the committee’s findings “worthless.â€
Altair
NASA PROGRAM UPDATE
NASA has chosen 18 proposals from universities around the country to receive up to $70,000 for Phase One of the NASA Ralph Steckler Space Grant Colonization Research and Technology Development Opportunity.
Grant money will support university research and technology development activities that support a sustained human presence in space, increase understanding of the moon’s environment and develop basic infrastructure for future space colonies.
International Space Station
SPACE FOUNDATION PRESS RELEASE
The Space Foundation today strongly recommended that the United States keep the International Space Station (ISS) functioning until at least 2020 and beyond, if possible.
The recommendation is the key message of a Space Foundation white paper, The International Space Station: Decision 2015, that argues for continued U.S. involvement to further scientific study, maintain positive international collaboration, and significantly improve the nation’s space-related return on investment.
PRESS RELEASE
Today, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) and Congressman Bill Posey (FL-15) introduced legislation to help minimize the impact of the impending human spaceflight gap on Central Florida’s economy by encouraging the development of the commercial spaceflight industry. The bipartisan bill would establish a competitive Commercial Space Transportation R&D “Centers of Excellence†(COE) program within NASA.
SPACEX PRESS RELEASE
McGregor, Texas (October 21, 2009) – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully conducted two static firings of the first stage, nine engine cluster for its Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The firings took place at SpaceX’s Texas Test Site, a 300-acre structural and propulsion testing facility just outside of Waco, Texas. With completion of these tests, the first stage has now passed both structural and propulsion acceptance testing and will ship to Cape Canaveral in preparation for the first flight of Falcon 9.
Over at Newsweek, Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball have a doozy of an update on the espionage charges against Stewart David Nozette, a government contractor who is principal investigator for a key experiment on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and worked on India’s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft and the DOD’s Clementine orbiter.
The investigation that led to his arrest on Monday resulted from an earlier investigation into Nozette’s dealings with NASA. The inquiry involved alleged fraud involving a non-profit that he and his wife led, and counter charges that NASA was retaliating against him for exposing a convicted felon in the space agency’s upper management:
The liquid oxygen/liquid methane engine, developed by Armadillo Aerospace with help from NASA, was tested in the vacuum chamber at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility.
NASA PROGRAM UPDATE
It’s exactly what everyone’s looking for: an engine that works on cheaper, less toxic, more readily available fuels.
This engine just happens to be for a rocket.
Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and White Sands Test Facility teamed up with Dallas-based Armadillo Aerospace through an Innovative Partnership Program agreement to design and test a rocket engine that runs on liquid oxygen and liquid methane, for use on the moon or other extraterrestrial surfaces.
EADS PRESS RELEASE
EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, has named Sean O’Keefe as Chief Executive Officer to lead the operations of EADS North America. His appointment is effective November 1, 2009 and he will become a member of the EADS NV Executive Committee beginning January 1, 2010.
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EADS North America, will retain his position as chairman of the EADS North America board and oversee EADS’ role in the Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker offer to the U.S. Air Force. Crosby also will remain on the EADS NV Executive Committee during the leadership transition.
Lockheed Martin posts profit, sees 2010 down
Reuters
Lockheed Martin Corp posted better-than-expected quarterly profit aided by a lower tax rate and share count on Tuesday, but revenue missed Wall Street estimates and the defense contractor warned earnings would drop in 2010, sending its shares down more than 5 percent.
“It is difficult to find any positives” in the results, Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak said in a note to clients. “Similar to last quarter’s disappointment, we believe results indicate that the tides are changing in defense vs. the weaker-than-expected results being attributable to company- specific issues.”
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden had some very nice things to say about commercial space companies and NASA’s Centennial Challenges during an address today before the National Association of Investment Companies in Washington, DC. Below are some relevant excerpts, followed by the full text of Bolden’s address.
By the end of this week, we expect to receive the final report of the Augustine committee and I will join with the President’s science advisor, Dr. John Holdren and other principals from the Executive Office of the President in developing a recommendation for the President to assist him in determining his vision for the future of human space flight and space exploration in America. Whatever the President’s decision, America needs NASA and private industry to work to achieve our national goals in space. This means that NASA must determine efficient and effective ways to leverage the power, and innovation of American industry and the American entrepreneur.
The Korean Herald reports:
Lotte Department Store said yesterday it will give away a three-hour spaceship ride as a prize for a shopper to be picked by lottery through November in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the company.
