NASA is looking for volunteers to spread the word about the wonders of space exploration.

Solar System Ambassador

Description:

What do a teacher, surfer, firefighter, award-winning book author and neurosurgeon have in common? A love of space and a desire to share that passion. They’ve joined a growing number of private citizens in NASA’s Solar System Ambassador program, which brings space information to the public through planetarium talks, telescope-viewing parties, mall displays and other events. Now you can volunteer too. Applications are being accepted through Sept. 30.

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YouTube user “Rounderb” has posted a video arguing in favor of keeping NASA’s current Constellation architecture with its Ares rockets.

The six new recruits to the European Astronaut Corps visiting the ESA pavilion at the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, 16 June 2009, before the Human Spaceflight and Exploration in Europe conference. From left to right: Andreas Mogensen, Alexander Gerst, Samantha Cristoforetti, Thomas Pesquet, Luca Parmitano, Timothy Peake.

ESA PRESS RELEASE

ESA’s new astronaut recruits reported this week to the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. The six have started the first days of their 18-month basic training in preparation for future missions to the International Space Station and beyond.

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SpaceX's Falcon 1 rocket

PRESS RELEASE

ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) announce they have reached an agreement for SpaceX to launch 18 ORBCOMM Generation 2 (OG2) satellites to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2010 through 2014. SpaceX will deliver ORBCOMM’s second-generation satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) for the purpose of supporting ORBCOMM’s existing constellation of satellites, adding new features, and growing its global Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) offerings.

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NASA Orion

Orion would fly late if new rocket ordered
Florida Today

The first flights of the next-generation Orion spacecraft would be pushed back at least a year or two if NASA is directed to scrap the Ares I rocket and switch to another launcher, officials said Tuesday.

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The first launch of Russia’s Soyuz-ST carrier rocket from the Kourou space center in French Guiana has been scheduled for the beginning of April 2010, general director of the Progress design bureau said on Tuesday.

Model of NASA's Orion spacecraft

NASA PRESS RELEASE

NASA has taken a major step toward building the next crew exploration vehicle by completing the Orion Project’s preliminary design review, or PDR. Orion is being designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station and other destinations.

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‘It looks good for us here’ at Marshall
Huntsville Times

Robert Lightfoot, Marshall Space Flight Center’s new director, told center employees Tuesday that Huntsville should be able to count on future NASA launch and science work.

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Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté has announced he will host an unprecedented 120-minute show from 14 cities and from International Space Station on Oct.9.

How do you wash your clothes in space? How does food stay fresh if there is no fridge on the ISS? ESA’s Frank De Winne is answering these, and many more of your questions, right now, from space.

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XCOR PRESS RELEASE

XCOR Aerospace announced today that it has reached several significant milestones in the 5K18 rocket engine test program. This is the engine that powers XCOR’s Lynx suborbital spacecraft. The engine can be seen running in several newly released videos including a video demonstrating the very stable “shock diamond” pattern visible in the engine’s supersonic exhaust.

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Rob Peckham is returning to Boeing Satellite Systems International as vice president of business development after only six months at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX).