ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair is all set to become the first non-American to head the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).
The Times of India has an update on that nation’s planetary exploration plans:
India’s mission to Mars will take place between 2013-2015, Indian Space Research Organisation chief G Madhavan Nair said on Monday.
BRISTOL SPACEPLANES PRESS UPDATE
A new paper by Bristol Spaceplane’s David Ashford entitled ‘The Aviation Approach to Space Transportation‘ has been published this month in the August 2009 of the Aeronautical Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
NASA has selected 16 small business projects to address important research and technology needs. The awards are part of NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The SBIR program selected 12 proposals for negotiation of phase II contracts, with a total value of approximately $7.2 million. The awards went to 12 small, high technology firms in nine states.
WHITE LABEL SPACE PRESS RELEASE
White Label Space has announced its newest Partner, AOES Group BV (AOES). AOES is a well-established supplier of specialist engineering services to the European Space Agency (ESA) with a long track record dating back to 1980. AOES will contribute to White Label Space’s no-name space mission to land on the Moon, which will provide massive media exposure and sponsorship opportunities for the world’s biggest brands.
Bristol Spaceplanes has carried out a successful engine test of its hydrogen peroxide demonstrator.
The Orlando Sentinel says the 10-member panel will send a draft of its executive summary to the White House within the next day but will delay release of its full report until mid-September.
China to begin construction of orbital space station in 2020
RIA Novosti
China will begin the construction of its own orbital space station in 2020, the Sina news service said on Monday, citing a top official with the country’s manned spaceflight program.
Asteroid Ida
British plan to tackle asteroids
BBC News
A team of British scientists are developing plans for a spacecraft that could stop large asteroids from destroying the Earth.
The 10 tonne “gravity tractor” would deflect any orbiting rocks years before any potential collision could happen.
Russia will spend $143 million by 2015 on producing its new Angara rocket.
India Moon mission is ‘mixed success’
BBC News
Despite being dubbed by Isro as an “engineering success”, the mission had a rough ride around the Moon.
A fuel leak from the rocket almost aborted its lift-off. Within days of reaching the Moon a power system failed, and a back-up system had to be activated.
The Space Review examines NASA’s direction and its brain drain, the legacy of ICBMs, and whether Pluto got demoted.