Artist Impression of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipOne over Spaceport America in New Mexico.

NMSA PRESS RELEASE

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) has selected two contractors to provide services for the construction of Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport that is now being built in southern New Mexico.

After reviewing proposals from several contractors, the NMSA Board of Directors awarded construction of the airfield to David Montoya Construction, Inc. The board also awarded the Site Enabling contract to FNF New Mexico, LLC.

(more…)

ESA-selected Mars500 participant Cyrille Fournier inside the greenhouse area of the isolation facility during the 105-day study. Credits: ESA

Mars500 diary: nearing mission end
8 July 2009

In his latest diary entry, ESA-selected Mars500 crewmember Cyrille Fournier describes how the six-strong crew is starting to prepare for the end of the 105-day simulated Mars mission inside the special isolation facility at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, Russia.

Cyrille Fournier writes:

(more…)

NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program, working with the Office of the Chief Engineer at NASA Headquarters, has selected 20 projects for the 2009 NASA Innovation Fund.

The fund was established to advance work from NASA innovators on novel technologies and concepts that have the potential to revolutionize the way NASA performs its missions such as enabling new capabilities in space flight, science, aeronautics or exploration. Projects that also offer potential solutions to other national and global challenges are of particular interest.

(more…)

PROGRAM UPDATE

Apollo 15 command module pilot Al Worden will be the featured guest on the July 11 edition of “Space Talk with Jim Banke.” Worden, a retired Air Force colonel, flew to the Moon in August 1971 with astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin, remaining in lunar orbit while his crewmates explored Hadley Rille and the Apennene Mountains. On the way home to Earth he performed the first spacewalk in “deep space.”

(more…)

The Big Island of Hawaii

Hawaii seeks to launch space tourism initiative
Associated Press

Space pioneers envision launching high-end Hawaii tourists from the sand to the stars, taking island-hopping to new heights.

(more…)

Ares 1-X undergoing assembly

ATK PRESS RELEASE

For the first time in more than a quarter-century, a new space vehicle will begin stacking on a mobile launch platform (MLP) at Kennedy Space Center, thanks to the hard work and dedication of an experienced team of employees from NASA and contractors United Space Alliance (USA) and Alliant Techsystems [NYSE: ATK].

(more…)

Win a trip to South Korea for SGC’09!
The Peter Diamandis SGC 2009 Scholarship

This award is selected by the Space Generation Congress (SGC) organizers and Peter Diamandis to award a delegate who demonstrates outstanding leadership, activity, and motivation prior to the Congress. In addition to sending a CV and applying for SGC (www.explorerswanted.com), the applicant must write a 500-1,000 word essay on how this year’s SGAC themes (Agency, Industry, Climate, Exploration and Peace) are important to the future of humankind’s progress in space. Applicants may focus on one, a couple, or all of the themes in their essays. Applications are due by Friday, July 31, 2009. This award covers airline ticket and the SGC registration fee.

(more…)

Founding of the Singularity University
by SU Founder Peter Diamandis
The Huffington Post

SU has just completed the first of nine weeks of the Graduate Student Program (GSP’09) and I’m extremely pleased and proud of what we have created. It is real, off and running, and here to stay.

(more…)

Ares 1-X undergoing assembly

NASA’s Ares partners say they’re open to moon-rocket ideas
Orlando Sentinel

The aerospace giants contracted to help build NASA’s next-generation spaceships are quietly hedging their bets and stepping back from the Ares rockets that the agency has staked its future on after the shuttle retires next year.

(more…)

Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center

Officials focus on jobs loss
Florida Today

A regional approach to managing the space industry’s job losses — expected to be in excess of 3,500 when NASA retires the shuttle in 2010 — is the goal of a Friday meeting of government and industry leaders from seven Central Florida counties.

(more…)

NASA MISSION UPDATE

Launch countdown operations are on schedule with no issues to report, according to launch officials at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The countdown to space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-127 launch began on time July 8 at 10 p.m. EDT.

(more…)

NASA's Ares I rocket lifts off in this artist's conception. (Credit: NASA)

ATK PRESS RELEASE

Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) was selected by The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) to manufacture the upper stage ullage motors for the new Ares I launch vehicle. The Ares I is NASA’s two-stage rocket that will launch astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on missions to the International Space Station, the moon, Mars and out into the solar system.

The ullage motor, almost four feet in length, is similar to the Space Shuttle booster separation motor which ATK also manufacturers. Eight ullage motors will be arranged in four pairs on the Ares I upper stage, which also houses the reaction control system.

(more…)