Summary of Speech by Anatoly Perminov, Roscosmos Head During Videoconference with the Heads of the Space Agencies Involved in the ISS Program
ESA Headquarters in Paris
June 17, 2009

Concerning NASA`s current summary plan of human spaceflights in the International Space Station program, the issues related to transport and cargo supply support of the station are critical for us, since Roscosmos today puts significant efforts into maintaining human habitation in the space station, including crew rotation, rescue, payload delivery, under NASA`s orders as well. We are endorsing NASA endeavors to accelerate development of the Orion crew transport system and the Ares-1 launch vehicle.

(more…)

Halperin, Cirque step up legal duel over Laliberté bio
CBC News

The author of an unauthorized biography of Cirque du Soleil’s founder says he plans to file a $500,000 lawsuit against the Montreal circus troupe and Guy Laliberté, according to a report in Le Journal de Montréal.

(more…)

University of Plymouth Press Release

The University of Plymouth is hosting a special civic reception to welcome senior personnel from the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA this weekend. The agencies’ annual summit, as well as an exciting week-long exhibition featuring Bridget – the ExoMars Rover – will also take place at the university.

(more…)

Astronaut Michael Barratt gives a video tour of the International Space Station.

International Space Station

NASA PRESS RELEASE

After reviewing more than 3500 applications, NASA has selected nine men and women for the 2009 astronaut candidate class. They will begin training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, in August.

(more…)

The Space Show will feature author Andrew Chaiken, Dr. Paul Mueller, James Pura, Ryan McLinko, and Stuart Eves.

Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft

ROSKOSMOS PRESS OFFICE

Russian interplanetary probe Phobos-Grunt will have passengers. There are earth`s bacteria. They will fly from the Earth to Mars and back and undergo space cold and radiation. Scientists want to use the bacteria to find out whether life of our planet could have been brought from space.

Lev Zeleny, director of RAS Space Research Institute, explains that the goal of this mission is to check if bacteria can survive in outer space, for example, if they fly on the surface of meteor.

(more…)

ROSKOSMOS PRESS OFFICE
24 June 2009

The new chief of NASA Moscow Liaison Office Patric Buzzard was introduced to Roscosmos Administration today.

From 1999 to 2005, he was in different positions in NASA Office in Moscow. In 2005, he returned back to the USA and started working in NASA HQ in Washington. Later, he took a position in the ISS Program Office in Johnson Space Center, Houston.

(more…)

Russian engineers have successfully tested a new methane rocket engine.

NASA PROGRAM UPDATE

NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate is proud to announce
the inaugural Lunar Regolith Excavator Student Competition May 25-28,
2010, at the Astronaut Hall of Fame Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

(more…)

The Parabolic Archers have spoken, and you have chosen Neil Diamond as your favorite Neil. The crooner received 74 votes (55 percent), which was way ahead of the original moon walker, Neil Armstrong, who received only 44 votes (34 percent). Actor Neil Patrick Harris came in third with 14 votes (10 percent) while President George W. Bush’s brother Neil garnered a mere 1 vote (1 percent). I’m a little surprised […]

ESA-selected Mars500 crewmember Oliver Knickel is ready for the 'Pilot' experiment. Knickel is one of six crewmembers to enter a special isolation facility at the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow on 31 March 2009 for a 105-day stay as part of the Mars500 study. Credits: ESA

MARS500 UPDATE

The Mars500 crew are about to embark on the final three weeks of their 105-day simulated mission to Mars. ESA-selected crewmember Cyrille Fournier writes about the passing of time inside the isolation facility at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, Russia.

Cyrille Fournier writes

During the past week we have crossed another important line. Indeed, from now on, we are no longer counting down the time remaining in weeks but rather in days: as I am writing this dairy, we are 23 days away from our exit from the module.

(more…)