Expressing confidence in the design and technology for his company’s suborbital tourism vehicle, Rocketplane Global CEO Chuck Lauer told participants at Space Access ’09 on Saturday that the biggest problem his company is facing is financial, not technical.
The Space Studies Institute – a pioneering group in space settlement – has moved from its long-term base in Princeton, NJ to the new hotbed of commercial space activities, Mojave, Calif. SSI Executive Vice President Lee Valentine told attendees at Space Access ’09 that SSI plans a renewed effort in several areas after going through some tough times.
Space Frontier Foundation founder Jim Muncy just finished speaking at Space Access ’09. He said that the non-profit group is kicking off a new campaign to change the direction of the American human spaceflight program. The effort has four elements: (more…)
United Transport Systems CEO David Summers was at Space Access 09 this week to announce a new rocket-powered light aircraft that he says will be able to get two people anywhere on the planet in less than an hour.
Hey everyone. I’ve been busy at the Space Access ’09 conference in Phoenix over the last two days. Some really interesting sessions and talks with the people here. Very cool. There’s also a barbershop quartet convention at the hotel here. It’s strange to walk directly out of a session full of complex geek speak to be serenaded with simple love songs in perfect four-part harmony . I’ve been busy absorbing a lot of […]
JAXA PRESS RELEASE The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. performed the first captive firing test (CFT) for the first stage flight model tank of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle on April 2, 2009 (Japan Standard Time) at the Tanegashima Space Center. The test went smoothly as follows. Purpose: To verify the safety of firing two engines simultaneously. To confirm the interface between the launch vehicle and […]
Posey: Keep shuttle flying
Florida Today
Rep. Bill Posey introduced a bill Thursday that would continue flying the shuttle until its replacement, the Ares rocket, or another U.S.-made spacecraft, could immediately resume taking Americans into space.
Soyuz spacecraft return to Earth postponed until April 8
RIA Novosti
A landing capsule from the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft, carrying U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke, Russian Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov and U.S. space tourist Charles Simonyi, was originally scheduled to return to Earth on April 7.
Jeff Foust has a report on a press conference by Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson earlier today. Anderson made an annoucement about an additional tourism flight later this year and outlined the company’s plans for chartered flights early in the next decade.
India plans to test space shuttle in next 12 months
The Telegraph
[ISRO]Â hopes the shuttle will enable India to offer cut-price satellite launches and become a dominant player in the industry. Last night officials said if successful the shuttle may, in time, be used for other transport uses, but its main purpose now is to “reduce the cost of access to space.”
India’s only astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, has some thoughts about the growing Indian space program as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his Soyuz flight to the Salyut 7 space station. In an interview with The Hindu, he had criticism for both ISRO and NASA:
Russia to unveil spaceship plans
BBC News
The Russian space agency is expected to unveil development plans for a next-generation manned spacecraft on Monday. Roscosmos should name the ship’s prime developer, which has competed to win government funds for the project.
