Boeing’s Shaw Warns Of Space Job Cuts
Aviation Week

The ‘big five’ US space companies could lose up to 10,000 jobs over the next few years unless the government accelerates procurement of first elements of the Constellation family’s Ares V and Altair programs, warns Boeing’s Space Exploration division head Brewster Shaw.

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Plans for Future Re-usable Space Launch X-plane Hatched
Aviation Week

The Air Force Research Laboratory expects to issue a request for information (rfi) “any day now” to industry for a wide spread of structures, systems and control technology that could be used as a the basis for a hypersonic, responsive space launch vehicle X-plane demonstrator.

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JAXA PRESS RELEASE

The First Captive Firing Test for the First Stage Flight Model Tank for the H-IIB Launch Vehicle

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. postponed the first captive firing test (CFT) on March 27, 2009 (all times and dates are Japan Standard Time) at the Tanegashima Space Center due to an abnormal phenomenon in the coolant supply. Abnormal phenomenon: Coolant, which is supposed to pour and sprinkle for protecting the facilities and surrounding area when the launch vehicle engine is fired, did not pour and sprinkle.

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Tensions are ratcheting up around the Sea of Japan as North Korea prepares for a rocket launch that could come as early as Saturday. A brief summary from an Associated Press story:

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On the opening day of the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, the Coalition for Space Exploration added some well-known names to its Advisory Board. The list includes four former astronauts, two Congressmen and a prominent space journalist.

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ESA PRESS RELEASE

Earlier today, a crew of six, including two ESA-selected participants and four Russians, embarked on a simulated mission to Mars. Although they will not leave the confines of a dedicated isolation facility in Moscow for 105 days, their mission will help prepare for a real human mission to Mars in the future.

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Isro eyes HEC expertise for space projects
The Telegraph

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman G. Madhavan Nair today assured the management of Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) Limited, Ranchi, that the latter’s “unique facilities and expertise” would be utilised for forthcoming space research projects.

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‘Space as a contested environment’ debuts
by Capt. Ben Sakrisson
Air University Public Affairs
Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base

A new Special Area of Emphasis topic titled “Space as a Contested Environment,” was introduced by U.S. military officials here March 30 at the 25th National Space Symposium.

Special Areas of Emphasis are established by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, to address areas of great importance to the joint military community. This SAE highlights the space domain’s emergence as an environment where U.S. operations and superiority maybe challenged.

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U.S. military vows to track 800 satellites by October 1
Reuters

Spurred by last month’s collision of two satellites high above the Earth, the U.S. military plans to begin tracking all 800 maneuverable spacecraft currently operating in space by October 1, a senior U.S. Air Force official said on Monday.

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China’s manned space flight team rewarded U.S. Space Achievement Award
Xinhua

The team of China’s Shenzhou-7 manned space flight mission, which marked a number of “firsts” for the Chinese space program in a single mission, was rewarded Monday the 2009 Space Achievement Award from the U.S. Space Foundation.

A delegation from China led by Dr. Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the China Manned Space Program, and Taikonaut Zhai Zhigang accepted the award at the opening ceremony of the 25th National Space Symposium, a Space Foundation-sponsored annual gathering of the global space community, in Colorado Springs.

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Statement by Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Marion Blakey on Nomination of Randy Babbitt as FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt is an excellent choice to head the Federal Aviation Administration. He has a passion for the industry and brings to the FAA years of aviation experience as a pilot, labor negotiator and safety expert. There are many critical issues waiting at the helm for a new administrator, including expediting NextGen […]

Satcom Sector Expected To Ride High Through World Financial Crisis
Aviation Week

Not only do satellite telecom executives say, almost unanimously, that their sector will weather the global economic downturn, they also see some unexpected new engines of growth down the road.

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