Dateline October 5, 2006: Space News from the Internet

• NASA has modified the contractt with ATK Thiokol for the Ares I first stage. The extension goes through Dec 31, 2006 and adds $35 million making the total value of the contract $63 million.
• Even the Washington Post thinks the ULA is a bad idea. The FTC is now intervening the formation of the ULA. They are requiring ULA to do the following:

  
  (1) ULA must cooperate on equivalent terms with all providers of government space vehicles;
  (2) Boeing and Lockheed's space vehicle businesses must provide equal consideration and support to all launch services providers when seeking any U.S. government delivery in orbit contract; and
  (3) Boeing, Lockheed, and ULA must safeguard competitively sensitive information obtained from other space vehicle and launch services providers.



• Michael Belfiore has the cover of his book on private space business leaders out.
• A new class of planets orbit their sun in hours rather than years.
• The shuttle has a ding. Better not tell Dad ;)
• Scientists are looking for other habitable universes (subscription)
• Burt Rutan is one of Popular Mechanic's breakthrough leaders.
• The Register thinks space tourism will help NASA with the public.