Dateline Feb 20, 2006, News from the Internet

• NASA is starting to plan the Shuttles retirement. When Atlantis comes up for refit in 2008, it will instead be set aside and used as a parts donor for Discovery and Endeavour.


• NASA is starting to impress me. According to US Space News, NASA is going to give the Launch Abort System rocket double duty as final blast of thrust into orbit. Also, MSFC is using the previously aborted US Hab module to help develop the ECLSS for exploring the moon. Way to not waste those tax dollars for a change, guys.


• Right after announcing the deal with both Russia and the Ansari family, Space Adventures and Ras Al-Khaimah, part of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the development of a Space Port from which to fly the C-21. His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince of Ras Al-Khaimah is providing $30 million for the project which is estimated at $265 million. When asked where the rest of it would come from, Eric Anderson, CEO of Space Adventures, said "we would find out more next week." Can't wait Mr. Anderson. Space Pragmatism will have a special report on this story later today.


• In other news, the anti-trust lawsuit SpaceX brought against the United Launch Alliance (a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed) has been dismissed by a judge. Basically the judge said you can't prove you have been hurt if you aren't in a position to compete now. No one is sure how a Falcon I launch would affect his case. SpaceX does has 20 days to file a second complaint. We will see. Space Law Probe has some commentary.


• For all you cheap bastards and college students, Michael Belfiore's article on the Rocket Racing League in Popular Science is online now.


• According to Aviation Now (subscription), NASA is opening up commericial opportunities all the way to the moon. Shannon Dale, NASA's deputy administrator, is quotes as saying:

  among commercial opportunities that come to mind are in-space fuel delivery; lunar resource prospecting; and the development and maintenance of lunar surface systems and infrastructure, including lunar habitats, power and science facilities, surface mobility units such as rovers, logistics and resupply, communications and navigation, and in situ resource utilization equipment.

  Keep it up Mike & Shannon.


• Space Adventures has now announced an astronaut training center in Singapore. It will have suborbital flights as well. They are on the move.