Staff
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prag·ma·tism (prgm-tzm)
n.
A way of approaching situations or solving problems that emphasizes practical applications and consequences.
Here is a breakdown on NASA's 2008 budget:
A new COTS participant should be selected next month, but it is unclear how much money will be available to them in 2008.
NASA has issued an RFP on systems engineering and analysis services on the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) concept to provide
end-to-end, interoperable communications and navigation (C&N)
infrastructure that provides the Constellation Program elements the connectivity
required to execute the Vision for Space Exploration
China plans to build a group of observatories across its country to monitor space conditions. Wonder what else it could monitor?
American Medical News has an article on how space medicine will change with the massive amounts of space tourist planning to go into suborbital space soon.
Russia is planning to search for life on Europa as part of the ESA's mission to Jupiter's most interesting moon. The time frame is currently 2015 to 2025.
SpaceFellowship has a roundup of all the contenders for the $175 million left after Rp/K failure to meet milestones set by NASA. We probably won't know anything until the Rp/K legal wrangle with NASA ends, though.
The most surprising thing are the visuals.
With three screens in front of you and various cool-looking dials, you really do feel like you're in a spaceship.
The rear-view screen is especially impressive – I watch the coast of southern California vanishing behind me before everything suddenly goes quiet and black and I'm in space.
As part of their general web site overhaul, Bigelow Aerospace has added a "Ask a Rocket Scientist" feature where you can ask questions about various aspects of spaceflight at Bigelow.
Asteroid 2007 MD5 has a 1 in 28 chance of smacking into Mars in the coming days.
Wired has a writeup on the new Mars Science Laboratory that is three times the size of Spirit or Opportunity.
[update 1/5/2008] To answer Darnell's questions, here is a list of the proposed landing sites.
"The current engineering constraints call for a landing site less than 45° from the Martian equator and less than 1km above the reference datum."
NASA has awarded Zero-G, the private company providing weightless flights on a jet, $4.7 million contract to give Astronauts training aboard their flights. Good for you NASA.
Florida Today says it is a $25 million contract. I will look into it.
[update] Okay according to Zero G's web site they are both right. The base 1 year contract is $4.7 million with four one year extensions at $5 million each for a total of $25.4 million.
The launch of the Shuttle Atlantis is set for January 24 at the earliest. More likely with will be early February. The delay is due to a failing connector in the fuel tank.
CTV has a roundup of what the major space-fairing countries are doing to study Mars in the new year.
Nature has a table of what each Presidential candidate think of various issues, including space.
NASA is thinking of using a virtual world, such as Second Life, to allow a Mars crew to interact with others on Earth during the long mission.
January 2, 2008: SpaceDev, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) of Hawaii to conduct requirements definition and preliminary design of the ILO spacecraft's astrophysics and communications payload. ILO will perform various astronomical observations from the South Pole of the Moon, and will also engage in commercial communications activities.
"We see this as a critical phase of work for ILO, as it will solidify the mission's goals and priorities," said Mark N. Sirangelo, SpaceDev's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We will determine how to deliver the most valuable and desirable astrophysics data from the surface of the Moon to scientists around the world, while pursuing a design to allow the rapid, low-cost mission development that will be a hallmark of ILO."
Astronomers have discovered a mere baby among planets circling TW Hydrae b. The planet is believed to be only 8 to 10 million years old. In comparison the Earth is 4.5 billion years old. The planet was found inside a protoplanetary disk, where planets are believed to form. The planet is a "hot Jupiter" since it is 10 Jupiter masses and orbiting only .04 AU from it's star. TW Hydrae b is 180 light-years from Earth.
Barack Obama has eased up on his gutting of NASA for education. He would still build Ares/Orion, he just wouldn't use it for anything.
Because of a conflict between the environmental impact statement of New Mexico's Spaceport America and New Mexico State University's Physical Science Laboratory, the plan had to be scrapped and the groundbreaking ceremony pushed back until later this year. According to New Mexico officials, the opening date of the spaceport will not change.
Fourteen Chinese men are training for three spots on the Shenzhou VII flight planned for October. The first Chinese spacewalk is planned for this flight.
Deep Impact passed by Earth yesterday, on its way to the comet Haley 2 in 2010. On its way there, its large telescope will be used to study five extrasolar systems, known to have "hot jupiters".
If you were busy partying and didn't see it, they new Space Review came out yesterday.
Where the candidates stand on space
How to tell your ORS from a hole in the ground
Is XSS-11 the answer to America’s quest for Operationally Responsive Space?
Deepening democracy and space policy 2.0
The Peoples Daily and China Radio International have selected the top 10 global news events for 2007. China's lunar probe, Chang'e-1, made #5. I imagine the Communist Party of China actually picked them, as the #1 on the list was:
#1 [Communist Party of China's] 17th National Congress draws more global attention to China
Yeah that was an international news event worthy of record.
NASA has canceled the January 10 launch for Atlantis, but they have not set a new one yet. STS-122 is set to carry the European ISS module, Columbus.
Rand Simberg has a review of Rocketeers by Michael Belfiore in The New Atlantis.
In 2009, if all goes as planned with the Japan and Europe's science modules, a full 6 member crew will fill the ISS and leave no room for future space tourists.
CoRoT-Exo-2 b was found on December 20, 2008. It is mass is 3.53 Jupiters. It is likely a very hot Jupiter since its orbital period is only 1.743 days.
UP Aerospace sent a test launch of its cargo launch system from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The test reached it target height of 2500ft.
Lockheed Martin is going to build and operate the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission to create a high resolution gravity map of the Moon.
Congresses' omnibus bill tells NASA not to award the COTS money set for Rocketplane/Kistler to anyone else yet. Apparently Rp/K is suing NASA because they couldn't met the milestones set for them and somehow this is NASA's fault. Congress thinks NASA should hold off on awarding the $175 million until the whining, um I mean the lawsuit, is over.
Using the hybrid rocket engine technology used for SpaceShipOne, SpaceDev has completed development and a test flight on a prototype Lunar Lander. A video of the flight is here. The prototype was funded by the International Lunar Observatory Association who hope to land a spacecraft on the south pole of the Moon.
The newest planet, discovered just 6 days ago, is GD 66 b. It is a large, Jupiter like planet, at 2.11 Jupiter masses. It sits at an average of 2.356 AU (astronomical units) from its white dwarf star, GD 66.
HAWTHORNE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has completed the Systems Requirements Review (SRR) for what will be the third Falcon 9 / Dragon demonstration under NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. NASA representatives attended the event, held on the first day of regular business operations at SpaceX’s new headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
Under COTS, SpaceX will conduct three Falcon 9 / Dragon flights, demonstrating the ability to approach, berth, and ultimately deliver cargo to the $100 billion International Space Station (ISS), and return cargo to Earth. On this third demonstration, the Dragon spacecraft will approach the ISS and hold its position nearby. Then, according to the SpaceX plan, a robotic arm on the station will capture Dragon and guide it to a berthing port on the Harmony module.
“When the hatch opens, a new era in space transportation will begin,” said Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. “By providing commercial delivery services to orbit, SpaceX will transform the way the government and private entities access space. The Falcon 9 / Dragon system will ensure that there is no gap in US space transportation capabilities following retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010.”
During the meeting, all comments and questions raised by NASA’s experts were addressed by the SpaceX design team. “Because we connect to the ISS on this mission, NASA applied significant additional scrutiny to ensure the safety of the station and its crew,” said Max Vozoff, SpaceX Mission Manager. By receiving NASA approval for this review, SpaceX continues its record of successfully meeting all COTS milestones on schedule.
Although these demonstrations are for cargo re-supply, SpaceX designed the Dragon spacecraft to transport up to seven astronauts to Earth orbit and back.
About SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is developing a family of launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of both manned and unmanned space transportation. With its Falcon launch vehicles, SpaceX offers light, medium and heavy lift capabilities to deliver spacecraft into any inclination and altitude, from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit to planetary missions.
Europe's first human rated launch vehicle, dubbed the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), is ready for launch in February 22. The ship's name is Jules Verne and will launch from Kourou, French Guiana.
Scientific American has announced the winners of this years’ SciAm 50.
The SciAm 50 is the magazine’s annual award celebrating the work of visionaries from the worlds of research, science, technology, industry and politics.
The XPrize was the winner of Policy Leader of the Year award.
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 13, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- RedChip Companies Inc. today announced that Scott Tibbitts, Managing Director of SpaceDev, Inc. (OTCBB:SPDV), a developer of space technology systems and products facilitating space exploration, was interviewed on RedChip TV, a business oriented television interview program. The interview highlighted the company's expertise as a developer of new technologies in small satellites, deployable structures, hybrid propulsion systems and advanced space vehicles. The full interview is available at: http://tinyurl.com/yv6pz8
The interview was conducted Nov. 3, 2007, in conjunction with the company's presentation at RedChip's Small-Cap Investor Conference in Orlando, Fla. SpaceDev's entire presentation to the analysts and brokers and individual investors at the conference -- including PowerPoint slides -- can be viewed by clicking on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/25k4m4
About SpaceDev, Inc.
SpaceDev, Inc. is a space technology/aerospace company that creates and sells affordable and innovative space products and mission solutions that enable space exploration. The company's products range from spacecraft actuators that power the Mars rovers, to hybrid rocket technologies that powered the first commercial astronaut to space, and from microsatellites controlled by the Internet to Dream Chaser(tm), a winged and piloted orbital commercial spacecraft. For more information, visit www.spacedev.com and www.starsys.com.
About RedChip Companies, Inc.
RedChip Companies is an international small-cap research and financial public relations firm with offices in Beijing and Orlando and affiliates in New York and San Diego. RedChip delivers measurable results for its clients through its extensive international market expertise as well as its comprehensive platform of products: RedChip Research(tm), Traditional Investor Relations, Digital Investor Relations, Institutional and Retail Conferences held throughout the United States, and RedChip Radio(tm). To learn more about RedChip's products and services please visit: http://www.redchip.com/visibility/services.asp.
"Discovering Tomorrow's Blue Chips Today"(tm)
DISCLOSURE
Any opinions expressed herein are subject to change. SpaceDev is a client of the RedChip Companies, Inc. and has contracted the RedChip Companies to increase investor awareness of SPDV to the small-cap equity community. These services may include investor conferences and digital print distribution of SPVD investor related materials. In the purview of Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and in the interest of full disclosure, we call the reader's attention to the fact that RedChip Companies, Inc. is an investor relations firm hired by the Company. SPDV paid RedChip Visibility $30,000 for the RedChip Visibility Research Program.
CONTACT:
RedChip Companies
Jon Cunningham
(800) RED-CHIP (733-2447) ext. 107
jon@RedChip.com
info@redchip.com
www.RedChip.com
SpaceDev Investor Relations
Investor Contact:
Richard Slansky
Jessica Gerstenkorn
Media Contact:
Mark Sirangelo
(858) 375-2026
Goodyear is ready to work on NASA tire needs for the next Moon missions, as they did for Apollo.
NASA has postponed STS-122 back until at least January 10, 2008. The Shuttle Atlantis is set to launch the ESA ISS component, Columbus.
SEATTLE, Dec. 12, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Andrews Space today disclosed details of its Andrews Cargo Module, a cargo logistics system capable of addressing NASA's International Space Station (ISS) cargo logistics requirements, as well as the needs of emerging customers like Bigelow Aerospace and the Department of Defense.
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The Andrews Cargo Module is a reusable spacecraft capable of delivering 3.7 metric tons of cargo to and from the ISS. It is comprised of a common Service Module, a Pressurized (PCM) or Unpressurized Cargo Module (UCM), and a Recovery Module. This modular approach allows the system to cost-effectively address a wide range of mission requirements and customers.
The Cargo Module incorporates design features and system elements from previous efforts into a low-risk cargo module design. Andrews previously worked on crew and cargo logistics systems under contract to NASA as part of the Alternate Access to Station (AAS) and Concept Exploration and Refinement efforts. In 2005, Andrews developed a full-scale mockup of its design for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) to verify internal packaging for both crew and cargo transport. This mockup was transferred to NASA Johnson Space Center and has been used by NASA to conduct Orion design studies.
"One of the lessons learned from AAS is that the launch vehicle cost drives the life cycle cost of the system," said Jason Andrews, President of Andrews Space. "While our cargo module can be launched on an EELV, we've developed a low-cost launch system to make the system affordable and enable new markets."
The Cargo Module will be launched by Andrews' Hercules family of launch vehicles. Hercules is a medium- to intermediate-lift system, built around a LOX/RP core stage, capable of launching payloads between 5,000 and 25,000 lb to LEO. The Hercules launch vehicle provides commercial and U.S. Government customers with a responsive, cost-effective replacement for the Delta II, and will reduce the life cycle cost of cargo logistics services when compared to using EELVs.
In November, Andrews submitted a proposal to NASA as part of the COTS recompete. Partners in the COTS proposal include MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Reynolds Smith and Hills (RS&H), Draper Laboratory, Odyssey Space Research, Aerojet, Irvin Aerospace, and ILC Dover.
During the past year, a team of engineers has been engaged in developing the system design and maturing subsystems. In October, Andrews acquired an avionics and guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) company that will provide the fault-tolerant avionics and power subsystems. Andrews has several other funded research and development efforts that are demonstrating critical cargo module subsystems and technologies.
To further verify system performance, the Andrews team constructed a full-scale mockup of the PCM to assess cargo packaging and crew interfaces. Specific focus areas included early and late cargo access, ground operations, crew lighting, and on-orbit operations. These efforts have validated the system requirements, configuration, and performance in support of a System Requirements Review in early 2008.
Andrews' strong and diverse revenue base incorporates customers in business areas including systems development and integration, subsystem and component development, technology development, and engineering services. Customers and programs include SE&I support of NASA's Ares I and Orion programs, Department of Defense technology and vehicle development programs, and commercial hardware development, including hardware currently flying on Bigelow's Genesis II spacecraft.
About the Company
Andrews Space, Inc. (Andrews) is a privately-held business founded in 1999 to be a catalyst in the commercialization and development of space. The company is an affordable integrator of aerospace systems and developer of advanced space technologies. Andrews' customers include NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as aerospace prime contractors. Andrews is currently engaged in several launch vehicle and spacecraft development efforts in both the prime and subcontractor role. To learn more, please visit www.andrews-space.com.
Due to the competition on the NASA COTS program, no further announcements or details will be discussed until after the award of COTS.
Bigelow Aerospace has updated their website with a new layout and some new information.
An example is the general specs of the Genesis II. Check it out.
MOJAVE, Calif., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- XCOR Aerospace and Alliant Techsystems completed tests on a methane-burning rocket engine for NASA. This engine could help return America to the Moon and allow astronauts to tap extra-terrestrial sources of fuel. The engine work was funded by NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program at Langley, as part of the Propulsion and Cryogenics Advanced Development Project based at Glenn Research Center.
(Source: XCOR) The 7,500 lbf thrust liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid methane (LCH4) Workhorse Engine is being used to develop and refine methane rocket technology for possible use on lunar expeditions. Methane offers higher performance relative to other storable propellants, is less expensive to handle because of its lower toxicity, and is easier to store long-term than liquid hydrogen.
An additional factor that makes this propellant combination unique is the possibility that Oxygen and Methane can be obtained or manufactured from In-Situ Resources on the moon and other planets.
"XCOR is pleased to be working with ATK in the development of this new propulsion capability for NASA. Tests to date have shown very reliable and repeatable ignition characteristics and extremely stable operation," said Jeff Greason, CEO for XCOR. The ATK/XCOR team went from program inception to the first test firing in only six months. The tests delivered critical data for NASA to assess the practicality of this new propellant combination that is intended to provide a viable option for future in-space propulsion. The regeneratively cooled design of this engine makes maximum use of the energy in the propellants and offers the highest performance potential. This test series provided data on engine ignition, startup, shutdown, nominal operation, off-nominal operation, and dynamic combustion stability.
To date, tests on the LOX/Methane rocket ignition have been performed at close to sea level static conditions at XCOR's test facility located in Mojave, CA. Because the methane engine is projected for use in space, ATK will be conducting an additional test program at its vacuum test facility in Ronkonkoma, NY. These tests will allow evaluation of various igniter concepts and demonstrate repeatable ignition characteristics in a vacuum which simulates space conditions.
XCOR Aerospace is a California corporation located in Mojave, California. The company is in the business of developing and producing safe, reliable and reusable rocket engines, rocket propulsion systems, and rocket powered vehicles. News and information can be found at its website: http://www.xcor.com.
ATK is an advanced weapon and space systems company with annual revenues in excess of $4.1 billion that employs approximately 17,000 people in 21 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/
NASA has given Boeing the $799.5 million contract to develop the guidance, navigation and control system of the Ares rocket. The work will be done in the Houston-based space exploration division of Boeing. Ares is set to take men aboard the Orion moon capsule back to the Moon in the next decade.
Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a speech today, "China's space exploration should be used to help build the nation's social, economic and technological strength." He went on to talk about how "peaceful" their exploration plan is (cough, cough). Finally he heaped praise on the scientist behind Chang'e 1, currently orbiting the Moon.
NASA Officials say the are "on track" for a 2020 return to the Moon and the building of a base.
The Mars Rover, Spirit, is moving towards a wintering spot to rest and build up batter reserves. It must get there by Christmas or risk dying forever.
Seattle, WA – December 11, 2007 – Andrews Space, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Phase I contract by the U.S. Army through the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR). Phase I of the contract is valued at $70K over six (6) months, with an optional Phase II at $50K over four (4) months. The Army selected Andrews’ proposed approach in a competitive procurement out of hundreds of other SBAs.
Urban warfare poses unique challenges for the Future Combat System (FCS) and other Army systems that require high-fidelity terrain information. The shape of the terrain is an important component, and dense networks of elevation data are needed to represent the complex shape of an urban landscape. Applications like line-of-sight or drive-through in an urban area also need high-resolution terrain data.
Currently, transmission of terrain data is done via hand-carried external hard drives. Under the terms of the contract, Andrews will develop a new approach that helps the military reduce the burden required to manage data.
Andrews will use two approaches to reduce the size of elevation data files to be stored and transmitted. The first approach is to develop a better compression algorithm that works well on discontinuous data, which will provide high fidelity urban elevation data with a minimum file size. The second approach is to develop an innovative way to transmit the data that will dramatically reduce the amount of data that needs to be transmitted to, and stored by, a soldier or vehicle in the field.
“Andrews’ solution to this problem will provide our armed forces with a significant advantage in the urban warfare environment”, said Jason Andrews, President of Andrews Space. “By speeding up the availability of this terrain data, our troops will be able to respond much more quickly to combat threats and other battlefield challenges.”
Commercial applications of this technology include computer scene generation, mapping software such as Google Earth/Maps, Microsoft Live Search/Terra-Server, and MapQuest. It will allow them to more efficiently store 3D buildings for larger portions of major cities and then transmit and reconstruct the information for users. This will also allow enhanced capabilities for GPS and car navigation, and GPS capable cell phones.
About SBIR
The SBIR program is a highly competitive, three-phase award system. It provides qualified small businesses - including women-owned and disadvantaged firms - with opportunities to propose unique ideas that meet specific research and development needs of the federal government.
About Andrews Space
Andrews Space, Inc. (Andrews) is a privately-held business founded in 1999 to be a catalyst in the commercialization and development of space. The company is an affordable integrator of aerospace systems and a developer of advanced space technologies. Andrews' customers include NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as commercial aerospace prime contractors. Andrews is currently engaged in several launch vehicle and spacecraft development efforts in both the prime and subcontractor role. To learn more, please visit www.andrews-space.com.
China has published four new moon photos taken by their Chang'e-1 lunar probe currently in orbit around the Moon.
Mr. Scott, an artist of New Zealand, has complete his training to fly on SpaceShip2 with Virgin Galactic. He will draw what he sees in orbit. Mr. Scott will be the first professional artist in space. We look forward to his work.
Sir Richard Branson has also completed his space training.
NASA has delayed Atlantis, STS-122, until at least January while it works on a fuel sensor malfunction. The earliest launch would be January 2, 2008.
Press Release:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- At a Monday meeting of the American Geophysical Union, NASA's Associate Administrator for Science Alan Stern announced the selection of a new mission that will peer deep inside the moon to reveal its anatomy and history.
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, or GRAIL, mission is a part of NASA's Discovery Program. It will cost $375 million and is scheduled to launch in 2011. GRAIL will fly twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the moon for several months to measure its gravity field in unprecedented detail. The mission also will answer longstanding questions about Earth's moon and provide scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed.
"GRAIL's revolutionary capabilities stood out in this Discovery mission competition owing to its unsurpassed combination of high scientific value and low technical and programmatic risk," Stern said. "GRAIL also offers to bring innovative Earth studies techniques to the moon as a precursor to their possible later use at Mars and other planets."
Scientists will use the gravity field information from the two satellites to X-ray the moon from crust to core to reveal the moon's subsurface structures and, indirectly, its thermal history.
The study technique GRAIL will use was pioneered by the joint U.S.-German Earth observing Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, or GRACE, mission launched in 2002. The GRACE satellites measure gravity changes related to the movement of mass within the Earth, such as the melting of ice at the poles and changes in ocean circulation. As with GRACE, both GRAIL spacecraft will be launched on a single launch vehicle.
GRAIL's principal investigator is Maria Zuber of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Zuber's team of expert scientists and engineers includes former NASA astronaut Sally Ride, who will lead the mission's public outreach efforts. A camera aboard each spacecraft will allow students and the public to interact with observations from the satellites. Each GRAIL spacecraft will carry the cameras to documents their views from lunar orbits.
GRAIL will support NASA's exploration goals as the agency returns humans to the moon by 2020. In 2008, the agency will launch the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, to circle the moon for at least a year and take measurements to identify future robotic and human landing sites. The orbiter also will look for potential lunar resources and document aspects of the lunar radiation environment. After a 30-year hiatus, LRO represents NASA's first step toward returning humans to the moon. The orbiter will be accompanied by another spacecraft, called the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission, which will impact the lunar south pole to search for evidence of polar water frost.
"As NASA moves forward with exploration endeavors, our lunar science missions will be the light buoy leading the path for future human activities," said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Division, Science Mission Directorate, Washington.
Created in 1992, NASA's Discovery Program sponsors a series of scientist-led, cost-capped solar system exploration missions with highly focused scientific goals. The GRAIL proposal was selected from 24 submissions in response to a 2006 Announcement of Opportunity for the program. Proposals were evaluated for scientific merit, science implementation merit, and technical, management and cost feasibility.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will manage the GRAIL mission. The spacecraft will be built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.
For more information about NASA's Discovery Program, visit:
http://discovery.nasa.gov
Website: http://discovery.nasa.gov/
Website: http://www.nasa.gov/
The overachieving rovers have done it again. Spirit, while working on a plateau called Home Plate, has discovered a patch of almost pure silica (i.e. glass). The current thinking is that the patch came from hot springs coming up from underground or a fumarole where acidic steam comes. On Earth, these hot springs are always covered in microbial life.
Not conclusive but all the evidence seem to point toward life.
Our solar system has a dent in it. Science base this conclusion on Voyager 2 reaching the termination shock a billion miles closer than Voyager 1. Apparently the dent is caused by a large magnetic field created by a super-nova 10 to 20 million years ago in the Scorpius-Centaurus Association region of the Milky Way.
The termination shock caused Voyager 2 to slow to 350,000 miles/hour and it will reach interstellar space in 7 to 10 more years. The transmitters will continue to work until 2020, thanks to its radioactive fuel.
Elon has a new update for SpaceX.
Notes:
From the X-Prize Foundation:
The X PRIZE Foundation welcomes Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, and his wife Anne Wojcicki Brin to the Vision Circle. We would also like to acknowledge Board members Elon Musk of Space Exploration Technologies, Jeffrey Shames of the MIT Sloan School of Management, Ray Sydney of Big George Ventures, and Erik Lindbergh, President of Lindbergh Woodworks and Director of the Lindbergh Foundation for their generous support of the X PRIZE Foundation.
Two new members have joined the X PRIZE Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Arianna Huffington and Will Wright. Huffington is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post, a leading news and blog source on the Internet as well as the author of 11 books. Wright is a globally recognized visionary in interactive entertainment and EA’s chief designer behind the block-buster game franchises “SimCity™,” “The Sims™” and the soon-to-be-released universe simulator “Spore™.”
The first official team has completed registration for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Odyssey Moon, from the Isle of Man, announced its contention for the prize on December 6th at the Space Investment Summit in San Jose, CA. The brainchild of Robert Richards, one of the founders of the International Space University, Odyssey Moon views the Google Lunar X PRIZE as a short term goal. Long term, they will work toward lowering the cost of going to the Moon by an order of magnitude and eventually to the peaceful development of the Moon. In all, the Google Lunar X PRIZE has received 350 requests for information from more than 40 countries, 11 of which have started or completed Letters of Intent.
STS-122 which was schedule to launch today, was scrubbed due to a fuel sensor malfunction. It will be at least 24 hours before the launch.
Astrobotic Technology, Inc. has selected Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN - News) as its supplier for development of a next-generation of high-precision, propellant-efficient lunar landing technologies.
On Sept. 13, 2007, Dr. William L. "Red" Whittaker, Astrobotic's Chief Technology Officer and Lunar Mission Commander declared his intention to pursue the recently announced Google Lunar X Prize. Astrobotic Technology, Inc. is the commercial organization through which Dr. Whittaker plans to carry out the lunar mission as well as engage in potential commercial orbital transfer services and potential cis-lunar services that may be best enabled by leading-edge robotics.
"We have great confidence in Raytheon's ability to co-develop a spacecraft that can land on a dime," said Whittaker.
Raytheon has undertaken initial design and planning activities on the project. Possible roles for Raytheon include engineering management, lander design, and high bandwidth telecommunications. A common goal is for Raytheon to develop key technologies for advanced thrust controlled descent, ascent and movement, including automated topographic scene matching.
"We are delighted to work with Dr. Whittaker on this extraordinary lunar project," said Mike Booen, Raytheon vice president of Advanced Missile Defense & Directed Energy. "Development of a lunar lander is a natural extension for the company's space-proven technologies."
Astrobotic is planning for Raytheon to begin work on a contract basis with the scope of Raytheon's work to be expanded upon completion of certain financing goals by Astrobotic. It is anticipated that 15 or more professional engineers from Raytheon will be devoted to the Astrobotic lunar program.
Dr. Whittaker is the Fredkin Professor of Robotics, Director of the Field Robotics Center, and founder of the National Robotics Engineering Consortium, all at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a world-famous scientist and engineer, renowned for managing the research, development, operation, and scientific discoveries associated with several dozen exploratory robots. Most recently, Dr. Whittaker led CMU's "Tartan Racing Team" to victory in the November 2007 Urban Challenge sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Raytheon has a legacy of experience in space missions that dates back to the Apollo era, when Raytheon provided solutions for the Saturn launch vehicle, lunar modules, and space suits. Raytheon has deployed more than 100 unique control systems for military and commercial satellites as well as 75 GPS systems for the Department of Defense, civil, commercial and national markets ranging in scope from navigation, transportation, surveying and rescue operations.
Raytheon Company, with 2006 sales of $20.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 85 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
Astrobotic Technology, Inc. (http://www.astrobotictech.com) is a privately held seed-stage company formed by Carnegie Mellon University professor William "Red" Whittaker and his colleagues in November 2007.
Media Contact:
Mitchell London
President and CEO
(425) 462-7428
ceo@astrobotictech.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.
Astrobotic and Raytheon undertake no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
The European Union has decided that crimes aboard their module Columbus will be in the jurisdiction of the criminal's country. Columbus is set to launch to the ISS tomorrow.
Just to play devils advocate, what if we don't know who the criminal is? A sort of Nancy Drew mystery? Which country will conduct the investigation?
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says the company hopes to go public with an IPO in late 2009.
STS-122 is set to launch the Columbus Lab to the ISS this Thursday.
The head of TsNIIMASH-Export in Russia was convicted of leaking rocket information to China. He will serve 11 1/2 years in prison.
The National Space Society is sponsoring an art contest in which artists are to create visions of a spacefaring future - a future of space settlement, be they on the Moon, on Mars, on asteroids, or orbiting independently in space. Twelve winning entries will be chosen to illustrate the NSS 2009 Space Settlement Calendar. Judges include space artists Don Davis and David Robinson. Artists may submit multiple works and submissions will be accepted until December 31, 2007.
The Grand Prize winner will have their artwork featured on the calendar cover and as one of the monthly images; $200 cash; three graphics packages from DAZ Software (Carrara 6, Hexagon 2.1, and Bryce 6.1, retail values totaling $500); signed copies of 50 Years in Space (2006) by David Hardy and Sir Patrick Moore as well as Space Art: How to Draw and Paint Planets, Moons, and Landscapes of Alien Worlds (2007) by Michael Carroll; Starry Night Pro Plus 6.0 - the world's most realistic astronomy software ($250 value); the two-volume book Astronautics or a choice of any one-volume space book from Apogee Books; complimentary admission to the 2008 International Space Development Conference in Washington, DC. The Grand Prize winner also receives one-year complimentary memberships in the International Association of Astronomical Artists and the National Space Society, including a subscription to Ad Astra magazine, and 5 complimentary copies of the calendar.
There will be four First Prize winners in the categories of Best Lunar Settlement, Best Mars Settlement, Best Asteroid Settlement, and Best Orbiting Settlement. In addition to being published in the calendar, each of the four First Prizes winners will receive $100 cash; a Carrara 6 graphics software from DAZ Software (retail value $250); the artist's choice of any one-volume space book from Apogee Books; one-year complimentary memberships in the International Association of Astronomical Artists and the National Space Society, including a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and 2 complimentary copies of the calendar. In addition, one random First Prize Winner will receive a copy of the Starry Night Complete Space & Astronomy Pack desktop planetarium software ($50 value).
The remaining seven winning entries will each appear in the calendar and the artists will each receive a copy of the Project Constellation Pocket Space Guide from Apogee Books; a Bryce 6.1 software package from DAZ Software (retail value $100); a 1 year complimentary membership in the National Space Society, which includes a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and a complimentary copy of the calendar.
For all the contest details go to http://www.nss.org/settlement/calendar/
Carnival of Space #31 i at:
http://www.outofthecradle.net/archives/2007/11/carnival-of-space-31/
Also, the Best of the Moon 2007 is at:
http://www.outofthecradle.net/archives/2007/12/best-of-the-moon-2007/
PlanetSpace is teaming with ATK and Lockheed Martin in order to win a share of NASA's COTS money. RocketPlane/Kistler missed to many milestones and NASA is currently deciding who to give their money to.
NASA Has created an inexpensive ($4 million) satellite , called FASTSAT, to test if small, cheap satellites can be done. While I applaud their effort, I have to disagree with one thing. In speaking about SpaceX and their Falcon line of rockets, Marshall Space Flight Center's Edward "Sandy" Montgomery said:
"You wouldn't put an expensive payload on an inexpensive rocket – it's a risk issue. You'd use an inexpensive bus to fly an inexpensive instrument on an inexpensive rocket," says Montgomery.
When the shuttle is retired in 2010, Florida is putting its hopes in SpaceX, the front-runner in the race to offer delivery services to NASA when the shuttle is retired. SpaceX is part of NASA's COTS program and is building a launch facility in Cape Canaveral and hopes to launch from there next year. Without the shuttle, Florida is hopping to get rocket support jobs and supply chain industry in their state.
SpaceHAB has gone ahead with its unfunded Advanced Research and Conventional Technology Utilization Spacecraft (ARCTUS) for COTS. They just finished a spacecraft concept review on November 8 and will be ready for the preliminary design review (PDR) in early 08.
The average American thinks NASA gets 1/4 of the federal budget. That is roughly $600 Billion annually. In reality NASA gets 0.58% of the federal budget, or ~$17 billion.
Astronaut openings.
Space Adventures is looking for people to train alongside their space tourist, Richard Garriott, for $3,000,000. You get to do all the same stuff. You just don't get to fly.
NASA is also accepting applications for the 2009 class of astronauts.
Of course, Virgin Galactic is always looking for more private astronauts, if you can only afford $200,000.
HAWTHORNE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
New, More Powerful Engine to Launch Both Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 Rockets
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) announced today that it has completed development of its Merlin 1C next generation liquid fueled rocket booster engine. It is among the highest performing gas generator cycle kerosene engines ever built, exceeding the Boeing Delta II main engine, the Lockheed Atlas II main engine, and on par with the Saturn V F-1 engine.
The Merlin 1C is an improved version of the Merlin 1A ablatively cooled engine, which lofted the Falcon 1 on its first flight in March 2006 and second flight in March 2007. The regeneratively cooled Merlin 1C uses rocket propellant grade kerosene (RP-1), a refined form of jet fuel, to first cool the combustion chamber and nozzle before being combined with the liquid oxygen to create thrust. This cooling allows for higher performance without significantly increasing engine mass.
“We performed the final test in the development series, a 170 second long mission duty firing,” said Tom Mueller, Vice President of Propulsion for SpaceX, from their Texas Test Facility in McGregor, Texas. “This series of runs has verified the final design features. Total run time on this engine exceeded 3,000 seconds across 125 hot fire tests.”
“The SpaceX Texas test facility was critical to the rapid and efficient development of Merlin,” said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. “In August alone, we ran twenty-one major Merlin test firings, nearly one per working day, a rate we could not equal anywhere else. The success of Merlin is really due to the joint function of a great propulsion and test team.”
Merlin 1C in its Falcon 9 first stage configuration has a thrust at sea level of 95,000 lbs, a vacuum thrust of over 108,000 pounds, vacuum specific impulse of 304 seconds and sea level thrust to weight ratio of 92. In generating this thrust, Merlin consumes 350 lbs/second of propellant and the chamber and nozzle, cooled by 100 lbs/sec of kerosene, are capable of absorbing 10 MW of heat energy. A planned turbopump upgrade in 2009 will improve the thrust by over 20% and the thrust to weight ratio by approximately 25%.
The Merlin 1C will power SpaceX’s next Falcon 1 mission, scheduled to lift off in early 2008 from the SpaceX launch complex in the Central Pacific atoll of Kwajalein. SpaceX’s far larger Falcon 9 rocket, now in development, will employ nine Merlin engines on its first stage, and one on the second stage. The Falcon 9 will have over a million pounds of thrust – four times the maximum thrust of a Boeing 747.
The Merlin engine is the first new American booster engine in ten years and only the second in over a quarter century. The prior two American engines were the RS-68 developed in the late nineties by Pratt & Whitney’s RocketDyne division, used in the Boeing Delta IV launch vehicle, and the Space Shuttle Main Engine developed in the late seventies, also by RocketDyne.
SpaceX is preparing to produce more rocket engines than the rest of US production combined. In 2008, SpaceX targets the manufacture of approximately 50 booster engines, a number that exceeds the output of any country except Russia.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of both manned and unmanned space transportation ultimately by a factor of ten. With its Falcon line of launch vehicles, powered by Merlin engines, SpaceX is able to offer light, medium and heavy lift capabilities to deliver spacecraft into any inclination and altitude, from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit to planetary missions.
As winner of the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services competition, SpaceX will conduct three flights of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft for NASA. This will culminate in Dragon berthing with the International Space Station and returning safely to Earth. When the Shuttle retires in 2010, Falcon 9 / Dragon will have the opportunity to replace the Shuttle in servicing the Space Station.
SpaceDev has announced that Mr. G. Scott Hubbard, former NASA Ames Research Center Director and Mr. Hans J. Steininger Chief Executive Officer of MT Aerospace AG, have joined the SpaceDev Board of Directors.
They have also announced that former Auburn Associate Dean of Engineering, James S. Voss, will be the new VP of Engineering.
NASA has began construction on a launch pad to test the Orion's escape system.
According to the NY Times, the Chinese ASAT weapons test in January has had an effect on private space, since the military needs faster cheaper launchers to combat the threat of space weapons.
The SettlePI blog asks readers if they had an extra $200,000 would they by a flight on a spaceship. Of course, loyal readers, you know my answer.
D.J. McLeod says, as much as she would love to, she would rather spend $200,000 on a Community Resource Exchange where they can talk about homelessness and give homeless people government services. Well whatever works for you.
Will would rather pay off his house and max his retirement. In my opinion, it wouldn't be a spare $200,000 unless you had already done both.
Anonymous wants the price to drop (as do the rest of us).
Onyotaka Lukwe is milking goats to space apparently...
Just a cross section of what Seattle thinks of private space flight.
Feel free to comment on their comments (or answer the question for yourself).
Andrea James has the pitch Bothell travel agent Angie Lepley has been using as one of 45 agents licensed to sale seats on SpaceShip2.
It sounds like fun to me.
Dave Brooks seems to have had his mind changed (somewhat) about private space by Elon Musk and his Falcon Rockets.
Press Release: Seattle, WA - November 7, 2007 – Andrews Space, Inc. is pleased to announce its sponsorship of Seattle-based LaserMotive in the Elevator 2010 Power Beaming competition. The competition took place from October 19 – 21, near Salt Lake City, Utah.
Andrews contributed the use of their Rapid Prototyping Laboratory (ARPL) for LaserMotive to conduct laser testing and other system assembly requirements. Located near Seattle's Boeing field, the ARPL provides fabrication and assembly facility space. It houses Andrews' avionics integration and cryogenic test facilities, fabrication machine shop, and hardware integration and test facilities.
The NASA-sponsored 2007 Space Elevator Games had 30 teams competing in various categories, including the Climber Power Beaming competition. Teams entering the Power Beaming Challenge had to power a vehicle straight up a ribbon using only energy beamed to the vehicle from a ground-based laser, at a minimum of 2.5 m/sec. The 2007 prize purse, provided by NASA, was $500,000. No teams won the 2007 competition.
LaserMotive was recognized as having an innovative and potentially powerful technology. The LaserMotive system uses a high-power laser array to shine ultra-intense infrared light onto high-efficiency solar cells, converting the light into electric power, which then drives a motor. The system automatically tracks the vehicle as it climbs, compensating for motion due to wind, twisting of the ribbon, and other changes.
Andrews Chief Technology Officer Dana Andrews said, "LaserMotive had a promising start in this years' competition, and we expect them to come back strong next year in the 2008 competition. We believe their concept is the right approach to powering a planetary scale elevator."
About LaserMotive
LaserMotive is a Seattle-based team that competed in the 2007 NASA-sponsored Power Beaming competition. They are comprised of world-class laser power beaming experts, experienced machinists, systems engineers, and experts from industry partners. Visit their Web site at www.lasermotive.com for more information.
About Andrews Space
Andrews Space, Inc. was founded in 1999 to be a catalyst in the commercialization and development of space. The company is an affordable integrator of aerospace systems and developer of advanced space technologies. To learn more, please visit: www.andrews-space.com.
Emily Lakwdawalla is hosting this Week's Carnival of Space at
http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00001222/
China's probe, Chang'e 1, has entered lunar orbit.
"All of the subsystems of the Chang'e 1 are in normal operation so far," said Pei Zhaoyu, spokesman for the China National Space Administration.
It is expected to send photos back later this month.
SpaceX has broken ground on their launch facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
According to John Borland, at Wired.com, the risky spacewalk to fix a broken solar panel shows the need for NASA to fund private launch companies through COTS, with the shuttle being retired in 2010.
With the shuttle being retired in a few years, it clearly can't serve that
purpose. But perhaps the new commercial spaceflight companies will be able to
fill that role, at least as well as the Soyuz missions launched by Russia. NASA
should make this a priority when it is funding and helping to guide development
of companies like SpaceX.
With the new European module Columbus launching on the Columbia shuttle in December, space law has been brought to the forefront again. The issues are: who's law will be enforced on Columbus and what if two astronauts got in a fight?
This was all a problem with the Russian modules, but I guess they didn't get it worked out sufficiently then.
SpaceDev Dream ChaserTM Space Plane Development Would Provide Cargo and Crew Transport
POWAY, CA – November 5, 2007 – SpaceDev, Inc. (OTCBB: SPDV) recently completed its first milestone under the Space Act Agreement that it signed with NASA in June 2007. This significant first milestone is to define the outer mold line (OML) of the SpaceDev Dream ChaserTM space vehicle. The SpaceDev team generated a surface model that will be used for future analysis, subscale flight test modeling, and full scale tooling of the Dream ChaserTM flight vehicle. The Dream Chaser™ OML surface model was derived from digitized scans of the original NASA Langley wind-tunnel tested models, which are currently on loan to SpaceDev.
SpaceDev entered into the Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Johnson Space Center to facilitate its development of reliable, safe and affordable transportation of passengers and cargo to and from Earth orbit. As part of the agreement, NASA is providing support regarding commercial vehicle requirements for rendezvous and docking with the ISS as well as ongoing regularly scheduled technical exchange.
SpaceDev has won a $100,000 contract with the Air Force to develop a new radar system to help with thermal control on satellites.
NASA is planning a risky spacewalk to fix a damaged solar panel to restore the ISS to full power in anticipation of a European science module scheduled to launch in December.
Fraser Cain is hosting this Week's Carnivalof Space at
http://www.universetoday.com/2007/11/01/carnival-of-space-27-and-an-announcement/
SpaceDev has won a propulsion contract from DARPA worth $3.75 million.
SpaceDev is holding a conference call to release their earnings report for the 3rd quarter 2007 on November 13, 2007.
Florida is holding a conference to attract commercial space companies.
According to the Guardian, China is building a much more powerful rocket:
China laid out plans yesterday to build a rocket with enough power to put a
space station into orbit, raising fresh questions about whether it aims to
compete or collaborate with the US in space. The Long March 5 rocket will have
almost three times as much thrust as the existing launch vehicle, putting it on
a par with developed countries in its ability to carry heavy satellites, state
media said. The announcement came as the Chang'e 1 lunar probe pushed further
into space than any previous Chinese spacecraft. China plans to put a robot on
the moon in 2012 and an astronaut by about 2020.
Stumble It!
