Austrialia is Fighting Over Virgin Galactic

Now Wimmera wants a Virgin Galactic spaceport.

Korean's to the Moon

One Korean, Yang Sang-hoon, writes a column inspired by Yi So-yeon, the first Korean in space, says that Korea needs to go to the Moon, "even if it means clutching one leg of the U.S"

Cassini Extended by Two Years

NASA has extended the Cassini mission around Saturn by two years. The mission originally ended this July, but since it is in such a good health, NASA is continuing funding for the mission. This should allow for continued study of Saturn's moons.

NASA Completes First Full-Scale Motor Test for Orion Spacecraft

WASHINGTON, April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA has completed the first full-scale rocket motor test for the Constellation Program's Orion spacecraft, a test of a solid rocket that will be used to jettison the craft's launch abort system.

Now under development, Orion will be America's next human spacecraft,
designed to fly to the International Space Station and be part of a space
flight system to return humans to the moon. The Orion jettison motor will
separate the craft's launch abort system from the Orion crew module during
launch.

The Orion launch abort system is a larger solid rocket motor system
that will provide a safe escape for the crew in an emergency on the launch
pad or during the climb to orbit. The test completed late last month is a
critical milestone in NASA's preparations for a series of flight tests
planned to begin late this year of the full Orion abort system.

"This was a major success for the Orion launch abort system team," said
Mark Cooper, NASA's integrated product team lead for launch abort system
propulsion at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "The
test provided valuable data on motor performance that will allow design and
analytical refinements by our contactor team. The test is the culmination
of intense and focused work by the entire jettison motor team."

The jettison motor static test firing was conducted by Aerojet
Corporation in Sacramento. NASA has partnered with Lockheed Martin
Corporation, Orbital Sciences Corporation, and Aerojet to supply the
jettison motor. NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., manages the
Orion launch abort system design and development effort with partners and
team members from Marshall.

For still and video imagery to accompany this release, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/constellation

For more information about NASA's plans to return to the moon and go
beyond, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

Lockheed Martin Signs Agreement with Spaceport America

Lockheed Martin has signed a memorandum of understanding with Spaceport America in New Mexico. Lockheed wants to perform tests at the spaceport site.

Not sure if this is related to Lockheed's agreement with Bigelow Aerospace to ferry people to Bigelow's space station. But it does show one more people of evidence that either LM is evolving or they finally see money in the private space industry.

From What The Bigelow/Lockheed Agreement Says about Lockheed:

Lockheed builds rockets for the military and NASA because it is a safe way to make money. What the new agreement with Bigelow shows me is that Lockheed Martin sees these stations as a viable way to make money. They don't normally push new ideas because they are risky. Risky ventures are for companies trying to make a profit from nothing, like SpaceX or Bigelow. I think it is a wonderful milestone in new space that a traditional "dinosaur" is willing to throw their hat into a private space venture, expecting to make money.

First Launch of Ares 1 Set for April 15, 2009

NASA has plans to launch the first flight test of the Ares 1 rocket in one year on April 15, 2009. The Ares 1 is the first part of the manned moon landings planned by 2020.

China Launches a Space Tracking Ship for Shenzhou VII

Saturday, China launched a tracking ship to support the space walk scheduled for the Shenzhou VII launch later this year. The ship sails the oceans between 60 degrees north and 60 degrees south.

Arab Company Buys Entire Virgin Galactic Flight

An Arab company has put a $500,000 deposit on an entire Virgin Galactic suborbital flight. This the first company reported to have bought an entire flight. The details of the company and the flight are expected in July. The flight is expected to take place in 2010.

New Space Still Can't Get Venture Capitalists

According to an article in Investor's Business Daily, private space ventures are still having trouble getting venture capital money.

NASA Selects Landing Site for Next Rover

NASA has selected the landing site for its next mars rover, Phoenix, when it lands late next month. Green Valley is pleasant sounding, flat area, with very few rocky areas.

South Australia Wants Space Tourism

South Australia is trying to woo Richard Branson into putting Virgin Galactic in their area of the outback.

Scientists Planning Outer Planet Probes

Scientists are bringing concepts to NASA for exploration of the outer planets.

Russia to Build Orbital Assembly Plant

Russia has proposed an orbital assembly plant to put large spaceships together. The translation is a little bad, so good luck.

[update] Here is a better translation and it says construction will begin in 2015.

Carnival of Space #49

Will Gater hosts the 49th installment of the Carnival of Space.

Rocket Racing League to Announce Date of First Exhibition Race, 2008 Exhibition Race Schedule, and Key Acquisition & Partnership

WHAT:
The Rocket Racing League, the new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines, will announce the date of the first Exhibition Race of the Rocket Racing League and the 2008 schedule of exhibition races across the country. In addition, Rocket Racing League Composites Corp. will announce the acquisition of a leading aircraft manufacturer and a partnership with a leading engine manufacturer.

WHEN:
Monday, April 14, 2008, 9:15 am EDT

WHERE:
Yale Club of New York City

WHO:
Granger Whitelaw, CEO, Rocket Racing League
Peter Diamandis, Co-Founder, Rocket Racing League
Adam Smith, Vice President, EAA
Len Fox, Test Pilot, Rocket Racing Composites Corp.
Scott Baker, President, Velocity Aircraft
Neil Milburn, Armadillo Aerospace
John Carmack, Armadillo Aerospace
Mike Houghton, CEO, Reno Air Racing Association
Timothy Hutton, Oscar Winner & Advisory Board Member, Rocket Racing League

About The Rocket Racing League
Founded in 2005 by two-time Indianapolis 500 winning team partner Granger Whitelaw and X-Prize Chairman and CEO Peter Diamandis, the Rocket Racing League (RRL) is a new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines. To be held at venues across the country, the Rocket Racing League will feature multiple races pitting up to 12 Rocket Racers going head to head in a 4-lap, multiple elimination heat format on a 5-mile “Formula One”-like closed circuit raceway in the sky. For more information on The Rocket Racing League, please visit www.rocketracingleague.com.

NSS Report on Space Based Solar Power

The National Space Society (NSS) has a special report on Space Based Solar Power.

LADEE to Examine Lunar Dust

LADEE , a small probe set to ride piggyback on the lunar gravity-mapping probe in 2011, will spend 100 days examining lunar dust.

Calling All Lunar Scientists!

Apparently after the Apollo landings ended, people stopped becoming lunar scientists. With the new vision, we need more.

Mars Rover Lead to Give Talk at Vanderbilt University

Steve Squyres, Lead Scientist of the Mars Rover program, is giving a free public talk at Vanderbilt University on April 18. The talk is scheduled for 4 p.m. (CST) in Room 4327 of the Stevenson Center.

NASA Launches New Science Web Site

WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Science Mission
Directorate has launched a new Web site that provides enhanced and engaging
information about NASA's vast scope of scientific endeavors and
achievements.

The site will provide in-depth coverage of NASA's past, present and
future science missions with features that include:

• Interactive tables and searches for Earth, heliophysics, planetary
  and astrophysics missions
• Insight into dark matter and dark energy, planets around other
  stars, climate change, Mars and space weather
• Resources for researchers including links to upcoming science
  solicitations and opportunities
• A mapping of science questions for NASA science missions and the
  data they produce
• A citizen-scientist page with access to resources that equip the
  public to engage in scientific investigation
• Expanded "For Educators" and "For Kids" pages to provide access to a
  broader range of resources for learning the science behind NASA missions
• Easy-to-navigate design and an improved search engine to help find
  information

Visit the new NASA science Web site at:

http://nasascience.nasa.gov/