MoonSat

David Powell has an in depth article on plans for a communications satellite system around the Moon to support Lunar-Earth communications.

NASA Begins a Trade Study of Ares 1 Oscillation Solutions

NASA has begun a trade study of three possible solutions to the Ares 1 oscillation problem.

India Launches 10 Satellites at Once

India made history by launching ten satellites at one time. The launch took place on Monday, April 28, on India's polar rocket PSLV – C9.

ESA Uses Artificial Intelligence to Search ffor Martian Life

The European Space Agency (ESA) is using Artificial Intelligence to help with the search for life on Mars.

Army to Launch Satellite Constellation for Beyond Line of Site Comms

The Army is planning to launch a constellation of communication satellites for the first time in 50 years. An urgent need for beyond line of site communications is needed to support future Army systems. A pathfinder project of eight satellites should launch in nine months, according to Army officials. Orbital Science's Minotaur and SpaceX's Falcon 1 are the launch vehicles of choice.

ISDC 2008 starts May 29

Don't forget to register for ISDC 2008 beginning May 29 in Washington, DC. (Program)

This Weeks Space Review 4/28/2008

The Space Review is out:

A flower in the polar sky: the POPPY signals intelligence satellite and ocean surveillance

Notes on the state of the RLV industry in 2008 (part 1)

The satellite shootdown: the rest of the story

Review: Shuttle Launch Experience

Launch Complex 40 is Gone to Make Way for SpaceX

Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral has been demolished. SpaceX will launch their COTS resupply rockets from this launch pad in the future.

Presidential Candidates Will Have to Deal with China in Space

An article in CNN points out correctly that none of the presidential candidates are talking about real space issues and China's growing expertise in the space realm. "the Chinese program will be on par with America's by the end of the next president's second term. Then, it will be a real race to Mars even if we want to join." Time to put away the fluff and deal with real issues that affect national security.

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract to SpaceX Press Release with Comments

WASHINGTON -- NASA has awarded Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, a NASA Launch Services contract for the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles.

The NASA Launch Services contracts are multiple awards to multiple launch service providers. Twice per year, there is an opportunity for existing and emerging domestic launch service providers to submit proposals if their vehicles meet the minimum contract requirements.

The contract is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract where NASA may order launch services through June 30, 2010, for launches to occur through December 2012. Under the NASA Launch Services IDIQ contracts, the potential total contract value is between $20,000 and $1 billion, depending on the number of missions awarded.

The contract seeks a launch capability for payloads weighing 551 pounds or heavier into a circular orbit of 124 miles at an orbital inclination of 28.5 degrees. Payloads would be launched to support three NASA mission directorates: Science, Space Operations and Exploration Systems.

Because an IDIQ contract has been awarded to SpaceX, it can compete for NASA missions using the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles as specified by the NASA Launch Services contract process.

NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center is responsible for program management. This award to SpaceX adds to the stable of launch vehicles available to NASA under previously awarded contracts. The original request for proposal was issued in 1999.

---

Receiving the NASA Launch Services contract for the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 is a significant endorsement of SpaceX's products and of our plans for the future. In addition to the fourteen missions we've sold thus far, gaining NLS approval constitutes further validation of SpaceX's technology, and opens the doors for the wide variety of NASA spacecraft to fly aboard our launch vehicles. We look forward to working with NASA to send their payloads to Earth orbit, Geostationary orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.

--Elon--

Falcon 1 to Kwajalein

The SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket has been loaded on the boat for a June launch at Kwajalein.

Power From Space

Raji Patel thinks with all the talk about greenhouse gases, we need to seriously look at getting power from space.

NASA is Developing Nanosats for 5G Global Communications

NASA is working with Machine-to-Machine Intelligence Corp to develop nanosat constellations to provide 5th generation communications for phones, wireless, and video-on-demand around the world.

General Dynamics Awarded $116 Million LandSat Contract

General Dynamics has won a $116 million contract with NASA to develop the space craft for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission.

Russians Still Don't Know Why Soyez Fell to Earth

The Soyez dropped "like a rock" to Earth on Saturday. Luckily no one was hurt, but Russian engineers still don't know why the dependable rocket didn't land properly. God help us if the Soyez is going to stop working.

Space Lifestyle Magazine Wins Award

Space Lifestyle Magazine has won a design award.

Space 2.0; the future of commercial spaceflight: a symposium in Haarlem, the Netherlands May 22 2008

If you are going to be in the Netherlands in May, Netherlands Association for Spaceflight and Space Horizons are given a symposium on May 22 in Haarlem. Check out the flier.

Schedule:
13:45 – 14:20: SpaceX (Gwynne Shotwell, Vice-President Business Development)
14:20 – 14:55: XCOR (Jeff Greason, CEO)
14:55 – 15:30: ESA (Wilhelm Kordulla)
15:45 – 16:20: Odyssey Moon (Bob Richards, CEO)
16:20 – 16:55: Your Galaxy (Ronald Heister, CEO, Accredited Space Agent Virgin Galactic)
16:55 – 17:30: Spaceport Partners (Joep de Jong, COO)

ESA Looking at a Cis-Lunar Space Station

The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking at building a cis-lunar space station to support NASA's return to the Moon.

Sierra County Voters Approve Spaceport Tax

T or C, NM – Today, history was made in Sierra County. The voters of Sierra County, New Mexico, have approved an increase in local gross receipts tax to support the construction of Spaceport America, the nation’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. Sierra County can now join adjacent Doña Ana County in forming a Tax Development District (TDD) as required by the New Mexico State Legislature to fund the spaceport project.

New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Executive Director Steve Landeene was enthusiastic about the election results, saying, “The people of Sierra County have made a commitment to improve the quality of life for themselves and their children. Spaceport America is real and it’s happening, right here in New Mexico.” The election, which will increase local gross receipts tax by one-quarter of one percent, drew a large turnout of voters, with 2,046 voting in favor of the spaceport and 1,066 voting against.

The formation of the tax district will allow funding for the construction of Spaceport America. In November, voters in adjacent Otero County will go to the polls to decide on a similar tax in that county. In the meantime, NMSA officials will continue to seek their site operator’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) along with a finalized agreement from Virgin Galactic as the spaceport’s anchor tenant, both of which conditions must be met prior to the project moving forward.

With continuing positive community support and ongoing commercial vertical launch activity, Spaceport America holds great promise for New Mexico’s economic future as the nation’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport.

Hawkings Says We Need to Colonize the Moon and Mars

Stephen Hawking, renowned physicist, said in a speech at George Washington University on NASA's 50th anniversary that the Earth needs massive investment in establishing colonies on the Moon and Mars. He called for devoting 2.5% of our resources to the task.