March 2006

Space Watch
Week of March 6 - March 10, 2006

Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.

If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.

 

 

Civil Space

 

China Pushes Back Space Walk
According to Chinese state media, China has chosen to push back its first planned space walk mission by six months. Originally scheduled to take place in 2007, the country's third manned mission will take place in early 2008. "There is nothing wrong," says a senior consultant to China's space program. "We just need more time to prepare for the mission." China's last mission, a manned two-person flight into a five-day orbit, occurred in the fall of 2005. In addition, China wants to launch a lunar probe to the moon by 2007.
(New Scientist, http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/-spacewalk-mission-by-six-months.html, 3/6/06).

China Planning to Launch Nine Satellites in 2006
China revealed that it will be sending at least nine satellites into orbit this year, one of which will be used primarily to breed seeds in space. The first launch of this calendar year will occur at the end of April. Besides the seed satellite, China is looking to launch the SinoSat 2, the country's first direct broadcasting satellite. Additional satellites programs involve meteorological and oceanic studies.
(Xinhua, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-03/06/content_4262590.htm, 3/6/06).

Sunspot Cycle is Cause for Concern, Say Scientists
According to scientists from NASA and the National Science Foundation the next sunspot cycle will be nearly a year late but could be up to 50% stronger than the last one. Sunspots are dark cooler spots on the sun's surface which are likely created by the eruption of magnetic fields through the sun's surface. The disruption releases enormous amounts of energy towards the Earth. The cycle is important because the storms associated with the sunspots can endanger humans in space, slow satellites in orbit, and disrupt communications throughout the world. The last sunspot cycle peaked in 2001 but was relatively weak with few significant disruptions. The newest one will likely reach its peak in 2012 and is predicted to be much stronger than previously recorded storms.
(Maugh, Thomas. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-solar7mar07,1,2987165.story?coll=la-news-science&ctrack=1&cset=true, 3/7/06).

ESA to Run Spacecraft Into Moon's Surface
The European Space Agency is planning to ram its SMART-1 spacecraft onto the surface of the moon in early September. The spacecraft is currently circling the moon and is Europe's first robotic lunar mission. It was launched in 2003 and was developed to investigate elements on the moon's surface. It currently orbits the moon once every five hours, but later this year, ESA is scheduling to slam the spacecraft onto the surface at about 5,000 miles per hour. The agency will assemble a coordinated campaign of ground-based observations which will examine exactly what gets kicked up from the moon's surface, giving scientists a better picture of the elements that compose the moon.
(David, Leonard. http://space.com/missionlaunches/060307_smart1_moon.html, 3/7/06).

Asteroid Mission Faces the Chopping Block
NASA has decided to cancel a $373 million mission dedicated to exploring two asteroids in space. The canceling of the mission, called the Dawn program, has led to an angry response by many in the scientific community who fear that NASA's emphasis on human space flight will spell the demise of the country's robotic space science programs. The community is also upset about the way the decision was handed down. Even after a favorable recommendation by NASA's assessment team last week, the program was suddenly cancelled. "This was a very odd thing that happened. There was no process involved. It was just out of the blue. It came as a total surprise," says Dawn principal investigator Christopher Russell. The space agency has already spent nearly 90% of the $373 million mission costs. They have decided that the last $40 million would not be worth the money.
(Klotz, Irene. http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060306/asteroid_spa_print.html, 3/7/06).

May Shuttle Flight Uncertain
Two new problems with Space shuttle Discovery may delay its planned launch in May 2006. The problems include a fuel tank sensor that is malfunctioning and a robotic arm that was slightly dented last week. No decision has yet to be made as to whether or not the mission launch will be pushed back or not. The fuel tank problem was discovered this week during testing. Shuttle program manage Wayne Hale plans to hear a formal presentation from tank managers before deciding what to do. "It's very premature to indicate that we're going to do anything with this right now," says Hale. "It's like your car. If you open up your engine to find a small problem, you might create some others." NASA managers are determining options for the flight if they can't get these two problems solved.
(Schneider, Mike. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060308/ap_on_sc/_--, 3/7/06).

Japan Makes Contact With Lost Hayabusa Probe
According to news sources, Japan has regained contact with its lost Hayabusa spacecraft. Ground controllers say that they have resumed communication with the probe that was lost in December 2005, but they still do not know whether or not the probe will be able to return to Earth. The craft was designed to probe an asteroid in space and bring home samples of the asteroid's composition in 2007. The craft landed on the Itokawa asteroid in November 2005, but due to equipment malfunctioning, was unable to extract samples. In the attempt to bring the spacecraft back without samples, the spacecraft lost all contact with ground controllers after an equipment glitch meant it could not point its antenna towards Earth. According to scientists, there is little chance to get the spacecraft back because it has already burned most of its fuel. Managers are still determining the best course of action.
(McKee, Maggie. http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8818-contact-with-troubled-hayabusa-probe-restored.html, 3/8/06).

Geysers on Saturn Moon Could Support Life
Scientists this week have found evidence on Saturn's moon, Enceladus, which could fuel the search for life on another planet. Scientists have reportedly found evidence of geysers of water fueled by liquid reservoirs just beneath the moon's icy surface. The new information would proper Enceladus to the top of the list of possible areas for extra-terrestrial life. Some are hailing the finding as the most important discovery in planetary science in two and a half decades. Readings from the geyser's plumes indicate that all of the prerequisites for life might be found just below the moon's surface. "I think this is important enough that we will see a redirection in the planetary exploration program," says Carolyn Porco, head of the Cassini mission team. "We've just brought Enceladus up to the forefront as a major target of astro-biological interest."
(Boyle, Alan. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11736311/, 3/9/06).

Mars Orbiter Prepares for Crucial Maneuver
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter faces its most crucial test today as it attempts to try and enter low orbit above Mars. The spacecraft is completing its seven-month journey to the Red Planet later this afternoon. If successful, it will give the world unprecedented views of the planet's surface. To complete its 310 million mile journey, the orbiter needs to successfully fire its engines and slow down enough to be captured in the planet's orbit. Mission control in Pasadena is confident but on edge as the events are scheduled to take place sometime this afternoon. Reportedly, the ship will fire its thrusters for 27 minutes and then disappear behind Mars. No word on the outcome will be available for another hour until the craft can regain communication with mission control. Scientists hope to begin collecting data from the orbiter sometime in November.
(MSNBC, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11761917/, 3/10/06).

 

 

 

 

Military

 

MDA Plans NFIRE Follow On Mission
The US Missile Defense Agency is looking to develop a new spacecraft which will be a follow-on to its ready-to-launch Near Field Infrared Experiment program. The new craft would include a controversial kill vehicle that was dropped from the NFIRE's original design after it sparked a major debate regarding the weaponization of space. The kill vehicle was designed to strike a target missile in space. After it was dropped from the program several years ago, Congress included in this year's Defense Appropriations Act language which encouraged MDA to reconsider its actions. The MDA, after realizing that it was too late to include the kill vehicle on the NFIRE, slated for launch later this year, is looking into beginning the follow-on program early next year.
(News Briefs, Space News, 3/6/06).

Space Command in For Changes?
The Air Force is reportedly looking to consolidate its top Space Command leadership after its current commander, General Lance Lord retires. The Air Force is looking to add information operations to the top leadership's portfolio as a way to reduce the command's personnel requirements. A possible action the Air Force might take is to reduce the rank of its top commander from a four-star officer and combine it with another Air Force component. Rumors have been even more vociferous as the Air Force has yet to name a successor to General Lord, who is stepping down on April 1st. Though General Lord has waved off these rumors, the most likely scenario resulting from the upcoming changes is that the Air Force would look to consolidate both the Space Command with the information operations offices that are currently a part of the Air Combat Command.
(Singer, Jeremy. Space News, 3/6/06).

Rumors Fly Regarding Pentagon Space Plane
Citing what it called "considerable evidence" of a US military space plane, the prestigious aerospace magazine, Aviation Week and Space Technology, reported that a "highly classified" orbital space plane called "Blackstar" was funded in the 1990's by the Department of Defense. According to their sources, the space vehicle may have made more than one orbital mission back during the Clinton administration. The theory is that the project involved a large carrier aircraft which would rise to a high altitude at supersonic speeds and release the small space plane (called the XOV, or experimental orbital vehicle) which would then rocket into orbit. The plane, after its mission was over, would then return to Earth. The program was reportedly designed for "reconnaissance, satellite insertion, and possibly, weapons delivery." The magazine is basing these allegations on numerous observations of the orbital plane's landings. However, some officials believe that the concept is technologically unworkable. Even the magazine suggests that their evidence is inconclusive.
(Oberg, James. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11691989/, 3/6/06).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion

 

 

Opinion: Destroying Astrobiology Would be a Disaster
In his recent opinion piece, Rocco Mancinelli argues that astrobiology, the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe, is fundamental to our understanding of life and the limits it includes and should therefore be supported with long-term and stable funding. Unfortunately, according to Mr. Mancinelli, the new NASA budgets, which demonstrate a cut in these science-oriented programs, will be a disaster that the "US is unlikely to recover from." To cut funding while Europe and other countries continue to increase their own research grants and broaden their research programs will have "enduring consequences on the country's science leadership in the world." If these cuts continue, they will "destroy the foundation of this [country's] leadership by annihilating an entire generation of researchers, their research, and the new generation they were forming."
(Mancinelli, Rocco. http://space.com/searchforlife/060309_seti_thursday.html, 3/9/06).

 

Space Watch
Week of March 13 - March 23, 2006

Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.

If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.

 

Civil Space

 

May Shuttle Mission Delayed Until July
NASA has decided to delay the scheduled May flight of the space shuttle Discovery until July 1st, at the very earliest. The newest delay comes as a result of NASA's desire to replace suspect space engine cutoff sensors in the ship's external tank. The decision was made after weeks of speculation and two days of detailed engineering discussions. "This was not an easy decision," said shuttle program manager Wayne Hale. The shuttle should be available for flight well before the July 1st launch date, but the window to launch during the day does not open up until July. That window closes on July 19th. The sensors NASA are going to replace are a part of a backup system designed to make sure that the shuttle's three main engines shut down before the gas tank is completely drained. "The sensors are there in case we have some kind of performance problem, which we have had twice in the history of the program," says Hale.
(Harwood, William. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts121/060314delay/, 3/14/06).

DNA-Like Nebula Found in Deep Space
According to scientists, strong magnetic forces in space have twisted a nebula into the double-helix shape commonly found in the DNA of living organisms. "Nobody has ever seen anything like that before in the cosmic realm," said Mark Morris, one of the scientists who discovered the new phenomenon. Scientists suggest that the new design indicates a much higher degree of order in the galaxy than originally thought. According to researches, the DNA nebula is nearly 80 light years long and 300 light years from the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The recipe for just such a phenomenon is a strong magnetic field, a rotating body, and a nebulous cloud of material. Scientists expect that this occurs elsewhere in the vast expanse of space but have yet to see it with current technologies.
(Carey, Bjorn. http://space.com/scienceastronomy/060315_dna_nebula.html, 3/15/06).

Cancelled Dawn Mission to be Re-considered
According to NASA officials, the agency will be reviewing its decision to cancel its Dawn mission in light of "additional information provided by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory." The decision to stop the program had been handed down by NASA's associate administrator for NASA's science mission directorate, Mary Cleave, several weeks ago. However, in light of this new evidence, which remains publicly unknown, NASA has decided to reopen the case. The Dawn mission was designed to visit two large asteroids in space named Ceres and Vesta. The mission was cancelled because investigators had found nearly 29 major issues that needed to be resolved before the program could proceed. Apparently, the program was behind schedule and well over-budget.
(Groshong, Kimm. http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8861-dawn-asteroid-mission-could-rise-again.html, 3/17/06).

‘Smoking Gun' for Big Bang Observed by Scientists
NASA scientists have discovered the most direct evidence yet that the universe expanded immediately after the big bang. According to reports, NASA has observed the oldest light in the cosmos in order to determine that in the trillion-trillionth of a second after the big bang, the universe expanded to astronomical proportions from the size of a gumball. Scientists say that the universe than began expanding at a much more leisurely pace. The NASA team, a part of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), has observed the light released just after the big bang. The light, called a cosmic afterglow, is made up of microwave type radiation and it is reminiscent of fossils to a paleontologist. The findings have allowed the WMAP team to map out the early universe in precise detail.
(Castelvecchi, Davide, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0317_060317_big_bang.html, 3/17/06).

Mars Rover Has Problems with a Wheel
According to NASA, one of Mars Rover Spirit's six wheels no longer works. The motor that runs the rover's right front wheel has apparently stopped functioning. This defect comes at a time that NASA program administrators are trying to maneuver the craft into an area of sunshine that will help it survive the harsh Martian winter. Apparently, Spirit is nearly 390 feet from a spot where it could spend the winter with its solar panels angled to the sun. The Spirit rover, along with its twin, Opportunity, have far outlasted their original mission plans of 90 days. The two reached Mars in January 2004.
(AP, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/_5RvieAA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--, 3/18/06).

Scientists Confront NASA Over Budget Cuts
A NASA briefing at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference last week turned into a gripe session for angry scientists upset with recent NASA budget cuts to solar system exploration programs. The NASA official who took the brunt of the anger was Mary Cleave, the associate administrator for science. Though she admits that the 2007 budget request is not as good as the 2006 one, she contends that the space science budget is "still going to grow...compared to a lot of other agencies in the discretionary budget." Andrew Dantlzer, director of NASA's solar system division argued that the $1.8 billion budget for solar system exploration is still a lot of money and that past space scientists have been successful "with this amount, and less." Some researchers were not satisfied, however, calling the newest budget request one of the most serious threats to the space science community in this generation.
(David, Leonard. Space News, 3/20/06).

Space Station Crew Prepares for Newest Members
The two crew members of the International Space Station spent today transporting their Soyuz capsule from one docking port to a different one nearly 80 feet away. With Russian Valery Tokareva and American Bill McArthur at the helm, the two took 22 minutes in order to complete the project. The new position has cleared a docking port for the arrival of the newest Soyuz craft and the two newest astronauts, Russian Pavel Vinogradov and American Jeff Williams. The newest members will arrive on March 31st while Tokarev and McArthur will return to Earth on April 8th.
(Carreau, Mark. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/space/3734708.html, 3/20/06).

Successful Mars Orbiter Ready for Tests
After a successful arrival into orbit around Mars on March 10th, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is ready to begin taking images of the red planet. This week, scientists are preparing for the orbiter to take its first images with the telescope camera mounted on it, the most powerful of its kind ever sent to another planet. Program assistants are warning people that the first images are highly experimental. Only after trying a number of different algorithms and systems will scientists be able to get extremely vivid pictures from Mars. After the first shots, the camera will be turned off as the orbiter undergoes a series of "aerobrakes" which will properly circularize its orbit around the Red Planet. This process will take nearly 5 months to complete, at which time, scientists can go back to taking photos.
(David, Leonard. http://space.com/missionlaunches/060321_mro_update.html, 3/21/06).

NASA Launches Three Microsatellites
After a week-long delay, NASA finally launched three microsatellites into orbit from somewhere over the Pacific Ocean this week. The ST5 satellites were launched from a Lockheed L-1011 jet. The jet climbed to nearly 39,000 feet and dropped a Pegasus rocket which then fired into space. The ST5 microsatellites will provide information about the Earth's magnetic field, but its main function is to demonstrate technologies for future science missions in space. The launch had been scheduled for a week earlier but was scrubbed due to a glitch in the rocket's release from the jet.
(AP, http://www.mercurynews.com//northern_california/14159298.htm, 3/22/06).

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

 

NASA Seeks Private Help to Service Space Station
NASA has begun to take proposals for help from private industries in providing services to the International Space Station. Nearly 20 companies have submitted proposals to win the $500 million contract promised by NASA. The program, the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program (COTS), will close in June and is widely considered to be an insurance policy and a stop-gap measure for the Crew Exploration Vehicle program which is currently not going to be available in 2010 when the shuttle fleet is retired. The first phase of the COTS program is to design a craft that could complete an unmanned cargo delivery. The second phase, still optional at this point, would entail a crew transport craft. NASA is hoping that this program will capitalize on the entrepreneurial spirit that is flooding into the commercial space launch market.
(Boyle, Alan. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11927039/, 3/20/06).

US and Russia to Team Up on New Sea Launch Agreement
The United States and the Russian Federation agreed to cooperate on the technological aspects of the Sea Launch satellite program. The agreement, signed by Russian Ambassador Yury Ushakov and US Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph, expands the two countries' cooperation in space and cutting-edge technology. Sea Launch is a consortium that was created in 1995 which includes Boeing, the Russian space corporation Energia, two Ukrainian companies, and one company from Norway. The agreement, according to RIA Novosti, will protect Russia's intellectual property within the Sea Launch project. Russian Zenit carrier rockets are used by the launching company.
(Berezin, Alexei. http://en.rian.ru/world/20060321/44631285.html, 3/23/06).

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion

 

 

Op-Ed: Manned Space Projects at Risk
Fred Reed, in his recent Washington Times op-ed, argued that unmanned space probes are "getting so good, so fast, that it's hard to see what would be gained by sending people" into space. Citing the success of the recent Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Cassini spacecraft, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, and countless additional unmanned probes, Mr. Reed wonders whether manned flight is even worth the risk. "What could [manned flights] do that couldn't be done decades sooner and enormously cheaper by unmanned vehicles?" asks Reed. He purports that perhaps NASA trumps up its manned exploration because it attracts funding and keeps the public interested. Regardless of the motivation, he argues that NASA's time, energy, and most importantly, its resources would be better served if it stayed out of the business of manned exploration.
(Fred Reed, http://washingtontimes.com/technology/20060316-103347-4847r.htm, 3/17/06).

 

Space Watch
Week of March 27 - March 31, 2006

Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.

If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.

 

Civil Space

 

Solar Eclipse Seen Around the World
On Wednesday, March 29th, much of the world saw a mesmerizing total solar eclipse. The eclipse swept from Brazil to Mongolia and was seen by much of the world's poorest Third World countries. Governments in these areas scrambled to warn people about the danger in looking directly at a solar eclipse without the proper eye protection. The danger, according to the Association Press, comes from looking at the Sun's atmosphere, or corona. It's atmosphere is completely visible when the moon blocks the rest of the sun from view. Though many countries are attempting to stock their shelves with thousands of pairs of special glasses, many officials are simply warning people to keep their children indoors during the event.
(Space.com, http://space.com/scienceastronomy/060328_eclipse_overview.html, 3/28/06).

NASA Reverses Decision on Dawn Mission
In a surprising move, NASA has decided to reverse its decision to cancel a robotic mission to two large asteroids. The mission, called the Dawn mission, was stopped on March 2nd because of cost overruns; however, after an appeal by Jet Propulsion Laboratories, NASA has decided to resume the program. It will now launch in July 2007, according to NASA officials. The Dawn mission is designed to study the two largest asteroids in the solar system, Ceres and Vesta. "We were very saddened to see this happen, after all of the hard work we put in," says Tom Prettyman, a member of the Daw science team, "Now we're delighted again."
(Snodgrass, Roger. http://www.lamonitor.com/articles/2006/03/28/headline_news/news02.txt, 3/28/06).

China Winning Space Race, Say Congressmen
US lawmakers this week questioned NASA Administrator Michael Griffin about what they considered an unacknowledged space race between the US and China. According to several congressmen, the US is set to lose this race if the country maintains its current levels of space spending. The lawmakers, including Tom Delay of Texas, point to the fact that China's space program employs nearly 200,000 workers compared to NASA's 20,000. At the hearing on Capitol Hill, Griffin was tasked to produce an unclassified assessment of the Chinese space program and its goals. "We had a 40-year lead in space and we're giving it up," says Delay. "The US is quibbling over $3 billion to $5 billion. It's amazing to me."
(Wheeler, Larry. http://www.flatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060331/NEWS02/603310339/1007/news02, 3/31/06).

New ISS Crew Successfully Launched from Kazakhstan
The newest residents of the International Space Station took off on their 178 mission yesterday. Russian commander Pavel Vinogradov, NASA flight engineer Jeff Williams, and Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes were launched on board a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch was the 100th manned orbital launch from the Baikonur complex and the 12th such flight carrying crew members to the ISS. The men are expected to dock with the station late Friday night if all goes according to plan. "It was a great launch. Smooth, uneventful, the kind we like," said NASA associate administrator Rex Geveden. The Russian Soyuz has performed flawlessly, keeping the ISS mission afloat while the American shuttle system undergoes continued maintenance. Mr. Pontes represents the first Brazilian in space ever.
(Harwood, William. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp13/060329launch.html, 3/29/06).

Russian Satellite Suffers Sudden Impact
A Russian telecommunications satellite suffered a sudden and dramatic failure this week. According to officials, the failure, which occurred in the early morning on Wednesday, was caused by "a sudden external impact." As a result of the impact, the craft suffered instantaneous depressurization and lots its geostationary orientation. Although officials have been able to regain marginal control, the satellite is close to approaching values that might result in a complete loss. The impact is suspected to have occurred due to space debris, small uncharted pieces of space garbage that orbit at extremely fast speeds. As space has gotten more and more crowded, space debris becomes a much more dangerous problems for countries with an interest in its utilization.
(SPX, http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russian_Telecom_Satellite_Fails_After_Sudden_Impact.html, 3/30/06).

NASA Pays Russians for Transport
For the first time since the International Space Station project began, NASA has paid Russia to launch one of its astronauts into space to board the ISS. Originally, the US and Russia determined that they would both supply resources for the space station on a no-cash-exchange basis, but after the grounding of the US space shuttle, Russia has footed most of the bill in maintaining the station. NASA had been prohibited from paying for these types of services by the Iran Non-Proliferation Act of 2000; however, Congress agreed to give NASA a waiver which would last through 2012, thereby allowing them to pay for Russian Soyuz rocket services. The first recipient of such services is astronaut Jeffrey Williams, the lone American on the current mission to the ISS.
(Chien, Philip. http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060330-111616-1896r.htm, 3/31/06).

NASA Amends Policy to Support Openness
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin issued a new communications this week which offers a renewed commitment to openness. The new policy comes two months after one of NASA's top scientists complained that political officials in the Administration had attempted to muzzle his views on global warming. The policy ensures that scientists and engineers are free to discuss their opinions and conclusions as long as they maintain the fact that they are speaking for themselves and not for the agency as a whole. According to Griffin, this policy is nothing dramatically new, but that it does replace a code which was "not clear enough or articulate enough."
(Leary, Warren. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/science/31nasa.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin, 3/31/06).

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial

 

 

Space X Rocket Explodes After Launch
The private space company SpaceX experience a major setback in its attempts to develop cheaper, lighter, and effective rockets, as the maiden voyage of its Falcon I spacecraft blew up shortly after lifting off from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The loss came as the result of a "fuel leak of unknown origin," according to SpaceX officials. The launch, which took place after several months of delays, cost nearly $6.7 million. The price tag is nearly one quarter of the price of similar sized launch vehicles. The launch failure was caught on camera after a picture-perfect liftoff. "Cleary this is a setback," said the company's vice president, "But we're in this for the long haul." Space X notes that other new rockets have had historical failure rates of 40 to 50%. Officials are not sure when the next flight might be attempted. They hope within the next six months.
(Chandler, David.
http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8898-fire-destroys-rockets-maiden-flight.html, 3/27/06).

Approval Likely for New Boeing-Lockheed Joint Venture
According to sources, the federal government is expected to give its blessing to the Boeing and Lockheed joint venture, thereby creating the United Launch Alliance. The Department of Defense and the Federal Trade Commission are supposedly working on an agreement that would allow the approval of the merger, yet allay concerns from other smaller companies regarding anti-trust violations. One of the major manufacturers whose fears they are hoping to ameliorate include Northrop Grumman. The approval will mark the end of a nearly year-long attempt to combine forces in launching services.
(Fillion, Roger. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/airlines/article/0,2777,DRMN_23912_4581085,00.html, 3/30/06).

 

 

 

Military

 

 

Japan Weighs Use of Space for Military Purposes
In the officially pacifist country, any talk of militaristic policies often draws much ire from the Japanese populace; however, Japan's ruling party has begun to look to the use of space for military purposes. The decision is largely symbolic as Japan has already launched several spy satellites; however, it is a sharp departure from the usual taboo against militaristic moves in the country. "It is universally recognized that in the peaceful use of space it is possible to have development for military purposes, as long as the purpose is for self-defense," said the Japanese ruling party's subcommittee on space. The focus on non-military applications in space has stunted innovation, according to Japanese sources.
(AFP, http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Japan_Undertaking_Cautious__Of_Space.html, 3/29/06).

Experimental Space Plane Flies Over Mojave
The Pentagon is hurrying plans to test fly yet another experimental space plan. The newest vehicle, called the X-37, is being developed by the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with support from NASA. The system is an unpiloted, autonomously operated vehicle designed to conduct on-orbit operations and collect test data in the Mac 25 region of flight. The plane will be launched from the White Knight mothership, the same one that helped to tote and then launch SpaceShipOne in 2004. Little else is known about the objectives of the vehicle, but generally, officials will confirm flight tests after they have been conducted.
(David, Leonard. http://space.com/missionlaunches/060331_x37_update.html, 3/31/06).

 

 

 

 

Opinion

 

 

Op-Ed: Time to Reconsider International Space Station
According to Keiko Chino's recent opinion piece, the International Space Station is in dire straights and as a result, Japan should reconsider its involvement in the project. As Chino points out, the ISS program began in 1984 as a US initiative with Russia, Japan, and Europe later joining. He argues that with the most recent postponement of the next space shuttle launch puts Japanese investment and involvement in the program in jeopardy. The Japanese laboratory was originally set to be launched to the ISS in 1992. After budget issues, NASA decided to push the launch of the Japanese materials back. After the shuttle disaster three years ago, the Japanese involvement was pushed off again. Though Japanese officials continue to be optimistic that NASA will keep its word, the newest setback puts that promise in jeopardy. The lab has already cost 330 billion yen, and the cost of sending the lab into space will be 650 billion yen. Mr. Chino has little hope, however, that the Americans will fulfill their end of the bargain.
(Chino, Keiko. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/20060325TDY04005.htm, 3/31/06).

 

 

Oddly Enough

 

 

Superstition Follows Eclipse
According to Space.com, the solar eclipse on Wednesday brought out many of the interesting superstitions associated with the atmospheric phenomenon. "One Indian paper advised pregnant women not to go outside during the eclipse to avoid having a blind baby or one with a cleft lip. Food cooked before the eclipse should be thrown out afterward because it will be impure and those who are holding a knife during the eclipse will cut themselves, the Hindustan Times added."
(Space.com, http://space.com/scienceastronomy/060328_eclipse_overview.html, 3/28/06).