NewSpace News Issue #74, August 2011

August 2011

NewSpace 2011 A Success!

With nearly 400 attendees and the highest-profile keynotes to date, NewSpace 2011 was the biggest and best NewSpace conference yet. The conference was opened by NASA's Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, followed by three days chock-full of amazing panels and talks by the industry's best and brightest. The NewSpace Business Plan Competition - with a first prize of $25,000 - attracted talent from across the country including Jon Goff's company Altius Space Machines, who took home the blue ribbon. Debra Werner at Space News and Announcement at Altius

XCOR To Fly Atsa

XCOR Aerospace has been selected by the Planetary Science Institute to fly their new Atsa Suborbital Observatory. Atsa is a manned telescope, designed to make low-cost observations above the Earth's contaminating atmosphere, and without the restrictions of unmanned telescopes. Press Release at XCOR

NASA Changes CCDev Strategy

NASA has recently decided to change its CCDev strategy and use the traditional procurement process governed by FAR. This system replaces the Space Act Agreements that were used in phases one and two, which has made several organizations pretty unhappy. Dan Leone at Space News and Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc

Carmack's Micro-Prize

Armadillo Aerospace Founder John Carmack has started a new "micro-prize", offering $5,000 for the first person or company that can launch above 100,000 ft. Several teams have already planned attempts. Release at Armadillo

Jumping Higher

Now that their lawsuit has been resolved, the Red Bull Stratos Project is back on. The goal of the project is to have daredevil Felix Baumgartner skydive from 120,000 ft., which would break the previous record of 102,800 ft. set in 1960 by U.S. Air Force pilot Colonel Joseph Kittinger. This might get the ball rolling for SpaceDiver, Inc. and Armadillo Aerospace, who are teaming up to make space diving a reality. RedBullStratos.com and Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc

Orbital Depots

Having "gas stations" in space will be necessary if anyone plans to use chemical propellants to explore the solar system. To address this, NASA has offered $2.4 million in contracts to four companies who will study how to store and transfer fuel in space. Clara Moskowitz at SPACE.com

Export Reform Proposal

The Administration has proposed a rule to relieve low-risk technologies from burdensome and unnecessary restrictions. This would be a major win for small start-ups in the commercial space industry, who have been hurt the most by these regulations. Release at AIA

With the retirement of the Shuttle fleet, the media has taken a strong interest in the "private space race", with articles from NPR and SPACE.com. Long-time newspace spokespersons like Rick Tumlinson and Dave Brody also share their insight. In addition to press coverage, there are many updates and announcements from companies competing to fill the void. Here's an update from some of the big players:

Sierra Nevada Space Systems

- Alan Boyle Discusses SNC and Dream Chaser

- SNC Adds Several Former NASA Leaders to Dream Chaser Team

- KSC Offering SNC With Launch Panning and Execution

SpaceX

- Elon Musk Discusses SpaceX At AIAA Conference

- SpaceX Breaks Ground at Vendenberg AirForce Base

- Elon Musk Keeping Promise To Go To Mars

- SpaceX Settles Lawsuit With Safety Contractor

Moon Express

- Bob Richards and Barney Pell Talk About What Moon Express Is Up To

- Moon Express Plans To Send Micro-Hoppers To The Moon