It's Official
NewSpace had a bittersweet, albeit mostly bitter, "victory" this month when Congress settled on the NASA budget. NASA will focus billions on a pork-laden Space Launch System, and although $500 million dollars has been allotted for commercial crew, it was originally slated to be $850 million. In addition, Space Act Agreements will no longer be used. This has understandably upset the Space Access Society, the Texas Space Alliance, and Rick Tumlinson, among many others. Main link credit: Press Release at NASA; second link credit: Press release at SpaceX
On The Brink
It seems like every month Virgin Galactic is on the verge of starting their flights. However, this month it seems to be true; they successfully completed the first full duration test of SpaceShipTwo's rocket motor, and Virgin's Chief Test Pilot has been sent to fly WhiteKnightTwo for the first time. George Whitesides - not Richard Branson - has stated that they expect to be flying by the end of next year. VG has also made former NASA executive Steven Isakowitz their new CTO. Guy Norris at Aviation Week, and Press Releases at Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic
CCDev2 Optional Milestones
NASA has announced that just like the first round of CCDev, the second will include optional milestones that companies can complete for extra cash. They also have released a progress report for the CCDev2 competitors. NASA Press Release and Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc
Money Time!
XCOR Aerospace and Space Expedition Curacao have finalized their eight-figure deal, which secures the wet lease of production Lynx tail number two for operation on the Caribbean island of Curacao. As a result, ticket sales for Lynx flights have soared. Press Release at XCOR
Orbital Making Strides
Orbital Sciences Corp. has received a commercial launch license for Taurus II. In addition, Aerojet has reported that they have completed a test firing of the Taurus II engine. Press Release at XCOR and Announcment at GenCorp
Milestones Completed
The Rocket City Space Pioneers have completed several key milestones as part of NASA's Innovative Lunar Demonstration Data program. The group completed the milestone by gathering hot-fire test data on Dynetics' newly developed "green" rocket engine. Moon Express has also completed some milestones, however details are limited. Press Release at RCSP
Liberty Is Back On The Table
NASA and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) have signed a new commercial crew agreement to develop a "new Shuttle". The agreement is in the form of an unfunded Space Act Agreement, which will allow ATK to continue development of its Liberty Rocket. ATK says the rocket would be ready to fly by 2015. Press Release at NASA
Striking Gold
LaserMotive found not one, but two signficant sources of funding this month. They received angel investment from the Space Angels Network (main link), and a contract with NASA to develop "game changing" power beaming technology, as part of the "Ride the Light" program. Press Releases at Space Angels Network and NASA
You Win Some, You Lose Some
Just months after his appointment, Rear Admiral Steidle has stepped down as President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation for health reasons. This doesn't seem to hinder the CSF's progress much, as they just added three new members. Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc and Press Release at CSF
Engine Anomaly
SpaceX has admitted to an engine anomaly that shut down a recent Falcon 9 test. This doesn't seem to be slowing them down any, as they are developing a reusable Vertical-Takeoff-Vertical-Landing vehicle called Grasshopper, based on Falcon 9's first-stage. Dan Leone at SPACE.com and Press Release at FAA
Blue Origin Crashes
BlueOrigin has confirmed that their vehicle crashed during a recent test - the same vehicle that they successfully tested three months ago. According to Jeff Bezos, a "flight instability" caused the range safety team to terminate the thrust mid-flight. Leonard David at SPACE.com
Chasing Dreams
An interesting video on the progress Sierra Nevada Corp.' Dream Chaser team has made in CCDev. Dream Chaser will take off atop an Atlas V and land on a runway, similar to the Shuttle. Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc
Virginia's New Space Economy
Another video, this time about Wallops Island in the post-Shuttle era. Many of the commercial companies building replacements for the Shuttle are planning to launch at this "little" brother of KSC. Posting at WBALTV.com
The Space Show
Bob Richards, Robert Zimmerman, and James Muncy discuss their respective NewSpace initiatives with Dr. David Livingston on The Space Show.
World Space Week
World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10.
