Artist’s conception of a Bigelow lunar habitat. (Credit: Bigelow Aerospace)
WASHINGTON (NASA PR) – NASA and Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas are holding a media availability at 1:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 23, to discuss the agency’s Space Act Agreement with the company for its insight on collaborating with commercial industry on exploration beyond Earth orbit. Journalists can participate in-person or by teleconference.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and XCOR Chief Pilot Rick Searfoss examine a mockup of the Lynx. (Credit: XCOR)
Via Clark Lindsey over at NewSpaceWatch, here’s the latest news from Hollywood:
Cinipix, a vertically integrated production, acquisition and distribution company headed by CEO Todd Slater (Ray, Raze), announced today that it has joined forces with Patricia A Beninati and Michael K Anderson’s Centerboro Productions to produce the sci-fi action film “Newcomers” and will send XCOR Aerospace’s commercial spacecraft, the Lynx, into space to shoot exclusive footage for the film.
The Lynx will be piloted by former NASA Astronaut Col. Richard A. Searfoss on an expedition marking the first Hollywood involvement for a privately owned space company, as well as first-of-its kind brand integration.
Specific plot details are being kept under wraps, however “Newcomers” will tell the story of a former NASA Astronaut who saves the Earth from an alien invasion with help from the commercial space industry (XCOR Aerospace).
Video Caption: Jack Fischer was one of four NASA astronauts to fly approach and landing simulations of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser spacecraft at the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The three-day simulations evaluated the spacecraft’s subsonic handling in support of NASA Commercial Crew Program efforts.
Scaled Composites conducted a static fire of an engine on Friday that startled everyone who heard it at the Mojave Air and Space Port the other day. The nozzle and engine casing ended up separated from the test rig and was on the floor outside the small fence that surrounds the test site.
Scaled says that is exactly what they planned to do. The company is describing it as a “a non-flight experimental rocket motor in which flaws had been intentionally introduced to improve knowledge of different design components. Tested experimental grain to destruction. This unique test, which was necessary to perform during the test program, successfully collected data for several key safety systems.”
Meanwhile, Scaled says Sierra Nevada Corporation conducted an extended burn on a RocketMotorTwo engine the same day down in Powoy, Calif. The test log provides no idea how long the burn lasted; like every other entry in the log going back about seven months, no time is given. But, it doesn’t appeared to have blown up.
1. Monday, May 20, 2013, 2-3:30 PM PST (5-6:30 PM EST, 4-5:30 PM CST): We welcome KIMBERLY ARCAND & MEGAN WATZKE regarding their book, “Your Ticket To The Universe: A Guide to Exploring The Cosmos.” Find out more about this exceptional book and our authors at www.amazon.com/Your-Ticket-Universe-Exploring-Cosmos/dp/1588343758/ref=onegiantlea20.
2. Tuesday, May 21, 2013 2013, 7-8:30 PM PST (10-11:30 PM EST, 9-10:30 PM CST): OPEN LINES discussion. All space, science, STEM calls welcome. First time callers are welcome and encouraged to call in.
3. Friday, May 24: , 2013, 9:30-11 AM PST (11:30- 1 PM CST, 12:30PM-2:00 PM EST): We welcome DR. JEROME KLINGAMAN to discuss and focus on astrophotography.
4. Sunday, May 26, 2013, 12-1:30 PM PST (3-4:30 PM EST, 2-3:30 PM CST). We honor the 20th anniversary of the DC-X with guests BILL GAUBATZ, CATHY HARPER, CHRIS ORWOLL, AND NINO POLIZZI.
In prepared testimony last week before the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space, former space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale urged lawmakers to boost spending for the commercial crew program:
Poised on the cusp of these new systems, we run the risk of being penny wise and pound foolish as we make the same mistake that doomed the space shuttle to much higher cost operations: starving a spacecraft development program in the name of saving a few pennies for today’s budget bottom line resulting in the compromised systems that, if they fly at all, will not be cheap enough to enable business in space….
Currently, the commercial space effort stands uncomfortably close to the brink of financial starvation. Deep space transportation development is being stretched out by similar restrictions. Business is looking to see if the government is serious about providing the critical support or whether this effort will be wasted as so many earlier government programs which withered away on the very cusp of success: National Launch System, Orbital Space Plane, and others.
Hale’s full testimony is reproduced after the break.
Greetings from Maker Faire Bay Area 2013, coming to you LIVE from San Mateo, Calif. It’s the biggest maker faire in the world here. Lots of cool things going on here…inventions and things you can make and remake and unmake. So much to see. It’s also sunny outside with a cool breeze and everything’s green…grass and trees and everything. I sometimes forget what that’s like.
Anyway, here are a few pictures. R2D2 Many are very popular with kids of all ages.
They are right across from Wall-E, the popular robot that led humanity back to its planet.
For all you Dr. Who fans, there are Dalleks roaming around outside doing whatever they do (probably up to no good). I’ll try to post a picture of those later.
There’s also a railroad built from LEGOs….
…and remotely controlled vehicles that go underwater.
Video Caption: If you’ve ever dreamed of soaring to the stars, liftoff may be coming sooner than you think. Just ask XCOR’s Chief Test Engineer Doug Jones, who has designed a commercial suborbital spaceship that can fly up to four times a day, six days a week – sort of like an airplane. And for the low, low price of $95,000, you too can have a ticket to ride.
Reason Magazine’s Brian Doherty interviewed Jones live from Reason’s LA Studios.
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