http://www.parabolicarc.com ParabolicArc.com: If it Goes to Space, You Can FInd it Here.... Thu, 15 May 2008 23:57:27 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Gregg Easterbrook takes issue with NASA's "Who, us?" attitude toward protecting the Earth against errant asteroids in a piece titled, "The Sky is Falling," in The Atlantic. "The odds that a potentially devastating space rock will hit Earth this century may be as high as one in 10. So why ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/14/parabolas-the-sky-is-falling-progress-is-soaring-and-elon-is-making-big-promises/ The Russian space agency Roskosmos said on Wednesday that it will be teaming with the European Space Agency to build a new spacecraft capable of carrying up to six astronauts to low Earth orbit and the moon. Reuters reports that test flights of the winged vehicle would begin in 2015, ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/14/russia-says-its-building-moonship-with-europe-esa-thats-news-to-us/ EADS Astrium and the German Space Agency (DLR) have proposed modifying Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle to carry three astronauts into orbit, the BBC reports. "The ATV, which ferried just under five tonnes of supplies to the orbiting platform in April, is packed with sophisticated navigation, rendezvous and docking technologies. It also ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/14/europe-independent-human-launch-system-by-2017/ MICROSOFT PRESS RELEASE REDMOND, Wash. — May 12, 2008 — The final frontier got a bit closer today as Microsoft Corp. officially launched the public beta of its WorldWide Telescope, which is now available at http://www.worldwidetelescope.org. WorldWide Telescope is a rich Web application that brings together imagery from the best ground- ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/14/microsoft-launches-worldwide-telescope/ Florida Today has a roundup of what the Florida Legislature has done during its current term to attract and keep aerospace companies. These measures include: $14.5 million to upgrade a launch complex for commercial flights; $1.25 million for space workforce retention and training programs; tax refunds for companies that retain workers; and, a measure ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/13/florida-promotes-space-development-cuts-budget-for-promotional-agency/ BIGELOW AEROSPACE PRESS RELEASE Las Vegas, NV - Genesis I, the first test module launched by commercial space habitat developer Bigelow Aerospace, has completed its 10,000th orbit around the Earth. The unmanned module is about to start its third year in space since it ushered in a new era of private ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/13/genesis-i-turns-10000-orbits/ Jeff Foust has published a new edition of The Space Review. Highlights include: Part II of Taylor Dinerman's look at the reusable launch vehicle industry (if you missed it, here's Part I); Eric R. Hedman says space advocates need to stress long-term benefits in selling NASA's lunar plans to ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/12/space-review-rlvs-space-depots-jfk-and-more/ In an odd bit of timing, scientists are asking the public for help with finding a polar lander that disappeared at Mars eight years ago just as NASA is attempting to land a similar spacecraft on the planet's pole. Scientists at the University of Arizona have released high-resolution images of the ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/12/have-you-seen-this-spacecraft/ The Financial Express has an interesting Q&A with Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G. Madhavan Nair, in which he discusses India's plans to explore the moon and to grab a piece of the global satellite launch market. The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) made history on April 28 by placing a ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/11/isros-nair-discusses-lunar-and-satellite-launcher-plans/ The Canadian government has reaffirmed its rejection of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates plans to sell its space division to American defense contractor Alliant Technosystems (ATK). Ottawa rejected the $1.3 billion sale last month as not being of net benefit to Canada. MDA had 30 days to convince Industry Minister Jim Prentice ... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2008/05/11/mda-sale-rejected-company-gets-contract-renewal/