Posted on March 12, 2013, at 7:44 am .
Via Lloyd’s
Reprinted by Permission
Space is the final frontier for hundreds of high net worth individuals seeking the ultimate tourist thrill. However, as industry delegates to a symposium held at Lloyd’s heard, some risk issues remain unresolved.
Suborbital flight – flying higher than 100km above sea level – will soon be a reality for anyone willing and able to pay thousands of pounds for a ticket. There are plenty of people already queuing for the privilege of being among the first 1,000 humans to experience space travel.
Continue reading ‘Risk Issues Remain Unresolved as Space Tourism Nears Liftoff’
Posted on November 17, 2012, at 12:48 pm .
The moon rising over Half Moon Bay, California on Halloween 2009. (Credit: Douglas Messier)
A new private effort focused on getting humans back to the moon by 2020 appears to be led by a Colorado start-up called Golden Spike Company, according to published reports.
S. Alan Stern, the former NASA science chief who now works for the Southwest Research Institute, is the registered agent for the company, which is identified as a foreign corporation in Colorado state records.
NASASpaceflight.com, which first broke the news earlier this week, reports that “the effort is led by a group of high profile individuals from the aerospace industry and backed by some big money and foreign investors”. The company plans to make a formal announcement in December.
Continue reading ‘Golden Spike Company to Lay Private Tracks for Human Moon Missions’
Posted on November 9, 2012, at 3:28 pm .
Jim Sensenbrenner
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
With the elections over, the race to succeed Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) as chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. On Thursday, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) both formally threw their hats into the ring in a race that also includes Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX).
Hall, who has been a major critic of the Obama Administration’s commercial space push, is leaving his chairmanship because he is term limited under Republican House rules to serving six years in the position.
Rohrabacher has been a major proponent of commercializing spaceflight and has backed the Obama Administration’s efforts in this area. He also has been a major proponent of more oil and gas drilling and a skeptic of global warming, positions that he shares with Smith and Sensenbrenner.
Continue reading ‘Sensenbrenner, Rohrabacher Vie With Smith to Lead House Science Committee’
Posted on June 19, 2012, at 5:19 pm .
The flight of the Dragon seems to have had some impact in Congress. House appropriators have decided to provide the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation its full budget request of $16.7 million for FY 2013. The appropriations bill contains a short explanation for the decision.
The Committee recommends $16,700,000 for the office of commercial space transportation, which is equal to the budget request and $429,000 above the fiscal year 2012 enacted level.
The Office of Commercial Space Transportation protects public safety through regulatory oversight of the rapidly growing U.S. commercial space transportation industry. The FAA also has a statutory mandate to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space transportation. The commercial space transportation industry is nearly certain to increase its activities providing orbital and suborbital services to serve commercial, scientific, and government purposes. Of particular importance are orbital flights to support the operation of the International Space Station. This increase in commercial space activity will require the FAA to provide a significantly greater number of permits and licenses. The Committee wishes to ensure that the FAA has the ability to provide these permits and licenses effectively and efficiently so that the U.S. can emerge as the world leader in space transport. The Committee will encourage a reprogramming of funds to the Office of Commercial Space Transportation above the levels provided, if necessary to keep pace with this growing industry.
Posted on April 30, 2012, at 10:07 am .
Seattle, WA – April 30, 2012 — Spaceflight Inc. (Spaceflight) announced today that it has signed a contract with the USAF Space Development and Test Directorate to fly up to two government spacecraft on commercial launch vehicles.
The United States Air Force’s Space Development and Test Directorate has contracted with Spaceflight to evaluate commercial launch options for, and potentially conduct commercial launch and orbit insertion operations of, the STP Satellite-3 (STPSat-3) and Kestrel Eye Tactical Imaging Spacecraft (Kestrel Eye) spacecraft.
Continue reading ‘Spaceflight Inc. Signs USAF Contract for Commercial Launches’
Posted on April 18, 2012, at 6:12 pm .
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 18, 2012 (Colorado Space Coalition PR) — Tomorrow, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will sign into law a bill that will position Colorado to capitalize on significant new opportunities in commercial space transportation.
Gov. Hickenlooper will sign Senate Bill 35 during an industry luncheon on Thursday, April 19 at the 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, the premier gathering of the global space community. The law limits liability for companies that would operate space flights from the proposed Spaceport Colorado.
Continue reading ‘Colorado Governor to Sign Space Limited Liability Bill’
Posted on April 17, 2012, at 6:41 pm .
Rick Tumlinson
AUSTIN, TX (Formation PR) – Austin-based communications consultancy Formation has announced the addition of a practice group dedicated to the commercial space industry. Formation helps launch and grow business and policy initiatives with a unique blend of strategic communications, design and entrepreneurial thinking.
“I have a great deal of personal interest in enabling growth in the commercial space industry,” says Shelby Stephens, Formation co-founder and strategy design director. “Combine our company’s strong strategic communications capabilities with a background in engineering and aerospace, and we’re in a good spot to help some commercial space companies get to the next level.”
The space practice group at Formation includes commercial space evangelist Rick Tumlinson as a strategic advisor. “Rick brings us decades of space advocacy experience and a deep knowledge of the industry,” Stephens adds. “And, he’s something of a renegade – certainly outside the box – and that seems to fit well with our culture.”
Continue reading ‘Consulting Firm Hires Tumlinson for New Commercial Space Practice Group’
Posted on April 16, 2012, at 1:12 pm .
AIAA hosts NanoRacks Jeffrey Manber
“Capitalism in Outer Space”
Michael’s at Shoreline, Mountain View
April 17, 2012, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Registration:http://www.aiaa-sf.org/dmtg12/04.html
SVSBR Members will receive AIAA member price
The American space program stands at a crossroads on how to most efficiently move forward while maintaining US leadership in space. Today, while space programs in Russia, China, India and other nations have embraced open markets and commercial practices, the U.S. is still unsure how to conduct itself in a suddenly new, robust space community. Commercial space pioneer Jeffrey Manber will use his current company NanoRacks as an example of the new relationship that is emerging between government and the space industry and offer suggestions on how the American space industry will evolve as we move beyond low-earth orbit.
Posted on April 14, 2012, at 10:10 am .
Michael Kelly
Chief Engineer, Office of Commercial Spaceflight
Federal Aviation Administration
“Commercial Human Spaceflight: The Coming Safety Challenge
Changes at FAA
- AST split in several offices, including chief engineer’s offic
- Former astronaut Pamela Ann Melroy has been added as senior adviser for human spaceflight — flew on STS-92, 112 and 120 — previously serve as Deputy Program Manager for Space Exploration Initiatives at Lockheed Martin after leaving the astronaut corps
- reorganizing field offices
- adding a second position at Mojave, new positions at Wallops and JSC
- Planned tech center with 50 people at KSC will not happen
- Moritorium on regulations has been expanded to Oct. 1, 2015 — although FAA can propose rules if there is an accident
Continue reading ‘Space Access 12: FAA AST Chief Engineer Mike Kelly’
Posted on April 8, 2012, at 5:06 pm .
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
Roscosmos and the Skolkovo Fund will work together on developing advanced space and telecommunications technologies as part of the space agency’s long-range development plan that extends out to 2030 and beyond, Russian media report.
Continue reading ‘Skolkovo Fund, Roscosmos to Cooperate on Space Tech’
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