Swedish Spaceport awaits government go-ahead
Flight International
“An investigation into the national legislative needs of Spaceport Sweden has concluded that Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo could be treated as a sounding rocket.
“Spaceport Sweden is now waiting to hear from its government’s commerce ministry on whether current domestic aviation and sounding rocket law are sufficient to allow commercial spaceline Virgin Galactic to operate. A decision is due by year-end.”
How Spaceport Sweden plans for suborbital flights
Press Release
30 September 2008
Dr. Olle Norberg held his presentation at the IAC 2008 today, talking about “issues to consider in the space tourism era - how Spaceport Sweden plans for suborbital flights.”
Today’s paper had two main themes:
Continue reading ‘Sweden Moves Toward Legal Regime to Allow Space Tourism Flights’
In what could be a substantial tax break for Sir Richard Branson and uber-rich space tourists, the Swedish government is close to classifying Virgin Galactic space tourism flights as sounding rockets.
Hyperbola’s Rob Coppinger reports that a government review has concluded there are no barriers to classifying suborbital tourism flights flown out of Spaceport Sweden as sounding rockets. Officials are hoping the Ministry of Commerce will approve the idea.
This move would be financially advantageous for both Virgin Galactic and its wealthy clientele. Space News reported earlier this year that Swedish officials were looking to put the flights into the same category as hot air balloon rides and sounding rockets because the value added tax (VAT) on these activities is lower. Otherwise, Sweden’s higher value-added taxes would kick in, adding as much as 25 percent to the $200,000 ticket.
The move would not require any changes in Swedish law, easing the way for Branson’s company to begin tourism flights from Kiruna early in the next decade. Coppinger reports that the Swedish government, which faces elections within two years, might have a difficult time getting new laws passed before the vote. The next government might not be as amenable to providing a lower tax rate for joyriding millionaires.
Spaceport Sweden and Virgin Galactic officials will provide an update on their efforts at creating a spaceport in Kiruna, Sweden on April 1. Below is the official announcement.
SWEDISH SPACE CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE
Many steps towards personal suborbital spaceflight from Kiruna have been taken. To be precise 26 work packages, regarding everything from accommodation to space operations and astronauts’ timetables, have successfully been accomplished during the last 14 months. The Spaceport Sweden team will present the conclusions of the work packages so far and also the way forward.
Virgin Galactic has also been intensely involved in the above mentioned work packages, and has simultaneously focused on several other current topics. Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic will be providing latest information on the recently unveiled designs of the prototype commercial space ship and carrier aircraft which are now close to completion at Scaled Composites in Mojave California. He will also be sharing the vision for Virgin Galactic including the likely diversification of the business into the areas of space science and payload deployment as well as continuing work towards flights from Spaceport Sweden.
Continue reading ‘Kiruna Spaceport Advances; Update Planned for April 1′
National Geographic Uses G-Force One to Film Station Identifications
National Geographic broadcasts ‘zero gravity’ idents
Design Week
“National Geographic is today broadcasting what it claims are the world’s first channel idents filmed in zero gravity, developed by Brothers & Sisters.The idents will be used as promos for National Geographic’s Space Week, launching in January.
“The advertising consultancy, which was commissioned in April on the strength of an [...]
XCOR Introduces First Space Tourist, Says Demand High
Their thunder stolen by a leak to The Daily Mail, XCOR introduced its first space tourist, London-based banker Per Wimmer, and said that it has 22 reservations for suborbital flights aboard its Lynx vehicle beginning in 2011.
Vanna Bonta - Space Sexologist
I’m sitting here watching an episode of “The Universe” on The History Channel and guess who pops up on the screen but novelist/poet/actress-turned-citizen-of-the-cosmos Vanna Bonta. She’s apparently working on a flight suit that will allow for easier sexual couplings in microgravity.
There’s a segment showing her and husband Allen Newcome testing their 2suit aboard Zero G’s [...]
NASA Extends Contract for Soyuz Transport to ISS
NASA PRESS RELEASE
NASA has signed a $141 million modification to the current International Space Station contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency for crew transportation services planned through the spring of 2012.
Progress Report: JP Inflates Ascender 100 Vehicle
JP Aerospace has posted updated photos of the inflation of its Ascender 100 airship. The company is working on creating lighter-than-air vehicles that can float into space.
Chiao: Deepen U.S., China Cooperation in Space
Former NASA Astronaut Leroy Chiao makes the case for space cooperation between the United States and China on his blog.
“It makes sense politically and programmatically to cooperate with China, in all areas. Space would be a good place to symbolically signal such a shift in policy. The United States did this with Russia in the [...]
