Space Tourism … and Much More
Artist's conception of WhiteKnight2/SpaceShipTwo in flight (credit: Virgin Galactic)
Push on for Moray RAF space base lift-off site
The Press and Journal
Science Minister Lord Drayson has been urged to include the possibility of Lossiemouth becoming a spaceport in pursuing his policy of increasing the UK’s share of the space technology market.
Continue reading ‘Lossiemouth Promoted as UK Space Tourism Base’
SPACE IGT PRESS RELEASE
Today, the Space Innovation and Growth Team (Space IGT), a joint collaboration between industry, Government, and academia, set out a 20 year vision for the UK to grow its share of the quickly expanding global space market from 6% to 10%. The majority of investment required for what will be a six-fold increase in the size of the UK’s space sector will come from industry, but Government must also play a full part in this by doubling its spend on space.
Continue reading ‘Report Lays Out Ambitious Plan for British Space Sector’
UK to lead commercial space travel
The Engineer
The UK could be a world leader in space technology and commercial suborbital flights in 20 years, according to the British space industry’s secretary-general.
Paul Flanagan of UKspace told The Engineer Online that the UK is already a base for many leading satellite manufacturers, such as EADS Astrium and Surrey Satellites, and it could, one day, be a hub for commercial space travel.
Continue reading ‘UK Looks to Become Hub of Space Tourism’
PRESS RELEASE
Government and industry team to look at opportunities in, and barriers to, innovation and growth in the UK Space sector
The future challenges and opportunities for the UK Space industry will be assessed by a new expert group charged with producing a report for Government, Science Minister Lord Drayson announced today.
Continue reading ‘UK Launches Ambitious Review of Space Policy’
Some updates on human spaceflight from around the web (and the world)….
ISS to Double Crew Size: Aviation Week
“NASA and its partners on the International Space Station (ISS) are in final preparations for the shift from a full-time crew of three to a crew of six on the orbiting laboratory, beginning with the STS-124 space shuttle mission upcoming in June.”
ISRO To Seek Human Spaceflight Funding: Aviation Week
“The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) soon will ask the Indian government to approve a human spaceflight mission by 2014-15 at a projected cost of $2.5 billion.”
Rube Goldberg Was a Piker: Rocketsandsuch Blog
This insider blog reports on the NASA’s latest plan to deal with oscillations in its Ares rocket. Is “hare-brained” a compliment?
China Checks Out Relay Satellite: Aviation Week
“China is beginning the geosynchronous orbit checkout of its first relay satellite to increase communications coverage for manned Shenzhou spacecraft.”
British Perspectives on Human Spaceflight: The Space Review
The British once ruled the seven seas, presiding over an empire upon which the sun never set. Now, it doesn’t even send humans into space. Jeff Foust examines whether that will soon change.
Thales Alenia Space’s Answer to EADS Astrium’s Space Jet: Hyperbola Blog
Rob Coppinger looks at an Italian lifting body concept that could send astronauts and tourists into space. It’s got a really cool para-glider landing system.
Point-to-point suborbital transportation: sounds good on paper, but…: The Space Review
David Hoerr takes a look at the feasibility of taking a shortcut through space in order to fly from London to Sydney. Anyone remember the flying car?
New Mexico Spaceport Authority Seeks Deputy Director
NMSA PRESS RELEASE
The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) is accepting applications for a Deputy Director to oversee the daily operations of Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. This position announcement marks another significant milestone as the historic project transitions from a construction site to an operating spaceport.
The Deputy Director will be responsible for [...]
Wyle to Play Key Role in New FAA Commercial Space Transportation Center
WYLE PRESS RELEASE
Wyle is part of an academic-industry team that has been selected to support a new Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation.
The center is a partnership of academia, industry, and government, developed for the purpose of creating a world-class consortium that will address current and future [...]
Space Tourism Insurance Could Be Next Big Growth Area
Space Tourism Sector A Good Opportunity For Insurance Firms
Space Travel
As space tourism matures, it holds tremendous opportunity for insurance companies to offer risk coverage to those on-board, similar to what they do for passengers of airlines, industry officials said.
At an international conference on space business, organised as part of Bengaluru Space Expo 2010, speakers noted [...]
