RLV and Space Transport News http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/ News on space transport and the entrepreneurial space industry en-us Nucleus CMS v3.64 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus//nucleus/nucleus2.gif RLV and Space Transport News http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/ <![CDATA[Big crowd for Brownsville meeting on proposed SpaceX spaceport]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37891 SpaceX spaceport in south Texas had a good turnout yesterday: FAA public hearing on SpaceX draws hundreds in Brownsville - TheMonitor.com
Hundreds of people turned out Tuesday for a public hearing on SpaceX’s proposal to build a satellite launch site in Cameron County, and virtually all comments from the public showed support for the project.

Dozens of people took the microphone and all supported the venture, according to Gilberto Salinas, spokesman for the Brownsville Economic Development Council. A few people voiced concerns for wildlife in the area.
]]> Spaceports http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37891 Wed, 16 May 2012 09:46:06 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37891 <![CDATA[XCOR announces Lynx suborbital flight winner]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37889 XCOR

XCOR Aerospace Announces Lynx Suborbital Flight Winner

May 16, 2012, Mojave CA: XCOR Aerospace today announced the grand prize winner of a trip aboard the Lynx Mark I suborbital launch vehicle. XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson made the announcement at the Spacecraft Technology Expo (STE) in Los Angeles, CA.

Jennnifer Brisco wins Lynx ride
Jennifer Brisco, winner of XCOR's suborbital flight giveaway poses in the full size Lynx cockpit model at the Spacecraft Technology Expo in Los Angeles

"About two months ago, we were at an event called the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference, where together with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) we gave away a suborbital flight," said XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson. "We had a winner, and we had a backup. Unfortunately our main winner was unable to accept the prize. Our backup winner, Jennifer Brisco, is now the official recipient of the suborbital flight."

Jennifer, who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area was flown in to the Spacecraft Technology Expo in Los Angeles to receive the prize. She did not know that she had been selected until presented with the award at the Expo.

"It's been my lifetime goal to take a suborbital flight," said Jennifer. "This is an absolute dream...I am in shock right now, I am speechless."

Jennifer, who is a space enthusiast, will be eligible to fly on the Lynx mark I as a suborbital researcher after passing a medical exam and completing a three day training program that includes altitude and G-force exposure.

"XCOR continues to bring down the costs and barriers associated with commercial human spaceflight," remarked Andrew. "Reusable Launch Vehicles such as Lynx will usher in a whole new era of accessibility to space by offering routine, affordable and safe trips outside the atmosphere. We look forward to being on the vanguard of this revolution in affordable access to the cosmos."
]]> Space Prizes http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37889 Wed, 16 May 2012 09:39:36 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37889 <![CDATA[Briefs: Mojave news; Expo report; Asteroid mining is popular]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37887 Mojave Air & Spaceport:
/-- Karina Drees Appointed Director of Business Development - Mojave Air and Space Port
/-- SXC to Hire Mojave’s Stu Witt as a Consultant - Parabolic Arc
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A report on the space tech expo last week in L.A.: Visiting the first Spacecraft Technology Expo - 89.3 KPCC - May.10.12 (via Mojave Spaceport Blog).
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More about the big response to Planetary Resources job application call: Asteroid-Mining Jobs in High Demand - Space.com.]]> NewSpace http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37887 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:22:59 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37887 <![CDATA[Falcon 9/Dragon ISS mission articles]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37883 SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon mission to the ISS:
/-- Dragon Mission Report | Mission Status Center - Spaceflight Now - includes today's update

/-- Astronauts Repair Comms Unit For SpaceX Flight - Aviation Week

/-- SpaceX Counting Down For Historic Launch To Space Station - Autopia/Wired.com

/-- SpaceX's First Mission to the Space Station: How It Will Work - Space.com

/-- Commercial Spaceship Builders Ponder Future Without NASA Funding - Space.com

/-- A new frontier for space travel - latimes.com]]> Commercial Cargo and Crew http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37883 Tue, 15 May 2012 19:41:48 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37883 <![CDATA[ISPS non-toxic thruster passes safety review for ISS demo]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37881 Innovative Space Propulsion Systems (ISPS):

Innovative Space Propulsion Systems Clears Flight Demonstration Hurdle
NOFBX™ Green Propulsion Demonstration Passes ISS Safety Review

HOUSTON – Innovative Space Propulsion Systems (ISPS) has passed another critical milestone in their progress toward the launch of their NOFBX™ green propulsion demonstration to the International Space Station (ISS). ISPS is working toward demonstrating their high-performance, non-toxic and environmentally-benign propulsion technology on the ISS under an award from the NASA ISS National Laboratory program. In April, ISPS passed NASA’s ISS Payload Safety Review Panel phase 1 review.

“Satisfying the safety panel is an incredibly high bar for any new technology,” said Greg Mungas, President of ISPS. “Safety is obviously paramount for the space station and this review panel has been thorough and uncompromising in their scrutiny of every technical aspect of our demonstration.”

The ISPS NOFBX™ Green Propellant Demonstration involves launching a deep-throttling 440 N (100-lbf) engine assembly and associated feed system to the ISS in mid-2013. It will be carried in the unpressurized cargo compartment of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on one of its cargo delivery missions. Once Dragon berths with the space station, the robotic arm will extract the NOFBX™ test pallet from Dragon and place it on the outside of the European Columbus module. It will remain in orbit for one year and undergo a suite of in-space performance validation tests including steady-state, pulses, throttling and long-term storage and re-start demonstrations.

NOFBX™ is an American, nitrous-oxide-based monopropellant spacecraft technology with performance rivaling state-of-the-art hypergolic propulsion systems, but without many of the hazards and overhead associated with toxic storable propellants. It has many diverse applications including spacecraft, launch vehicles and landers.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the ISS PSRP,” added Mungas. “Their input provides benefits to all our customers - even those operating with less stringent safety requirements. Obtaining the go-ahead from this team is a huge step forward for NOFBX™.”

About ISPS
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ISPS provides the aerospace industry with advanced propulsion technology and hardware. ISPS is committed to delivering safe, reliable and non-toxic propulsion technology without sacrificing performance. NOFBX™ technology from ISPS, with its multiple patents and patents pending internationally, includes high-performance, state-of-the-art propellant and propulsion hardware that delivers on this commitment. It is designed for a broad range of aerospace applications, including satellites, crew vehicles, launch systems, advanced concepts, technology demonstrators, and research and development. For more information, visit www.ispsllc.com.]]> Propulsion http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37881 Tue, 15 May 2012 18:51:33 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37881 <![CDATA[Press conference on Thursday on NASA's commerical spaceflight program]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37877 Commercial Spaceflight Federation:

Press Conference Call to Discuss Industry and NASA Cooperation in Commercial Spaceflight
- May 17th, 2:00PM EDT

WASHINGTON D.C.– The Commercial Spaceflight Federation will hold a press conference call on Thursday May 17th, at 2:00PM EDT with CSF President Michael Lopez-Alegria, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, and XCOR Aerospace CEO Jeff Greason to discuss the state of the emerging commercial spaceflight industry. With the next COTS cargo demonstration flight coming up this weekend, this is a great moment to take stock of the commercial spaceflight industry, and the ways NASA and the industry are cooperating to expand our presence in space and bring space closer to all Americans.]]> Commercial Cargo and Crew http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37877 Tue, 15 May 2012 14:11:50 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37877 <![CDATA[Briefs: GM & Robonaut 2 IP; Space law roundup]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37873 Robonaut 2 project, a joint venture between NASA and GM, which was structured with a Space Act Agreement in such a way that GM pays for the development but gets to keep the intellectual property derived from the project: Robonaut 2, the legless patent dynamo « IPinSpace.
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Here's the latest Res Communis collection of space and aviation law, regulation and policy links: Library: A Round-up of Reading.
]]> Space Law and Regs http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37873 Tue, 15 May 2012 13:53:59 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37873 <![CDATA[Briefs: Space homesteading on The Space Show; Harold Rosen interview]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37871 Rand Simberg will talk about his space homesteading proposal tonight on The Space Show a t7-8:30 pm PDT (10-11:30 pm EDT, 9-10:30 pm CDT).
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Monday's Space Show with Harold Rosen of geo satellite fame is now available on line: Dr. Harold Rosen, Monday, 5-14-12 - Thespaceshow's Blog.]]> General http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37871 Tue, 15 May 2012 13:48:22 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37871 <![CDATA[KSC review of Falcon 9/Dragon reports "go" for launch]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37867 Twitter / @NASAKennedy:
The ISS Program completed an additional review this morning and reported everyone is "go" for launch of SpaceX flight Saturday at 4:55 AM ET
]]> Commercial Cargo and Crew http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37867 Tue, 15 May 2012 12:23:38 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37867 <![CDATA[Space Experience Economy (SEE) Seminar Series]]> http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37866 Space Tourism Society:

Space Experience Economy (SEE) Seminar Series
Saturday, June 30, 2012, Crowne Plaza Hotel at LAX, $175, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The Space Tourism Society (STS) hosts the SEE Seminars on a quarterly schedule. They provide latest information, perspectives and forecasts on the growing private space enterprise/tourism industry by leading experts.

The Seminars are designed to facilitate networking between the participants and speakers and to provide continual updated information to our SEE Seminar alumni.

Learn why several famous billionaires including the founders of Google, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, and Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, have recently started space enterprise companies. Producer/director James Cameron is an advisor on some of these new ventures.

They have joined other famous billionaires including Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com; Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin companies; Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal; and Robert Bigelow, owner of the Budget Suites hotel chain, who already have their space enterprise/tourism companies in operation.

The Space Experience Economy:

There is a strong and synergistic relationship between three main space experience mediums. They are:

(1) real space exploration/development
(2) Earth based tours of NASA Centers, space museums, space camps, attractions and
(3) the media via space themed movies, TV, games and virtual worlds.

Together they represent the growing Space Experience Economy (SEE).

On May 21, STS will begin marketing our June 30, SEE Seminar which is limited to 25 participants.

If you are interested in participating, please visit our STS web site for more information, speakers, updates and registration.

www.SpaceTourismSociety.org

You can register for the June 30, or September 29 or December 1 SEE Seminars today at the $175 rate. All Seminars are on a Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at LAX.

We are happy to send you more information on STS and our plans and programs. ]]> Private spaceflight, space tourism http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/?itemid=37866 Tue, 15 May 2012 12:05:00 -0500 http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37866