Some recent space policy related items:
The group Soundgarden released this video this week with a space theme: Halfway There
Nyack, NY – The Space Frontier Foundation today announced several changes within its senior leadership team, in order to accelerate its transformation of space from a bureaucratic government program into a dynamic and open frontier for all.
Jonathan Card, Executive Director, has elected to step down from his day to day responsibilities. In his place, Board of Directors member James Pura has been appointed President, and James Tumber will become Vice President. Together, Pura & Tumber will report directly to the Board of Directors, led by Chairman Bob Werb.
“For 25 years, we have continuously re-invented ourselves in the Foundation. We’ve always been willing to shake things up “inside” as well as advocating real change in space,” said Foundation Co-Founder Jim Muncy. “With these two young leaders at the helm, I know that the torch we lit in 1988 is in good hands and will continue to point the way to a better future in space.”
James Pura, 29, has years of experience in the aerospace industry, including working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Boeing, and Space Exploration Technologies. Within the Foundation, Pura has Co-Chaired some of our most successful NewSpace Conferences and serves as Advocates Coordinator. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and currently operates a real estate investment company in Southern California.
James Tumber, 24, currently works for DEKA Research, a company best known for their groundbreaking inventions including the Segway, DEKA Arm, and iBOT. Tumber has held numerous volunteer positions within the Foundation, including Editor of the NewSpace News. He has a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Boston University.
The Mighty Eagle vertical takeoff and landing rocket powered vehicle project at NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center is planning a test flight today. You can follow the preparations at Mighty Eagle (NASAMightyEagle) on Twitter.
Noted artist Stephan Martiniere gave an interesting presentation at the recent Starship Congress event in Dallas about the movies, artists and illustrators who drew him towards science fiction and space art as he was growing up, about how he developed his skills and techniques, who his major influences were, and about the movie and animation projects he is working on today: Space Art – Youtube.
Martiniere’s talk was followed by the awarding of prizes for some excellent “speed sketch” works created during the conference by some of the attendees: FarMaker Interstellar Speed Sketch Award & Auction – Youtube.