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Submission Summary: 0 pending, 18 declined, 23 accepted (41 total, 56.10% accepted)

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NASA

Submission + - NASA Cancels Nanosat Challenge

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "NASA has canceled funding for the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge, a $2-million prize competition that was intended to promote development of a low-cost dedicated launch system for CubeSats and other small satellites.

The cancelation is a setback for small satellite developers, many of whom have satellites sitting on the shelf waiting for a launch, and the emerging commercial launch industry.

The Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge was being run by NASA and Space Florida as part of NASA's troubled Centennial Challenges program. The sudden cancelation of the Launch Challenge, before the competition even began, is calling NASA's commitment to Centennial Challenges into doubt."
Mars

Submission + - Low-Cost CubeSats are Gaining Respect, Mindshare

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "Low-cost nanosatellites known as CubeSats were originally developed as educational projects for university students. Today, CubeSats are attracting increasing attention for their ability to tackle a wide variety of applications. NASA's innovative PhoneSat, which uses a Nexus cellphone as its primary processor, has won the Best of What's New Award from Popular Science.

Most CubeSats operate in Earth orbit, but interplanetary CubeSat missions are also gaining mindshare. A team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory proposed sending a
CubeSat mission to Phobos, on of Mars' moons, earlier this year. Now, a group of companies is proposing a non-profit private mission that could carry up to 27 CubeSats to Mars."
Space

Submission + - The Great Meteor Grab

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "New regulations by the Federal government define asteroidal material to be an antiquity, like arrowheads and pottery, rather than a mineral — and, therefore, not subject to US mining law or eligible for mining claims.

At the moment, these regulations only apply to asteroidal materials that have fallen to Earth as meteorites. However, they create a precedent that could adversely affect the plans of companies such as Planetary Resources, which intends to mine asteroids in space."
Space

Submission + - Virgin Galactic's Quiet News

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "While all eyes were focused on SpaceX, which is preparing for another launch to the International Space Station, Virgin Galactic quietly put out a press release.

Virgin Galactic has acquired full ownership of The SpaceShip Company, which will build production versions of SpaceShip Two. Ownership was previously shared with Scaled Composites, which built SpaceShip One and is building the SpaceShip Two prototype.

There have been rumors of strained relations between Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites. This news, which was not announced until after the close of business Friday, raises some interesting questions about Virgin's relationship with Scaled and its plans for the future."
NASA

Submission + - Romney-Ryan Space Policy Fails to Impress

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "The Romney-Ryan campaign has released a white paper on space policy, which observers find to be long on criticisms of the Obama Administration but short on specific recommendations.

The policy promises "a robust role for commercial space," but it's clearly a supporting role: "NASA will set the goals and lead the way in human space exploration."

When it comes to space, both parties put government ahead of private enterprise. Some see a parallel with the policies which are driving space companies out of California.

Newt Gingrich, one of the few politicians who thinks seriously about space, says the policy is a step in the right direction but not enough."
Space

Submission + - SpaceShip Two, XCOR Lynx Prepare for Powered Flights

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "Virgin Galactic's SpaceShip Two is in the final stages of preparation for powered flight.

The suborbital spacecraft, built by Scaled Composites, has successfully completed airspeed, angle-of-attack, center-of-gravity, and structural tests during unpowered glide flights. It is now on track for powered glide flights by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, in the hangar next door, XCOR Aerospace continues to work on the Lynx spacecraft, expected to begin powered flight tests early next year. Some exclusive photos provide a sneak peak at things to come."
China

Submission + - China, India dismiss fears of Moon race 2

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "Recent statements by China and India have debunked Western media claims that those nations will soon be sending astronauts to the Moon.

Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist for China's lunar orbiter said China needs to develop numerous technologies before it can undertake manned lunar missions and has no timetable for sending humans to the Moon. "China won't carry out a manned moon landing until it masters all of these crucial technologies," Ouyang said.

This follows news that India has delayed plans for manned space missions and won't be landing on the Moon by 2020 as previously announced."
Space

Submission + - Masten Space Systems

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "Masten Space Systems has released a statement on the crash of the Xaero vehicle, which was lost during flight test on September 11.

Masten says that Xaero's predecessor, Xombie, is still flying, and they're working on Xaero's replacement and a few more after that."
Mars

Submission + - Richard Branson "determined to start a population on Mars" 1

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "British billionaire Richard Branson, whose Virgin Galactic company is backing the development of SpaceShip Two, has told CBS News he is "determined to start a population on Mars."

Branson isn't the only billionaire interested in the Red Planet. Elon Musk, founder of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), wants to put humans on Mars in the next 12 to 15 years.."
Space

Submission + - B612 Sentinel Mission Gets New Funding

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "The B612 Foundation’s privately funded deep-space mission, Sentinel, has received new major support from prominent members of the business and financial community.

The B612 Foundation, which is headed by former NASA astronaut and Google executive Ed Liu, plans to build, launch, and operate a space telescope to be placed in orbit around the Sun, ranging up to 170 million miles from Earth, for a mission of asteroid discovery and mapping. The telescope is expected to discover millions of asteroids. Sentinel will detect and track asteroids accurately enough to give warning of impending impacts decades in advance, allowing humanity to deflect threatening asteroids with existing technology."
NASA

Submission + - 100 Year Starship Symposium Concludes, Politicians Attack

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "The 100 Year Starship Symposium wrapped up on Sunday. Friends are offering constructive criticism.

Senator Tom Coburn has some less friendly criticism. He wants to cut funding for the starship program as part of a cost-savings package.

Senator Coburn apparently hasn't done his homework, though. DARPA and NASA provided the initial seed funding for the 100 Year Starship Initiative, but the project is expected to find its own funding from here on."
NASA

Submission + - Leadership Changes at NASA?

Submitted by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes: "Are leadership changes in store at NASA? Last month, NASA Watch reported that NASA Administrator Major General Charles Bolden planned to replace three center directors: Ames Research Center director Brig. General Pete Worden (USAF-ret.), Goddard Space Flight Center director Ray Lugo, and Johnson Space Center director Mike Coats. The changes have been placed "on hold" due to pressure from above. (Perhaps until after the election?)

Perhaps General Bolden himself will be leaving. If Obama loses reelection, Gen. Bolden will be replaced as a matter of course, but if Obama wins, he might leave voluntarily. There is a persistent rumor that the General is unhappy and wants to leave NASA. If so, right after the election would be an opportune time. At the moment, this is just a rumor, but it would explain the General's strange behavior when it comes to defending NASA plans before Congress."

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