Upcoming flight, Ares excite Atlantis crew Oct 21, 2009
A launch countdown dress rehearsal was rescheduled for Nov. 3 because some spaceport teams were occupied with the Ares I-X rocket's move Tuesday to launch pad 39B, about a mile north of Atlantis. Ares I-X looks similar to the rocket astronauts would ride into space after the shuttle is retired, if the Obama administration and Congress stick with NASA's Constellation program. (Florida Today)
Roll-out for Nasa's test rocket Oct 20, 2009
The test launch is scheduled to take place from the Florida spaceport no earlier than the 27th of the month. The 1-X will climb about 40km (25 miles) into the sky during the powered phase of its flight, continuously measuring vehicle aerodynamics, controls and performance of the rocket's first stage. (BBC News -- Americas)
NASA delays Nov. shuttle launch for test flight Oct 20, 2009
Officials say Lockheed Martin successfully launched a test flight vehicle over the weekend at New Mexico's spaceport. Spaceport officials say the brief flight Saturday was not publicized in advance because Lockheed Martin is testing "proprietary advanced launch technologies." ... The company plans to double its number of customer launches from Spaceport America to six or more in 2010 as demand for the company's services increases. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Reusable rocket plane soars in test flight Oct 16, 2009
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company Lockheed Martin's elusive prototype autonomous rocket plane roars down launch rail in second test flight from Spaceport America in New Mexico in August 2008 ... A reusable rocket plane has made a successful test flight from New Mexico's Spaceport America a prototype craft built to showcase proprietary advanced launch technologies ... A quiet eventWorking out of Spaceport America and in cooperation with UP Aerospace has proven beneficial, Voorhees noted. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Shuttle Atlantis moves to launch pad for flight Oct 15, 2009
"We still have some negotiating to do," NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel told SPACE.com from the spaceport. "Whatever day it ends up being, we're getting ourselves in a position to be ready to launch.". (MSNBC -- Technology)
Atlantis moves to VAB in mission preparation Oct 7, 2009
In August, she became the third former spaceport employee-turned astronaut to fly in space. She arrived at the space station Aug. 30 aboard shuttle Discovery to begin a three-month tour as a flight engineer. (Florida Today)
John Kelly: Time runs short on space plan Oct 6, 2009
However, since joining Congress, they've had no real impact on the Washington debate about the future of NASA and the Florida spaceport. As rookies, they're unlikely to have much influence. (Florida Today)
SpaceShipOne, Five Years Later Oct 6, 2009
"It is now five years on and where are we? Flying the launch vehicle...firing the rocket motor...on the cusp of unveiling the finished SpaceShipTwo and of course watching a runway unfold in the New Mexico desert," Whitehorn added, pointing to the development of Spaceport America home base for Virgin Galactic commercial operations. "Hundreds of Virgin Galactic, Scaled and Spaceport America people are working towards a true industrial revolution in space," Whitehorn concluded. (Fox News)
14 questions for Frank DiBello, president of Space Florida Oct 5, 2009
We need, and will foster, a network of spaceport capabilities throughout our state to give them flexibility in their operations. I am convinced, that in the long run, we should not be looking at other states or even other countries as competition; they have all recognized the importance of having a viable space industry as a significant enabler to their scientific and technological advancement, and a strong contributor to their economic well-being. (Florida Today)
Ariane 5 carries two satellites into space Oct 2, 2009
PARIS, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two telecommunications satellites Amanzonas 2 and COMSATBw-1 are successfully launched into space aboard rocket Ariane 5 from the spaceport in French Guiana Thursday, the live webcast of Arianespace headquartered near Paris showed. The launcher Ariane 5 ECA, ignited in the South American jungle (2159 GMT), took off with a total lift performance of 9,087 kg, which includes 7,905 kg for the pair of satellites. (Xinhuanet, China)
Space acrobat closes in on space station Oct 2, 2009
Laliberte, Williams and Suraev on their Russian-built Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft Wednesday from the Central Asian spaceport of Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Technology)
NASA moves up moon rocket launch to Oct. 27 Sep 23, 2009
"They are doing a launch today," NASA spokesperson Amber Philman told SPACE.com from the spaceport. "That's ongoing as we speak.". (MSNBC -- Technology)
ISRO launches Oceansat-2, nano satellites from Sriharikota Sep 23, 2009
4-metre tall, 230-tonne Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) freed itself from the launch pad at the spaceport and lifted itself up, lugging the 960-kg Oceansat-2 and the six nano satellites all together weighing 20 kg.. In copybook style, the rocket first flung out Oceansat-2 at an altitude of 720 km above the earth in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), followed by the four nano satellites - also called Cubesats, each weighing one kg. The remaining two, each weighing eight kg, were... (India Times, India -- Community News)
Discovery threads tricky path home Sep 22, 2009
Discovery was expected to be safely stowed in its spaceport hangar by this morning to start being refurbishment for a planned March return to the space station. Atlantis remains on schedule to make the year's fifth and final shuttle flight, targeted to launch Nov. 12. (Florida Today)
'Ice explorer' ready for launch Sep 15, 2009
Vega, which will operate out of Europe's Kourou spaceport in French Guiana, has been designed specifically to carry small institutional payloads such as Cryosat to orbit. However, the rocket is not expected to enter into service until the middle of next year. (BBC News)
Space tourism countdown begins Sep 7, 2009
JACKSONVILLE -- Roughly $200,000 could get you to space via Cecil Field if the Jacksonville Aviation Authority succeeds in making the airport a commercial spaceport ... The authority's pursuit of a spaceport option comes on the heels of the U.S. Air Force announcing in July that it will allow commercial launches at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base on the east coast of Central Florida ... Lindner said the authority is in talks with several commercial spacecraft operators, including Oklahoma... (Jacksonville Business Journal, FL)
Space rookies Aug 30, 2009
He's about to start his training and what better way to get a feel for the life that lies ahead than a visit to the famous Florida spaceport. "It's a great treat for us to be here, to be actually able to touch the dream so close to our training," reflects fellow astronaut rookie, the Italian Samantha Cristoforetti. (BBC News -- UK)
'Space Brits' meet Aug 27, 2009
"Esa has taken Britain seriously, now Britain must take Britain seriously," he told reporters at the Kennedy Space Center, where Europe's newest astronaut recruits have been on a tour of America's famous spaceport. "My advice to him is simply to enjoy it, to lap it up," Dr Foale said. (BBC News -- Science)
NASA's fate is now Obama's quandary Aug 24, 2009
That doesn't account for indirect job losses for area businesses that depend on a busy spaceport. Under every scenario, even those requiring Obama to invest billions of dollars more per year in NASA, American astronauts wouldn't venture beyond the space station and low Earth orbit before the end of the next decade. (Florida Today)
Weather looks good for Discovery's launch Aug 22, 2009
Mission specialist Nicole Stott spent a decade as a shuttle engineer at the spaceport, once overseeing Endeavour's preparation for flight. "We all grew up working out here with her," said Payne. (Florida Today)
Countdown clock set to start tonight Aug 22, 2009
The launch team at the spaceport spent Thursday preparing the orbiter for flight and filling storage tanks near the pad with liquid hydrogen. The launch pad area was cleared of all but essential personnel Thursday evening, ahead of the dangerous pressurization of gas tanks inside the spacecraft. (Florida Today)
Weather looks good for shuttles night launch Aug 22, 2009
"It should be a ," Payne said Friday during a mission briefing at the spaceport in Cape Canaveral, Fla. "I'm hoping we put on a good show for you.". (MSNBC -- Technology)
Our views: Call to action Aug 20, 2009
Reductions that could reach 7,000 spaceport jobs and thousands more as the impact reverberates throughout the region. Titusville faces a hard road to reinvent itself and it will take strong leadership from Tulley and others to create a new future. (Florida Today)
South Korea set to launch its first rocket in space Aug 19, 2009
Naro, or the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1(KSLV-1), is scheduled to blast off from the Naro Space Center, the country's spaceport in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. The exact time for the liftoff will be announced at 1:30 pm (local time) after results of a final technical rehearsal and weather conditions are checked. (India Times, India)
NASA clears shuttle fuel tank for launch Aug 19, 2009
"There's obviously a lot of thorough discussion going on," Allard Beutel, a NASA spokesman at the Florida spaceport, said shortly before Tuesday's meeting ended. "They're making sure that everybody gets the opportunity to present their side.". (MSNBC -- Technology)
Our views: Keep your promise Aug 13, 2009
Losses that could range from 4,000 to 7,000 at the spaceport along with thousands more that would disappear as the reductions rumble like a temblor through the Brevard County and Central Florida economies. For the record, this is what candidate Obama said. (Florida Today)
John Kelly: Reality check on Obama space promises Aug 11, 2009
The Flame Trench: Will President Obama keep or break space promise. Latest news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. (Florida Today)
UP launches low-altitude test flight at Spaceport Aug 5, 2009
UP Aerospace Inc. successfully launched an unmanned aerial vehicle prototype from Spaceport America on Aug. 4. Colorado-based UP has been testing a new space vehicle for Lockheed Martin at the Spaceport since last year ... Spaceport Executive Director Steve Landeene said such commercial launches are helping to attract interest from more aerospace companies who want to conduct activities at the Spaceport, located in southern New Mexico near Upham (south of TorC). (New Mexico Business Weekly, NM)
Lightning slows space shuttles launch pad trek Aug 5, 2009
Distant lightning above the Cape Canaveral spaceport, providing for the shuttle's plodding move ... "We had torrential rain here yesterday evening," NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel told SPACE.com from the spaceport ... Despite the lightning and mud delays, shuttle technicians were more concerned about moving Discovery to the launch pad ahead of stormy weather that was expected to hit the spaceport Tuesday afternoon. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Low-altitude rocket launched in New Mexico Aug 5, 2009
Second scheduled liftoff from new spaceport delayed by GPS antenna glitch. Norm Dettlaff / Las Cruces Sun-News via APA low-altitude rocket glider lifts off Tuesday from Spaceport America in Upham, N.M. ... -based avionics company successfully fired a low-altitude rocket Tuesday at a new spaceport in New Mexico where the state hopes to launch commercial space tourism flights within two years. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Astronaut bringing silver-coated undies down to Earth Aug 4, 2009
Good weather was forecast for Friday's late morning landing attempt with the rain expected to hold off until afternoon at NASA's spaceport. On Thursday afternoon, NASA cleared Endeavour to come home, after analysing wing and nose images beamed down by the crew Wednesday in one final sweep for micrometeorite damage. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Shuttle lands safely after 16-day mission Aug 1, 2009
Approaching from the south after a high-speed computer-orchestrated descent, the mission commander, Mark Polansky, took over manual control 50,000 feet above the Florida spaceport, banked to line up on runway 15 and guided the 110-ton shuttle to a picture-perfect touchdown at 10:48 a.m. Eastern time ... Approaching from the south after a high-speed computer-orchestrated descent, the mission commander, Mark Polansky, took over manual control 50,000 feet above the Florida spaceport, banked to line... (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Astronaut bringing test undies back Jul 31, 2009
Cleared for returnGood weather was forecast for Fridays late morning landing attempt, with the rain expected to hold off until afternoon at NASAs spaceport. Slideshow. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Endeavour pulls away from space station Jul 29, 2009
The Flame Trench: Live: Flyaround complete, Endeavour sets sail. Latest news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. (Florida Today)
Arab investment boosts spaceship venture Jul 29, 2009
Virgin Galactic valued at $875 millionAabar said it plans to pay an extra $100 million plus transaction costs to fund a program to launch small satellites into orbit, and will build spaceport facilities in Abu Dhabi ... Construction has just begun at New Mexico's Spaceport America ... A rival space tourism company, Space Adventures, announced plans in 2006 to build a $265 million spaceport in Ras al-Khaimah, a northern sheikdom in the United Arab Emirates, but almost no progress has been made... (MSNBC -- International)
John Kelly: Space destination changeable Jul 28, 2009
The Flame Trench: Is boots on Mars really the ultimate destination. Latest news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. (Florida Today)
Broadband satellite jumps rocket Jul 23, 2009
Hylas-1 will go into space using an Ariane 5 or Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. Jean-Yves Le Gall is the chairman and CEO of Arianespace, the company that operates Europe's launch services. (BBC News -- Science)
Brockton area residents recall first landing on the moon Jul 22, 2009
And anyone with $200,000 to burn will be able to fly into sub-orbital space from a New Mexico spaceport under construction, via a commercial space travel carrier financed by billionaire Richard Branson. The next big thing in space adventure. (Canton Journal, MA)
Chinese astronaut walks in space Jul 20, 2009
The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China on 25 September. 1958: Base for spaceflights built at Jiuquan, in Gobi desert April 1970: China launches its first satellite into space 1990-2002: Shenzhou I-IV are launched to develop systems Oct 2003: The first manned space mission launches on Shenzhou V Oct 2005: The Shenzhou VI mission takes two men into space Oct 2007: Chang'e-1 orbiter sent on unmanned mission to the Moon. (BBC News)
Mooncraft set right after malfunction Jul 17, 2009
The 518 kg Chandrayaan-1 was launched Oct 22, 2008 from India's only spaceport Sriharikota, about 90 km north-east of Chennai, on board the 316-tonne polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C11) and inserted into the lunar orbit Nov 8. During the last nine months, all the 11 scientific payloads on board the spacecraft were started and the space network has been receiving excellent quality data about the moon. (India Times)
Apollo memory preserved in bronze Jul 16, 2009
A photo of her at a scheduling desk that once appeared in Spaceport News has been reproduced for posterity in Storm's sculpture. Logan started working at Kennedy Space Center at age 18, typing manuals for the astronauts on IBM Selectric typewriters. (Florida Today)
Why Does NASA Launch Space Shuttles from Such a Weather-Beaten Place? Jul 16, 2009
The best place to launch is the spaceport that the European Space Agency has in French Guiana [five degrees north of the equator. 1. (Scientific American)
Hawaii may apply for spaceport license to alleviate tourism slump Jul 15, 2009
During these tough times, the state is considering spending $500,000 applying to become a federally licensed spaceport ... New Mexico is building a $200 million spaceport and Oklahoma, Florida and a host of other communities nationally and globally are vying for a piece of the space tourism market ... "It might be a really good time, if that industry is really going to take off. But if that industry is not advancing as hoped, then it could be awhile before it develops a sufficient base to really... (Honolulu Advertiser)
Hawaii Could Become Launch Site for Space Tourism Jul 13, 2009
A new law authorizes the state to spend $500,000 to apply for a spaceport license from the federal government, which is the first step toward allowing commercial space travel from the islands ... Hawaii could become the eighth state granted a spaceport license ... The spaceport licensing process will involve studying the rocket plane's potential effects on the environment, said state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert. (Fox News)
Shuttle OK for launch but weather? Jul 11, 2009
But the potential for thunderstorms, rain and clouds near the Florida spaceport give the shuttle just a 40 percent chance of good flight weather. "I don't worry about things I can't control, and I can't control the weather," NASA's Mike Moses, who leads Endeavour's Mission Management Team, said during a Friday briefing. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Launch date uncertain for NASA's next moon rocket Jul 10, 2009
The Flame Trench: Ares 1-X stacking begins, but launch date uncertain. Latest news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. (Florida Today)
Our views: A greener future Jul 9, 2009
That could be especially important at Kennedy Space Center, where Florida Power and Light Co. is building a solar plant that could help turn the spaceport into a hub for more solar work and replace some of the thousands of jobs lost when the shuttle fleet retires next year. Likewise, Florida is poised for green industries to take off. (Florida Today)
Drink Beer, Win a Trip to Space Jul 4, 2009
Virgin Galactic currently plans to launch and land space tourist flights from a terminal at Spaceport America in New Mexico which began construction earlier this month as well as from a spaceport in Kiruna, Sweden. The first WhiteKnightTwo carrier ship "Eve" has been flying a series of test flights this year. (Fox News)
Shuttle OKd for liftoff after tests Jul 2, 2009
The Endeavour astronauts are slated to go into quarantine this weekend and return to their Florida spaceport on Tuesday, Polansky said. The countdown to Endeavour's July 11 launch will begin next Wednesday night, NASA officials said. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Ariane lofts biggest 'space bird' Jul 2, 2009
The satellite was so big it was the only passenger on Ariane which routinely carries double payloads from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The heaviest commercial satellites in the past have been of the order of six-and-a-half-tonnes, or plus. (BBC News -- Technology)
UK 'yet to embrace space tourism' Jul 1, 2009
The Anglo-American company will operate initially from a dedicated spaceport in New Mexico, US, but then hopes to spread its operations across the globe ... Lossiemouth in Scotland has put itself forward as a possible spaceport, and the Virgin boss said it had great potential ... Foster and Partners have been engaged to design the New Mexico spaceport. (BBC News -- Science)
John Kelly: Moon talk brings sky-high reader reaction Jun 30, 2009
Not far from my bureau at the spaceport, I can see the first version of the Ares being readied for a test flight ... You stated, "Not far from my bureau at the spaceport, I can see the first version of the Ares being readied for a test flight.". (Florida Today)
Leave the space biz Jun 30, 2009
In New Mexico, officials gathered recently for the groundbreaking ceremony for Spaceport America. This will be the headquarters for flights by Virgin Galactic, the British company which intends to offer suborbital spaceflights to paying tourists. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Direct launch not viable yet Jun 29, 2009
Not far from my bureau at the spaceport, I can see the first version of the Ares being readied for a test flight. In the week since I last wrote, an Atlas V blasted a pair of spacecraft from here to the moon and a Delta IV counted down toward launch of a weather satellite. (Florida Today)
Work starts on New Mexico spaceport Jun 21, 2009
Spaceport America's Steve Landeene explains the design philosophy. Ground has been broken on the construction site of Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport ... Steve Landeene, executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, said: "The future is here and we are not too far off a new age of space. "It is not just about private astronauts going up, it is about bringing the cost structure down and about new medicines, solar power in space and the entire... (BBC News -- Science)
Space plane makes forced landing in Mesa Friday Jun 20, 2009
The plane, known as Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight Two, had been en route to Las Cruces, N.M., to fly over the groundbreaking ceremony for Spaceport America, the world's first commercial spaceport built to launch private citizens into space for profit ... The $200 million publicly funded spaceport was unveiled Friday and is expected to serve as the home base for the flying launchpad that will take citizens on short flights into space ... The two-hour round trip, which will cost $200,000 a... (AZCentral -- News)
Ground Broken At Spaceport America Jun 20, 2009
SIERRA COUNTY, N.M. -- New Mexico breaks ground at the site of the Spaceport America in Sierra County ... If this were for a publicity stunt they would have pushed forward maybe taken a risk and that goes to show for their testament that test flying is a learning experience it is not about publicity, said Steve Landeene, Executive Director of Spaceport America ... Spaceport has a vision for thousands of jobs, research and education, and a lot of motivation for kids. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
NASA budget bill retains Constellation cut Jun 20, 2009
Latest news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. Thursday, June 18, 2009. (Florida Today)
Workers to break ground on N.M. spaceport Jun 19, 2009
A sign shows the way to the site of New Mexico's planned spaceport near Upham, N.M. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for June 19 to mark the start of construction on a terminal and hangar facility and 10,000-foot runway ... Gov. Bill Richardson and others are preparing to break ground Friday on construction of a terminal and hangar facility at the world's first commercial spaceport built with the idea of launching private citizens into space for profit ... It's called Spaceport America, a... (MSNBC -- Technology)
Spaceport America Prepares For Groundbreaking Jun 19, 2009
KFOX Weekend Assignments Editor/Associate ProducerSpaceport America authorities are gearing up for Fridays groundbreaking at the site in Sierra County, but Thursday the public was invited to celebrate. The New Mexico State University campus was transformed into a space-age site for regional residents to celebrate the beginning of public space travel. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
Atlas V to launch Thursday Jun 18, 2009
The Flame Trench: Live at the Cape: Watch Atlas V Roll to Pad. Latest news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. (Florida Today)
Spaceport in N.M. has eye on sky and beyond Jun 18, 2009
Gov. Bill Richardson and others are preparing to break ground Friday on construction of a terminal and hangar facility at the world's first commercial spaceport built with the idea of launching private citizens into space for profit ... It's called Spaceport America, a $200 million taxpayer-funded project in which the sky is not the limit ... "It's real," said Steve Landeene, the spaceport's executive director. (AZCentral -- News)
High-speed 'wedge' for re-entry Jun 17, 2009
It is booked to launch on Esa's forthcoming small rocket, Vega, from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The vehicle will be put at an altitude of about 450 km from where it will begin its flight back to Earth. (BBC News -- Europe)
Shuttle to launch Wednesday morning Jun 16, 2009
The more people work at the spaceport, the more demand there is for housing, hamburgers, haircuts, gasoline -- everything ... Those 20,000 or so cars driving onto and off our spaceport every day contain people earning a good living who might move elsewhere if there's no work here ... "Among the bipartisan group of lawmakers scheduled to fly down to Florida tomorrow nigh: Rep. Ralph Hall, a Texas Republican and the ranking minority member of the House Science and Technology Committee, and Rep.... (Florida Today)
Europe's Mars mission scaled back Jun 16, 2009
The director general also announced that the first Soyuz rocket launch from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana would now take place in the "first few weeks" of 2010. The timeline had slipped because of delays in the construction of the new launch facilities in Guiana. (BBC News -- Europe)
