Posted by Chris Radcliff in Space News on April 20, 2010
If you aren’t following Derek Nye’s commentary at D Minus Zero, I recommend that you start. Nye, an SD Space member and newspace enthusiast, is answering the question, “Why should we care?” His latest post on SpaceX is a good example:
SpaceX is an aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, the co-founder of other amazing companies such as Tesla Motors, and Paypal (heard of it? yes you have!). Just like with Robert Bigelow, Elon Musk is an entrepreneur ready to change how we get to space. … As early as May 8th, they will launch their Falcon 9 rocket, which is being developed for the purposes of launching large payloads and astronauts.
Why should we care? Doesn’t NASA do that all the time?
Yes, NASA does. However, No other company or organization (not run by the government) in the history of space exploration has been able to achieve this! …
I look forward to hearing more from Derek.
Posted by Jesse Clark in News on April 16, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 16, 2010
The National Space Society applauds President Obama for his expression of firm commitment for human spaceflight, and for moving forward in refining the administration’s plan for space exploration.
Following the announcement of the President’s FY2011 budget proposal for NASA, the Society advocated for the inclusion of more detailed goals. NSS is gratified to see President Obama take another step in that direction to secure America’s position as a global leader in space. This will foster a new space economy servicing the needs of America and humankind.
The President’s speech of April 15, 2010 stated emphatically his, and his administration’s, commitment to the mission of NASA and its role in providing for the future. He stressed a focus on future accomplishments and laid out a plan for
dramatically increased robotic exploration and scouting missions,
an advanced replacement for the Hubble Space Telescope,
an array of expanded Earth/climate sensing work,
extension of the life of the International Space Station and provision of funds to use it to the fullest,
support for commercial transportation initiatives for cargo and crew,
development of the Orion spacecraft to serve as a Space Station Crew Emergency Vehicle and its evolution to a Beyond Earth Orbit exploration vehicle,
design completion for a Heavy Lift Launch capability no later than 2015 followed by the production of the vehicle,
investment in the Technology, Research, and Development to enable the use of the material resources and energy in space and to address the challenges of the Beyond Earth Orbit space environment (such as radiation shielding, advanced propulsion, etc.), and
human Beyond Earth Orbit missions to asteroids within the next two decades, Mars orbit by the mid-2030s, and the Martian surface in his lifetime.
The President stressed the importance of a transformative agenda for NASA, and the critical role of breakthrough technologies in enabling NASA and our nation to create the future we wish to see come to pass.
The Society congratulates the president for refining his vision to include such incremental goals as the design of a Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle by 2015, and a preliminary timetable for human exploration destinations.
The National Space Society has and continues to be a staunch advocate of a balanced, comprehensive, sustainable, and personally engaging mosaic of space programs that will transform our tomorrows.
The President has committed his administration to making it so.
The National Space Society looks forward to working with the executive branch, congress, industry, the space advocacy community, and the general public to foster, achieve, and sustain the consensus needed to see it come to fruition.
The President’s remarks can be seen on the National Space Society’s Web site: http://www.nss.org/President-Speech-041510.pdf.
NSS will follow-up with subsequent statements as more details emerge.
Media contact:
Gary Barnhard
Phone: (202) 429-1600
E-mail: nsshq@nss.org
Posted by Chris Radcliff in Calendar, Junior Explorers, Projects on April 15, 2010
Sat, May 8, 2010
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location:
DART Fiesta Island launch site (directions)
Mission Bay, San Diego, CA
The Diego Area Rocket Team (DART) holds model rocket launches on Fiesta Island in Mission Bay.
For more information, contact Mike Jerauld, the president of DART.
Posted by Jesse Clark in Calendar, Events on April 14, 2010
Sat, Apr 17, 2010
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Location:
Columbia Memorial Space Center, 12400 Columbia Way
Downey, California 90242
SDSpace was made aware of this interesting opportunity and we wanted to share it everyone. While it is a bit of a drive for most people in San Diego, it is actually a destination on our field trip list. If you go, please report back on your experience.
From Jon Betthauser:
Jim Busby – Aerospace Historian and Collector for
Movies, Science Centers and Museums
This first Storyteller Showcase exhibit features highlights from Jim Busby’s aerospace model collection. Most of the models selected include rockets and spacecraft designed and built right here in Downey – known as the Cradle of the Cosmic Age. The models include an evolution of the Space Shuttle, lots of variations on the Apollo program’s vehicles, and some stunning miniatures.
So please join us with Jim here at the Space Center for this fun gathering of friends. And if you can’t join us this Saturday, then please visit the exhibit before the end of June. In July we will be installing our next Storyteller Showcase.
Refreshments will be provided. For questions please write to Betthauser@DowneySpaceCenter.org or call us at (562) 231-1200.
Posted by Jesse Clark in Education, JPL Solar System Ambassador on April 13, 2010
The following announcement is from Monica Trevethan of JSC’s Human Research Program Education Outreach regarding a summer opportunity for teachers – Exploring Space Through Math.
The Human Research Program Education Outreach is looking for a High School Mathematics teacher to develop content for the Exploring Space Through Math project. The content will focus on Algebra 2 and Pre Calculus concepts. A minimum of 3 years teaching experience in those upper level high school courses is expected along with previous experience in developing content for the high school mathematics classroom, specifically Algebra 2 and Pre Calculus.
Qualified and interested teachers should contact Monica Trevathan at Monica.trevathan-1@nasa.gov. Include resume and 2-3 samples of content developed for Algebra 2 and/or Pre Calculus. Candidates will be down selected for a telephone interview which will be scheduled for the week of April 26. A final selection will be made by May 10th.
A stipend of $500 per content piece (max of 3) will be awarded at the conclusion of the summer (after content pieces have been submitted).
Teachers selected from outside the Houston area will receive travel reimbursement and stipend for their completed work. Reimbursement applies to travel, lodging and meals for the week long experience at JSC. (Government per diem rates apply).
