Author Topic: Spaceport America Thread  (Read 132020 times)

Offline Space Pete

Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #20 on: 10/01/2010 05:09 pm »
FAA Issues First-Ever Spaceport Grants to Strengthen Commercial Space Activities.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a new grant program designed to fund projects that develop and expand commercial space transportation infrastructure.  The Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants will be awarded to four separate projects located in Alaska, California, Florida, and New Mexico.

“The Obama administration is committed to making sure the United States remains the world leader in space development and exploration,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.  “This new grant program underscores that commitment, and will help ensure that the commercial space industry can meet our current and future space transportation needs.”

In June of this year the Obama administration unveiled a new National Space Policy that recognizes opportunities and advancements in commercial space capabilities.  The 2010 policy lays out more specific ways for the government to make use of commercial capabilities.

The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation will administer the new Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants.  The first matching grants include: $43,000 for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority to provide an Automated Weather Observing System; $227,195 to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation for a Rocket Motor Storage Facility; $125,000 to the East Kern Airport District in Mojave, Calif., for an emergency response vehicle; and, $104,805 to the Jacksonville Airport Authority in Florida to develop a Spaceport Master Plan for Cecil Field.  Under the law, the FAA can provide matching funds for specific projects being carried out by public entities involved in commercial space activities.

The United States’ space program has three sectors – civil, military and commercial. The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation is responsible for licensing, regulating and promoting the commercial-sector space industry.  Since the office was created in 1984, the FAA has issued licenses for more than 200 launches, licensed the operation of eight FAA-approved launch sites known as spaceports, and has helped ensure that no loss of life or serious injury has been associated with these efforts.

For more information on FAA’s commercial space transportation activities a fact sheet is available at: www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=11559


www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11919
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Offline Space Pete

Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #21 on: 10/01/2010 05:12 pm »
Spaceport America Receives Federal Infrastructure Grant, matching funds from Virgin Galactic.

Spaceport America has received its first federal grant from a newly funded spaceport infrastructure program at the Federal Aviation Administration.

The funding, $43,000 from the FAA matched with $4,300 from Virgin Galactic, will allow for the acquisition of an Automated Weather Observation System III (AWOS III).

This important project will be made possible through the Federal Aviation Administration's FAA/AST Commercial Space Transportation Grant Program.

New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Executive Director Rick Homans said, "This announcement highlights the increasing attention that the federal government is paying to the commercial spaceflight industry and to Spaceport America. While the grant amount may be small, the symbolism is much greater and we look forward to seeing this grant program increase and expand in the years to come."

The value of the FAA/AST grant combined with Galactic Venture's matching money is estimated at about $47,300. The balance of the cost of the AWOS, $86,000, will be paid by the NMSA.

The project is crucial to the safe and efficient operation of the spaceport. The AWOS III will provide timely and accurate meteorological information relevant to aircraft and spacecraft operations at Spaceport America. This will provide full AWOS capability to the spaceport, including visibility information and cloud data.

Spaceport America has been providing commercial launch services since 2006. The state-of-the-art launch facility is under construction near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and is expected to become fully operational in 2011. Officials at Spaceport America have been working closely with leading aerospace firms such as Armadillo Aerospace, Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Moog-FTS, and UP Aerospace to develop commercial spaceflight at the new facility. The economic impact of launches, tourism and new construction at Spaceport America are already delivering on its promise to the people of New Mexico.


www.spaceportamerica.com/news/press-releases/345-spaceport-america-receives-federal-infrastructure-grant-matching-funds-from-virgin-galactic.html
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Offline Space Pete

Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #22 on: 10/21/2010 12:41 am »
NASA Deputy Administrator Available for Interviews at Spaceport.

NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver will attend a dedication celebrating completion of the runway at Spaceport America in New Mexico at 11 a.m. MST on Friday, Oct. 22. She will be available before and after the event for media interviews.

Garver will speak at the runway dedication event and also will be a keynote speaker on Thursday at the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight in Las Cruces, N.M.

To arrange an interview, contact Grey Hautaluoma at 202-358-0668 or [email protected] by 5 p.m. EST Thurs., Oct. 21.


www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/oct/HQ_M10-147_Garver_at_Spaceport.html
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Offline jabe

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #23 on: 10/21/2010 12:57 am »
wk2/ss2 combo are also doing a flyby of spaceport..
hope they post new pics of the place...
jb

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #24 on: 10/22/2010 04:54 pm »
Live, runway dedication video (Branson and others about to speak):
http://www.cnn.com/video/?launchLivePlayer=true&stream=4
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 05:04 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #25 on: 10/22/2010 05:01 pm »
Lori Garver and NM Governor Richardson are also there.
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 05:14 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #26 on: 10/22/2010 05:12 pm »
Mark Sirangelo and Sierra Nevada being thanked for work on the rocket motor by Virgin Galactic's CEO, George Whitesides.
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 05:26 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #27 on: 10/22/2010 05:18 pm »
Garver now talking. Thanking Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Jack Schmitt who are present. Thanking George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic.
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 05:24 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #28 on: 10/22/2010 05:45 pm »
WK2 with SS2 flying by.
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 06:53 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #29 on: 10/22/2010 06:04 pm »
Press conference questions now starting.
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 06:58 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #30 on: 10/22/2010 06:11 pm »
Wow. Virgin Galactic intends to have a commercial crew proposal for CCDev 2! That's what Branson just announced! They will announce more on this in the next 2 or 3 months. 
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 06:15 pm by yg1968 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #31 on: 10/22/2010 06:26 pm »
WK2 just landed on the runway at the Spaceport.
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 06:53 pm by yg1968 »

Offline mr. mark

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #32 on: 10/22/2010 06:30 pm »
Anything as far as commercial crew would be a giant leap for Scaled or Virgin Galactic. We need practical LEO transport now not by 2020 +. It's clear only Spacex and Boeing are the only logical choises that can fill that gap. Also Spacex and Boeing provide the link to commercial BEO applications. Virgin and Dreamchaser do not. Virgin and Scaled should concentrate on suborbital point to point anything else just gobbles up resources that should be going to companies that have BEO asperations long term.

Offline Namechange User

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #33 on: 10/22/2010 06:35 pm »
Virgin and Scaled should concentrate on suborbital point to point anything else just gobbles up resources that should be going to companies that have BEO asperations long term.

I have noticed this trend with some who really push commercial at the sake of everything else. 

Honestly, I find it strange and bizzare because it is ironic that some want everything to be "commercial" but also try to assign boundries of who should do what and who should not do something.  In the end, it is the opposite of "commercial".
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Offline mr. mark

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #34 on: 10/22/2010 06:40 pm »
NASA is handing out the money. That money should be going to companies that want to blaze a trail long term to beyond LEO and one is Spacex. Dreamchaser and Virgin Galactic leave commercial stuck in LEO. Long term that is not the best solution.

Offline Lars_J

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #35 on: 10/22/2010 06:41 pm »
A CCDev 2 proposal? Very interesting... I look forward to finding out more.

mr. mark - Anything that gives us better access to LEO also gives us better access to BEO.
« Last Edit: 10/22/2010 06:42 pm by Lars_J »

Offline Namechange User

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #36 on: 10/22/2010 06:44 pm »
NASA is handing out the money. That money should be going to companies that want to blaze a trail long term to beyond LEO and one is Spacex. Dreamchaser and Virgin Galactic leave commercial stuck in LEO. Long term that is not the best solution.

Some points to consider:

1.  NASA has given no money for Scaled or Virgin.  It is the one and only true commercial application.

2.  NASA is not just "handing out money".  There have to be milestones met and the goal here is to not "re-distribute the wealth" to whatever company one thinks is worthy so some can call it "commercial" and outsource it. 
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Offline yg1968

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #37 on: 10/22/2010 06:45 pm »
A CCDev 2 proposal? Very interesting... I look forward to finding out more.

When asked for more details about his orbital plans by a reporter, Branson said that he could not give any more details for now. It would have to wait 2 or 3 months before they are ready to announce anything more.

Offline neilh

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #38 on: 10/22/2010 06:45 pm »
NASA is handing out the money. That money should be going to companies that want to blaze a trail long term to beyond LEO and one is Spacex. Dreamchaser and Virgin Galactic leave commercial stuck in LEO. Long term that is not the best solution.

How is going with Dreamchaser leaving commercial stuck in LEO? There's been some study done showing how a larger Dreamchaser could be quite effective for a gentle return from lunar velocities. Can't find it now, but it's in the Dreamchaser threads.
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Offline Namechange User

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Re: Spaceport America Thread
« Reply #39 on: 10/22/2010 06:47 pm »
WW2 just landed on the runway at the Spaceport.

World War 2 is happening again? ;)
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