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By Marc Boucher
Posted September 22, 2010 10:10 AM
Artists Concept of Future Robotic Explorer
© NASA
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) was awarded a $6 million (CAD) contract today by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to develop a terrestrial prototype of a science rover for Mars exploration. The Mars Exploration Science Rover (MESR) prototype is part of the CSA Exploration Surface Mobility (ESM) program.
The investment is part of the Government of Canada's 2009 Economic Action Plan in which $110 million stimulus funds were allocated to the Canadian Space Agency over three years.
The news comes just days after MDA had announced that it had reached a major milestone in it's $14.5 million (USD) contract for an advanced information solution for NASA's next mission to Mars, the Curiosity Mars Rover.
The semi-autonomous rover prototype will be built and tested by MDA. The rover will be equipped with vision systems and detectors for navigation and will provide the interfaces for hosting a small robotic arm and upcoming sciences and payloads. it will be tested in the field in 2012.
The CSA hopes the project will position Canada as a potential partner in future international space exploration missions as Canada builds upon its expertise in space robotics. The technologies being developed for the rover could also be used for Earth-based applications in areas such as mining, transportation and security industries according to the CSA.
...Source: Space Generation Advisory Council
Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010
SGC 2010 Opening Ceremony at Charles University, Prague
Between 23 and 25 September 2010, Prague, Czech Republic will become the headquarters for international space matters. High-level space leaders and young professionals in the sector will come together to debate the latest space topics of interest at the Space Generation Congress (SGC) 2010, the annual conference of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). The discussions will focus on five major themes: Industry, Agency, Climate, Exploration and Outreach.
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...Sep 29th 2010
by Nancy Atkinson
Artist impression of the proposed Commercial Space Station. Credit: Orbital Technologies.
Will there soon be another human destination in low Earth orbit, or is this a redundant pipe dream? Two Russian-based companies hope to build the first-ever commercial space station, named, fittingly, Commercial Space Station (CSS). Orbital Technologies and Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energria) said in a press release that they will work together to build, launch, and operate the station, which they foresee as will being utilized by private citizens, professional crews as well as corporate researchers interested in conducting scientific programs.
“I am pleased to announce our intention to provide the global marketplace a commercially available orbital outpost,” said the CEO of Orbital Technologies, Sergey Kostenko. “Once launched and operational, the CSS will provide a unique destination for commercial, state and private spaceflight exploration missions. The CSS will be a valuable addition to the global base of orbital assets. We look forward to working with corporate entities, state governments and private individuals from around the world.”
The two companies provided no schedule for launches of the modules, or information about their funding or resources, except to advertise they are looking for partnerships.
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Proposed interior of a CSS module. Credit: Orbital Technologies
...Robin McKie, science editor
Saturday 2 October 2010 22.12 BST
Entries for Google's Lunar X prize from (L-R) Team Italia, Odyssey Moon and Jurban. Illustration: Pete Guest for the Observer
Dozens of entrepreneurs and space engineers will gather on the Isle of Man tomorrow to finalise plans for one of the world's most technologically ambitious and financially lucrative competitions: the Lunar X prize.
The $20m (£12.6m) award, which is being backed by Google, will be given to the first company that builds a robot rover craft, lands it safely on the moon, and directs it on a journey of more than 500 metres. The competition organisers hope to galvanise the exploration of the moon by opening it up to private industry. A deadline of 2012 has been set for all attempts to win the full prize.
"Nasa currently puts the cost of landing a robot rover on the moon at more than $1bn," said Julian Ranger, the UK financier who is raising cash for Astrobotic, one of the prize's key competitors. "We believe we can get that cost down to less than $50m, a price tag that will transform lunar exploration and make the moon a target for all sorts of commercial operations."
The little Astrobotic rover – which resembles a traffic cone on wheels – has also been designed to carry people's ashes to the moon as well as a variety of small experiments. In addition, it is intended to land the probe near the 1969 landing site of Apollo 11 in the Sea of Tranquillity.
"Part of our business plan will be to get our rover to move round the site and take a 3D high-definition film of it," said Ranger, a former software developer and self-confessed spaceflight fanatic who raised the initial investment that was needed to set up Astrobotic Technology. "If nothing else, it should prove to the doubters that the Apollo missions really took place."
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...Posted On: Oct 03, 2010
NEW DELHI (PTI): Astro-enthusiasts are in for a treat as the World Space Week 2010 will commence from Monday, during which a plethora of astronomy-related events will be conducted across India.
The theme of the WSW this year is "The Mysteries of the Cosmos".
Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE), an NGO, will be celebrating the WSW with great enthusiasm along with educational institutions and communities across the country.
The week-long carnival includes activities like comet making, hydro-rocketry workshops, astronomy webcasts, a night sky observing trip and face painting for kids.
To commemorate the first Sputnik launch on October 4, 1957, a film on it will also be shown.
World Space Week Association is a nonprofit, international organisation founded in 1981, and a partner of the United Nations in coordination of World Space Week -- the largest public space event on Earth.
WSW was started in 2000 and since then has taken place every year on October 4-10. This year, it will be celebrated in 55 nations across the world.
6 October 2010
New Caledonia
The latest far-flung addition to the worldwide network of stations serving Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system has been inaugurated in New Caledonia.
This French-administered group of islands is in the southwest Pacific. The new ground station is located near the capital Nouméa on New Caledonia’s main island of Grand Terre.
Ceremonial ribbon cutting
Galileo
...11 October 2010 Last updated at 10:50 GMT
By Jonathan Amos
It was on the Apollo 8 mission that the famous "Earthrise" image was acquired
The possibility of using the space station as a launching point to fly a manned mission around the Moon is to be studied by the station partners.
Letters discussing the concept have been exchanged between the Russian, European and US space agencies.
The Moon loop would be reminiscent of the 1968 Apollo 8 mission which snapped the famous "Earthrise" photograph.
The agencies want the station to become more than just a high-flying platform for doing experiments in microgravity.
They would like also to see it become a testbed for the technologies and techniques that will be needed by humans when they push out beyond low-Earth orbit to explore destinations such as asteroids and Mars.
Using the station as the spaceport, or base-camp, from where the astronauts set off on their journey is part of the new philosophy being considered.
"We need the courage of starting a new era," Europe's director of human spaceflight, Simonetta Di Pippo, told BBC News.
"The idea is to ascend to the space station the various elements of the mission, and then try to assemble the spacecraft at the ISS, and go from the orbit of the space station to the Moon.
...October 13, 2010
Beijing, seen here during a sandstorm in March. Carbon pollution and over-use of Earth's natural resources have become so critical that, on current trends, we will need a second planet to meet our needs by 2030, the WWF has said.
Carbon pollution and over-use of Earth's natural resources have become so critical that, on current trends, we will need a second planet to meet our needs by 2030, the WWF said on Wednesday.
In 2007, Earth's 6.8 billion humans were living 50 percent beyond the planet's threshold of sustainability, according to its report, issued ahead of a UN biodiversity conference.
"Even with modest UN projections for population growth, consumption and climate change, by 2030 humanity will need the capacity of two Earths to absorb CO2 waste and keep up with natural resource consumption," it warned.
If everyone used resources at the same rate per capita as the United States or the United Arab Emirates, four and a half planets would be needed, it said, highlighting the gap in "ecological footprint" between rich and poor.
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Source: Global Times
21:36 October 13 2010]
Ouyang Ziyuan
Editor's Note:
In the 21st century, the eyes of the world are turning to space again. New programs to explore space's resources are being launched in many countries, including China. Is there a new space race? Why are so many countries keen on lunar exploration? What benefits can the quest for space bring? Global Times reporter Yu Jincui (GT) talked to Ouyang Ziyuan (Ouyang), a senior consultant at China's lunar exploration program, on these issues.
GT: Why did China initiate its lunar exploration program? What influence will the program have on China's devel-opment?
Ouyang: Strictly speaking, China is a developing country. Some people argue that rather than explore the moon, we should concentrate on dealing with problems on Earth. It is understandable.
However, from a broader development perspective, we should not only be engaged in lunar exploration, but also step up our pace.
The lunar exploration program covers many high-tech fields. It is very scientifically demanding, which stimulates the technological upgrades and innovations.
Lunar exploration is a threshold for exploring deep space and remote space, and it could provide the basic experience for eventually exploring other planets. There are unimaginable abundant natural resources on the moon, such as rare earths, or uranium and titanium ores. The titanium ore reserve on the moon is the same size as the whole of China.
Although we are not able to exploit these resources due to the extremely high cost and technological limitations, as scientists, we have the responsibility to prove the existence of these resources and inform the people.
The moon has a very huge energy reserve. Japanese scientists recently came up with a design idea that if humanity could build a moon belt for solar power generation and transmitting energy back to the earth, human energy needs could be permanently satisfied.
Since the 1990s, a total of nine lunar probes have been launched into space, two from China (including the newly launched Chang'e-2 satellite), three from the US, one from Europe, two from Japan, and one from India.
The world is witnessing the climax of the second round of lunar exploration. All the countries involved are expecting to discover more comprehensive and concrete knowledge about the moon.
If China doesn't explore the moon, we will have no say in international lunar exploration and can't safeguard our proper rights and interests.
The contribution of the Apollo project of the US is amazing. According to one calculation, the input-output ratio is 1:14. It drove the development of high-tech worldwide and made the US a leader in the high-tech field for almost 20 years.
China's lunar exploration program is nowhere near as big as Apollo project in size, but it could also make great contributions in promoting technological improvements, scientific progress and talents cultivation.
China should not stay in the cradle of the Earth forever. The Chinese people should make contributions to the human development in the field of space exploration.
GT: Is there a new space race?
Ouyang: I am strongly against seeing lunar exploration as a race. The second round of lunar exploration is quite different from the first one conducted by the US and the former Soviet Union, which was a struggle for hegemony in space.
Every competent country will certainly take part in space exploration out of self-development and for technological and scientific progress. These countries are working together to contribute to the sum of human knowledge and development.
Those who highlight China's alleged ambitions for control may have different agendas and motivations.
GT: How is China's space program by international standards?
Ouyang: Different countries have different advantages and disadvantages.
Japan has better equipment and India has the advantage over China in computer software.
In the final round of a marathon, several groups form. We could use this analogy to describe the current situation in the field of lunar exploration. The US and Russia belong to the leading group with the strongest strength.
Although China is the only other country to have performed a space walk, we still lag far behind these two countries. The second group refers to those that have launched lunar probes, such as India, Europe, and Japan. That's where China is.
Of course, there is a third group covering all the countries that are preparing to get involved in the field. Out of the needs for their own national development, more countries are expected to join the team in the future.
GT: The US has suspended its Constellation program at the beginning of 2010, and India is determined to realize manned lunar exploration in 2020. Will these affect China's plan?
Ouyang: I have been paying attention on the space policy of the US. I think the Obama administration generally agree with George W. Bush's space plan, since it is necessary to maintain the US space leadership, control the future energy sources and safeguard the US military strategy.
However, the US suffered great trauma from the financial crisis. Due to the slow economic recovery, the US couldn't afford a huge lunar exploration plan with a total investment of $108 billion. But it is noticeable that although the US suspended the Constellation program, it didn't give up rocket or spaceship research.
I have communicated with other countries' chief scientists for lunar exploration and they all expressed that their country would stick to their original plans. So will China. Although US lunar exploration has slowed down, it will not affect the global lunar exploration process.
India has always taken China as a competitor in this regard. It is determined to realize manned lunar exploration by 2020. We need to understand India. As a large country, it needs lunar exploration to spur technological development and invigorate the national spirit.
GT: Will China land on the moon?
Ouyang: The precondition for manned lunar exploration is that we must assure the safe return of the astronaut to the Earth. Any unnecessary risk is not allowed. Therefore, China is very cautious and moves forward step by step according to our own capability.
There is still not a definite timetable for China's manned lunar exploration. The former director of NASA once said that if China were willing, it would send its astronaut to the moon by 2020. Some domestic scientists have suggested 2025 as a proper time and some have suggested 2030.
We scientists have conducted relevant research on manned lunar exploration, and are trying to realize the national dream of landing on the moon as soon as possible.
GT: What's your attitude on international cooperation on lunar exploration?
Ouyang: China has been sticking to peaceful space exploration and objects to any form of space militarization. China welcomes international coopera-tion and has been constantly seeking international cooperation.
We always hope to learn from others' experiences and purchase advanced equipment from them.
...18 October 2010
Partners in the International Space Station programme have agreed on a new standard for docking systems, which will be capable also of implementing berthing. The agreement allows a range of compatible, but not necessarily identical, mechanisms for spacecraft docking. A first agreed version of the Interface Definition Document will be released on 25 October.
The International Docking System Standard (IDSS) provides the guidelines for a common interface to link spacecraft together. It builds on the heritage of the Russian developed APAS system (Androgynous Peripheral Attachment System) used for the Space Shuttle for the ‘hard docking’ and the innovative soft-capture features of the new NASA and ESA systems. Other agencies will be free to choose specific features behind the interface.
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ESA-developed berthing and docking mechanism
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Russian docking mechanism
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Space Shuttle's orbital docking system
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Download International Docking Standard pdf
The International Space Station (ISS) Multilateral Coordination Board (MCB) has approved for public release an International Docking System Standard (IDSS) which contains the information necessary to describe physical features and design loads of a standard docking interface.
19 October 2010
In-orbit assembly around the Earth will play an important role in the future exploration plans
Credits: ESA / AEOS - Medialab
Europe's vision for launching astronauts and robot explorers out into the Solar System will come into sharper focus on 21 October when the ministers responsible for space activities meet in Brussels to discuss Europe's goals for space exploration. Events can be followed live on the web.
Ministers from the 29 ESA and EU states will rendezvous in Brussels this week for their second International Conference on Space Exploration as the next step towards creating a future European exploration strategy.
The ministers will build on the debate begun a year ago in Prague during the first high-level conference dedicated to the topic.
Core discussion points during the three main sessions include the new technologies needed, access to space and what infrastructure is needed in low Earth orbits.
The ministers will also have insights at the plans, priorities and programmes of the world's other space agencies and discuss about opportunities for cooperation.
Exploration missions heading to Moon and Mars - and beyond
Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab
Events at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels can be followed live via the web stream at webcast.ec.europa.eu
The conference is co-organised by the Belgian Presidency of the EU, the European Commission, the Chair of the ESA Ministerial Council (Italy) and by ESA.
Proceedings will be opened by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, Sabine Laruelle, Minister of Scientific Research, Belgian Presidency of the EU, Giuseppe Pizza, Italian Secretary of State, Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA.
As in Prague, Ministers and Heads of Delegations are expected to play an active role. Senior officials from the European Commission, ESA and national space agencies are also invited.
Representatives from the European Parliament, and scientific and trade associations are expected. International participation is encouraged, with representatives from the major space agencies attending.
...Wed, 20 October, 2010
By Peter B. de Selding
Technicians test and assemble the TerreStar-2 satellite. Credit: Space Systems/Loral photo
PARIS — TerreStar Networks on Oct. 19 became the latest mobile satellite services provider to seek protection from its creditors under U.S bankruptcy law and asked its bankruptcy court to allow EchoStar Corp. to invest $75 million immediately to enable TerreStar to remain operational while its reorganization proceeds.
22 October 2010
A shared vision for space exploration came into sharper focus this week when European ministers, space executives and international representatives met to discuss their ambitions for future space exploration.
European Ministers in charge of Space matters, Heads of Space Agencies, representatives from European Member States and international Delegations gathered in Brussels at the 2nd International Conference on Space Exploration on 21 October 2010. Belgian Minister of Scientific Research Sabine Laruelle (centre first row) is flanked by Italian Undersecretary of State Giuseppe Pizza (on her left) and by ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain (on her right).
Credits: Emmanuel Bourgois, October 2010
Given its importance, more than 150 people attended the second International Conference on Space Exploration from 32 countries, including eight countries from outside Europe. Most of the major international space agencies were represented. ESA, the European Commission, members of the European Parliament, scientific and trade associations also attended the event in Brussels, 21 October.
From left to right: ESA Astronaut Frank De Winne; Belgian Minister of Scientific Research Sabine Laruelle; H.R.H. Prince Philippe of Belgium; ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and Italian Undersecretary of State Giuseppe Pizza on the occasion of the 2nd International Conference on Space Exploration on 21 October held at "Palais d'Egmont" in Brussels.
Credits: Emmanuel Bourgois, October 2010
The Conference unanimously concluded that action is needed now to ensure that Europe has a significant role in future space exploration. It confirmed that space exploration is a driver for innovation, developing new technologies and making scientific discoveries, but also a political and global endeavour.
ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain addressing the audience at the 2nd International Conference on Space Exploration on 21 October in Brussels.
Credits: Emmanuel Bourgois, October 2010
As a result of the constructive atmosphere, the Conference ended with the unanimous decision that concrete action is needed in four main areas, with specific actions for Europe (see link in right hand side bar).
All delegations agreed to meet next year in Italy for the first meeting of a high-level ‘platform’ to work together on the future of space exploration.
The Conference at Ministerial level was co-organised by the Belgium EU Presidency, the European Commission, the Italian Presidency of the ESA Council and ESA.
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