Florida Space Update

Feb 1-12, 2016

  • NASA’s FY2017 Budget Good for KSC: Cabana: Proposed NASA budget ‘great’ for KSC
    Robert Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, sizes up the proposed NASA budget for 2017. The spending plan should permit the space agency to continue the development of exploration systems that will send humans on future missions of human deep space exploration and restore a U.S. capability to launch astronauts by 2017 on rockets developed by Boeing and SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, says Cabana.
  • Busy Launch Year Ahead: 30-plus rocket launches planned this year for Florida’s Space Coast
    More than 30 spacecraft launches are anticipated from Florida’s space coast this year, according to Space Florida, the space development organization. Officials say the rise in post space shuttle era launch activity is due to commercial demands for communications satellites, Earth imaging spacecraft and re-supply missions to the six person International Space Station.
  • Blue Origin: Blue Origin’s challenge: Be a start up in a traditional industry
    Within months, launch services start up Blue Origin plans to break ground on a $200 million factory and launch site on Florida’s Space Coast, bringing 300 new jobs. The company’s challenge will be to merge into a long standing industry in the region, while sustaining a lean and agile persona, according to a top executive for the company in Florida.
    (See also: Blue Origin to ramp up New Shepard tests)
  • Another Successful ULA Launch: Atlas V launch marks ‘end of an era’ for GPS
    The last in the current generation of U.S. Air Force Global Positioning Satellites was placed in Earth orbit Friday atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket following a lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
  • RD-180 Engine: White House requests $1.2 billion for new rocket in Air Force budget
    The Air Force intends to invest $1.2 billion in new domestic rocket systems intended to replace those that rely on controversial Russian imports of the RD-180 rocket engine, according to documents provided to lawmakers as part of President Obama’s proposed 2017 spending plan. New launch services would place U.S. national security payloads into orbit.
    (See also: McCain, McCarthy to introduce bill to reinstate RD-180 ban)
  • Astronaut Hall of Fame: Shuttle commander, space walker to enter Astronaut Hall of Fame
    NASA astronaut Brian Duffy led the space agency’s 100th space shuttle mission. Scott Parazynski, a medical doctor and spacewalking NASA astronaut, also found an opportunity to summit Mt. Everest. Both men will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 14. All together, they launched on nine shuttle missions.

Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group Citizens Space Explorateion_logo(http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens distributes “Space Exploration Update” to Congressional offices on a weekly basis. The intent is to provide an easy, quick way to stay abreast of key human space exploration program and policy developments.