National Space Symposium Show News - April 7-10, 2008 - (Page 4)

U.S. Space Industry Must Address Critical Questions Human space flight and the future of military space are two major issues to be discussed here at the National Space Symposium, says Tom Henricks, a fourtime shuttle astronaut and president of AVIATION WEEK (Booth 91). With just ten launches remaining until the shuttle system is retired in 2010, the U.S. is faced with a gap in manned spaceflight capability until the Constellation (Ares-Orion) Tom Henricks. program is ready in 2015. “Is it palatable to rely on the Russians to get us to and from the International Space Station in the interim?” Henricks asks. And on the military side, can warfighting assets be considered reliable when both China and the U.S. have now demonstrated the capability to destroy satellites? Underlying both issues is the question of funding, which is becoming more difficult to ensure as the next administration grapples with the increasing costs of the war in Iraq and retiring baby boomers straining social security. Planners might have to look for cheaper but just as reliable options, such as off the shelf commercial technology and international cooperation—but those will likely spark the same sort of debates over national security as Airbus and Northrop Grumman winning the U.S. tanker contract. Nevertheless, the expense of future large programs is so great it must be shared. And that brings up another question: is it time for the National Space Symposium to embrace more than just the U.S.? Northrop Grumman Teams with Loral Northrop Grumman (Booth 600) and Space Systems/Loral have agreed on a plan to will increase SS/L’s military and government business and improve its commercial satellites competitiveness. The scheme also aims to help reduce the cost and lead times of Northrop’s government programs. The pact will permit SS/L to boost capacity by using Northrop’s satellite integration facilities, and to use reflectors built by Northrop’s Astro Aerospace unit. Northrop will gain access to SS/L’s 1300 satellite bus and components. The firms will team to host government payloads on SS/L spacecraft. Ten Teams Vie for Google Lunar X Prize Ten teams have entered the Google Lunar X Prize, a $30 million competition to land a privately funded robot on the moon by the end of 2012, roam the surface for at least 500 meters, and send video and images to Earth. “The response has been incredible,” says Peter Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X Prize Foundation. “We have received over 560 expressions of interest from more than 53 nations. I think we’re going to see an exciting and very competitive race to the Moon, highlighted by some very creative designs unlike anything we’ve seen come out of the government.” Northrop Tests Sunshield for Next Gen A tennis court-sized sunshield for the James Webb Space Telescope has been tested by Northrop Grumman (Booth 600) at its Redondo Beach, Calif., facility as work progresses on the next generation space observatory due to launch in 2013. The sunshield is a crucial part of the project as it will block solar heat, keeping the telescope’s instruments at cryogenic temperatures so astronomers can study distant galaxies, young stars and planetary systems at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. Northrop Grumman Space Technology sector is prime contractor for the Webb Telescope under contract to NASA Goddard. Aerojet Validates Miniature Solid DACS Aerojet reported a successful test firing of a miniature solid propellant divert and attitude control system (DACS) for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency late last month, caking the test “an important milestone.” Aerojet’s miniature DACS technology is applicable to Missile Defense interceptors with multiple kill vehicles on a single payload. The inherent safety and insensitive munitions characteristics of the new solid propellant technology makes it attractive for mobile and sea-based interceptor deployments. Aerojet is developing this unique technology on a contract through the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. and It Celebrates 50 Years March marked the 50th anniversary that Aerojet first powered a satellite into space. Vanguard 1, launched on March 17, 1958, relied on a second stage Aerojet AJ10-118 to put America’s second satellite into orbit. And almost to the day this year a later version AJ10-118K powered the second stage of a Delta II mission into space. Just days before, on March 13, a 67-foot Aerojet solid rocket booster helped propel the inaugural launch of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. with approximately 250,000 pounds of additional thrust. Aerojet is at Booth 401. April, 2008 Henricks was the first astronaut to log 1,000 hours as pilot/commander (in four missions) of the Space Shuttle. 4 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Space Symposium Show News - April 7-10, 2008

Arthur Clarke, 1917-2008 Critical Questions Loom Beyond the Rocket Motor New GPS for the USAF Generals Have Their Say 2,500 Years in Space Virgin Senses Sea-Change Technology Spin-Offs

National Space Symposium Show News - April 7-10, 2008

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