Posts Tagged ‘Florida’

New Mexico Public Education Department Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera and New Mexico Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Dr. Jose Z. Garcia will be the featured presenters at the January MVEDA Business in the Borderplex luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet.

MVEDA, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber de Las Cruces, and the Bridge of Southern New Mexico are pleased to kick-off 2012 by co-hosting a conversation with the Cabinet Secretaries on their work in building a strong, well-prepared workforce.

Secretary Skandera

Previously, Skandera served as Florida’s Deputy Commissioner of Education under former Governor Jeb Bush, working to advance middle and high school reforms that instituted greater accountability, incentives for high performance and the end of social promotion. Her work led to scores that improved dramatically across ethnic groups, with Hispanic students outperforming all students in 31 other states. Florida has been recognized nationally as one of the only states to narrow the achievement gap for poor and minority students. She also served as a senior policy advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Education and as former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Undersecretary for Education.

Secretary Garcia

Jose Z. Garcia has been on the faculty at New Mexico State University for more than three decades.  He has conducted research and lectured throughout Latin America, specializing in questions of political instability.  Dr. Garcia directed the Center for Latin American and Border Studies at NMSU for 13 years.  In recent years his research has focused on the U.S.-Mexico border.  He is one of the founding members of the Paso del Norte Water Task Force, a non-governmental, tri-state, bi-national organization created in the late 1990s, grouping together irrigation district and water utilities managers with environmental groups, citizens, and academics, to stimulate greater cooperation toward more efficient regional water management in the Paso del Norte region.  Dr. Garcia was chair of the organization from 2010-2011.  He has also taught a course in New Mexico politics for many years.  After receiving a BA from Occidental College, Dr. Garcia was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to Ecuador.  He received an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a PhD from the University of New Mexico.

The vital link between education and workforce and economic development has been highlighted by The Bridge of Southern New Mexico.  The Bridge is working alongside Secretary Skandera and Secretary Garcia to create stronger linkages from public education to post-secondary education to give New Mexico a prosperous, sustainable future for business by building a strong, well-prepared workforce.

Luncheon cost is $20.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. Due to space limitations, reservations are required. Please confirm your attendance no later than Thursday, December 29^th by sending an email to rsvp@mveda.com or by calling the office at (575) 525-2852. The meeting is open to the public.

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Todd G. Dickson

On the eve of a week of activities related to new space entrepreneurs, Spaceport America’s two primary customers – Virgin Galactic and UP Aerospace – have made major announcements.

UP Aerospace, the company that has conducted a number of traditional sounding rocket launches from the spaceport 45 miles north of Las Cruces, announced this week that it will conduct up to nine new missions from Spaceport America in 2012 and 2013.

The launches will be for NASA and the Department of Defense. If all the planning launches from contracts are conducted, they will be twice the number of missions UP Aerospace has flown from Spaceport America since 2006.

“Spaceport America has an established history with UP Aerospace, and we congratulate this forward-thinking company on its new launch contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense,” said New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Executive Director Christine Anderson. “UP Aerospace has been launching here since 2006 and we are looking forward to hosting UP Aerospace and other commercial space launch providers as they continue to meet the needs of our nation.”

NASA’s Office of Chief Technologist Launch Opportunities Program awarded UP Aerospace a contract to integrate technology payloads and launch them into space on up to eight flights using its SpaceLoft rocket. This contract reserves two launches with options on purchasing up to six additional flights in 2012 and 2013.

The first launch for NASA is still in the planning phase, but is expected in the first quarter of 2012, according to a news release from NMSA. The second contract was issued by the Defense Department’s Operationally Responsive Space Office, and will be a suborbital flight also planned for the first quarter of 2012.

“We have a great relationship with Spaceport America,” said UP Aerospace President Jerry Larson. “We are excited to see business ramping up for our SpaceLoft launch vehicles, and look forward to meeting the needs of our customers.”

UP Aerospace has provided launch services for the Defense Department previously, although this will be the company’s first fully dedicated launch for the military. UP Aerospace has teamed with Schafer Corporation of Albuquerque to provide comprehensive launch and payload integration services for the NASA launches.

At Spaceport America, UP Aerospace has conducted launches test rocket vehicle or booster concepts for companies that do business with the Defense Department.

Virgin Galactic gets the keys

On Monday, Oct. 17, which is the start of Space Week in New Mexico, Virgin Galactic will host a hangar dedication ceremony at Spaceport America, where work on its Terminal Hangar Facility is nearly completed where Virgin will be housing its fleet of spaceliners. Virgin Galactic is calling the hangar dedication ceremony “Keys to a New Dawn.”

Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic has a new Vice President of Operations Michael Moses, a former NASA executive. Moses will oversee the planning and execution of all operations of the company’s commercial suborbital spaceflight program.

“Following a distinguished career in NASA’s recently retired Space Shuttle Program, Moses brings to Virgin Galactic a proven record of safe, successful and secure human spaceflight missions, spaceport operations, and human spaceflight program leadership,” Virgin Galactic stated in its announcement. “He served at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the Launch Integration Manager from 2008 until the landing of the final Shuttle mission in July 2011. He was responsible for supervising all Space Shuttle processing activities from landing through launch, and for reviewing major milestones including final readiness for flight.”

Moses also served as chair of the Mission Management Team, providing ultimate launch decision authority for the final 12 missions of the Space Shuttle Program, directly overseeing the safe and successful flights of 75 astronauts. According to Virgin Galactic, Moses will develop and lead the team responsible for its spaceship operations and logistics, flight crew operations, customer training and spaceport ground operations, with overall operational safety and risk management as the primary focus.

“Bringing Mike in to lead the team represents a significant investment in our commitment to operational safety and success as we prepare to launch commercial operations,” said Virgin Galactic President and CEO George Whitesides. “His experience and track record in all facets of spaceflight operations are truly unique. His forward-thinking perspective to bring the hard-won lessons of human spaceflight into our operations will benefit us tremendously.”

Prior to his most recent NASA role, Moses served as a flight director at the NASA Johnson Space Center, where he led teams of flight controllers in the planning, training and execution of all aspects of space shuttle missions. Moses also has more than 10 years experience as a flight controller in the Shuttle Propulsion and Electrical Systems Groups.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Virgin Galactic at this time, helping to forge the foundations that will enable routine commercial suborbital spaceflights,” Moses said. “Virgin Galactic will expand the legacy of human spaceflight beyond traditional government programs into the world’s first privately funded commercial spaceline.”

Moses holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Purdue University, a master’s degree in space sciences from Florida Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Purdue University. He is a two-time recipient of the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal as well as other NASA commendations and awards.

Carolyn Wincer, who is Virgin Galactic’s head of travel and tourism, recently said the company will soon be opening an office in Las Cruces. Wincer said more than 70 flight tests have made of Virgin’s system that launches a six passenger rocket from mid-air to reach 70miles above the Earth’s surface.

Some 500 experienced test pilots have applied to fly for Virgin Galactic, according to Wincer. Meanwhile, more than 500 potential passengers have made down payments for the $200,000 tickets, totaling close to $60 million in deposits. Virgin Galactic also will host the first-ever “Industry Day” for potential suppliers and partners at Spaceport America on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The invitation-only event is designed to educate potential companies on the type of goods and services that will be needed as commercial space travel becomes a reality at Spaceport America.

“Virgin Galactic and (its sister) The Spaceship Company are looking to create relationships with local, regional and global suppliers to support their operations at Spaceport America,” Anderson said. “The organizers of this event have stated their intention to hire locally as much as possible, which is good news for New Mexico companies.”

The daylong event will include presentations by Whitesides, Anderson and New Mexico Department of Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela. Attendees will have an opportunity to see the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo vehicles in their new home at the spaceport.

Space gathering an international event

After the Virgin Galactic event, the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) begins at New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Spring Road.

A Growing Community Partnership Luncheon will be held Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Commercial Space Exhibit Hall inside the museum. The $50 luncheon includes a talk by Allan Lockheed, son of the aviation pioneer who created what is now Lockheed Martin. Lockheed will talk about how the space industry will coalesce around Spaceport America – an industry that is currently supported by $60 billion just in government spending.

More than 500 people – mostly key movers in the private space industry – are expected to attend ISPCS Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 19-20. Panel discussion will cover a host of topics, including creating the supply chain support.

By Justin Bannister, University Communications for the Las Cruces Sun-News

Photo courtesy of Darren Phillips, NMSU

The U.S. military wants New Mexico State University to find improved ways to turn algae into a sustainable source for jet fuel. The research project is part of a $2.346 million grant funded by the Air Force where NMSU will study better ways to grow algae and refine its oil while working with the University of Central Florida to determine the effects of algae-based fuel on jet engines.

“Demand for petroleum will eventually outpace the supply,” said Shuguang Deng, a chemical engineering professor at NMSU and the lead researcher on the project. “The use of petroleum-based jet fuel is not sustainable and negatively impacts the environment. That’s a national security issue.”

Deng said the U.S. Department of Defense consumes 4.6 billion gallons of jet fuel each year and all airplanes globally consume approximately 80 billion gallons of jet fuel yearly. He believes with that level of consumption, the sustainable use of biofuels for aviation has the potential to create far-reaching military and commercial development opportunities.

The researched outlined by the grant is meant to develop the technologies needed to establish a viable algal biofuel alternative for replacing petroleum-based jet fuel in the U.S. military. The main tasks focus on cultivating algae, extracting its oils and developing other useful products during this process. Researchers will also study the effects of biofuels on engine operations, the process for scaling-up operations and the overall economics of the algae production process.

Deng said the project will combine the strengths in research programs at NMSU and UCF to develop sustainable biofuels for aviation, train engineers in the field and potentially develop new business opportunities in both New Mexico and Florida.

“Algal biofuels look very promising, but there are a lot of technical issues,” Deng said. “Algae have the highest energy content of plants. Only algae can meet the demand for a renewable energy source. I expect that in five to 10 years, we’ll start seeing algal biofuels on the market.”

Deng said researchers must increase the biomass weight of algae, increase the lipid content and focus on harvesting and extraction techniques. The work is being done as part of NMSU’s newly created Algal Bioenergy Program, a centralized effort to coordinate research and economic development opportunities related to fuels made from algae.

New Mexico is recognized as an ideal location for growing algae because it has lots of high-intensity sunshine, relatively few cloudy days and access to brackish water supplies, which can be used to grow algae.

Other NMSU researchers involved in this project include Nirmala Khandan and Hongmei Luo in the College of Engineering; Jiannong Xu and Wayne Van Voorhies in the College of Arts and Sciences; Shannon Ivey and Tanner Schaub in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; and Meghan Starbuck in the College of Business.

Space Week in New Mexico

Release courtesy of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium will host the fifth annual FREE ISPCS Public Forum (previously named the Leonard R. Sugerman Public Forum) on Tuesday, October 19^th, 1:30-3:00 at the Pan American Center on the campus of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.   Discover how the future of commercial spaceflight will impact our community.  The mayor of Titusville Florida will present on what happened when NASA came to town.  Local mayors will discuss what preparations they are making as Spaceport America becomes operational. Speakers include:

• John Hummer, moderator, CCIM, Owner/Broker, Steinborn TCN Commercial Real Estate
• Mayor Tulley from Titusville Florida
• Las Cruces Mayor Miyagishima
• Truth or Consequences Mayor Montgomery
• Hatch Mayor Nordyke

You are welcome to also attend the public forum 12:00 – 1:15 focused for university students and faculty.  Speakers include:

• Pat Hynes, New Mexico Space Grant Consortium Director
• Clay Anderson, NASA Astronaut, STS-117, STS-131, ISS
• George Whitesides, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Galactic
• Aaron Prescott, Commercial Division Director, Spaceport America
• Mark Severance, International Space Station Laboratory, Education Projects Manager
• Doug Weathers, NMSU student, Student Launch Program
• Ivan Ferrell, NMSU student, Microgravity Program
• Selene Virk, NMSU student, Transcriptomic Profile of the Inner Ear Vestibular Organs

Come join us as we discuss preparing for this exciting industry in southern New Mexico!

On Wednesday and Thursday, October 20-21 the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight will be held at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.  For more information or to register for the symposium go to http://www.ispcs.com

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Todd G. Dickson

A flyover by Virgin Galactic’s spaceliner and the presence of aerospace’s more ambitious space entrepreneurs are just a couple of the highlights of this year’s International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight next month.

Photo courtesy of Virgin Galactic

More than 400 aerospace leaders – company executives, government officials and researchers – are expected to attend this year’s conference to be held Wednesday, Oct. 20, and Thursday, Oct. 21, at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road.

Flanking the conference will be the free public forum from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Pan American Center on the New Mexico State University campus, and, after the conference, Virgin Galactic’s “mothership” Eve carrying the six-passenger rocket ship Enterprise is scheduled to fly over Spaceport America’s recently completed two-mile-long runway in the desert between Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences.

British billionaire Richard Branson, who is developing Virgin Galactic’s fleet to fly out of the New Mexico spaceport, described the flight as historic because it will be the first long-distance “capture-carry” flight of the spaceliner, making Oct. 22 a “momentous” day for commercial space.

“The new runway at Spaceport America will be finished, and the exterior fabric of our own facility at the spaceport will largely be complete,” Branson said. “It will be an honor to be present on that day, and I can safely say it will be one of the most exciting days in the history of Virgin.”

Based on the X PRIZE-winning system created by aviation genius Burt Rutan, Virgin’s double-hulled, jet-powered “mothership” will carry the Enterprise into the sky for a high-elevation, mid-air launch that will take its passengers to suborbital space.

Many of Virgin Galactic’s top executives will be at the conference, and Branson will deliver a taped message to school children at the public forum – but he isn’t the only one investing big money into privately funded commercial space development.

As in past years, the roster of panelists and speakers include many of the top players in the new industry of commercial space. The latest to agree to participate is Robert Bigelow, who has spent the last 10 years conducting research and development into a new generation of expandable space habitats. A Las Vegas, Nev., native, he made his fortune in real estate, banking and finance and is now gambling it on Bigelow Aerospace to create these expandable space habitats that can survive safely in orbit.

In 2006 and 2007, Bigelow launched its orbiting prototypes Genesis I and Genesis II with the goal to provide more room than the International Space Station at a fraction of the cost.

Other symposium participants include: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Neil Sheehan, whose latest book “A Fiery Peace in a Cold War” tells the story of the U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile program; Jeff Greason, CEO of XCOR Aerospace; Debra Fracktor Lepore, president of DFL Space; Lee Rand, Sun Mountain Capital partner; George Nield, commercial space transportation associate administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration; Lori Garver, NASA deputy administrator; and Clay Mowry, Arianespace president. Many others in organizations supporting commercial space development will participate in the two days of the conference.

Pat Hynes, executive director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium at the NMSU campus, which organizes the symposium, said the start of the symposium will begin with reviewing the origins of space exploration, but then quickly go into in-depth discussions about issues and obstacles facing the new industry, such as skepticism about the ability of the private sector to reach orbital space and the difficulty in finding investors. The symposium will also explore opportunities the new commercial space vehicles have in microgravity manufacturing, research and education.

The symposium brings the leaders of the industry here at a time when many in the local business community are trying to find a way to have the activities at the spaceport translate into more jobs and opportunities, Hynes said. The symposium provides an opportunity for networking that can lead to local ventures, such as the Hatch solar plant.

The free public forum on Tuesday, Oct. 19, will be divided into three segments. The morning session will be primarily educational, but will give people an opportunity to hear from a real astronaut, Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides, and one of Virgin Galactic’s customers. The lunch hour forum will include Whitesides, Hynes, another astronaut and students. The afternoon segment will include the mayors of Las Cruces, Hatch and T or C, as well as the mayor of Titusville, Fla., which grew with the NASA program.