Posts Tagged ‘International Space Station’

View of the Rio Grande River Valley from 239,000 ft (~50 mi) aboard Armadillo Aerospace’s STIG-A rocket launched from Spaceport America, taken January 28, 2012. Photo courtesy of Armadillo Aerospace.

Release courtesy of Spaceport America

Upham, NM – New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) officials announced today a launch of a “STIG-A” rocket designed and built by Armadillo Aerospace. The launch took place from Spaceport America’s vertical launch complex on Saturday, January 28, 2012. The research and development test flight was a non-public, unpublished event at the request of Armadillo Aerospace, as the company is testing proprietary advanced launch technologies.

Saturday’s Armadillo launch successfully lifted off at approximately 11:15 a.m. (MDT), which was within the dedicated, five-hour launch window, and flight data indicates the rocket attained a maximum altitude of approximately 82-km (~50 miles). A failure of the ballute (balloon-parachute) recovery system meant that the GPS-steerable main parachute could not be deployed as intended; however, the vehicle was successfully recovered within the predicted operating area and the nose cone and ballute were separately recovered intact on the Spaceport property.

“This vehicle was the same one that flew on December 4^th, 2011, and successfully demonstrated the feasibility of a reusable rocket,” said Neil Milburn, Vice President of Program Management for Armadillo Aerospace. “The altitude achieved in this second flight was approximately twice that of the earlier flight and again tested many of the core technologies needed for the proposed manned reusable suborbital vehicle.”

The images captured by the rocket-mounted camera at apogee also serve to indicate the spectacular views of the Rio Grande valley that await future private astronauts.

The next incremental step for Armadillo Aerospace will be a 100-km (~62 miles) -plus “space shot” with the successor vehicle STIG-B, which is provisionally scheduled to launch in early spring from Spaceport America.

About Armadillo Aerospace

Founded in 2000, Armadillo Aerospace has an unequaled experience base with over 200 flight tests spread over a dozen different vehicles. The company has done work for NASA and the United States Air Force, and flown vehicles at every X-Prize Cup and Northrup Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge event, including those held in New Mexico from 2006 to 2008.

For more information, please visit http://www.armadilloaerospace.com.

About Space Adventures (media contact for Armadillo Aerospace)

Space Adventures, the company that organized the flights for the world’s first private space explorers, is headquartered in Vienna, VA, with an office in Moscow. It offers a variety of programs such as the availability today for spaceflight missions to the International Space Station and around the moon, Zero-Gravity flights, cosmonaut training, spaceflight qualification programs and reservations on future suborbital spacecraft.

For more information, please visit www.spaceadventures.com.

About Spaceport America

Spaceport America has been providing commercial launch services since 2006. Phase One of the construction for the spaceport is expected to be complete in early 2012.  Phase Two of the construction and pre-operations activities will follow, including the development of a world-class Visitor Experience for students, tourists and space launch customers. Officials at Spaceport America have been working closely with entrepreneurial space leaders like Armadillo Aerospace, Virgin Galactic, and UP Aerospace, as well as established aerospace firms like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and MOOG-FTS to develop commercial spaceflight at the new facility. The economic impact of launches, tourism and new construction at Spaceport America are already delivering on the promise of economic development to the people of New Mexico.

For more information, please visit: www.spaceportamerica.com.

Armadillo Aerospace's STIG-A Rocket Launches Successfully from Spaceport America

Release courtesy of Spaceport America

Upham, NM – New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) officials announced today a successful launch over the weekend of an advanced sounding rocket designed and built by Armadillo Aerospace. The launch took place from Spaceport America’s vertical launch complex on Sun., Dec. 4. The test flight was a non-public, unpublished event at the request of Armadillo Aerospace, as the company is testing proprietary advanced launch technologies.

Saturday’s Armadillo launch successfully lifted off at approximately 11:00 a.m. (MST), which was within the dedicated, five-hour launch window, and reached its projected sub-orbital altitude of 137,500 feet (41.91 km).

“This successful test of our “STIG A” reusable sub-orbital rocket technology represents major progress for the Armadillo Aerospace flight test program,” said Neil Milburn, Vice President of Program Management at Armadillo Aerospace. “The flight successfully demonstrated many of the technologies that we need for our manned sub-orbital program.” Armadillo Aerospace is a leading developer of reusable rocket-powered vehicles and plans to provide a platform for civilian access to suborbital space via its partnership with Space Adventures, Ltd.

“Spaceport America has been an ideal launch facility for this kind of vehicle R&D testing activity,” said John Carmack, President and CTO of Armadillo Aerospace.

The vehicle housed a scientific payload as well.  The experiment was designed, built, tested, integrated, and performed by a team of undergraduate students at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the College of Engineering at Purdue University.  The experiment studied a liquid and gas flow process that is sensitive to the gravity and acceleration levels encountered during spaceflight.

The latest launch represents yet another successful experience at Spaceport America, the nation’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. “We are extremely pleased to support Armadillo Aerospace as they conduct their high altitude vehicle flight testing, and look forward to hosting their NASA-funded suborbital research launches. Spaceport America continues to set the precedent for safe, efficient, effective service for commercial spaceflight customers,” said NMSA Executive Director Christine Anderson. This Armadillo Aerospace launch marks the thirteenth vertical launch test from the Spaceport America Vertical Launch Complex since 2006.

About Armadillo Aerospace

Founded in 2000, Armadillo Aerospace has an unequaled experience base with over 200 flight tests spread over a dozen different vehicles. The company has done work for NASA and the United States Air Force, and flown vehicles at every X-Prize Cup and Northrup Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge event, including those held in New Mexico from 2006 to 2008.

For more information, please visit www.armadilloaerospace.com.

About Space Adventures

Space Adventures, the company that organized the flights for the world’s first private space explorers, is headquartered in Vienna, Va. with an office in Moscow. It offers a variety of programs such as the availability today for spaceflight missions to the International Space Station and around the moon, Zero-Gravity flights, cosmonaut training, spaceflight qualification programs and reservations on future suborbital spacecraft.

For more information, please visit www.spaceadventures.com.

About Spaceport America

Spaceport America has been providing commercial launch services since 2006. Phase One of the construction for the spaceport is expected to be complete in early 2012.  Phase Two of the construction and pre-operations activities will follow, including the development of a world-class Visitor Experience for students, tourists and space launch customers. Officials at Spaceport America have been working closely with entrepreneurial space leaders like Armadillo Aerospace, Virgin Galactic, and UP Aerospace, as well as established aerospace firms like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and MOOG-FTS to develop commercial spaceflight at the new facility. The economic impact of launches, tourism and new construction at Spaceport America are already delivering on the promise of economic development to the people of New Mexico.

For more information, please visit: www.spaceportamerica.com

Space Adventures/Armadillo Press Contact: Stacey Tearne

p: 703-894-2192

e: stearne@spaceadventures.com

Spaceport America Press Contact: David Wilson

p: 575-640-8228

e: dwilson@zianet.com             

L&M Radiator photo courtesy of Fred Shepherd

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Samantha Roberts

The Mesilla Valley of Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA) has been busy this month with meetings, events and behind-the scenes work. The organization, which was incorporated in 1994, is “a public/private sector economic development partnership that serves Dona Ana County,” according to its mission. MVEDA partners with entities in southern New Mexico, such as the City of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico State University, Dona Ana Community College, the Las Cruces Public Schools, the Village of Hatch and the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

“We have begun a business connection series,” said Fred Shepherd, MVEDA business development manager. “We are trying to put together events that address what companies want to see and hear about.”

In addition to monthly business luncheons, MVEDA has other tools in its toolbox, such as business resource guides, assistance programs, business start-up help, educational opportunities and business consultations.

Newest to its resources, MVEDA offered a “commuter package” in collaboration with the City of Las Cruces to L&M Radiator, a worldwide manufacturer of MESABI flexible core heat exchangers that has decided to relocate its El Paso office to Las Cruces. The company purchased the old Coca-Cola bottling plant at 2100 S. Valley Drive.

“We have 60 current employees that will stay with us, and it will be up to them if they chose to move to Las Cruces or stay in El Paso, but we thought this was a nice way to at least show them what Las Cruces has to offer,” said Production Manager Tom Baumchen, in regards to the open house event.

L&M Radiator chartered two buses Saturday, June 4, filled with employees and their families to introduce them to the City of the Crosses. In addition to MVEDA, guests were allowed to peruse several vendors’ booths, including Dona Ana Community College (DACC), Las Cruces Public Schools, the City of Las Cruces, home loan companies, newspaper options and many others. Guests were also treated to a lunch and tour of Las Cruces before going back to Texas.

“We hope this event is the first of many of its kind,” Shepherd said. “We learned a lot from this first experience. For example, someone asked us about child care, and we didn’t have the information to provide them that day, but in the future we will know. And it is obvious, people moving to Las Cruces want to know the best place for their kids to go to school or where they can be safely kept.”

Other than booths, the participants also enjoyed guest speakers, including Margie Huerta, president of DACC, who was able to facilitate a brief question-and-answer session and recognize Las Cruces for its many wonderful opportunities.

“We are excited about the move, and it just came at the right time,” Baumchen said. “The reason for moving here was to continue a longtime partnership we have with TMS Machine Shop, and we found a building that could house both companies.”

Baumchen said the move has already started and anticipates three shifts per week to be operating by Friday, June 17. “We should be all moved over and settled in by the first or second week of August. Overall, we are very eager about being in Las Cruces and thrilled about the tremendous turnout today,” said Baumchen, hinting that an upcoming “phase two” is in the works for the company.

After L&M moves its final belongings to Las Cruces, Baumchen said he anticipates about 30 more hires. “We are bringing 60 people with us, and have already hired 30 more, but I anticipate that with the way work is coming in, we will add another 30 in the near future,” he said.

For Davin Lopez, MVEDA President and CEO, this event helped answer an important question. “For people moving here, where does quality of life fit in?” Lopez asked at the monthly Business on the Border luncheon Tuesday, June 7. “In addition to that, we at MVEDA want to help connect the fact that companies and their people are wanting to move here and are moving here, and how that will impact our local economy.”

L&M Radiator is not the only company making big changes in the area. Keith Beck, vice president and general manager of the Jacobs Technology’s NASA Test and Evaluation Contract (NTEC) at the NASA White Sands Test Facility (WSTF), also gave an update at the Business on the Border luncheon about what is going on at WTSF.

In regard to the number of people who will be out of work due to departments closing and contracts ending, Beck said a majority of the personnel will be maintained.

“We do a lot of stuff that has to do with testing. Anything that goes into space has to go through testing,” Beck said. “We have 420 employees now and as new jobs come, we look to hire internally first. The fiscal year is looking good, and we don’t anticipate another big hit coming anytime soon.”

Beck also said WSTF is constantly looking at new partnerships to create jobs, such as working with Spaceport America.  “We are currently working on scenarios that Spaceport America could be interested in,” he said. “For example, we are working with nitrous- oxide testing with the (Federal Aviation Administration). We will also have the ability to train people at Spaceport America or provided services as simple as rebuilding a valve on their car so they can get it fixed locally instead of shipping it away.”

At WSTF, Beck is responsible for all rocket propulsion testing, materials and component testing and the processing of flight hardware for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station as well as commercial and military systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Christian Brothers University and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Tennessee and is a registered Professional Engineer.

The next Business on the Border luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor Blvd. The meeting will begin with a hot entrée buffet followed by a brief update by MVEDA staff. Luncheon cost is $20 per person and open to the public.  For more information, call MVEDA at 525-2852.

Article courtesy of Las Cruces Sun-News

By Diane Alba, Staff and Wire reports

Video courtesy of Spaceport America

UPHAM – Virgin Galactic’s Sir Richard Branson, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and prospective astronauts gathered in the southern New Mexico desert Friday to celebrate the completion of the runway at the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport.

Spaceport America is the world’s first facility designed specifically to launch commercial spacecraft. The celebration of its nearly-two-mile-long runway comes less than two weeks after another major step for Virgin Galactic: the first solo glide flight of its space tourism rocket ship.

Branson called it an emotional and historic day. The British billionaire said he expects flights for space tourists to begin in nine to 18 months, and he will be among the first passengers.

Stretching across a flat dusty plain 45 miles north of Las Cruces, the runway is designed to support almost every aircraft in the world, day-to-day space tourism and payload launch operations.

Virgin Galactic is the anchor tenant of the taxpayer-funded spaceport and plans to use the facility to take tourists on what will first be short hops into space. State officials want to add companies for other commercial space endeavors, such as research and payload delivery missions.

Virgin Galactic’s White Knight Two – the special jet-powered mothership that will carry SpaceShipTwo to launch altitude – also made an appearance Friday, passing over the spaceport several times before landing on the new runway.

Tickets for suborbital space rides aboard SpaceShipTwo cost $200,000. The 2½-hour flights will include about five minutes of weightlessness. Some 380 customers have already made deposits totaling more than $50 million, Virgin Galactic officials said Friday.

Branson, the president of Virgin Group, which counts airlines, entertainment and mobile communications among its businesses, partnered with famed aviation designer Burt Rutan on the venture.

Until now, space travel has been limited to astronauts and a handful of wealthy people who have shelled out millions to ride Russian rockets to the international space station.

Some of the soon-to-be astronauts attended Friday’s runway dedication.

While space tourism projects such as Virgin Galactic’s venture receive plenty of publicity, the commercial space industry is seeing rapid developments with companies like SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., seeking to win NASA work to supply the International Space Station.

SpaceX has successfully placed a dummy payload into orbit and has contracts to lift satellites next. Other firms, including Masten Space Systems of Mojave, Calif., and Armadillo Aerospace of Rockwell, Texas, are testing systems that would carry unmanned payloads to space.

Last month, Congress approved legislation that affirms President Barack Obama’s intent to use commercial carriers to lift humans into near-Earth space.

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