Virgin Galactic’s New CEO a Familiar Face

George T. Whitesides became the first CEO of Virgin Galactic.  Amongst other things, he was Yuri’s Night co-founder and National Space Society director, and until very recently NASA‘s Chief of Staff.  Not bad for a space guy.

Both he and his wife, Loretta Hidalgo-Whitesides,  are extremely influential space activists, especially in the realm of inspiring young people about space travel.

In 2006 Mr. Whitesides presided over the Space Tourism Society’s ORBIT Awards show, where awardees included Buzz Aldrin, Robert Bigelow, and space tourists Dennis Tito and Gregory Olsen.

Armadillo Aerospace Matures

Wow.  I take that back.  Armadillo has been busy.  They are doing lots of incremental tests of its engines and vehicles, focusing on stability and reliability.  Check out the video they made for last month’s Space Access 2010 conference:

http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/misc/2010_Space_Access_Society.mp4

Space Adventures + Armadillo Aerospace = Virgin’s Competition?

You know things are heating up in the Space Tourism arena when you see new joint ventures like this. I did not realize Armadillo’s tech has matured enough to carry people.  Space Adventure’s forté is marketing, and they do it well.  But can they beat the caché of Virgin Galactic?

Space Tourism Firm to Offer Suborbital Joy Rides at Lower Costs

http://www.space.com/news/space-tourism-new-deal-100430.html

Source:  space.com

14 Far-Out Visions of Space Tourism

Not our ideas, but still a fun collection of images depicting life in space.

http://listicles.thelmagazine.com/2010/05/14-far-out-visions-of-space-tourism/

Antarctic Research Bases: Self-sustaining models for space stations

Since the 1950′s, the US and several other countries have sustained research facilities in harsh remote climes of Antarctica.  The latest version of these research laboratories are slick, mobile, and self-contained.  NASA and ESA use them as role models for trips to other planets. Designers for space hotels and other stations should take note how these places are run, and manage their resources.

Cold Comforts: Antarctic Research Bases Are Seriously Self-Sustaining

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/04/ff_antarctica/all/1

Source:  Wired.com

Happy Space Tourism Day!

A thrilled Dennis Tito just after returning to Earth from his adventure as the world's first private space traveler back in 2001.

Today is the 9th anniversary of Dennis Tito, the first private space traveler.  In 2001, he took off to the International Space Station for a personal and historic adventure!  His trip blasted open the doors for six other space tourists, who paid an estimated $20-30 million and 8 months of training in Russia for the privilege to walk among the stars.

The path to the stars was not easy.  Then-NASA administrator Daniel Goldin was vehemently against the trip. He asked, “Would people visit a hotel when its under construction?”  The Russians disagreed, citing the need for cash to keep their own space program running.

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/goldin_tito_010315.html

Here’s a link to Dennis Tito’s bio on Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Tito

A few weeks after his flight Mr. Tito testified before Congress http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=9842

For a list of space tourists to date, check them out here on the Society’s web site: http://www.spacetourismsociety.org/STS_Web_Links/Private_Space_Traveler_Websites.html

The Society honors Dennis for this great achievement in promoting the fledgling space tourism industry.

Man versus machine, for three points

San Francisco 49ers kicker Joe Nedney and a Ziggy, a RoboGames robot, attempt to kick field goals simultaneously in a man-versus-machine competition Monday in San Francisco. (Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

Our friends at RoboGames know how to market themselves. They recently got on the cover of the San Francisco Chronicle and CNET. San Francisco 49ers kicker Joe Nedney and Ziggy, a RoboGames champion battle robot, attempt to kick field goals simultaneously in a man-versus-machine competition Monday in San Francisco.

Ziggy, a 340 pound power lifter, is famous for flinging its opponents across the combots arena. Nedney, a veteran kicker, easily bested his mechanical competitor. But it was fun to watch.

CNET article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20002856-52.html?tag=rtcol

SF Chronicle article:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/20/MNCV1CVIV4.DTL

Nimoy discusses new space plan

Nimoy, Spock, Obama, and space. Need I say more? http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1607/1

Bigelow Aerospace goes to the Moon

Bigelow Aerospace proposed lunar base design.

It looks like our friends at Bigelow Aerospace are taking their “real estate development” concept another step forward… by building on the Moon.

Using the same BA330 inflatable habitat modules Bigelow is building for an orbital space hotel, they propose to place a few together on the lunar surface, to make a simple lunar base that could support 18 people.

The moon base would consist of three BA-330 inflatable units which each offer 11,653 cubic feet of space and contain their own propulsion and power units. Such units could be joined together in lunar orbit or even farther out before flying down to a selected surface location.

Check out the articles here:
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-04/space-hotel-pioneer-envisions-inflatable-moon-bases
and
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/private-moon-bases-bigelow-aerospace-100414.html

To Mars in 4-6 Weeks?

The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) is an electro-magnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. It uses radio waves to ionize and heat a propellant and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasma to generate thrust.

Astronaut Michael Foale, in his speech at the KSC panel on April 15th, brings up the VASIMIR engine, a plasma engine, which could in theory send astronauts to Mars in 4-6 weeks!!!

http://www.nasa.gov/mp4/444955main_iss_panel2.mp4

Here’s info on the VASIMR rocket:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_Specific_Impulse_Magnetoplasma_Rocket

Here is a link to Ad Astra Rocket Company, producer of the VASIMR engine:
http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/