MAIN ARTICLE: Space Exploration News.
How will the FAA push commercial space under the new Obama Administration? Will an upcoming event spell it out? The meeting starts today. More below the fold.
Poll Results: The poll yesterday gave a clear signal, scroll down for latest space polling, click subscribe to stay informed.
Star Trek: In the News. Great news for Star Trek fans who are planning on getting married. Get married on the Bridge of the Enterprise and win the ultimate Wedding Package.
Yesterday's Comments: "Is that "Kilopounds"? For the love of Jeepers, this country needs to switch to metric." - Anarchofascist
Today's Poll: Should President Obama push for more commercial Space or more NASA?
Which road to take? More of the same from NASA or give commercial space a bigger opportunity? You decide in today's poll.
How to get Commercial Space into the Space Exploration Game:
The Space Frontier Foundation is hosting a forum for advancing New Space. This includes the FAA and Ferris Valyn agrees about the importance of the FAA (see "Will we get our first space policy hint from the FAA?", Ferris Valyn, Feb 02, 2009) in developing commercial space:
"There has been extensive speculation about the direction that President Obama will take space policy. A lot of it has been centered around who he might appoint as NASA administrator.
But there might be another hint coming, and from another direction - FAA administrator. Particularly if he appoints Robert (Bob) Herbert as head of the FAA."
--end quote--
As is pointed out, the FAA is in a make it or break it situation depending on what and how it decides to push.
12th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference
5-6 February 2009 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia
"promises to be the best ever --with expanded focus on commercial issues-- offering plenty of great content for entrepreneurs and all those who support their efforts. FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) will update participants on their promotion of the growing NewSpace industry, and a number of impressive speakers will offer up-to-the minute perspectives on today's challenges as well as opportunities" - Paul Eckert, Space Frontier Foundation Advocate
Featured speakers at this year's conference include:
Will Whitehorn, President, Virgin Galactic, London, U.K.
Chirinjeev Kathuria, Chairman, PlanetSpace, Chicago, IL
The Honorable Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM (invited)
Mike Lounge, The Boeing Company, Houston, TX
Joanne Gabrynowicz, Professor, National Center for Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law, University of Mississippi School of Law, University, MS
--skip--
At the Conference, the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) will explore the new era of commercial space transportation along with our government, industry, and academic partners. Some of the aspects of commercial space transportation that will be addressed are:
A fresh examination of technologies to enable
commercial space transportation
The new support for commercial space launches at federal launch ranges
An exploration of how commercial space is advancing in the public arena and how federal agencies are becoming new commercial customers
Discovering how the "wired world" of the Internet can enhance commercial space opportunities and create new ones. A discussion of human rating launch vehicles of the past, present, and future.
--end quote--
The Space Frontier Foundation - Advancing NewSpace
So who is the Space Frontier Foundation? The Space Frontier Foundation
"is an organization composed of space activists, scientists and engineers, media and political professionals, entrepreneurs, and citizens from all backgrounds and all nations. We are transforming space from a government-owned bureaucratic program into a dynamic and inclusive frontier open to people. We are determined to convert the image held by many young people that the future will be worse than the present, and we reject the idea that the world's greatest moments are in its past.
Our central goal is the large-scale permanent settlement of space. We believe people have the "right stuff' and that everyone will benefit from opening the space frontier. We believe that free markets and free enterprise will become an unstoppable force in the irreversible settlement of this new frontier, and that our world is on the verge of a truly historic breakthrough: cheap access to space."
--end quote--
INVESTORS MEET ENTREPRENEURS IN 'NEWSPACE' START-UPS:
The Space Angels Network is a new website that brings together investors with new business leaders in commercial space. An upcoming events list shows some interesting events. You can see hundreds of new ideas being presented in just a few days.
Space Angels Network - Forum
"Upcoming Events - meet with us here!
Feb 18, 2009 Startup Riot 2009 Atlanta, GA
Mar 11-12, 2009 Southeast Venture Conference 2009 Atlanta, GA
Apr 15-17, 2009 2009 Angel Capital Association Summit Atlanta, GA
May 27, 2009 Space Investment Summit 6 Orlando, FL
Jun 4, 2009 Space Business Forum: New York New York, NY"
START UP RIOT: Who can attend?
"Startup Riot is open to all investors (institutional and corporate VCs and angels), entrepreneurs, individuals looking for startup jobs, and large companies looking for partnerships and/or M&A opportunities."
Startup Riot Agenda
"9 a.m. registration and networking
9:30 a.m. introduction
9:45 a.m. keynote and Q&A
10:30 a.m. 1st hour of pitches
11:30 a.m. chaotic lunch pairing exercise
1:15 p.m. 2nd hour of pitches
2:15 p.m. networking & demos
3:15 p.m. 3rd hour of pitches
4:15 p.m. wrap up discussion & networking
5:00 p.m. after-party at Nelson Mullins"
--end quote--
They are predicting 50-70 presentations.
POLL RESULTS:
Yesterday's poll "Should America return to pre 2000 conditions and create more treaties banning weapons in space?" was a lopsided result with 68% of DKOS members taking part in the poll voting for a total ban of weapons in space. 25% of those members wanted to keep America's options open. Only five percent voiced no opinion.
STAR TREK: In the News.
Get engaged, live long and prosper
"A love of galactic proportions. A love so big that you can’t help but polish the diamond ring you’ve hidden away until Valentine’s Day. Well, the Detroit Science Center has an offer for you!
Valentine’s Day happens to coincide with the opening of the Science Center’s next big endeavor, "Star Trek: The Exhibition."
Any couple who becomes engaged anywhere inside the exhibit on Feb. 14 -- whether in a simulator or on the bridge of the recreated Starship Enterprise -- will nab a photo of themselves in the exhibit and be entered in an online contest for a "Star Trek: The Exhibition" Ultimate Wedding Package.
The contest will run through March 16 on the Science Center’s Web site at www.detroitsciencecenter.org. Site surfers will vote on the couple they think should win the package."
YESTERDAY'S COMMENTS:
A 'Tip of the Hat' to Bill White
"Actually, as I think about this, I seem to recall Soyuz missions were originally equipped with sidearms because the landing might miss the intended target and they might end up in remote regions of Siberia.
Be ironic to fly in space and get eaten by wolves after landing on Earth."
"And after that you could do no wrong "Honey I think we should ask for directions!"
"Baby I went into space, landed in SIberia, and shot a wolf. I know where we are going." - Larry Madill
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"absolutely, total mass is the danger whether it's one pice or twenty. Blowing up an asteroid doesnto make us safe; it just widens the impact field and increases the damage. Moving an incoming astroid is al about the angles. the farther away you start the change in trajectory, the less energy it takes." - Subo03
"We don't know what's out there? What sort of question is that?! Theoretically, weapons in space were to 'protect' us from other earthlings!!!" - MsGrin
TODAY'S POLL:
Read other NASA and Space diaries on DKOS.