I have a picture in my office of Len Sugerman and Neil Armstrong at a conference in Berlin, Germany in 1975. They were attending a guidance, navigation and control symposium. In those days, the now very well known Global Positioning System was a US military program and was used to assure accuracy for ICBMs. In the 1980s, the government made GPS available for civilian use. It has only been recently that commercial applications have evolved so millions of consumers benefit daily from GPS. Whether it is air, rail, sea or ground transportation, GPS has returned to the taxpayer billions of dollars in fuel savings. It also has increased the safety of the flying public. When first designed, GPS was a national security priority. We were in the “Cold War” in 1969. The photograph of Len Sugerman and Neil Armstrong was taken 6 years after the first landing on the moon, in the US sector of Berlin. It would take 20 years for both Berlin Wall and Russian Communism to crumble. Yet, in this bleakest of times, during those same 20 years, we created the fledgling human space transportation industry. And, we created technologies that added billions to our economy.

A manned moon landing required not only a highly reliable rocket in the Saturn 5, but also accurate guidance, navigation and control technologies that had been tested during the ICBM program evolution.  Intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, had to be accurate, especially since they carried nuclear war heads. And to state the obvious, if you’re going to the moon, it is important to hit the target. Len Sugerman was one of the researchers who helped develop the space based guidance, navigation and control systems, and the related GPS satellite system. They not only reduced risk in the space programs, but also improved reliability of shipping and air transportation. He also understood the importance of civilian spaceflight capability for New Mexico and our national economy.

Recently General Kehler, commander U.S. Strategic Command, said evolving national security solutions requires we all keep in mind an economically secure nation is a nation far more likely to remain secure. The United States has a long history of using government investment in technologies and returning those investments over to the private sector.

We are evolving the next transportation industry in our backyard at Spaceport America. Allowing this industry to move forward is our choice. We have learned, as people who enjoy travel, we want safe, reliable transportation. The Federal Aviation Administration regulates air and space transportation. It regulates the conditions under which they will allow airlines to carry passengers. As commercial space transportation technologies evolve the FAA will evolve safety standards. The traveling public will want reliability and safety in our space vehicles and systems. Len was a master of timing as a negotiator, a navigator indeed. He knew how to visualize the target, and reach it, even if it was legislation.

Our legislators and members of industry must work together to evolve the requisite technologies and regulations needed to achieve common carriage requirements for space travel as they did for airline travel. It is best for our state to work with industry and evolve together what reasonable agree is safe and reliable transportation along with a viable economy. Neil Armstrong suggested our government was well advised to continue its space exploration mission, if we don’t others will step in. This is a moment of opportunity. While not the first state to pass informed consent legislation, as Colorado, Florida and Virginia are among those who have passed this legislation, New Mexico, with our long history of leadership in space research and development certainly does not want to let this moment pass us by.

Each of us who drives a car knows there is some risk when we get behind the wheel.  Over the years, car manufacturers evolved safety systems including air bag and seat belts, highways have evolved safer barrier and lighting systems. We kept commerce flowing, car manufacturers and car dealers in business and gasoline refineries evolving. We have come to understand it is for the good of all we evolve safety standards, and we abide by them to keep our communities safe and economies growing.

It is election season. We can elect public officials who negotiate reasonable protections for us. We live in a representative democracy, and, we live in a free market economy. I expect my legislators to consider I am able to distinguish reasonable risk. I take it every time I vote, drive or fly. 

This column has never been political, and it still isn't. Republicans and Democrats alike agree, the commercialization of human Spaceflight makes sense. How did this bi-partisan support within the space program occur? In the case of the Shuttle replacement project sending Americans to orbit on American made spacecraft, it started under President George Bush, and has been continued under President Obama.  Congress agreed, it is best for the government to buy rides on private launch vehicles and use privately manufactured capsules or spacecraft  to send Americans to orbit to do government work.

My last article covered the recently successful Mars Science Laboratory Mission (MSL) and the landing of the Curiosity Rover. That story was such an affirmation of determination I could not resist putting it in perspective relative to Olympian achievements.  Yet, there was another story that occurred 2 days prior to the MSL success.  It was the selection by NASA of the 3 companies who will compete to carry  US astronauts to and return astronauts from the International Space Station under the Commercial Crew Integrated Capabilities  (CCiCAP) Program. Boeing Space Exploration, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Sierra Nevada Corporation were the funded winners, receiving $460 million, $440 million and $212.5 million respectively.

Ok, I realize I just hit my limit on acronyms. CCiCAP is a 21 month long program that will require the selected companies to design their launch vehicles, and spacecraft for humans and integrate both into a system. The STS or Shuttle Transportation System was made up of the launch vehicle and the orbiter. The launch vehicle's job is to get the Orbiter or spacecraft going fast and high enough to reach orbital speed.

Picture the ball in a game of Roulette. If the Roulette table were in space in the absence of the earth's gravity, and the croupier spun the ball onto the table, the forward momentum of the ball would propel it around the table until friction with the table made it stop and drop into a numbered slot. Granted the table would be made to keep the ball confined, but this would be one long game of Roulette waiting for the ball to stop. The croupier is the one who applied the initial force to put the ball in motion. That's what the launch vehicle does. It puts the spacecraft in motion. Once the Orbiter or spacecraft reaches a pre-determined velocity, the launch vehicle drops back to earth, while the Orbiter's momentum carries it to its orbital destination.

When Congress told NASA to start developing a Shuttle replacement they determined it was best to have private industry invest along with the government and build the vehicles to bring cargo and humans to space. This would help stimulate private commercial space transportation.

The partnership these companies have with the government is simple. NASA only pays them when they achieve the milestones they set for themselves. If they develop capability that NASA does not need or require, the company pays for that development on its own.   One more refresher bit of data, NASA spent an average of $1.6 billion dollars every time it launched the Shuttle. This recent award to three companies totals just over $1.1billion. While Congress was a bit stubborn at times, the program has been successful.  Boeing’s space capsule the Commercial Space Transportation dubbed CST 100 has 24 small engines. They were recently tested at White Sands. These programs have created jobs, and savings to our space program.

Remember your Dish TV is satellite TV, your GPS devices and Satellite Radio are all satellite based services for consumers. No launch vehicles, no services. Congress is supporting the concept that it will buy launch services just like Direct TV buys launch services. Direct TV does not own and operate the launch vehicles; they just buy a ride when they need it.  That’s where this recent announcement is headed. NASA is helping the 3 companies develop launch vehicles and spacecraft so we can send and return our astronauts to space.

The difficult process of weaning NASA out of the business of owning and operating vehicles that take cargo and humans to space has been hard. The government is like a parent in the space industry, they are letting go but its hard. The three companies who have been chosen are American companies, and they employ thousands of Americans. And as in New Mexico, both Republicans and Democrats can take their fair share of credit for these successful programs. 

Landing on Mars and winning at the Olympics, there is nothing easy about either. On Sunday, August 5^th, the Mar Science Laboratory on the Curiosity Rover made it safely to its landing spot on the red planet. What an accomplishment. After the deployment of the heat shield, a laboratory the size of an SUV, descended, deployed its wheels began sending pictures back to earth. The Rover will transform itself into a laboratory, slowly have its instruments activated and begin its 23 month exploration tour. Inspiring indeed.  Click here to read the entire article

August 3, 2012

CCiCap Winners to Address Future Plans at ISPCS 2012

Symposium panel tackles the question on everyone’s mind … what’s beyond CCDev?

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The winners of NASA’s Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative will discuss their plans and visions beyond the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program at the 2012 International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS).  The panel, titled, “Beyond CCDev,” will examine the future of commercial space transportation and discuss the importance of public/private partnerships and their catalyzing effects under the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs).

George Sowers, vice president of human launch services for United Launch Alliance, will chair the panel which will feature senior representatives from The Boeing Company, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Sierra Nevada Corporation, all selected by NASA for the final phase of the CCDev program. 

“This discussion starts today. From Capitol Hill to China, the space industry will be looking to this new group of leaders to deliver on the promise of increased access to space for mankind,” said Patricia Hynes, PhD, title. “Our panel discussion will not only include the transition from Space Act Agreements to operating under the FARs, but also reveal company plans as they provide transportation for crew to ISS and commercial customers. We congratulate the winners. All Americans are winners today.”

NASA awarded $1.1125 billion total in Space Act Agreements to The Boeing Company ($460 million), SpaceX ($440 million) and Sierra Nevada Corporation ($212.5 million) as part of CCiCap. These agreements will be funded through May 2014. Under CCDev, NASA is working with commercial space companies to develop safe, reliable and cost-effective human transportation to low-Earth orbit. For the CCiCap phase, vying companies had to submit complete end-to-end designs, including spacecraft launch vehicles, launch services, ground and mission operations, and recovery.

The “Beyond CCDev” panel is one of 12 sessions planned for ISPCS 2012. Taking place Oct. 17-18 in Las Cruces, N.M., the event will bring together more than 450 people from across the space community, including thought leaders from private industry, government and academia, to collaborate on key issues and trends to help grow the industry and increase demand for commercial spaceflight. The event will also showcase cutting-edge technologies and emerging commercial applications for military, scientific and personal spaceflight.

Registration is now open online at http://www.ispcs.com/registration_2012.php. Early bird registration is available now through Sept. 14, 2012, allowing attendees to save $200 on full conference registration. This year’s registration process is also more personalized, designed to connect like-minded ISPCS attendees in order to spur partnerships and collaborations.

About ISPCS

The International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) is the most relevant, high-value global space conference. The annual event is designed to grow the industry and increase demand for commercial space. It features a compelling, timely agenda, where prominent industry thought leaders and decision-makers dialogue and collaborate on key issues and trends. It also showcases industry-applied technologies and their potential impact to a wide spectrum of beneficiaries – from the military and investors to scientists and space tourists. ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium. For more information, visit www.ispcs.com.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT

Sean Wilson & Jessica Ballard

Griffin Communications Group

(281) 335-0200

sean@GriffinCG.com; jessica@GriffinCG.com

June 18, 2012  /  NASA HEADQUARTERS RELEASE: 12-190

NASA, FAA ADVANCE NATIONAL GOALS IN COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACE TRANSPORTATION WITH LANDMARK AGREEMENT

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NASA have signed a historic agreement to coordinate standards for commercial space travel of government and non-government astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station (ISS). The two agencies will collaborate to expand efforts that provide a stable framework for the U.S. space industry, avoid conflicting requirements and multiple sets of standards, and advance both public and crew safety.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the two agencies establishes policy for operational missions to the space station.

Commercial providers will be required to obtain a license from the FAA for public safety. Crew safety and mission assurance will be

NASA's responsibility. This approach allows both agencies to incorporate experience and lessons learned as progress is made.

"This important agreement between the FAA and NASA will advance our shared goals in commercial space travel," said U.S. Transportation

Secretary Ray LaHood. "Working together, we will assure clear, consistent standards for the industry."

"This agreement is the next step in bringing the business of launching Americans back to American soil," Charles Bolden, NASA administrator

said. "We are fostering private sector innovation while maintaining high standards of safety and reliability to re-establish U.S.-crewed

access to low-Earth orbit, in-sourcing work to American companies and encouraging the development of dynamic and cost-effective spaceflight capabilities built to last."

"The Obama administration recognizes the scientific, technological and economic benefits of maintaining the United States' leadership in

space travel and exploration," said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta. "This agreement between the FAA and NASA continues and

advances those vital national interests."

NASA's Commercial Crew Program aims to facilitate development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of

achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station. The policy established in the MOU clarifies for potential commercial providers the regulatory environment for operational missions to the orbiting laboratory. It also ensures that the two agencies will have compatible processes for ensuring public safety.

The FAA is responsible for regulating and licensing all U.S. private companies and individuals involved in commercial space transportation. To date, the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation has licensed 207 successful launches, including two non-orbital commercial human space flights in 2004 and the recent first launch to the ISS and re-entry of a non-manned commercial spacecraft. For details on FAA commercial space transportation responsibilities, visit:     http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=12179

In addition, the agreement addresses proper protocols for implementation, financial obligations, liability, free exchange of data and information, and other administrative obligations between the FAA and NASA. To view the agreement, click on:   http://go.nasa.gov/Lru8iQ

For more information on NASA's Commercial Crew Program, visit:    http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

For more information on the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, visit:   http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast

This is just one example of the vibrant dialogue that takes place each year at ISPCS. Join us in New Mexico for the 2012 event, taking place Oct. 17-18, where more than 450 of the "who's who" in the commercial space industry will collaborate on key issues and trends to help grow the industry and increase demand for commercial spaceflight. 

Where are we supposed to meet? Here or down at the outfitters? Beats me was the answer…again. I was with a group of speakers at a conference, and we were headed to the speaker’s dinner at the Sami camp. The Sami are the native people who live above the arctic circle in Lapland. They are reindeer herders. Their art is spare, similar to Zuni imagery, their songs resemble cowboy yodeling. Once again, the out of towners were lost.  I was invited to speak in Sweden on space transportation. I traveled across the globe, got exactly where I was supposed to be, and was lost. What is the thread that weaves the hours into a memory? What is the smallest part of a big adventure? At a conference on space transportation, we couldn’t’ figure out where we were supposed to meet.

I like a schedule, and an agenda. I believe a schedule is a commitment, an agreement. A transportation industry must include schedules. Otherwise there is no industry, just people, goods and vehicles going on their own at random times to random places. That’s why I am well suited to work on this space transportation business. I am working to increase predictability and decrease random nature of space travel.

If you have ever traveled to watch a Space Shuttle launch, you knew to put an end date on your stay. You may see a launch, you may not. But, don’t wait around; launches can be delayed for months. For good reason launches are delayed. Those days of millions of moving parts and unsustainable maintenance costs are gone. Building in complexity to a transportation system creates more complexity.  The Shuttle was likely the most significant transportation machine ever built by man. Those who flew in them honor all the dedication, innovation and creativity that went into the vehicles and program. We will continue to reap benefits from this vehicle and its support systems for years. We are moving on to less expensive, more sustainable vehicles for a more diverse industry.

Simplicity. What is so hard about giving people a schedule? Be at Gate 37 by 12:15 to board your plane. As I discussed the confusion with my colleagues, it became a cherished thread linking each of us closer during the trip. Every time we discovered we didn’t know where we were going or why we were all standing around hoping someone knew what was next, each discovered how the others dealt with ambiguity. Sometimes the best parts of a trip include the ridiculous.

Yet, I believe the lack of predictability in the access to space has contributed to the ambivalence people have about the industry. If no one knows for sure when they will have access to a place, it is forgotten.   Think about our downtown mall. It was inaccessible for many years, people just didn’t go there. It was certainly not a market place.

At a recent meeting in the Long Beach Convention Center, I was intentionally looking at the spaces where people gathered. There was a main auditorium that seated 800 people. Lectures started at 8:30am and continued until 5:30 pm. Speakers included Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and our Poet Laureate. There were fifteen hundred people in attendance. Throughout the Convention Center there were small lounges where small groups of people could watch the lectures on video, check their email and also talk. I had not seen bean bag chairs since I left college, but they were all over the place. And in use as people relaxed and listened.

I was sent a software tool prior to the meeting to help me connect with people who had similar interest to mine. I discovered most people did not use the tool. As the days progressed I became more focused on my original purpose for attending. I wanted to learn how people gathered at meetings, and how I could determine their interest in what we are working on here in New Mexico. The interesting conversations became frequent, one more exciting than the next, yet, where were they leading? Like this article you may be wondering, where are we going here? Is the feeling of being lost, aimless, uncertain part of the human journey? I avoid it. I like purpose. I am aim to get to space, and others want to go too. They expect to have interesting work to keep them productively occupied, they expect to explore. No lost in space for them or me.

Speaking in public is a double sided relationship. One side of the relationship is the writer alone preparing to meet and talk with the audience. The other side of the relationship is the writer talking to and with the audience. Preparing for a talk is kind of like preparing for a wedding. In practice, one does not see the other until the ceremony.  

I am fortunate enough to be asked to speak in public, though I usually feel more fortunate after the talk. If there is a question and answer session after the talk, I feel I could have done better if I had known before hand who was in the audience.  Have you ever come up with a perfect retort after the person left the room?  It’s like that.  Is the post-talk Q&A anti-climatic? I wonder as I prepare for my next talk.

Think about the Gettysburg Address. There was no Q & A. Two hundred and seventy two beautifully crafted words delivered by the Ancient One, who was only 54 when he delivered that speech. It is reported, those who were in the audience said they could not hear Lincoln, others said they did not even know he had spoken, his talk was so short. It is the words, and their message that live on. Most don’t report Lincoln was a great speaker like, John Kennedy or Winston Churchill. In this age of YouTube and the internet, public speaking skill and skill crafting the right message for the audience is important I am learning.

When I write a talk, I look to others who are more eloquent than I. Lincoln spoke about the opening of a cemetery. That’s a tough subject to write a talk for. In 1863, during the depths of despair at being a country at war with itself, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, were looking for solace. They came to escape for a moment as they looked for hope, for healing, for kindness, for a way out of their individual and collective grief. And so he wrote for them and for himself. He wrote to heal his heart and their souls. Who can know what the human heart will feel? If lucky, a writer knows their own heart, and connects with the audience, heart to heart first.

In my heart I have a message, yes one of hope, one born of struggle. It’s a travel story, and if done right people love stories.

It was a long trip starting at 3am in Fairbanks. We landed in Seattle on September 10^th   at 10am in the morning. The Alaskan cruise liners dump thousands of tourists at the Seattle airport daily. Over a thousand people were on the security line at the Southwest Airlines terminal. I got all the exercise I needed finding the end of the line. But I got home. The next day was Tuesday, September 11. Many of my colleagues did not get home for days.

We all have travel stories. Humans have traveled across the globe since we started walking upright. It is part of our evolutionary journey. It is one of the things we all have in common. We travel to be with each other, to learn, to explore and to relocate. When we travel we go in groups and we always bring and buy stuff. It may be gifts, food, clothing, cars or houses. While researching human transportation I discovered interesting relationships.

Humans have evolved only 5 major transportation industries in the 3.3 million years we have been on earth; ground, sea, rail, air and space.  Space transportation is the last of the major transportation industries to evolve. Humans own over 1 billion cars, took 19 million cruises and flew over 32 million trips on 1,000 airlines last year. Over 29 million passengers traveled by rail last year. Know how many humans have been to space in the last fifty one years? 517.

Humans are not in the transaction loop in the space transportation industry yet. The transaction between supplier and consumer does not exist yet. That will change first in New Mexico. The first spaceline transporting humans will be operated thirty miles from here. When humans are involved in the space transportation they will create demand. They will bring others, they will explore, they will create demand for services. We humans always do. I have a message to deliver; we have a human transportation industry growing in New Mexico. Humans travel, it is what we do. Space travel for humans. New Mexico First.

The lawnmower telescope is my favorite Clyde Tombaugh telescope, built so he could move it around the backyard. Dr. Tombaugh was raised on a farm like many of the students he taught. Students scientists have pickups and tool boxes. They build instruments, they design housing for experiments, they invent, experiment and test their instruments. Ellington Field near Houston is where astronauts and NASA researchers flight test experiments.

Through New Mexico Space Grant, I have funded over a hundred students to travel with their experiments to Ellington Field. I proudly observed one of our students helping a team from Brown University with their experiment. It’s the tool box on the pickup that saved more than one team from going home without flying. Our students were going through a test readiness review of their experiment flying on the Zero G plane. It is the plane that was used to film the scenes in Apollo 13 where the astronauts were floating in the cabin.

The flight readiness review is the last step before flight. NASA brings a team of engineers and scientists, to review each experiment before it flies. The teams ask students to demonstrate how their experiments work, and they determine if the experiments are safe to put on the plane. Once the plane goes into the steep dive to simulate microgravity, the students and their experiments experience 25 seconds of low gravitational pull. The equipment can float to the top of the plane if it is not secured within the test stand. Our students consistently passed these reviews. They know how to build hardware. Other team experiments needed work, and more often than not, our farm raised scientists helped solve problems. We have never been sent home in the over 20 campaigns without flying.

This and other activities have prepared our students to work on experiments that now go to space. I know Dr. Tombaugh would be proud of our accomplishments. Yet, I wonder how he would have engaged in the discussion about the new classification of Pluto as a Dwarf Planet. Dr. Tombaugh was a fierce debater, a champion for science, for students, for curiosity, and for fairness.

The new Hayden Planetarium’s director, Neil deGrasse Tyson and I had a few discussions about the re-classification of Pluto. The first was on a lecture trip to the Planetarium in 2009 with some NASA colleagues. I had the flu and was not is the best shape. But, I wanted to hear the lecture.

After being seated in the planetarium’s newly designed Rose Center lecture hall, lights were dimmed, and the solar system came into focus. Quickly, we were on a journey out from the Sun, racing through the Asteroid belt, past Jupiter, beyond Neptune and the Kuiper belt to Pluto. Within 3 sentences, Dr. Tyson told us there were more interesting classification problems to investigate and Pluto was only one of the changes the astronomical community would face as new instruments provided better views of planetary systems. I lost interest. Maybe it was the flu, the flyby out beyond our solar system, or maybe I was just too sad to listen. I soon realized I had to talk to Dr. Tyson.

After the lecture, I waited in the line for my turn to talk to Dr. Tyson. I told him I was from New Mexico State University. We discussed Dr. Tombaugh’s life, his body of work and all that Dr. Tombaugh had done to invigorate an interest in astronomy. He promised to always demonstrate respect for the discovery and the work it took for a young man to make the discovery he did. He said he knew Patsy, and we have stayed friends. Dr. Tyson continues to discuss the great interest Pluto generated around the world. If you are a fan of Pluto, please consider reading his book the Pluto Diaries: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet.

NASA has sent probes to all of the planets, the last probe, the New Horizon’s spacecraft left earth in 2006. It will travel three billion miles before it reaches Pluto and one of it’s orbiting moons, Charon. The Pluto System, as it is referred to by Alan Stern, a leading experts on Pluto, will be investigated by seven instruments on the New Horizons probe. Continue to learn more about Pluto and this mission at www.NASA.gov/missions. Dr. Tombaugh was a scientist. I believe he would encourage us to be curious about Pluto, look at what the research data tells us and make up our own minds. 

What do Pros Ranch market and going back to the moon have in common? Hint #1: it’s about looking around to see what isn’t happening. We are not going to Juarez or the moon. Right now, both are out of reach. Hint #2: it is about opportunity. Hint #3: it’s about us.

Why do I care about another grocery store coming to town? And why is the media and everyone talking about the “Experience” of grocery shopping? The last time the media covered grocery shopping was when it encouraged men to hit the produce section to see what might develop over the bananas. Today for working Americans, the reality of grocery shopping is get in, get out and get home. That’s the “Experience”. Until Pros Ranch came to town.

Grocery shopping in Juarez was an experience. Not because of the bargains, but because it was fun. I have experienced in Juarez as well as in Asia and Europe, grocery shopping as a contact sport. The shopper is part of the team. People who work in the markets draw you into play immediately. Everyone is involved; they are growing, packaging, selling, or transporting food products. Everyone is part of the supply chain. Grandparents tend fish stalls while watching the grandchildren. There is constant activity, and acres of stalls. Each family has their place, their piece of the market place. Block after block of shoes, dresses, crafts, chile, jewlery and plastic. Young, old, rich, poor, male female, even the family dogs are there. There is growth. First we observed this growth at our Farmer’s Market. Then, the ‘Out of the box’ thinkers, the Provenzano family, saw what was and wasn’t happening in our region and opened the Pros Ranch market. It’s just what we needed, affirmation that smart, professional and opportunistic investment can succeed in Dona Ana County.

The benefits of going against the mainstream are not often discussed until after the success. Operating on the margins requires quick learners. They must focus, grow in increments, build their support systems and constantly look for opportunities. Make mistakes that are small, fix them quickly, and keep moving.

Our economy is recovering at the margins. The mainstream market place is being de-constructed because of its weaknesses. The big banks, the big industries, companies and organizations not able to operate on a smaller scale and take advantage changing consumer conditions will continue to contract.

New Mexico is not California, Texas, New York or Florida. We often operate at the margins. Senators Domenici and Bingaman worked most of their careers to help us capitalize on our strengths. White Sands Missile Range and Los Alamos National Laboratory created world class capability in New Mexico.  

NASA White Sands Test Facility has operated successfully at the margins of the space industry since the Apollo program. They had to be efficient and focused. They prevented problems and what you didn’t see is the story of their success.

Now they have another role to play in growing the commercial space industry in our country. They are small, nimble and capable to support our emerging space industry. Our strengths in New Mexico enable us to succeed at operating at the margins, particularly in the space industry. Small contractors, suppliers who are members of the supply chain are critical to the success of the market we are developing here in New Mexico. The spaceport is like an airport because it will operate in the open market. We must have a strong competitive supply chain. Protecting the supply chain and consumers has been a part of our national manufacturing economy for years, and has enabled the automobile industry to recover quickly.

What’s this got to do with not going to the moon? Look around at what is not happening. National competitive advantage in the space industry is being ceded to China. The United States is the only country to carry humans to and from the moon. The space industry market place encompasses living and working off earth. China, for national security reasons, cannot send astronauts to the International Space Station. It has launched the Taintong-1 space lab and has publically stated it will ferry individuals to and from the moon by 2020. They are being forced to operate on the margins. Has our country ceded our national competitive advantage to the Chinese? In the short run, we might keep our friends close and our competitors closer. Small, nimble companies and space programs may outlast large government programs in the long run. 

Watch Now-a short one minute clip

Watch Now- the full speech

Click here for our first podcast, George Nield's "10 Actions to Increase National Competitiveness". Also see text of audience questions for Associate Administrator Nield. "This new service is part of our ongoing commitment to inform the commercial space community and foster growth of national competitiveness in the aerospace industry", said ISPCS Chair Pat Hynes.

As a gardener, I decided I would visit my friend Max Bleiweiss, a geophysicist, and get more information on La Nina. He works at NMSU, and is the founder of the CARSAME Center.  The Center is a remote sensing research resource for our region. Remote sensing is a scientific term to describe the process of using instruments to measure things like temperature from a distance. Max’s and his son Mark own the M. Phillips’s Gallery on the downtown mall. Combining a visit to the Farmer’s Market on a blustery Saturday, with a stop at the Gallery – there are cookies, and getting the low down on weather prediction for this article was a win-win-win.

Max and I met in 1998 when he was working to develop more capability at NMSU to enable farmers, ranchers, city and county planners, and resource managers in the state to use satellite data to help increase efficiency in farming, ranching and planning. For example, Max was helping people use satellite data to make more informed decisions on causes and effects of dust storms in our area. Once people saw most of the dust storms that hit Deming and I-25 in the Spring originate in the Sonoran desert in Mexico, it became more strategic to work with Mexican farmers to work the problem together. He came to me because of my work with NASA and because of my job with the New Mexico Space Grant. NASA was involved in developing and operating the Earth Observing System (EOS). We started funding classes, students, and writing grants to bring more research capacity to NMSU in this area.

When I spoke with Max about the current La Niña I asked him for his best advice on following the La Niña. He suggested the best way to stay on top of the development of different weather patterns is to go to the NOAA website on La Niña http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/lanina.html. According to the website, La Niña is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Ok, back to weather prediction. Frankly, I’d like to know if I need to get my reservation in early with my gardener. Last year after the freeze, getting him to come over was harder than getting a plumber on Sunday. Max explained, scientists don’t understand the cause-and-effect relationships among Earth's lands, oceans, and atmosphere well enough to predict what, if any, impacts these rapid changes will have on future climate conditions. Scientists need to make many measurements all over the world, over a long period of time, in order to assemble the information needed to construct accurate computer models that will enable them to forecast the causes and effects of weather. The only feasible way to collect this information is through the use of space-based Earth observing satellites.

I figured it was a long shot. Since Max and I first met, the government has consolidated a great deal of its weather prediction resources and as the NOAA site will indicate, into The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS).  The field of weather prediction is evolving. Developing the sensors is a big part of the effort and it has taken many years. Correlating data from across the globe, coming from sensors of different types that measure different weather patterns is a large problem. Rats.  Max suggested if you would like a good conversation about this, David DuBois at New Mexico State will be a good person to talk to. I hope you enjoy the weather, and get prepared.

While at SNC we toured the plant, viewed the test hardware for the Dream Chaser and flew the Dream Chaser simulator.  The HL 20 design has its origins in the BOR-4 Russian space plane. The BOR-4 was reverse engineered by NASA/Langley in the 1980’s and named the HL 20. The HL 20 is now being adapted by SNC into the Dream Chaser using the original Rockwell structural design concept.  The Dream Chaser is a manned orbital space plane and one of two efforts by private industry to launch cargo and crew to the Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Development program (CCDev) program. You can read about Sierra Nevada Corporation’s progress on the Dream Chaser at http://www.spacedev.com/space_exploration.php  

The Russian space plane called the BOR-4 was designed because the Russians feared the U.S. intended to use the Shuttle for military purposes including delivery of nuclear weapons. As a response to this threat, the Russians began work on a program to possibly intercept the Shuttle.  Note that the BOR-4 should not be confused with the perhaps better known Buran, a near copy of the US Space Shuttle orbiter.  The Buran flew only once and it remained the only full sized space shuttle to ever perform an unmanned flight in fully automatic mode. You can watch a video of a Russian flight test of the BOR-4 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdlaBLomTZ4  The BOR-4 flew 4 times, twice in the Indian Ocean where it was filmed in this video. Decide for yourself where this footage came from. 

I was in Colorado for the first technical meeting of the FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation. You may remember, New Mexico State University won the national competition for this Center in August of 2010. As the Administrative Lead, I have the privilege of knowing many of the brilliant designers of space systems, but also have the opportunity to send NMSU students to learn about these companies and present at meeting such as this. 

After I visited the Sierra Nevada plant, and met with one of my students who now works at SNC, I went to the University of Colorado Bioastronautics Laboratory in Boulder. The university has a model of the HL 20 built by students from North Carolina State University. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReniUfN9GFY. 

A cooperative agreement between NASA, North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T University led to the construction of a full-scale model of the HL-20 PLS for further human factors research, following Rockwell’s original structural design. Students at the universities, with requirements furnished by NASA Langley Research Center’s, and with guidance from university instructors, designed the research model during their spring 1990 semester with construction following during the summer. The research model was eventually moved to UC Boulder where students continue to work on this project in collaboration with SNC. 

The role of students in the space program is a long one. As we build our education programs in the aerospace engineering programs at universities in New Mexico, we will have companies looking to the research capabilities in our universities. Sierra Nevada is using UC Boulder students and faculty to help them gain a competitive advantage.  Through my NASA work with the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, I will soon be entering into a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Flight Opportunities Office. This agreement will enable us to partner with NASA on research flights from Spaceport America. We have a partner in this Student Launch Program.  This is another first for New Mexico. We have a lot to be grateful for as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Colorado has just announced they will be building a spaceport. They like New Mexico, realize there is a great deal of opportunity emerging from test and development programs as we evolve the next generation of space transportation vehicles. Colorado has the second largest space economy in the nation. They are now positioning themselves to surpass Florida as they evolve vehicle testing with the Dream Chaser program. 

I can only hope New Mexico continues to take advantage of the asset we have in Spaceport America. Efforts to involve students and research universities in the space industry have benefits to local economies that can only be known if we talk about them.

Panel sessions at ISPCS 2011 will feature a range of discussions among thought leaders on the most pressing topics facing the commercial space industry’s future, including innovation, regulation, sub-orbital and orbital vehicle development and where humans may fit in the mix. Visit the website tab “Program 2011”to see the full agenda.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket would've cost almost three times as much to design, build and fly if it were done the way NASA usually does things.

It's no shock that a small private company could field a rocket faster and cheaper, than the big, entangled government space program. It's somewhat surprising, however, to see someone put to paper how much more money it costs taxpayers when the government develops a rocket than when a private company does.

So what's the difference? The potential differences in approach could have fundamental implications for the future of U.S. space launch, for both human exploration flights and unmanned missions. First, let's take a closer look at the study requested by NASA headquarters.

Using a sophisticated model developed by the space agency and the Air Force, experts initially determined it would cost a company following a "more commercial development approach" about $1.7 billion to develop the Falcon 9 rocket and build and launch the first rocket.

If the rocket's development happened in the "NASA environment/culture," the model predicted the same project would cost about $4 billion.

Follow-up research and a revised estimate -- based on SpaceX's early success with the Falcon 1 rocket and other factors -- led to lower cost figures but the same giant disparity between the privatized model ($443 million) and the NASA way of doing things ($1.4 billion).

To be clear, these are not SpaceX numbers. These are figures vetted by NASA and the Air Force. So, a long-standing cry that SpaceX is exaggerating its potential cost savings appears to be ill-founded.

At a broad level, the analysts determined that NASA's way would cost more because it would employ more people overall, add extra layers of management and construct more ground support "infrastructure" to get the job done. SpaceX also told the investigators that they keep as much work as possible inside their organization because "every dollar sent out of the company actually costs between $3 and $5 based on subcontractor overhead and profit."

Corporate Vice President, Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems inside Dream Chaser flight simulator speaking about this year’s International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

These students, neither one had any scientific or technical background, were convinced it was time to act. They were concerned about the future not only of the landing site, but also of the artifacts left on the Moon. The students posed a question during a seminar on cultural resource management, their first class with Dr. Beth O’Leary in the Department of Archaeology at NMSU. “Does U.S. federal preservation law apply on the Moon?” Dr. O’Leary said she didn’t know but they would find out together. 

When I first read the proposal I thought it might be tough to justify the funding of this project to NASA. I remember reading the proposal and knew I wanted to read the results of the study. When I read studies by our students, I never forget how talented they are. The archaeology study was unusual. I met the students and Beth, and was convinced they would take their responsibilities seriously. They did!  

These students could not have been luckier than to have Beth O’Leary as their faculty advisor. She said she would help them. Twelve years later, multiple publications later, including the book “Handbook of Space Engineering, Archaeology and Heritage”, the project is continuing to grow, and Beth is still involved. 

Recently Beth and I spoke because she is hosting Rob Kelso from NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), to speak on this project. He will address the audience during the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight on October 20^thduring lunch. Later in the day, Rob will speak to students and faculty on the NMSU campus. Rob is the manager of Beyond- Low Earth Orbit Commercial Initiatives at JSC. 

Beth has been participating in a NASA panel with Rob to help NASA prepare recommendations to Space-Faring Entities: How to Protect and Preserve the Historic and Scientific value of U.S. Government Lunar Artifacts. Rob recently briefed the Google Lunar X-Prize teams on this project, and participated in a panel discussion at the Lunar Science Forum held at Ames Research Center in California. 

Back in 2000, the two graduate students spent the summer at Johnson Space Center going over their records in the Lunar Laboratory to catalog and map all known Tranquility Base artifacts. Their list of 106 items is the most extensive list NASA has of the site, it is on the Lunar Legacy website. The Space Grant Program Manager at the time, E. Julius Dasch, felt the project was so important; he brought the students to NASA Headquarters to meet with NASA attorneys. The conclusion was NASA really has no jurisdiction over the artifacts. 

Beth said, “The goal is to preserve the archaeological information and the historic record of Apollo 11. We also hope one day to preserve Tranquility Base for our planet as a World Heritage Site. We need to prepare for the future because in 50 years many travelers may go to the Moon. If the site is not protected, what will be left?”  The remoteness of the moon will preserve the artifacts for now. The site is under no imminent natural threat. Yet, there is no framework or commitment in place to preserve the site, and the multiple lunar landing sites are left vulnerable to future space travel by humans. The current state of knowledge determined a series of agreements and protocols will be necessary to develop for heritage conservation. None exists for lunar preservation. 

Recently on September 11, 2011, we remembered those lost at Ground Zero, in Shanksville and at the Pentagon. This may also be a good time to remember one of mankind’s greatest achievements, landing two men on the moon and returning them safely to earth. We are capable of great things. Let’s remember. 

In 2006, New Mexico designated artifacts left behind at Tranquility Base a Cultural Property and listed them in the Archaeological Records Management Section (ARMS), the state archaeological and historical database. 

John Versluis, graduated in 2000 with a degree in Public History (M.A.) at NMSU; and Ralph Gibson received an M.A. in Anthropology in 2001.

commercial crew transportation capabilities at 3 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept.

13. The announcement will occur at the Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The event will not be carried live on NASA Television. NASA TV's Video File segment will air highlights.

The announcement participants are:

-- Ed Mango, Commercial Crew Program manager, NASA

-- Kent Rominger, vice president, Strategy and Business Development, ATK Aerospace

-- John Schumacher, vice president, Space Programs, EADS North America

The El Paso Airport is next to Fort Bliss, the home of the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) School and four combat brigades. A brigade usually numbers 2,000 people, so we could be hosting up to 8,000 military personnel coming here to use the airspace. The El Paso Airport and Fort Bliss share the air space corridor between Mexico and White Sands Missile Range. This narrow corridor is open to Commercial Aviation and the General Aviation community that also flies from the El Paso Airport. The airspace must also accommodate the needs of the Army aircraft including helicopter and UAV traffic.

As part of my work as the Administrative Lead for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (COE-CST) at NMSU, I recently took a guided tour of the El Paso Airport. It was during this tour, I learned how much more air traffic this airport will handle in next ten years. I believe the Airport Manager told me they handled about 10,000 aircraft last year. He expects a significant jump in air traffic in the near future.

To anticipate the national and global air traffic demands, the FAA is transforming the national air transportation system. The transformation agenda may involve Spaceport America because I plan to have New Mexico students help with the research during our next launch.

The FAA Fact Sheet on NextGen describes the program, "as a wide ranging transformation of the entire national air space to meet future demands and avoid gridlock in the sky and in the airports. It moves away from legacy ground based technologies to a new and more dynamic satellite based technology." The air traffic control towers may one day be replaced with tracking control centers that use satellites to keep track of aircraft. One of the tracking technologies for aircraft in the Next Gen System is the Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B).

(ADS-B) is the future of air traffic control. The ADS-B signals will provide air traffic controllers and pilots with much more accurate information that will help keep aircraft safely separated in the sky and on runways it uses GPS satellite. Aircraft transponders receive GPS signals and use them to determine the aircraft's precise position in the sky, which is combined with other data and broadcast out to other aircraft and air traffic control facilities. When properly equipped with ADS-B, both pilots and controllers will, for the first time, see the same real-time displays of air traffic, substantially improving safety. There is no doubt, as more planes crowd the available air space, we will need rapid, real-time tracking capability to assure safety of the flying public.

The ADS-B is a small instrument, about the size of the old satellite phone. We hope to fly one for the FAA as part of our work on the Center of Excellence. It will be on the rocket for our next student launch from Spaceport America in March of 2012. We use White Sands Missile Range to track our rocket. We will still use WSMR but will also have the ADS-B data to compare to our radar track. This is a great opportunity for students and New Mexico to lead again in this commercial space transportation industry. We are likely going to be using ADS-B in the future and challenging most of the assumptions of regular classes of air space. When Virgin Galactic flies from Spaceport America, they will be flying through the airspace to space and coming back from space into the air space. This new type of travel may require possibly a new classification of airspace, maybe Class S. This classification would provide no hand off as the vehicle travels from ground to space and back again. It will be tracked entirely by satellite. This idea is one of the many concepts discussed last week during the COE-CST meeting in Washington, D.C. you can learn more about the NextGen system on the http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/, and the Center of Excellence at http://www.coe-cst.org/ or dowload the FAA NextGen Implementation plan here.

"Institutional investors seek profit potential in Commercial Space."

George Nield speaking at ISPCS 2011

Dr. George Nield, Associate Administrator of the FAA AST, shared his thoughts with me recently on the balanced approach he believes necessary to support growth of commercial space, “For our industry to be successful, we need to ensure that safety is an integral part of everything we do, from vehicle design to training and operations. Having the right kind regulations in place can sometimes be helpful, but no one benefits if the regulations are so burdensome that companies aren’t able to operate profitably. That’s why it’s so important that we hear directly from industry. Are there some things that we can all agree on – essentially industry consensus standards? Ideally, developers would be able to benefit from past lessons learned, while still allowing plenty of room for innovation and new ways of doing business.” The outlook is good for the future of personal and commercial spaceflight. The industry is positioned to benefit from a stronger financial market and an engaged policy approach that enables the private sector to benefit from growth opportunities.

The industry is maturing to the point where we can explore the challenge of protecting intellectual property while building necessary collaborations and overall competitive advantage as we grow of the industry. Our theme, “Business at the Speed of Innovation,” underscores the principle that to create value instead of destroying it requires high societal trust. Not only do we want to trust the systems we build, but we also want to trust in the relationships we build.

We will continue to investigate the benefits of learning from heritage systems. One panel will feature spaceport directors and members of the Range Commanders Council. Discussions on sharing infrastructure and resources may inform the planners, developers and operators of commercial spaceports in their quest for long term harmonious operations. Another session will share how the UAV community worked integration into the National Air Space, and what the commercial space transportation industry may learn from their efforts as we plan for routine space operations.

Re-entry from space has not been part of the broader discussion for spaceflight participants. This year we will examine where there are correlations between aircraft gliding experience, and the return from space on Space Shuttle Orbiter and developing sub-orbital vehicles. It is also a way for the general aviation industry to participate in helping spaceflight participants prepare.

Please plan to join us again for ISPCS. In addition to the plenary session over two days, ISPCS 2011 will feature a Commercial Space Exhibit Hall with larger booth spaces and the capability for demonstrations by commercial space companies showcasing their technology innovations. Exhibits will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of expansive technologies and products that have been developed by companies operating in the commercial spaceflight sector. In the past seven years, ISPCS has grown to become the premier annual conference where leaders of the commercial spaceflight business learn, network and collaborate. Register today for ISPCS 2011!

I look forward to seeing each of you in October.

ISPCS sessions will engage speakers and the audience on the continuous momentum of the commercial spaceflight industry, fueled by industry execution, government support, current collaborations, technical innovations, and to the promise of the future.

"ISPCS will provide attendees a clear snapshot of where the industry is today and a strong sense of where it is headed in the near future," said Pat Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "As the industry grows there is an increased need to showcase technologies, progress on programs, and expansion of companies and personnel in the business. Therefore, we have opened the new Commercial Space Exhibit Hall in addition to the Space Portal."

http://flightopportunities.nasa.gov

For more information about NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/oct

Garver will discuss NASA's commercial crew development program and other initiatives aimed at helping develop the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry.

"The federal government has to get out of the business of owning and operating low-Earth orbit transportation systems and work in new more efficient ways with the private sector," said Garver. "We are making tremendous progress with the commercial cargo and crew programs, and we are excited about having American companies transporting our astronauts and their supplies into space in the near future."

Register now and save $150 on your 2011 ISPCS registration. The value of the commercial spaceflight industry's innovations and technologies will be showcased in both the presentations and exhibits at ISPCS 2011.

"As we create new technologies, there is also value in creating competitive advantages that drive business growth in the emerging commercial space industry," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS chair. "Speakers and exhibitors coming to ISPCS continue to confront the reality of building an industry both as competitors and as collaborators."

This year's conference is expected to draw over 500 international company executives, entrepreneurs and government officials from across the entire space industry. The conference will feature a new indoor Commercial Space Exhibit Hall and a separate symposium room just added to the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.

To register for ISPCS, click here.

The theme of ISPCS 2011 is Business at the Speed of Innovation.
ISPCS 2011 will be held Oct. 19-20 during Space Week in New Mexico.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.

Pat Hynes
ISPCS Chair

For more information, go to www.ispcs.com
We're also on Facebook and Twitter

"There is no single step by step process that necessarily applies to the creation of all technologies. The challenge is to select the most elegant solution," Bigelow said. "Ideas are easy to come by. The efficacy of the idea is what is important."

Bigelow will be one of a number of successful businessmen sharing updates about a range of commercial space projects at ISPCS 2011.

"Bigelow is one of the ‘makers' getting the work done," said Hynes. ‘On the long road to success, there is value in coming together to update each other on progress and successes. Having peers challenge one other while keeping in mind the big opportunities embedded in growing a new transportation industry is an important part of ISPCS."

"You have to have a certain amount of core competency or you can't be in the commercial space business," said Nelson. "The core competency of most industry competitors right now is engines, and we are starting to build a patent portfolio around the processes and sub-processes of our engine.

"Innovation grows out of trying to solve a problem. You're solving a problem and through that process you come up with something that is different, unique, out of the box. You want to protect that intellectual property, and the long-term key to success is whether a company can create a repeatable innovation process instead of being a one-hit wonder."

The four are working on different designs of vehicles that could service the space station. NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has said he would like to see all four companies succeed, and so would we.

"This new funding is a statement of support by NASA leaders of the efforts to reinvigorate our national competitiveness in the launch industry," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "With the end of the Shuttle program, commercial space companies provide the clearest path to low Earth orbit and beyond."

Exhibits will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of expansive technologies and projects that have been developed by companies operating in the commercial spaceflight sector.

"The Commercial Space Exhibit Hall will showcase not only a range of technologies, but will also give attendees a chance to talk directly with the visionaries and engineers behind the advances being made in commercial space transportation," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "They will truly get a sense of where the industry is today."

"The commercial space transportation segment of the aerospace industry continues to expand and is generating significant job growth," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "The shift in the national focus to this industry and the technologies that are moving to the market is a testament to the growing strength of this industry."

"The early pioneers of the space industry had the confidence and the trust to share their ideas with others so that launch and vehicle technology could develop as quickly as possible," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "The aerospace industry will continue to grow not only from patented technologies, but also from the collegiality and the shared trust of those working in the business. Come to ISPCS and speed up the commercial space industry by sharing your ideas."

Anderson spent 30 years as a civilian with the Air Force and has wide experience in leading space programs for the service. Among her assignments, she led the Space Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Space Technology Directorate, both at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.

"We are very pleased with this announcement, and welcome Christine Anderson into these exciting times for New Mexico and our country," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "She is highly qualified to keep us on track, and to add to the growing capabilities at our spaceport."

Separately, Virgin Galactic said that the Southwest Research Institute has contracted to fly two scientists into space from Spaceport America and intends to contract for an additional six passengers engaged in research projects.  

"Our conference continues to be the industry's leading gathering of innovators with new technologies, risk taking entrepreneurs, and customers creating demand for commercial space products," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair.

Mark your calendars now to attend this important conference, now in its 7th year, in Las Cruces, NM. A block of rooms will again be set aside for conference attendees at the enchanting Hotel Encanto, http://www.hhandr.com/encanto.php.

Jerry Stagner, Benjamin Woods and Richard Holdridge have been reappointed to the board, with Holdridge in the position of chairman. The new directors are Irvin Diamond, an Albuquerque CPA; Sid Gutierrez, a former astronaut now with Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque; David Buchholtz, an Albuquerque attorney; and Scott Krahling, a Las Cruces marketing consultant.

"The carry-over directors will provide continuity for Spaceport America while the new members bring a wide range of experience to the task of completing the facility and making it operational," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair.

One of the first tasks of the new board is to name a new executive director for the spaceport to replace Rick Homans, who resigned at the governor's request in January. An announcement is expected soon.

Another resignation this week was Will Whitehorn, who stepped down as Ppresident of Virgin Galactic. CEO George Whitesides will now assume the added role of President of Virgin Galactic. Our emerging industry will thrive as it adapts to change.

Ms. Garver's reasons, along with presentations from Bigelow Aerospace Founder Robert Bigelow, Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides and many others are now posted on the ISPCS Web site.

And for those of you who missed this year's conference, perhaps we'll see you next year!

ISPCS 2011 will be held Oct. 19-20 during next year's Space Week in New Mexico.

The conference, the centerpiece of Space Week in New Mexico, will provide attendees an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities facing the commercial spaceflight industry, in this unique economic and political environment.

See the full program at http://www.ispcs.com/program_2010.php.

ISPCS 2010, to be held Oct. 20-21 during Space Week in New Mexico.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.

Register today. Go to www.ispcs.com
We're also on Facebook and Twitter

This year's program features keynote speakers both mornings of the conference: Pulitzer-prize winning author Neil Sheehan on how the U.S. ballistic missile program led to key developments in rocket technology, and NASA Associate Administrator Lori Garver on the agency's new push for commercial space.

See the full program at http://www.ispcs.com/program_2010.php

ISPCS 2010, to be held Oct. 20-21 during Space Week in New Mexico.

The Spaceport America Runway Dedication and flyover of SpaceShipTwo aboard WhiteKnightTwo on Friday, October 22, is open only to ISPCS attendees and space is limited. Register for ISPCS early to secure a place at this event.

• Grant Anderson, VP of engineering and co-founder of Paragon Space Systems.
• Mark Sirangelo, EVP of Sierra Nevada Corporation and chair of the Commercial Space Federation.
• Tim Pickens, chief propulsion engineer and commercial space advisor for Dynetics.

ISPCS 2010, to be held Oct. 20-21 during Space Week in New Mexico.

Friday, October 22, exclusive offer to ISPCS attendees only: Register to attend the Spaceport America Runway Dedication. Attendees will see the first long distance capture-carry flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo aboard WhiteKnightTwo.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.

Register today. Go to www.ispcs.com
We're also on Facebook and Twitter

Neil Sheehan's long awaited epic "A Fiery Peace in a Cold War," will be the focus of the ISPCS Wednesday Keynote. The never-before-released history of the ICBM program is traced through the career of its visionary leader Air Force General Bernard Schriever, the civilian patrons, defense intellectuals and aerospace entrepreneurs who helped a new industry - the aerospace industry.

"The ICBM story is analogous to the current emerging commercial space industry," said Patricia Hynes, Chair of ISPCS. "Today's technical entrepreneurs are going back to the future as they create launch companies and facilities, drive policy, regulations and legislation -- all require leadership under pressure and clarity of purpose to guide the emerging commercial space industry."

ISPCS 2010, to be held Oct. 20-21 during Space Week in New Mexico.

Friday, October 22, exclusive offer to ISPCS attendees only: register to attend the Spaceport America Runway Dedication.  Attendees will see the first long distance capture-carry flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo aboard WhiteKnightTwo.

The sixth annual International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS 2010) is accepting Early Bird registrations beginning July 1st and is offering a $50 discount for attendees who register prior to October 2.

This year's conference, expected to attract over 400 company executives, government officials and industry and university researchers, will be held in Las Cruces on Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, during Space Week in New Mexico. Attendees who register before October 2nd will receive a discounted price of $425 for the full two-day conference. Seats at the conference are limited, so we encourage you to register soon at www.ispcs.com.

"Characterizing our industry for two days will the focus of ISPCS 2010 said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "We are gradually increasing access to space for mankind, and ISPCS is where the leaders of this industry meet, listen and talk, collaborate and set the pace for these next steps."

On Friday morning, following the conference, attendees may also register for the Spaceport America Horizontal Launch and Facility Dedication and view the first long-distance capture-carry of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo aboard WhiteKnightTwo. This event is open ONLY to attendees of ISPCS. We will continue to update you on this event.

From an opening session that explores the historic, ongoing link between the founders of the Space Age and today's commercial space industry, to an exploration of the current status of today's advances in space technology, ISPCS 2010 will focus on people and their achievements.

"The forward momentum of the commercial space industry is unmistakable," said Patricia Hynes, conference chair. "SpaceX has achieved another milestone with the successful launch of its Falcon 9 rocket. XCOR and Masten Space Systems have announced a partnership. People working in the space business are constantly looking forward, and our annual event provides a forum for dialogue about the challenges that lie ahead."

Topics covered in other sessions at this year's event during Space Week in New Mexico will include hybrid spaceports; the impact of ITAR on commercial space; and test programs for commercial spaceflight.

The conference will provide attendees a "snap shot" of where individual companies are with a range of technologies and how various civil and military agencies are supporting commercial spaceflight programs.

ISPCS will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, of Space Week in New Mexico. On Friday, October 22, ISPCS attendees will have the opportunity to view the first long distance capture carry of SpaceShipTwo at Spaceport America. This event is open ONLY to attendees of the full ISPCS conference. We will continue to update you on this event.

"The student launch program is one manifestation of how attendees at our conference make a contribution to getting payloads into space by helping support our educational program," said conference chair Patricia Hynes, director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium. "The program also is developing New Mexico's workforce by encouraging scientific education through access to space annually from Spaceport America."

Eight experiments will launch on May 4th from the vertical launch complex at Spaceport America aboard an SL4 rocket built by UP Aerospace. The rocket will fly to a 70 mile apogee and then return to Earth by parachute so that the payloads can be recovered intact. The experiments include gathering launch data from an Inertial Measurement Unit; testing the reliability of miniature electrical connectors; and taking readings from a pressure sensor, accelerometers, a temperature sensor, and a Geiger counter onboard the rocket. The students involved are from New Mexico State University, the University of New Mexico, five community colleges and one high school. The Student Launch website http://www.launchnm.com has more details about the experiments.

This year's conference will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, of Space Week in New Mexico. On Friday, October 22, ISPCS attendees will have the opportunity to tour the horizontal launch complex and other facilities at Spaceport America. ISPCS, in its sixth year, is the leading industry meeting of the commercial and personal spaceflight industry.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by the NASA.

"These are classic leading indicators of an emerging industry," said Patricia Hynes, conference chair. "The U.S. government will gradually play a lesser role in the space business, as smaller commercial companies take over more of the work of getting humans and cargo to space. This a challenging time for the people involved, and yet, there is the inherent thrill of just beginning."

The annual ISPCS conference brings together more than 300 leaders in this growing global industry. Content is the driver for two days of fast paced sessions, discussions, and business meetings. This year's event will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, of Space Week in New Mexico.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by the NASA.

Source: Press Release
MARCH 30, 2010

SECOND ANNUAL EDUCATION LAUNCH AT SPACEPORT AMERICA

LAS CRUCES - As part of New Mexico Space Grant Consortium's mission to promote space programs and education to New Mexico students and educators, the second annual Education Launch will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 1 from Spaceport America. http://62mileclub.com/62mileblog/?p=2112

http://tinyurl.com/yknaxvz

Patricia Hynes serves as the director for the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium and NASA EPSCoR, both programmes are funded by the United State Congress and administered by NASA.

Dr Hynes is the Chair of the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight.

As director of NASA's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), could you explain about EPSCoR and its place in the US space effort?

EPSCoR is meant to help faculties in the 25 states and jurisdictions in the program to develop research capability that will allow the faculty to develop relationships with NASA. Using those relationships, they write proposals important to NASA to be funded by the Administration or other federal or private companies to grow the research to enable the economic capability of the either the state, the region or the nation.
For instance, we funded a project with two universities and two components under the category of material sciences. The first part of the proposal involved setting up a research structure to determine structural health monitoring of air frames and eventually space structures to perform crack detection.
The study would discover where cracks would occurs and under which conditions. The second stage of crack detection part involved a "self-healing" function, using epoxies.
That research, funded by EPSCoR three years ago, has already brought in approx $8 million dollars worth of funding for the researchers to develop the idea. This is a good example of how such an idea can pertain to commercial space here in New Mexico.
The purpose of the New Mexico NASA EPSCoR program is to build the core competitive research strength in New Mexico. New Mexico NASA EPSCoR RID focuses on collaborative activities and relationships to develop long-term, self-sustaining, nationally-competitive capabilities in space and aerospace-related research. These capabilities, contribute to New Mexico's economic viability and expand the nation's base for aerospace research and development. (List of funded projects)

In January 2009, Spaceport America, received its vertical launch license from the FAA. How important is the commercial space sector?

In my view, the United States in terms of the global economy, has lost its competitive capability because of ITAR. We have turned over a lot of the business in emerging countries to others.
While we all need, as a community, to address security needs, we must enable the competitive nature of this industry by not hamstringing ourselves. We have the potential to create a new space economy with the increased access to space which is on the horizon - Virgin Galactic will start operations within the next three to five years, sending people into space at a higher rate than ever.
The FAA has released a call for proposals for universities to submit their plan for running a Center of Excellence that would enable the US to address multiple research needs - policy, law, medicine, launch vehicles, payloads, safety, human spaceflight - applicable also to commercial space.
The integration of air and space traffic management is very important here - not interrupting air traffic with private launches.
Spaceports may be dedicated spaceports - we have research requirements suggesting that spaceports operate very like airports. But we could also existing airports and adapt them to become combined air- and spaceports.
This is the first time a federal agency in the United States has acknowledged the commercial space transportation industry as it really is - a transportation industry.
And turning to Spaceport America itself, it has been working with a number of aerospace firms, including Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Rocket Racing Inc./Armadillo Aerospace, UP Aerospace, Microgravity Enterprises and Payload Specialties.

Will Whitehorn of Virgin Galactic recently commented on the recent law in New Mexico legislating the space tourism business. Could you tell us about the law?

The New Mexico law provides protection from lawsuit for the SpacePort and launch operators. The passenger signs an informed consent agreement that indicates that they understand this is a dangerous activity. They agree to hold the state and launch operator harmless in an accident that results in their death.

Do you think that the future of US human spaceflight is commercial?

The commercial space tourism business will be a catalyzing component for a while. It will be a catalyst to enable us to do other things.
The research potential we have by gaining more frequent access to a part of the atmosphere vital to such research a global warming for instance, will be a by-product of the space tourism business as it is structured right now.
The Center of Excellence could help us to characterize to potential impact of human spaceflight by enabling us to gather data by consent from the tourists. Virgin Galactic themselves are concentrating only upon the tourism business and so the tourists themselves would be our contacts. Thus any research would be a later by-product.
Other places such as Sweden and Dubai may follow into this area.

You have headed the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC) since 1998. Has it been important in shaping the future economy of the state of New Mexico? Can the model be useful elsewhere in the United States and indeed in the rest of the world?

That's a great question and I believe the answer is yes to both parts.
The first part - have we been a benefit to the state of New Mexico? Measured by the number of scholarships and research fellowships that we do - and not limiting ourselves to commercial space in Space Grant - we participate in education, astronomy, geophysics and museums. We have a large group of people in New Mexico and while we can only fund projects within the state, the Space Grant sends students all over the United States and indeed the world. The effect is thus truly international.
We pay for their travel over the summer and they have life-changing experiences. I have students as KSC, at JPL, learning about Mars rovers and astronaut training for example.
These students' data goes into additional research projects and our students get great jobs and sometimes start their own companies.
Can this model be used throughout the world? Yes. It is based on the Land Grant model established during the Lincoln Presidency. This model was meant to provide free public higher education throughout the US states with the resulting research helping a state to grow its economy.
New Mexico, with its Spaceport, is pretty unique, building on the scientific heritage of Los Alamos and Whitesands which are in the state. The visionary idea for a spaceport dates back to Kennedy's time when the Governer wrote to the President suggesting the establishment of a spaceport.
The potential for economic benefits to accrue to New Mexico from Spaceport America will depend on whether our faculty and students are given opportunities to learn to compete in the emerging space industry. NMSGC helps prepare the workforce for the challenges facing New Mexico and the nation as the space business moves forward. Support of science and engineering programs ensures not only workforce development, but also the technological and scientific advances that underpin economic development within the state and the nation. And this applies worldwide.

A flyover on October 22 of the two craft will be a unique event enabling attendees to see both the spaceport and the vehicles. It will be an extraordinary conclusion for Space Week in New Mexico, said ISPCS Chair Patricia Hynes.

The updated ISPCS website contains complete information about Space Week in New Mexico where ISPCS, the leading meeting of the commercial and personal spaceflight industry conference is held.

This year's conference will be held Wednesday-Thursday, October 20 - 21, Flyover at Spaceport America, Friday, October 22

Commenting on the historic flight, Burt Rutan said: "This is a momentous day for the Scaled and Virgin Teams. The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program." Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Galactic added: "Seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking...

NEWS ANALYSIS

WASHINGTON - Launching the future of U.S. human spaceflight on an uncertain trajectory, President Barack Obama surprised lawmakers and industry with a budget proposal that scraps NASA's Moon-bound Constellation program in its entirety and bets a chunk of the savings on the ability of commercial firms to ferry crews to and from the international space station.  more

The best way to control the future is to create it! Many of us have heard this, some live by it. The heritage space companies meet with new space companies at ISPCS to address the expanding commercial space industry, with a focus on safe, low cost, and reliable vehicles and operations, in a reasonable enabling regulatory environment. Please join us as we work to create the future of commercial spaceflight together.

FAST Paced, Unique Plenary and Networking Session
All ISPCS sessions are plenary, allowing everyone to get the same information at the same time. Sessions are fast paced, topics varied, speakers are global decision makers and thought leaders in the civilian and military spaceflight industry. Audience interaction occurs in and outside of sessions. It works and so will you, at the ISPCS. Join Us!

Held October 20 and 21 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA. ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by the NASA.