Even more exciting speakers to attend ISPS 2007

We are pleased to announce the confirmation of new speakers who will broaden the already diverse array of individuals attending the International Symposium for Personal Spaceflight – 2007.

Added to the list are:

LtCol Paul Damphousse, National Security Space Office
Jess Sponable, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Vehicles
Granger Whitelaw, CEO, Rocket Racing League
Rich Pournelle, Director of Business Development, XCOR Aerospace

We also have 8 experienced astronauts set to speak at the symposium.
With such a vast line-up of speakers with distinct backgrounds, there is sure to be a little something for everyone at this year’s event.

Hope to see you at the symposium!

NMSU survey students lend their helping hands and eyes

In preparation for the imminent construction of Spaceport America, a team of surveying engineering students from NMSU have done their part by locating and recording government corners and historic markers. They surveyed the 27 square mile site about 40 miles north of Las Cruces, where the Spaceport is to be built.

The idea stemed from the efforts of Dr. Steve Frank, coordinator of the NMSU's surveying and engineering program, and Dr. Patricia Hynes, Director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium. Knowing how important it is to preserve the location of historical markers, they saw this as a great opportunity to get NMSU student involved in the project.

The process of finding and documenting the location of historical markers and government corners can be a long and somewhat boring process. Lucky for the team, they had the privilege to use top of the line surveying and GPS technologies. The group was able to locate 153 sites on the large plot of land, leaving only six undiscovered.

Some of the markers even date back to the 1800's.

Condolences

Our condolences to the families of those injured and killed at the Scaled Composites LLC facility

Bigelow Aerospace sucessfully launches Genesis II

Genesis II, the second in the line of experimental pathfinder spacecrafts built and designed by Bigelow Aerospace was launched last week. The Genesis spacecrafts feature technology that allows the outer shell of the spacecraft to inflate by use of compressed air. Genesis II may be aesthetically similar to is predecessor, but she is equipped with many upgraded gadgets to make the craft more efficient and also allow scientists to collect more data and learn more about the condition of the spacecraft. Genesis II is also set up with deployable solar panels which utilize solar energy to recharge its batteries, allowing the balloon-like craft to remain in orbit for years to come.

The guys at Bigelow Aerospace have already established contact with Genesis II and she is doing fine. Data collected on Genesis II has already been sent to earth. The following pictures were taken from 2 of Genesis II's 22 cameras:

The view from outside Genesis II

Inside Genesis II

Images taken from http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/

Atlantis reemerges!

After a two-week mission space shuttle Atlantis and its crew have returned safely from space. NASA's first launch of the year was certainly a sucessful one. The crew was sent to the International Space Station where they performed maintenance; including adding a 35,000 pound addition to the space station. Sunita Williams, an astronaut who spent the last six months at the station, returned home aboard Atlantis.

ISPS 2007

X PRIZE Foundation and New Mexico State University welcome you to the Third International Symposium for Personal Spaceflight (ISPS-2007), the opening event of the 2007 Wirefly X PRIZE Cup. The purpose of ISPS is to bring the community involved in all aspects of commercial space travel together for two days to grow the industry. We are very pleased to have Arianespace Inc. (USA) return as our Title Sponsor and to once again enjoy the dynamic relationship with the X PRIZE Cup which will held on October 27-28 at Holloman Air Force Base. The Symposium will be held in Las Cruces at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. We are honored to have Mr. Elon Musk as a speaker during our opening session. His ability to discuss his far reaching vision for responsive space is a perfect way to begin our symposium. He will be joined by Alex Tai of Virgin Galactic and Clayton Mowry, President of Arianespace.