Archive for the ‘Dave Fischer’ Category
Monday, April 25th, 2011
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NASA HL-20
Image Credit: NASA
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The second round of funding in the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program has been announced by NASA.
Sierra Nevada Corporation received $80 million in the second round to go with the $20 million it received in 2010. Sierra Nevada acquired the Dream Chaser project in December 2008, and won funding in round one of the CCDev program. This was the largest award in round one.
The project derives from the HL-20 program undertaken in 1990 by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
The Dream Chaser is designed to carry up to seven people to the International Space Station and back.
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The vehicle is designed to launch vertically on an Atlas V rocket and land horizontally on conventional runways.
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Tags: Atlas 5, CCDev, Commercial Crew Development, Dream Chaser, HL-20, International Space Station, ISS, Langley Research Center, NASA, Sierra Nevada Corporation
Posted in Commercial Spaceflight, Dave Fischer, International Space Station, NASA, Space | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 22nd, 2011
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Boeing CST-100
Image Credit: Boeing
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NASA announced the second round of funding in the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.
Boeing was the big winner in CCDev-2, getting $92.3 million, on top of the $18 million it won last year.
The initial $18 million allowed Boeing to complete several risk reduction demonstrations and a System Definition Review (SDR) in October, 2010. The CST-100’s system characteristics and configuration were base-lined. Boeing designed, built and tested a pressurized structure of the crew module. It also developed an avionics systems integration facility to support rapid prototyping and full-scale development.
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Boeing notes that the CST-100 spacecraft relies on proven materials and subsystem technologies that are safe and affordable.
Plans include ferrying astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), as well as crew and passengers to the Space Station being proposed by Bigelow Aerospace. The CST-100 is designed to carry up to seven passengers and is designed to be launched by a number of different expendable launch vehicles. These include United Launch Alliance’s Delta 4 and Atlas 5, Space Exploration Technologies’ Falcon 9, and the European Ariane 5.
NASA’s new 14-month CCDev-2 Space Act Agreement will enable Boeing to further mature its system to a Preliminary Design Review (PDR), a critical step that ensures the system design meets all requirements.
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Tags: Ariane 5, Arianespace, Atlas 5, Boeing, CCDev, Commercial Crew Development, CST-100, Delta 4, Falcon 9, Space Exploration Technology, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance
Posted in Commercial Spaceflight, Dave Fischer, International Space Station, Space, Space Transportation | No Comments »
Monday, February 21st, 2011
Image Credit: NASA
With the extension of the lifetime of the International Space Station to 2020, and perhaps beyond, the maintenance and resupply of the station becomes critical. This is the third in a series examining the international effort to maintain a robust human mission on the ISS.
The Russian resupply vessel Progress M-09M (P41) docked with the Pirs module of the International Space Station (ISS) on 30 January 2011. It is the second of three resupply spacecraft that will arrive in close succession early in 2011.
Previously, the Japanese HTV2 cargo vessel “Kounotori” docked with the Harmony module on the International Space Station on 27 January 2011. Progress M-07M (P39) undocked from the Zvezda module on the ISS on Sunday 20th February at 1:12 PM GMT, to make way for the European Space Agency’s “Johaness Kepler” ATV-2 resupply mission, which launched on 16 February 2011, and is expected to dock on 24 February.
During the undocking, Russian thrusters were in control of the station’s attitude control. US Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs) resumed control of the ISS later on Sunday. Following the undocking, 39P was commanded to conduct it’s de-orbit burn for a destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean at 4:12 PM GMT on Sunday.
On 25 February, STS-133 Discovery is expected to launch and dock two days later with the ISS. Kounotori will be moved to the top of the Harmony module (facing away from Earth) and Discovery will dock at the port facing Earth.
Cross Section of the Progress M Spacecraft
Image Credit: RKK Energia
Progress M-09M will supply 2,666 kilograms (5,880 lb) of cargo to the space station, including:
- 1,444 kilograms (3,180 lb) of dry cargo
- 752 kilograms (1,660 lb) of propellant
- 50 kilograms (110 lb) of oxygen
- 420 kilograms (930 lb) of water
Tags: ATV2, Discovery, ESA, European Space Agency, Harmony, HTV2, International Space Station, ISS, Johannes Kepler, Kounotori, NASA, Pirs, Progress M-07M, Progress M-09M, Roscosmos, Russian Space Agency, Space Shuttle, STS-133, Zvezda
Posted in Dave Fischer, International Space Station, NASA, Russian Space Agency | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 11th, 2011
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Falcon 9 / Lunar Mission
Image Credit:
Astrobotic Technology
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Astrobotic Technology, Inc., a spinoff from Carnegie Mellon University, announced the signing of a contract with SpaceX to launch its Lunar XPrize mission using a Falcon 9 rocket.
Astrobotic intends to launch as early as December 2013. The mission includes a rover designed to operate for three months, and commercial payloads on the lander priced at $700,000 per pound, plus a fee of $250,000-per-payload to cover the cost of integration, communications, power, thermal control and pointing services.
Currently, Astrobotic Technology has a contract with NASA to design a lunar mining robot that can extract frozen volatiles (water, methane) at polar locations. These can be used to create propellants for spacecraft returning to Earth.
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Tags: Astrobotic Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Falcon 9, Lunar Mining, Lunar X Prize, SpaceX
Posted in Commercial Spaceflight, Dave Fischer, Science, Space Business | No Comments »
Saturday, January 29th, 2011
The external exposed cargo includes a Flex Hose Rotary Coupler and Cargo Transport Container. These spare parts will be transferred to External Logistics Carrier 4 after it is installed during the Discovery STS-133 mission.
The pressurized cargo space is carrying 2,928 kilograms of supplies and equipment:
- 630 kilograms of crew provisions
- 1,626 kilograms of research equipment and supplies
- 609 kilograms) of station hardware
- 49 kilograms of computers and supplies
- 14 kilograms of spacewalking equipment and supplies
Among the new research equipment will be the Japanese Kobairo gradient heating furnace for generating high-quality crystals from melting materials, an Amine Swingbed technology demonstration that will look at ways to revitalize the air on space vehicles, and the International Space Station Agricultural Camera, which will take frequent images, in visible and infrared light, of vegetated areas on the Earth.
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Canadarm2 Captures HTV2
Image Credit: NASA
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Removing cargo through the hatch on HTV2
Image Credit: JAXA
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Tags: Amine Swingbed Technology Demonstration, ATV, Canadarm2, ESA, Europeans Space Agency, HTV-2, International Space Station, International Space Station Agricultural Camera, ISS, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Johannes Kepler, Kobairo Gradient Heating Furnace, Kounotori, NASA, Space Station Remote Manipulation System, SSRMS, STS-133
Posted in Dave Fischer, ESA, European Space Agency, Event, ISDC, International Space Station, JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Mark Hopkins, NASA, Science | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
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Keeping the International Space Station (ISS) supplied will become an increasing challenge with the retirement of the US Space Shuttle in 2011. This is the first in a series to look at how the ISS will be serviced for the next five or six years.
The Japanese were schedule to launch their second H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-2) resupply mission today, 20 January, but weather has caused the mission to be rescheduled for a possible launch on Saturday.
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The Russians fly their Progress spacecraft on resupply missions, and the next one is scheduled for 28 January.
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ATV-2 Johannes Kepler
Image Credit:
European Space Agency (ESA)
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The European Space Agency (ESA) has flown their Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-1 or Jules Verne) to the ISS once before on 9 March 2008, and their next launch is coming up on 15 February 2011.
On the commercial side, Space X has successfully orbited their Dragon spacecraft and returned to Earth. Their next test flight is penciled in for July and the first resupply mission is penciled in for December.
And Orbital Sciences Corporation has their first cargo delivery test of its Cygnus spacecraft scheduled for December 2011.
That summarizes the partners working to support the International Space Station.
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Here is a more detailed look at the European Space Agency’s ATV system.
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The 20 ton Johannes Kepler ATV has a cargo capacity of up to 7 metric tons. The composition of this load can vary depending on the mission:
- 1.5 to 5.5 metric tons of freight and supplies (food, research instruments, tools, etc.)
- up to 840 kilograms of drinking water
- up to 100 kilograms of gases (air, oxygen and nitrogen)
- up to four metric tons of fuel for orbit correction and up to 860 kilograms of propellant to refuel the space station.
The spacecraft is compose of two main sections. The first is the ATV Service Module (below, left), which is not pressurized, includes propulsion systems, electrical power, computers, communications and most of the avionics. The ATV uses four main engines and 28 small thrusters to control the navigation of the spacecraft. Four solar panels are deployed after launch and supply 4800 Watts of power to the batteries and the electrical systems.
The second component is the Integrated Cargo Carrier (below, right). The large section in the front is pressurized and comprises about 90% of the cargo volume. It handles all the dry cargo, including the racks on each side. The inhabitants of the International Space Station access this area through the hatch in the Russian docking system.
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The Equipped External Bay of the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) holds 22 spherical tanks of different sizes and colors (below, left). These tanks are used to re-supply the Station with propellant for the International Space Station propulsion system, various gases (air, oxygen, and nitrogen) and water for the crew.
The contents of these tanks are delivered to the Station through dedicated connections, or through manually operated hoses.
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The ATV uses the Russian-made docking equipment sensors to perform the approach and docking sequence (above, right). The procedure is the same as with the Soyuz manned capsules and the Progress resupply spacecraft.
The Russian docking system enables physical, electrical and propellant connections with the Station. Access to the ICC is through the Russian hatch.
Once the ATV is securely docked, the crew can enter the cargo section and remove the payload, which usually includes maintenance supplies, science hardware, parcels of fresh food, mail and family tapes or DVDs.
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Tags: ATV-2, Cygnus, Dragon, ESA, European Space Agency, Falcon 9, ICC, Integrated Cargo Carrier, International Space Station, ISS, Johannes Kepler, Orbital Sciences Corporation, OSC, Progress, Service Module, Soyuz, Space Exploration Corporation, SpaceX, Taurus II
Posted in Dave Fischer, NASA, Space, Technology | 4 Comments »
Monday, December 27th, 2010
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The most recent issue of Science News (18 December 2010) has the following notes from 17 December 1960:
HEAVY SHIELD UNNECESSARY — Heavy shielding as protection for an astronaut against space radiations may not be necessary, at least for trips of less than 50 hours and at distances not greater than 618 miles from earth…. [B]iological specimens were encased in different types of metal to test their effectiveness as shielding materials. Some specimens were shielded only by the thin aluminum covering of the specimen capsule and the comparatively thin shell of the recovery capsule. Radiation dosimeters showed that aluminum provided better shielding properties than lead and that any heavy metal such as gold or lead becomes a hazard during a solar flare as high energy protons interact with these heavy metals to create damaging X-rays.
However, if you want to travel to the Moon or journey anywhere within the Solar System, Galactic Cosmic Radiation will require that the human crew is protected. Let’s take a look at the problem and the research required to test and implement solutions.
Synopsis
The GCR problem arises from interstellar atomic nuclei traveling near the speed of light striking the structure of a spacecraft. The resulting shower of secondary particles cause radiation damage. The Earth is protected by the Van Allen belts and a deep atmosphere. Brief journeys such as an Apollo mission does not expose the astronaut to dangerous dosages. However, astronauts on such a journey are at risk from Solar flares (Solar Particle Events - SPE). SPEs can be mitigated with layers of hydrogen rich materials such as polyethylene or water. GCRs, however, require spaceships on long journeys of more than 100 days, or habitats on the Lunar or Martian surface, to be surrounded by tens of meters of water for passive protection, or magnetic shields for active protection. Either solution is extremely heavy and makes space flight prohibitive in terms of propellant requirements.
The following sections discuss each aspect and provide references for further reading about the problem
The Source of GCR
Galactic Cosmic Rays come from outside our Solar System, but from within our galaxy, the Milky Way. They are comprised of atomic nuclei that have been stripped of their electrons. These nuclei can be any element. Common elements are carbon, oxygen, magnesium, silicon, and iron with similar abundances as the Solar System. Lithium, Berylium and Boron are overabundant relative to the Solar System ratios.
The Shielding Problem
Early on, it was suggested that cosmic rays could penetrate the Apollo spacecraft. From “Biomedical Results of Apollo” section IV, chapter 2, Apollo Light Flash Investigations we have the following account:
Crewmembers of the Apollo 11 mission were the first astronauts to describe an unusual visual phenomenon associated with space flight. During transearth coast, both the Commander and the Lunar Module Pilot reported seeing faint spots or flashes of light when the cabin was dark and they had become dark-adapted. It is believed that these light flashes result from high energy, heavy cosmic rays penetrating the Command Module structure and the crew members’ eyes. These particles are thought to be capable of producing, visual sensations through interaction with the retina, either by direct deposition of ionization energy in the retina or through creation of visible light via the Cerenkov effect.
When Galactic Cosmic Rays collide with another atom, such as those contained in the Aluminum, Stainless Steel or Titanium structures of a spacecraft, they can create a shower of secondary particles, These secondary particles cause radiation damage in living organisms (humans).
The problem is creating sufficiently powerful barriers to these extremely energetic nuclei.
Researching Solutions
- Passive Shielding - At least for solar flares (SPE), some solutions are easier than the GCR problem.
- Active Shielding
- Fast Passage to avoid exposure (VASIMR propelled craft). A proposal for vapor core reactors integrated with VASIMR engines.
- A proposal for studying radiation and other factors associated with long term human occupation of space.
- NASA’s Space Radiation Program in association with the Brookhaven National Laboratories.
- In 2008, the National Academies of Science published Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration, which included chapter 6: Findings and Recommendations
- From the Summary in Radiation Shielding Simulation For Interplanetary Manned Missions
Inflatable Habitat + shielding
- Hadronic interactions are significant, systematics is under control
- The shielding capabilities of an inflatable habitat are comparable to a conventional rigid structure – Water / polyethylene are equivalent
- Shielding thickness optimisation involves complex physics effects
- An additional shielding layer, enclosing a special shelter zone, is effective against SPE
Moon Habitat
- Regolith shielding limits GCR and SPE exposure effectively
- Its shielding capabilities against GCR can be better than conventional Al structures as in the ISS
See also the recent article in New Scientist about radiation hazards. A tip of the hat to ParabolicArc.
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Tags: Active Shielding, Add new tag, Aluminum, Apollo 11, Apollo Light Flash, Atomic Nuclei, Berylium, Boron, Galactic Cosmic Radiation, Galactic Cosmic Rays, GCR, Gold, Lead, Lithium, Passive Shielding, Polyethylene, Shielding, Solar Particle Events, Solar System, SPE, Stainless Steel, Titanium, Water, X-rays
Posted in Commercial Spaceflight, Dave Fischer, Near Earth Objects, Science, Space, Technology | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
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The latest crop harvested from the Garden on the International Space Station is Mizuna lettuce. The lettuce was returned to Earth for scientific research, aboard the Discovery shuttle in April 2010.
The greenhouse, first sent up in 2002, has been used for 20 plant growth experiments so far. Now, a second unit has been added, and the lettuce crop was the first experiment to test different conditions side by side.
For many years, the experiments have sought to confirm Earth side results which show that minimizing water usage and salt accumulation would lead to healthier crops. During this experiment, two different root growth mediums were used. One was the traditional root pack used on all the previous tests. The second was the new and improved root pack, with slow release fertilizer. The hypothesis was that the slow release would help reduce salt intake.
Science is sometimes best when things go wrong.
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For some reason, the sensor controlling the watering in the first (traditional) module failed. This resulted in “over-watering” the plants. The results were surprising, but microgravity has held many surprises for scientists. First, the seeds that got “too much” water sprouted quicker and developed leaves twice as fast as the second (improved) module. The second surprise was that the plants grown in the slow release fertilizer in the second module had more salt accumulation than the plants in the first module.
The results suggest that plants in space need a larger volume of water and a faster rate of fertilizer than they do under normal gravity. Shane Topham, an engineer with Space Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University in Logan, said that “the conservative water level we have been using for all our previous experiments may be below optimal for plant growth in microgravity”.
Overall, the garden experiments have four objectives:
- Can the crops grown in space be consumed safely
- What microorganisms grow on the plants, and how do you prevent or minimize microorganisms in the modules prior to launch
- How do you clean and sanitize the crops after they are harvested
- What conditions optimize the production of crops in microgravity
One additional objective of the experiments is to measure the non-nutritional benefits (stress relief, etc.) that crew members experience working with plants in space. Growing and tending to the crops provides comfort and relaxation to the crew. On a long voyage, this activity may contribute to the success of the mission.
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A view of the Russian BIO-5 Rasteniya-2/Lada-2 (Plants-2)
plant growth experiment located in the Zvezda Service Module
on the International Space Station (ISS).
Image Credit: NASA
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A close up view of sprouts on the Russian Lada-2 experiment.
Image Credit: NASA
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A view of peas growing in the Russian Lada-2 plant growth experiment.
Image Credit: NASA
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A close up view of a bloom on the Russian Lada-2 plant growth experiment.
Image Credit: NASA
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Tags: Garden, International Space Station, ISS, NASA
Posted in Dave Fischer, NASA, Science | No Comments »
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
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podcast
For all of you space enthusiasts out there, listen to this podcast by National Space Society member Lynne Zielinski as she discusses contests for students. Lynne teaches at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook Illinois, and the podcast provides details on competitions sponsored by the National Space Society.
1. NASA/NSS Space Settlement Student Design Contest (for grades 6-12)
NASA Ames Research Center in conjunction with the National Space Society sponsors an annual space settlement design contest for 6-12th grade students. Each spring students send their designs for homes in space for judging by NASA engineers and scientists. The contest has inspired thousands of students and helped hundreds of teachers bring the excitement of space settlement to the youth of America and the world.
2. International Space Settlement Design Competition (for high school)
This contest puts high school students in the shoes of aerospace industry engineers designing a city in space that will be a home for over 10,000 people. Student engineers demonstrate creativity, technical competence, management skills, space environment knowledge, teamwork, and presentation techniques to conquer the problems inherent in siting and designing a Space Settlement (aka Space Colony).
3. Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards (for high school)
The Spirit of Innovation Awards program challenges teams of high school students to create innovative products using science, technology, and entrepreneurship to solve 21st century, real-world problems. Eligible students may compete on teams in any of three Challenge Categories.
4. Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest (any age)
Since its early days, science fiction has played a unique role in human civilization. It removes the limits of what “is” and shows us a boundless vista of what “might be.” Its fearless heroes, spectacular technologies and wondrous futures have inspired many people to make science, technology and space flight a real part of their lives and in doing so, have often transformed these fictions into reality. The National Space Society and Baen Books applaud the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science and have teamed up to sponsor this short fiction contest in memory of Jim Baen.
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Tags: Ames Research Center, Glenbrook North High School, International Space Settlement Design Competition, Jim Baen, Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest, Lynne Zielinski, NASA, National Space Society, NSS Space Settlement Student Design Contest, Pete Conrad, Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards, Science Fiction, Space Colony, space settlement, Spirit of Innovation Awards, StudentDesignContest
Posted in Dave Fischer, Lynne Zielinski, NASA, National Space Society, Science, Science Fiction, Space | 2 Comments »
Sunday, October 24th, 2010
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White Knight Two flyover of Spaceport America Terminal carrying SpaceShipTwo
Image Credit: Barbara David
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The two mile runway at Spaceport America in New Mexico was dedicated Friday, 22 October 2010. One of the highlights of the celebration was the flyover and landing of Virgin Galactic’s White Knight Two carrying the rocket plane Space Ship Two, named Enterprise by Virgin Galactic.
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, for whom the runway (spaceway) was officially named during the ceremony, commented that:
“We are celebrating the world’s first spaceway at the world’s first purpose-built, commercial spaceport. New Mexico is not only helping to launch the commercial spaceflight industry, but we are launching new jobs and opportunities for the people of southern New Mexico. Today marks a significant milestone on our historic and exciting journey.”
Sir Richard Branson and approximately 30 of more than 380 Virgin Galactic future astronauts attended the event. Two of the future passengers in attendance were Sonja Rohde from Germany and Perveen Crawford of Hong Kong. Both have already paid the full $200,000 price for their flight into space. “It’s like Christmas, you want to go, you can’t wait. It was always a childhood dream to go to space,” Rohde said. Crawford noted that “It’s a bargain compared to the Russians,” referring to the roughly $35 million past space tourists have paid to ride aboard the Soyuz to the International Space Station.
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White Knight Two carrying Space Ship Two on Approach to Spaceport America
Image Credit: Virgin Galactic
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Tags: Bill Richardson, New Mexico, Richard Branson, Runway Dedication, Spaceport America, SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic, WhiteKnightTwo
Posted in Commercial Spaceflight, Dave Fischer, Space, Space Tourism | No Comments »
