U.S. military bases are deteriorating amid budget constraints, installation officials recently told the Senate Appropriations Committee. "We understand this backlog must eventually be addressed, but we think we can't afford to do so at this time," said Erin Kern, director of the Navy's Shore Readiness Division. (3/18)
Is Titan Submarine the Most Daring Space Mission Yet? (Source: BBC)
Dropping a robotic lander on to the surface of a comet was arguably one of the most audacious space achievements of recent times. But one concept mission being studied by NASA could top even that. Scientists are proposing to send a robot submarine to the oily seas of Saturn's moon Titan. The seas are filled not with water, but with hydrocarbons like methane and ethane. Click here. (3/18)
Orlando Firm Supports Citizen Science in Space (Source: TSG)
Orlando-based Terran Sciences Group (TSG) will support the nonprofit US Rocket Academy’s Citizens in Space Project, offering the opportunity to fly qualified payloads on private spaceflights at no cost to “Citizen Science” groups, which usually consist of K-12, University, or Hacker/Maker teams. Support from TSG comes in the form of a Microgravity Experiment Developer’s Kit, which is a collection of flight-qualified modular components that can be 3-D printed, assembled, and then easily integrated with the Citizens in Space prefabricated payload containers.
Microcontrollers, specimen vials, cameras, and other useful sensors are among the modules in the pre-release library. The primary aim of TSG’s kit is to enable greater accessibility to programs like Citizens in Space without the need for backing from aerospace engineering professionals. For cases where groups don’t have access to or are familiar with 3D printers or sensor/controller hardware, TSG will offer small-scale fabrication and assembly services at cost.
Dr. Justin Karl of TSG will be partnering directly with the management of Citizens in Space to provide official documentation that will serve as a guideline through design, qualification and integration. Official launch of this effort will be in conjunction with an announcement and talk at the New Space Researchers Workshop (NSRW) in Houston this spring, including a workshop organized by Astronauts4Hire on May 4. (3/19)
Florida Lawmakers Seek Cap for State Money to Attract Business (Source: Naples News)
The Senate and House agreed to cap the amount of money that Gov. Rick Scott’s administration can use each year for economic development projects, state Sen. Jack Latvala said. Legislation authored by Latvala, R-Clearwater, puts a $50 million annual cap on a host of programs, which are collectively termed the state’s “economic tool kit.” The programs use cash and tax incentives to lure companies to Florida, and entice existing ones to expand. The House plan calls for a $60 million cap. (3/19)
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