Res Communis

FCC Approves Stratos License Transfer to Inmarsat

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From Satellite Today:

FCC Approves Stratos License Transfer to Inmarsat
January 20, 2009

[Satellite Today 01-20-09] The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an order approving the transfer of Stratos Global’s FCC licenses to Inmarsat, the operator announced Jan. 19.

In December, Inmarsat announced that its subsidiary, Inmarsat Finance 3, a call option over the Stratos shares, which are held in an irrevocable trust.

The call option can be exercised no earlier than April 15. The exercise of the call option remains subject to certain other governmental approvals, which are expected to be obtained before April. 15, Inmarsat said.

Memorandum for the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From the White House:

Memorandum for the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
SUBJECT: Designation of Officers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration To Act as Administrator

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that:

Section 1. Order of Succession. Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this memorandum, the following officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the Administrator of NASA (Administrator), during any period in which both the Administrator and Deputy Administrator of NASA (Deputy Administrator) have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Administrator, until such time as the Administrator or Deputy Administrator is able to perform the functions and duties of that office:

(a) Associate Administrator;

(b) Chief of Staff to the NASA Administrator;

(c) Director for Johnson Space Flight Center;

(d) Director for Kennedy Space Flight Center; and

(e) Director for Marshall Space Flight Center.

Sec. 2. Exceptions. (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act as Administrator pursuant to this memorandum. (b) No individual listed in section 1 shall act as Administrator unless that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting Administrator.

Sec. 3. This memorandum is intended to improve the internal management of the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, it agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Sec. 4. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

H. Res. 67: Recognizing and commending the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Cornell University for the success of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, on the 5th anniversary of the Rovers’ successful landing.

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

H. Res. 67: Recognizing and commending the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Cornell University for the success of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, on the 5th anniversary of the Rovers’ successful landing was introduced on January 15, 2009 by Rep. David Dreier (R-CA):

Recognizing and commending the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Cornell University for the success of the Mars Exploration… (Introduced in House)

HRES 67 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 67

Recognizing and commending the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Cornell University for the success of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, on the 5th anniversary of the Rovers’ successful landing.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 15, 2009

Mr. DREIER (for himself, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. WU, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. CULBERSON, and Mr. CALVERT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology

RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Cornell University for the success of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, on the 5th anniversary of the Rovers’ successful landing.

Whereas the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity successfully landed on Mars on January 3, 2004, and January 24, 2004, respectively, on missions to search for evidence indicating that Mars once held conditions hospitable to life;

Whereas NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), designed and built the Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity;

Whereas Cornell University led the development of advanced scientific instruments carried by the 2 Rovers, and continues to play a leading role in the operation of the 2 Rovers and the processing and analysis of the images and other data sent back to Earth;

Whereas the Rovers relayed over a quarter million images taken from the surface of Mars;

Whereas studies conducted by the Rovers have indicated that early Mars was characterized by impacts, explosive volcanoes, and subsurface water;

Whereas each Rover has discovered geological evidence of ancient Martian environments where habitable conditions may have existed;

Whereas the Rovers have explored over 21 kilometers of Martian terrain, climbed Martian hills, descended deep into large craters, survived dust storms, and endured 3 cold, dark Martian winters; and

Whereas Spirit and Opportunity will have passed 5 years of successful operation on the surface of Mars on January 3, 2009, and January 24, 2009, respectively, far exceeding the original 90-Martian day mission requirement by a factor of 20, and are continuing their missions of surface exploration and scientific discovery: Now therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) commends the engineers, scientists, and technicians of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Cornell University for their successful execution and continued operation of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity; and

(2) recognizes the success and significant scientific contributions of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers.

NASA Puts ISS Resupply Contracts on Hold

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From Reuters:

NASA awards to space station cargo haulers on hold
Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:27pm EST

By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Jan 15 (Reuters) – NASA is suspending contract awards to two firms selected to fly cargo to the International Space Station after a third contender formally protested the outcome of the competition, officials said on Thursday.

PlanetSpace, a Chicago-based partnership set up by three of the U.S. space agency’s prime contractors — Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), Boeing Co (BA.N) and Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK.N) — filed its protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office on Wednesday contesting contracts awarded last month. . . [Full Story]

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation from 24.12.2008 N 1961-r

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

Roscosmos reports that Order of the Government of the Russian Federation from 24.12.2008 N 1961-r has passed (unofficial Google Translation):

16-01-2009 approved the composition of the State Commission for the flight tests of manned space complexes

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation approved the composition of the State Commission for the flight tests of manned space complexes.

Chairman of the Commission appointed Roscosmos head Anatoly Perminov. Vice-Chairman of the Commission appointed: Head of Roscosmos Alexei Krasnov, president of RSC Energia Vitaly Lopota, deputy director general of Russian Central Research Institute for Machine Building “Valery Grin. The commission includes representatives of federal executive authorities, representatives of organizations of rocket and space industry, representatives of the Armed Forces of Russia.

By Internet portal of the Russian Federation Government

http://gov.consultant.ru/doc.asp?ID=50188&PSC=1&PT=3&Page=2

The Decree is available in Russian.

This is an unofficial translation and is provided to the readership of Res Communis as a convenience.

South Africa’s Space Agency Act Signed into Law

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The National Space Agency Act of 2008 has been signed into law by South African President Kgalema Motlanthe:

Space Agency Act blasts off
BY AUDRA MAHLONG , JOURNALIST

[ Johannesburg, 16 January 2009 ] – President Kgalema Motlanthe has signed the National Space Agency Act Bill into law.

This will allow for the creation of the SA National Space Agency (Sansa), a public entity that will be tasked with the co-ordination and integration of various national space science and technology programmes. It will also conduct long-term planning for and implementation of space-related activities in SA.

The Department of Science and Technology stated the agency would be responsible for the promotion of the peaceful use of outer space; foster research in astronomy, earth observation, communications, navigation and space physics; foster international cooperation in space-related activities; and advance scientific, engineering and technological competencies through human capital development. . . . [Full Story]

According to the act as published in the Government Gazette, the President’s assent took place on December 11, 2008.

PlanetSpace Files Bid Protest Decision

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

PlanetSpace Press Release:

PLANETSPACE HAS FILED WITH THE GAO A PROTEST TO THE SELECTION DECISION OF NASA UNDER THE ISS COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY SERVICES (CRS) COMPETITION

Chicago, IL. January 14, 2009-PlanetSpace has filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) a protest to the selection decision of NASA under the ISS Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) competition, RFP NNJ08ZBG001R.

After a careful review of all the facts and in consideration of all of the source selection documentation provided to date, PlanetSpace has filed a protest to NASA’s award of the ISS Commercial Resupply Services Contract. PlanetSpace offered a superior proposal. It received a higher Mission Suitability score, from NASA’s Source Evaluation Board (SEB), and was lower in Cost than one of the two proposals selected by NASA. Thus, the PlanetSpace proposal represented better value to the Government. We believe that the GAO will find that flaws in the procurement justify award to PlanetSpace. We look forward to the GAO’s review of this case.
PlanetSpace has assembled a subcontract team, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing and ATK, with over 150 years of collective experience in supporting NASA spaceflight programs. The resources and record of this team were recognized by the SEB, as it gave the subcontractors an “excellent” mark for their “Past Performance.” The commitment and capabilities of the team reduce risk to NASA and will ensure success of the critical mission of assured resupply to the Space Station. Further favoring selection of PlanetSpace, we have proposed an “ALL-U.S.” solution for CRS – something that ought to be a domestic priority in light of current economic conditions.

The PlanetSpace ISS CRS proposal provides NASA, and the United States taxpayer, with a credible space transportation system, derived from largely proven hardware, so that NASA will have highly reliable, on-demand, ISS cargo delivery and return services. Our solution reduces ISS resupply risk to NASA and thus will allow NASA to focus its resources on other space priorities, such as moving America’s space program beyond low earth orbit.

PlanetSpace will make no other statements publicly regarding this protest at this time. The law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP acts as protest counsel for PlanetSpace. For questions regarding the GAO protest process, contact C. Joel Van Over, Partner. Tel: (703) 770-7604. Email: joel.vanover@pillsburylaw.com.

The GAO listing in the bid protest docket gives the following information:

PlanetSpace, Inc. (NNJ08ZBG001R)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Outcome: Not Decided Status: Case Currently Open

Filed Date: January 14, 2009
Due: April 24, 2009
Case Type: Bid Protest
GAO Attorney: David A. Ashen
File Number: 401016.1