Disasters Charter Activation: Flood in Canada
June 23, 2010 at 10:07 am | Posted in Space Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
The Disasters Charter has been activated for a Flood in Canada:
Flood in Canada
Type of Event: Flood
Location of Event: Canada
Date of Charter Activation: 22/06/2010
Charter Requestor: Public Safety Canada
Project Management: CSADescription of the Event
Floods, due to intensive rain, caused the closure of several roads, including the Trans-Canada Highway at the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Many infrastructures have been damaged and various communities, as the town of Maple Creek, have declared a state of emergency.
Israel Launches Newest Spy Satellite
June 23, 2010 at 3:18 am | Posted in Remote Sensing Law Current Events | Leave a commentby Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz with the blog faculty
Source: Space News
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel successfully delivered its latest spy satellite into low Earth orbit June 22 using an improved version of its indigenous Shavit launcher, defense sources here said.
An official Ministry of Defense (MoD) notice of launch, which took place around 10 p.m. local time, is expected by midnight, once technicians ascertain initial functioning of the Ofeq-9 imaging satellite. By June 25, officials say they should be able to validate the operational capability of the 300-kilogram satellite and its subsystems and begin receiving the first pictures from its high-resolution sensor.
“We delivered it perfectly, but we’re still waiting to hear the baby’s screams,” said Chaim Eshed, director for space programs at Israel’s MoD.
Ofeq-9 is a “twin brother” of the Shavit-launched Ofeq-7 and Ofeq-5 satellites, the former operational since June 2007 and the latter since June 2002. A September 2004 launch failure destroyed Ofeq-6, while TecSAR, Israel’s synthetic aperture radar satellite, was successfully launched by an Indian rocket in January 2008 and now occupies the Ofeq-8 slot in the Israeli MoD lineup. More…
Hearing on Earth Observations Scheduled
June 22, 2010 at 6:48 pm | Posted in Remote Sensing Law Current Events | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: House Committee on Science and Technology
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- SCHEDULE NOTICE -
WEEK OF JUNE 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee – Hearing
Setting New Courses for Polar Weather Satellites and Earth Observations
Witnesses:
Hon. Shere Abbott, Associate Director, Energy and Environment Division, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Ms. Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere,National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Mr. Christopher Scolese, Associate Administrator,National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Gil Klinger, Director, Space and Intelligence Office, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Department of Defense
Mr. David Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, Government Accountability Office
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2318 Rayburn House Office Building (WEBCAST)
Research and Science Education Subcommittee – Hearing
21st Century Biology
Witnesses:
Dr. Keith Yamamoto, Chair, National Academy of Sciences, Board on Life Sciences and Professor, Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco
Dr. James Collins, Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment, Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Environmental Science, Arizona State University
Dr. Reinhard Laubenbacher, Professor, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech
Dr. Karl Sanford, Vice President, Technology Development, Genencor
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2318 Rayburn House Office Building (WEBCAST)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Full Committee – Markup
- Legislation TBA
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2318 Rayburn House Office Building (WEBCAST)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Technology and Innovation Subcommittee – Hearing
Smart Grid Architecture and Standards: Assessing Coordination and Progress
Witnesses:
Dr. George Arnold, National Coordinator for Smart Grid, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Mr. Mason Emnett, Associate Director, Office of Energy Policy and Innovation
Mr. John McDonald, P.E., Director, Technical Strategy and Policy Development, GE Energy
Additional Witnesses TBA
10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.
2318 Rayburn House Office Building (WEBCAST)
U.S. and Switzerland Sign New Air Transport Agreement
June 22, 2010 at 3:48 pm | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
Source: Department of State
U.S. and Switzerland Sign New Air Transport Agreement
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 21, 2010Today in Bern, Switzerland, officials of the United States and Switzerland signed an enhanced Open Skies Air Transport Agreement, replacing the previous agreement signed in 1995. The new agreement entered into force upon signature.
The new agreement includes all of the essential elements of Open Skies and adds the right for airlines of both countries to operate all-cargo flights to third countries without a connection to the home country (“7th freedom rights”). In addition, the new agreement permits Swiss airlines to be owned and controlled by nationals of any Member State of the European Union and extends to Swiss airlines the opportunity to compete under the “Fly America Act” for certain U.S. government civilian agency-funded passenger and cargo traffic between the United States and Switzerland and between non-U.S. points.Open Skies agreements have vastly expanded international passenger and cargo flights to and from the United States, promoting increased travel and trade, enhancing productivity, and spurring high-quality job opportunities and economic growth. Open Skies agreements do this by eliminating government interference in the commercial decisions of air carriers about routes, capacity, and pricing, freeing carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers. Open Skies agreements, including the new accord with Switzerland, contain robust provisions to ensure aviation safety and security.
The United States has achieved Open Skies with more than 90 partners from every region of the world and at every level of economic development.
PRN: 2010/834
Disasters Charter Activations
June 22, 2010 at 3:47 pm | Posted in Space Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
The Disasters Charter has been activated twice in the last week. First for a flood and landslide in Myanmar:
Flood and landslide in Myanmar
Type of Event: Flood
Location of Event: Myanmar
Date of Charter Activation: 17/06/2010
Charter Requestor: UNITAR/UNOSAT on behalf of UNDP
Project Management: UNITAR/UNOSATDescription of the Event
The Northern Rakhine State in Myanmar is facing continuous rains that have flooded several areas including in Maungdaw and Buthidaung. The Government has confirmed the death of 42 people Landslides have occurred in several places (in Buthidaung) and roads and bridges have either been cut or damaged by the floods in Maungdaw and Buthidaung. Several villages are severely flooded.
Then for a flood in China:
Flood in China
Type of Event: Flood
Location of Event: China
Date of Charter Activation: 21/06/2010
Charter Requestor: China National Committee for Disaster Reduction
Project Management:Description of the Event
Severe floods have affected several regions in Southern China for nearly a week. Hundreds of people have died and as many are missing; about one million have fled their homes. The alert remains in effect because more rain is expected.
Statements at the Conference on Disarmament
June 22, 2010 at 3:35 pm | Posted in Space Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
The Conference on Disarmament is still underway. Iran made a statement at the June 15, plenary that briefly addressed the PAROS issue:
AOPA opposes FCC rule that would outlaw 121.5 MHz ELTs
June 22, 2010 at 12:43 pm | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: AOPA
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) June 15 released the notice of a rule prohibiting the “certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or continued use of 121.5 MHz ELTs.” The rule would suddenly make aircraft that are in full compliance with the federal aviation regulations in violation of federal communications law.
“At this time, we caution anyone against purchasing a new ELT until this issue is resolved,” said AOPA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Rob Hackman. “There’s a lot of misunderstanding at this time as to the status of this rule. As verified by the FCC, the rule has not been published in the Federal Register, and thereby no effective date can be determined. This provides AOPA and the general aviation industry the opportunity to address our concerns with the FCC and potentially influence the outcome.”…more
Hawaii’s Lihue Airport First In State To Use Body Scanner
June 22, 2010 at 9:52 am | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: KITV.com
HONOLULU — Lihue Airport is the first in the state to use a controversial body scanner to check passengers going through security. The new technology has raised concerns with some civil liberties groups because it’s a virtual strip search. The Transportation Security Administration began using the new X-ray scanner at Lihue Airport Thursday…more
Debt, Deficits, and Defense: A Way Forward. Report of the Sustainable Defense Task Force, 11 June 2010.
June 22, 2010 at 9:46 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: The Sustainable Defense Task Force
3 Selectively curtail missile defense & space spending.
Save $55 billion from 2011–2020.Missile Defense, formerly known as “Star Wars,” is the
most expensive Pentagon project ever launched. The
Obama administration cut the Missile Defense Agency
budget by 14% – from $10.9 billion in 2009 to $9.3 billion
in 2010 – canceling or scaling back costly and
unworkable systems such as the Multiple Kill Vehicle.
However, FY 2011 saw a marked increase in missile
defense with the Administration requesting $9.9 billion
for the agency. This covers proposed increases to a
multitude of current programs, including AEGIS and the Patriot
terminal defense system. It also funds the development
of three new initiatives: the land-based SM3
missiles, the Precision Tracking Space System (PTSS),
and directed energy programs.The Congressional Budget Office calculates that scaling
back US missile defense could save approximately
$40 billion over the next ten years. It also says freezing
new program development until current systems are
proven would save approximately $1.2 billion per year.
CBO’s estimate would eliminate programs including the
Far-Term Sea-Based Terminal Defense, Sensor Development,
the Missile Defense Space Experimentation
Center, and “Special Programs.”26 Together, these cuts
amount to a total savings of approximately $51 billion
over ten years. This number accounts for enacted cuts
previously included in the analysis of the CBO.There is substantial overlap between missile defense
and defense-related space spending. For example, PTSS
will replace the Space Tracking and Surveillance System
(STSS), which was created to detect incoming ballistic
missiles. The Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS)
is also intended to provide initial warning of a ballistic
missile attack, although the program has undergone
significant delays and cost overruns.27 The poor performance
of programs like SBIRS indicates the need
for a “distributed architecture” that fields many smaller,
cheaper satellites instead of huge mega-satellites. For
that reason, the program should be truncated and the
final “blocks,” known as the GEO-5 and GEO-6 satellites,
eliminated for a savings of $2.1 billion.28One example of a non-missile defense space program
also suffering from endemic cost overruns is the
National Polar-Orbiting Environmental Space System
(NPOESS), a joint program of the Air Force, NASA, and
NOAA built to track global weather and climate patterns.
The program was restructured this year to split
procurement between the three agencies, allowing
DOD to eliminate the C-1 spacecraft platform used
for the system’s afternoon orbit for a savings of $1.7
billion.29...more
SpaceX has deal to launch commercial satellites
June 22, 2010 at 9:33 am | Posted in Space Law Current Events | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: MSNBC
LOS ANGELES – SpaceX has inked a $492 million deal with Iridium Communications Inc. to launch a fleet of next-generation commercial satellites aboard its Falcon 9 rocket…more
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