Res Communis

FAA: Notice of Space Transportation Operations Working Group of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee Teleconference on August 4, 2011 at 1pm

by Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty

Source: Federal Register [PDF]

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 137 (Monday, July 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42160-42161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17977]

=======================================================================
———————————————————————–

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee–Public
Teleconference

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Space Transportation Operations Working Group of the
Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee Teleconference.

———————————————————————–

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given of a
teleconference of the Space Transportation Operations Working Group
(STOWG) of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee
(COMSTAC). The teleconference will take place on Thursday, August 4,
2011, starting at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Individuals who plan to
participate should contact Susan Lender, Designated Federal Officer
(DFO), (the Contact Person listed below) by phone or e-mail for the
teleconference call in number.
The proposed agenda for this teleconference consists of the
following topics: Final discussion of the CONOPS report on reentry
debris, final discussion of the Economic Impact of complying with
orbital debris standards, updates on the European Code of Conduct and
the Long Term Sustainability of Space effort by the United Nations
Committee for Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and any new business items
that members want to consider.
Interested members of the public may submit relevant written
statements for the COMSTAC members to consider under the advisory
process. Statements may concern the issues and agenda items mentioned
above or additional issues that may be relevant for the U.S. commercial
space transportation industry. Interested parties wishing to submit
written statements should contact Susan Lender, DFO, (the Contact Person listed below) in writing
(mail or e-mail) by July 28, 2011, so that the information can be made
available to COMSTAC members for their review and consideration before
the August 4, 2011, teleconference. Written statements should be
supplied in the following formats: One hard copy with original
signature or one electronic copy via e-mail.
An agenda will be posted on the FAA Web site at http://www.faa.gov/go/ast.
Individuals who plan to participate and need special assistance should inform the Contact Person listed below in advance of the meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Lender (AST-5), Office of
Commercial Space Transportation (AST), 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Room 331, Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-8029; E-mail
susan.lender@faa.gov. Complete information regarding COMSTAC is
available on the FAA Web site at: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/advisory_committee/.

Report: No U.S. Decision Yet on Adopting EU Space Code

by Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz with the blog faculty

Source: NTI

The United States has yet to determine whether it will adopt European Union rules with possible bearing on the use of orbital armaments, a high-level U.S. State Department told Arms Control Today in late February (see GSN, Jan. 28).

A panel of representatives from multiple federal entities has examined the Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities, and the group would pursue related dialogue with the European Union upon receiving an administration go-ahead, the insider said on February 23.

The Obama administration should “immediately consult” with relevant Senate panels and other lawmakers on Washington’s possible adoption of the EU code, 37 GOP senators told Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a February 2 letter. More…

 

Position open for GEO Secretariat Director for 2012-2014

by Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty

Source: GEO

In accordance with the GEO Rules of Procedure, GEO is inviting applications for the position of Secretariat Director for the period 2012-2014.

Details can be found on the GEO Secretariat web site:

http://www.earthobservations.org/ag_geosec_eo.shtml

 

 

Aviation Conference: Leasing, financing and growth in the current environment, on 7 April 2011 in Reykjavik

by Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty

Source: Aeropodium

2nd Annual European Aviation Asset Management

Leasing, financing and growth in the current environment

Thursday, 7 April 2011,  Reykyavik, Iceland

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS Senior Representative of Icelandair Group

Mark Byrne, Director, ICM Aviation
Christian Castang, Executive Director, Altaïr Aero Projects
Spiro Farougias, Director Marketing, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)
Michael Fuerst, Vice President Marketing & Sales, Airbus Freighter Conversion
Yves Lavigne, Owner – Partner, Regio Lease
Roland H. Moore, Aviation Attorney
Robin Springthorpe, Partner – Aviation, Bird & Bird
Ala Toukatli, Partner and Principal Strategy and Network, Lufthansa Consulting
Gary Weissel, Vice President – co-Managing Officer Commercial and Business Aviation, SH&E
Senior Representative of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft

For the updated Agenda and to Register, please visit

www.aeropodium.com/conferenceprojects/eaam.html

Fact Sheet: National Security Space Strategy

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The U.S. Department of Defense released a fact sheet on the new National Security Space Strategy. It states:

FACT SHEET: National Security Space Strategy

The National Security Space Strategy (NSSS) is jointly signed by the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence. It builds on the President’s National Security Strategy and National Space Policy, the Department of Defense’s Quadrennial Defense Review and the Intelligence Community’s National Intelligence Strategy.

The NSSS seeks to address a strategic space environment that is increasingly congested, contested, and competitive through a set of five interrelated strategic approaches. The Department of Defense (DoD) will pursue specific initiatives in each of these areas.

Promote responsible, peaceful, and safe use of space:
• The United States is working closely with the European Union on a draft international Code of Conduct, which could serve as an important first set of norms of responsible behavior.
• U.S. Strategic Command has entered into agreements with 19 companies, including both launch providers and satellite owner/operators, to share space situational awareness data.
• DoD will begin providing pre-launch notification of space launches later this year.

Provide improved U.S. space capabilities:
• Some of the Air Force efficiency savings will be used for additional Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles to assure access to space while sustaining our industrial base.
• The Deputy Secretary of Defense revalidated the role of the DoD Executive Agent (EA) for Space to integrate and assess the overall DoD space program and facilitate increased cooperation with the Intelligence Community.
• The Deputy Secretary of Defense recently established a Defense Space Council to be the principal advisory forum overseeing implementation of the NSSS.

Partner with responsible nations, international organizations, and commercial firms:
• DoD is working to transform the Joint Space Operations Center into a Combined Space Operations Center with greater international participation.
• DoD is signing “Statements of Principles” for space situational awareness with with key allies to lay the political foundation for greater cooperation and information sharing.
• DoD has partnered with Australia in the Wideband Global Satellite Communications constellation. DoD is seeking to expand cooperation to other countries.
Prevent and deter aggression against space infrastructure that supports U.S. national security:
• DoD is seeking to include space in future strategic dialogues with key spacefaring nations to reduce the risk of mishaps, misunderstandings, and mistrust, particularly in a crisis.

Prepare to defeat attacks and to operate in a degraded environment:
• The DoD is training to maintain operations in a degraded environment and employ cross-domain solutions to ensure access to requisite capabilities and information

Space Florida and Bigelow Sign MOU

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

Soure – SpaceRef:

MOU to Explore Customers for Orbital Space Complex

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL (February 3, 2011) – Yesterday, Space Florida President Frank DiBello and Robert Bigelow, president of Bigelow Aerospace, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing to work together to pursue and identify foreign and domestic companies that could benefit from utilization of Bigelow’s expandable, orbital space complexes.

Bigelow currently has two pathfinder expandable systems successfully orbiting the Earth, and plans to build the first of multiple fully-functioning stations by 2015. The initial “Alpha” complex will be comprised of Bigelow’s patented “Sundancer” and “BA 330” modules, which are significantly larger than current modules aboard the International Space Station. Additionally, customer launch and lease rates for the facilities are expected to be extremely cost-efficient for domestic and international customers. Bigelow is marketing eighteen (18) separate human space flight programs with a variety of duration and pricing options, including an option of $28,750,000 for a 30-day astronaut visit.

According to Bigelow, if the company attracts enough customers to lease all of the orbiting, inflatable modules on Complex Alpha, it could mean up to 25 launches a year – possibly from Cape Canaveral – to ferry cargo and crew. Module launches could be accommodated by current United Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets or other vendors.

“Space Florida continues to pursue a number of diverse strategies to propel the growth of the space industry in Florida,” said Space Florida President Frank DiBello. “Bigelow has developed an orbital work environment that has substantial commercial applications. Our goal through this partnership will be not only to establish a significant Bigelow presence in Florida, but also to leverage both companies’ relationships to attract new, internationally-based customers for the orbiting complex.”

“Bigelow Aerospace ambitions are to launch and successfully operate as many commercial modules as possible,” said Bigelow President Robert Bigelow. “None of the large BA 2100 or 3300 modules and station complexes can be transported by land or launched with a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) vehicle for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, Bigelow Aerospace is looking for manufacturing facilities in close proximately to launch sites and launch companies capable of high volume traffic, locations like Cape Canaveral and companies like ULA.”

It is intended that this innovative partnership will help build a dynamic future for on-orbit commercial space operations, enhancing overall launch activity, employment, and growth of the aerospace field in Florida.

This collaborative business development partnership will also explore approaches to supporting 1/3 scale models of the orbiting outposts in Florida. These models would assist in marketing to new customers as well as simulation of customer requirements and concepts of operations for payloads, prior to flight.

U.S., Australia Sign Agreement on Space Situational Awareness

by Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz with the blog faculty

Source: Space News

By Turner Brinton

WASHINGTON — The heads of the U.S. and Australian defense departments on Nov. 8 signed a pact in Melbourne to cooperate on space situational awareness activities, which may include placing U.S. radars in Australia to track satellites and debris in low Earth orbit.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Australian Minister of Defence Stephen Smith signed a statement of principles that says the two governments will “work together in the spirit of cooperation on the space situational awareness partnership for the mutual benefit of our countries’ national security.” The document was posted on the Australian Ministry of Defence website. More…

ABA 2010: Current Trends in International Aviation

By P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

Third panel of the meeting was titled Current Trends in International Aviation and was moderated by Arthur Molins, Lufthansa German Airlines. Panelists included Shawn Christensen, Westjet; Sam Poderesky, Department of Transportation; Paul Jasinski, British Airways; Jaun Carlos Mencio, LAN Airlines; and a representative from Ethiopian Airlines whose name did not appear in the program (it was given from the podium, but I unfortunately did not capture it).

Poderesky began with comments on new regulations on passenger rights in commercial aviation. He stated that the rules were relatively new, so that much were still being learned about them. He noted that these regulations dealt with delayed flights, Tarmac delays, and reporting of certain data on airline websites. He said that so far there have not been any major problems with the new regulations since they have been implemented.

Jasinski discussed a new notice of proposed rule making that could extend many of these requirements to foreign carriers. He addressed the problems of extraterritoriality with this proposed rule making, but stated that a seamless system was a desirable thing for both enhancing service to passengers, but also to create a manageable regulatory network with which airlines interact. He said that harmonizing these regulations would be very favorable.

Mencio stated that regulating customer service was something that was often handled by the market, stating that his airline was up to standard because it wanted to compete. He also, addressed extraterritoriality and that extraterritorial implementation of regulations have cultural issues as well. He stated that in South American markets the view of airline service on a variety of levels was culturally different from American perspectives.

The Ethiopian Airlines representative stated that a patchwork of international regulations could be very difficult for smaller airlines to navigate. He said that this burden needed to be dealt with in order to allow these types of regulations to be effective but also to allow small airlines to continue to function.

The discussion then turned to airline finance issues, open skies agreements, consolidation of airlines, and numerous other international issues.