ACEIZE

There isn't much happening in the world of space travel today. Most of the news is just re-hashing old stories. None-the-less here's a quick run down of the more interesting stories of the day.

There is more blow back from the Chinese Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test from mid-January. MSNBC once again refers to the satellite as having been blown up by a ballistics missile. Early reports indicated a laser weapon. I would really like to know which is true.

People have high expectations of the building capabilities of the private space tourism industry. This article just runs down some of the more interesting players in the game and how the organizations are bureaucratizing themselves for the launch of private space travel. The Personal Spaceflight Federation, an industry association of companies involved in private space travel, is setting up to work with the FAA to develop manageable policies for people in space.

The team working on a new Martian lander are debating the next landing site. After finding the original landing site inhospitable for the Phoenix Mars Lander, the team must find a safer spot for the lander to work. The team has narrowed down to three possibilities around the poles of Mars, where large ice deposits, and possible signs of life are expected to be found. The decision on where to land must be made by March, 2007.