Here is another article about 'Spaceport America', the spaceport slated for development in New Mexico. This article precedes the signing of the letter of agreement by Richard Branson. This article speaks almost exclusively to the unwillingness of the local New Mexican county, Dona Ana, to sign into law a tax increase for the project. I'm starting to see a particularly interesting public relations campaign by Virgin Galactic.

Brian Emmet, the guy who one a trip into suborbital space from Oracle, is getting a free ride. Benson Space Co. heard about Brain's trouble with the tax man and offered to hire him as a consultant for the ride. Now the whole trip is a tax write off - take that tax man! At least, now that Brian is using the trip to space for work it seems like it could be a write off, but I suppose he still won the trip and probably has to pay taxes. This is when reporters would probably call people and ask.

Brain will give Benson feedback on the ride into space as a way of improving their own suborbital experience.

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 government requires that taxes be paid on sub-orbital flights won in contests. Personally, I think that the government should try and encourage sub-orbital space programs by waiving taxes - but when was the last time the government did what I think they should?

Interestingly, the article mentions Rocketplane Ltd. Rocketplane, Ltd. is the company that Microsoft partnered with to give away a free sub-orbital space flight. The space craft is described as being a souped-up Leer jet. How exciting.

It must be a slow news day, because everyone is printing this article...

Bush signs new law defining the principles of space research for government offices.

From the summary...

The National Aeronautics Research and Development Policy defines the principles upon which Federal Government aeronautics R&D will be based and the policy goal, objectives and general guidelines that will drive Federal Government aeronautics R&D activities through 2020. It describes the roles and responsibilities of the involved executive departments and agencies in each of four primary areas of aeronautics R&D: (1) stable and long-term foundational research; (2) advanced aircraft systems development; (3) air transportation management systems; and (4) national research, development, test and evaluation infrastructure.

Undersecretary of State Robert G. Joseph started a short debate this week with some statements regarding the right of the United States to pursue peaceful space programs, and therefore the need to launch weapons systems to defend those peaceful programs.

In this Washington Post article, the need for the United States to protect existing space assets, namely satellites, is discussed. The Project for the New American century, said in their 2000 defense review - a document that the Bush administration has very strictly adhered to - stated that the need for space defense systems is essential for the coming century. Space defense systems in this case being space to missile defense (missile defense shield, star wars), satellite defense and satellite offense. The deputy head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Vitaliy Davydov, spoke against the US push to space, stating that the Russians also have weaponry to add to any potential space weapons race.

The FAA released a bunch of new regulations for Human Space Travel departing from the United States. I wonder what sort of impact this will have on the budding commercial space tourism industry?

SUMMARY: The FAA is establishing requirements for human space flight as required by the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004, including rules on crew qualifications and training, and informed consent for crew and space flight participants. The requirements should provide an acceptable level of safety to the general public and ensure individuals on board are aware of the risks associated with a launch or reentry.