credit: JAXA / click on image to see larger version in this window browser

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has unveiled a new website for its Space Exploration Center that includes a lunar outpost team webpage

The website blurb says: "Human Lunar Systems Team works for the conceptual system study on the future human lunar outpost. Based on the achievements and lessons learned from the International Space Station Program, system architecture on the basis of the international cooperation and the way of Japan's contribution are discussed continuously."

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The European Space Agency has announced its intention to develop a cargo return vehicle (CARV) to bring back payload from the International Space Station. The CARV will be an evolution of the agency's expendable Automated Transfer vehicle (ATV)

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Note the NK-33 single engine for the first core stage

NASA is concerned that the flight hardware for Orion crew exploration vehicle's (CEV) extra vehicular activity (EVA) system is too heavy for its CEV and is working towards a preliminary design that is light enough for April 2009


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Why won't Russia's Federal Space Agency (FSA) aka Roscosmos just admit that its "private investor" for the 2011 flight is Space Adventures?

At the joint Russian delegation press conference yesterday I recorded my brief question and answer opportunity with FSA/Roscosmos deputy director Vitaly Davidov about the 2011 private spaceflight agreement, the cooperation with South Korea and Soyuz in Kourou


caption: Davidov on the phone prior to the press conference's start
 
I never got an answer to the third part, maybe that was the translator's mistake, but I didn't get much about Korea or this mooted 2011 flight either

Click here to download a recording of my very brief Q&A at the press conference in Russian and English. The recording begins with the translator asking my questions in Russian and then Davidov's answers, which are translated. The sound qualty varies due to the public address system and background noise - well it is an airshow!

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Is this Energia Rocket and Space Corporation's concept for the Euro-Russian Crew Space Transportation System vehicle? I was told by the two Energia employees on the company's stand that they had been given it to display at the last minute. They knew very little but said they thought it was reusable and it could carry six people

At the US Embassy in London yesterday (14 July 2008) I met with NASA administrator Michael Griffin to chat for 15min about what he is doing in Europe this week, the International Space Station, space tourism, the forthcoming authorisation bill and when he expects to talk to the new US president. Hear Griffin talk about his hopes that the UK get involved in human spaceflight and his support for an international common docking system

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I need to thank the US Embassy public affairs staff for their generous loan of their audio recording device and general help yesterday as well

Sadly at the moment I am among the enthusists for subsonic tubes with a sticky out bit called a wing

This Farnborough air show is severely lacking in all things space and part of the reason is the British National Space Centre is apparently saving all its pennies for the International Astronautical Congress that is being held in Glasgow later this year - well I can't blame them but should a member of the G8 be unable to fund both?

While I eeek out the time and stories to meet my blogging qouta I can report that I interviewed NASA administrator Michael Griffin today and, technology willing, that should become a podcast you can download tomorrow. Then on Wednesday I have a pre-written blog entry about a new issue for the Constellation programme

As for the rest of the week, it will come round soon enough

The interview with Griffin spanned issues such as the recent problems with the Soyuz capsules, the NASA authorisation bill, the challenge of changing administrations and more

Learn about how to use NASA's simulation software, based on first-person-shooter computer game engine technology, in this video with narration by a British women. The software was developed by NASA with the help of the Virginian company Valador

This tv report from China state television channel CCTV shows part of the Shenzhou VII spacecraft being transferred to its launch site where the video's translation says there will be airlock tests


credit: CCTV