The Technology Strategy Board's network of "catapult" Innovation Centres seems to be achieving commercial success:-

• A profit in their own country -- Professional Engineer

Welcome to our two new SpaceShipTwo pilots, CJ (4x @nasa shuttle astronaut) and Sooch (U-2 pilot and more). #space twitter.com/virgingalactic…

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) May 7, 2013

(Source: Virgin Galactic press release)

MOJAVE, Calif. 07 MAY 2013 (Virgin Galactic PR) – Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, announced today that pilots Frederick “CJ” Sturckow and Michael “Sooch” Masucci have been selected to join its commercial flight team. As Virgin Galactic clears its final flight test program milestones with powered flight tests now under way, the necessary addition of new pilots will enable the company to meet the test schedule demands and prepare for subsequent commercial operations.

Sturckow, a veteran of four space shuttle missions and retired U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Colonel, is the first NASA astronaut to be hired into Galactic’s pilot corps. Masucci, a retired U.S. Air Force (USAF) Lieutenant Colonel, joins Virgin Galactic from XOJET Inc, a private airline company where he was a Citation X (CE750) Captain and Check Airman. Masucci and Sturckow will report to Chief Pilot David Mackay and Vice President of Operations Mike Moses at Virgin Galactic’s Mojave, Calif., location where they will conduct flight training and testing with Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo vehicles.

Sturckow has more than 26 years of military flight experience and has logged more than 1,200 hours in space. During his flight career, Sturckow logged over 6,500 flight hours, flew more than 60 different aircraft, and was chosen to attend the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). Selected by NASA to join the astronaut corps in December 1994, Sturckow flew on four space shuttle missions to the International Space Station. In 2009, after 25 years of active duty service, Sturckow retired from the USMC. Sturckow went on to serve as deputy chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office for the final shuttle missions, flying weather reconnaissance in the T-38 and Shuttle Training Aircraft for launch and landing.

“Viewing the Earth from space is such a unique and unforgettable experience,” Sturckow said. “I’m excited to be a part of the Virgin Galactic team that is revolutionizing access to space, making this opportunity a possibility for all.”

Masucci has more than 30 years of civilian and military operational and test flying experience with more than 9,000 flight hours in over 70 different airplane and glider types. A distinguished graduate of USAF pilot training in 1986, he completed USAF Test Pilot School in 1993 and went on to serve as a U-2 combat pilot in several important operations. He instructed in the F-16, T-38 and glider aircraft at the USAF Test Pilot School, while also serving as a Branch Chief. As a U-2 test pilot he was instrumental in the development and testing of the aircraft’s glass cockpit and power upgrade programs. In addition, Masucci has commanded USAF developmental and operational test units, as well as combat and training units.

“Virgin Galactic is truly a world-class organization with unique flight opportunities that you just won’t find anywhere else,” Masucci said. “I’m proud to be a part of this team and look forward to contributing to this revolutionary program.”

“I am pleased to have these two incredibly accomplished pilots join us during this important time as we embark on a series of important rocket-powered flight tests for SpaceShipTwo, ultimately testing the vehicle in space,” said Virgin Galactic President and CEO George Whitesides. “Their collective experience and outstanding performance in various demanding environments will make them invaluable assets to the Virgin Galactic team.”

Virtuoso Travel has an extended interview with David Mackay, chief test pilot of Virgin Galactic, in which he discusses his work and the flying characteristics of the VG vehicles:

• Now Testing -- Virtuoso Life

...but real life is occupying too much of my time at the moment. Too many projects on the go at the same time. I'm aiming to catch up with the backlog of posts over the next few days.

I also have a major upgrade to the blogging platform done in prototype form, but have to figure out how to transfer a large number of articles to it. Any Drupal experts in the house, let me know.

(Source: QinetiQ press release)

Proba-V to be used for global Vegetation monitoring

07 May 2013 - Proba-V, a small satellite-based earth observation system for vegetation studies, developed by QinetiQ, launched today.

Developed by QinetiQ Space for the European Space Agency (ESA), the state-of-the-art Proba satellite platform, Proba-V, launched at 04:06am on 7th May (Europe CEST) from Kourou, French Guiana.

During the five year mission, the miniature Earth-observer will enable vegetation visibility for a number of institutions and the ability to build applications to study agriculture and crop growth, deforestation, vegetation change, as well as the impact of climate change.

The orbit of the Proba platform, and an innovative optical instrument, ensures complete global coverage every two days. The satellite incorporates a wide-angle telescope within its main multi-spectral Earth-monitoring instrument, capable of imaging a 2,250 km swath across the globe. The image strips developed combine to create a complete picture of the earth’s vegetation data at 350 m resolution.

Leo Quinn, Chief Executive at QinetiQ, said: “This is another landmark achievement for the QinetiQ Space Team and after four years of work we are extremely proud to see the launch of this highly innovative minisatellite. The Proba-V mission highlights QinetiQ Space’s end-to-end mission capabilities, from technology development to management of the flight segment, and we look forward to seeing the satellites achievements in support of ESA in due course.”

Although smaller than a cubic metre, the satellite also carries a pair of radiation sensors, a fibre optic connector experiment, a prototype radio transmitter based on the semiconductor gallium nitride, and a test receiver to track global aircraft movement. Proba-V will be the world’s first space mission to detect Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast signals from aircraft, building up a global overview of air traffic.

The Proba-V mission is due to end in July 2018.

QinetiQ is a world leader in deploying sophisticated technologies, delivering robust solutions for deep space exploration, space and near space communications, navigation and earth observation. Customers include NASA, DoD, ESA, the EU, the UK’s MOD and a wide range of commercial organisations in the global space, aerospace, communications and security sectors.

Sarah Brightman gets a date of October 2015 for her planned Soyuz flight to the International Space Station:

• Russia Confirms Plans to Send Sarah Brightman to Space - RIA Novosti
• Sarah Brightman plans on upcoming space journey - CBS News

Elon Musk's electric car company Tesla Motors has hired British engineer Chris Porritt, formerly Aston Martin's Chief Engineer of Vehicle Engineering, to become Tesla's Vice President of Vehicle Engineering. Chris attended Hatfield Polytechnic north of London earning a Mechanical and Automotive Engineering degree. He later earned a master's degree in Automotive Technology Management from Cranfield University. He spent 10 years at Land Rover, rising to become principal engineer in Vehicle Dynamics, before moving to Aston Martin in 1997.

• Tesla Motors press release

(Source: Newton Launch Systems press release)

Newton Launch Systems, working under sub-contract to Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), is undertaking a study into the technical and economic feasibility of a UK-based small satellite launcher. The project is part of a broader initiative funded by the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) under the Space Collaborative Innovation Team Initiative (Space CITI), which has brought together a range of expertise from partners including London Economics, Reaction Engines, Commercial Space Technologies and other consultants within the UK space industry. Space CITI is a pilot programme designed to support accelerated innovation and economic growth and is aligned to the objectives and growth targets as outlined by the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy (IGS).

Newton’s contribution to the project is focused on the following areas:

• An analysis into the small satellite launch market (up to 150kg mass)
• A survey of previous small launcher studies
• An investigation into the technical and economic feasibility of a commercial UK-based small satellite launcher

To learn more about the Space CITI project, please visit the UKSA website at: http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/news-and-events