Saturday’s space news scan finds widespread reporting and commentary on Space X’s successful launch of the Falcon 9 on Friday afternoon. The mission is viewed as a success, vindication for President Obama’s space policy plans. Here’s a roundup of first day reporting on the first flight of the Falcon 9.
1. From the New York Times,
“The success was a major boon to those supporting President Obama’s proposal to turn the launching of astronauts over to private companies. A spectacular failure would have provided ammunition to opponents who call Mr. Obama’s approach too risky,” reports the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/science/space/05rocket.html?scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cse
A. From the Washington Post, Obama’s plan bolstered, reports the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/04/AR2010060403360.html
B. From the Los Angeles Times, SpaceX …”the right stuff”
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-rocket-20100605,0,1629171.story
C. From CNN… “essentially a bulls eye”
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/04/spacex.rocket.test/index.html?iref=allsearch
D. The Hill, The Hill notes the success as well as the skepticism present in Congress over White House plans to have NASA stimulate commercial space transportation.
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/101495-private-space-firm-spacex-launches-first-successful-test-flight
E. From Space.com… Obama plan “vindicated”
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/101495-private-space-firm-spacex-launches-first-successful-test-flight
F. From the Houston Chronicle, successful launch proves Elon Musk…”not just blowing smoke.” Report notes faint praise from U. S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who wants a shuttle extension and the Constellation Program re-instated.
http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2010/06/falcon_9_launch_a_success_what_does_it_mean.html
G. From the Orlando Sentinel, The OS sees a “new era” opening. Report includes comments from U.S. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who downplays the milestone.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-spacex-rocket-launch-20100604,0,926830.story
H. From Florida Today, Falcon 9 launch a “bulls eye.”
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100605/NEWS02/6050325/Falcon-9-nails-test
I. Space.com, a “good day” for SpaceX
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/missionlaunches/spacex-first-falcon-9-rocket-launch-wrap-100604.html
J. From Spacepolitics.com, The website stacks up the congressional reactions to Friday’s Falcon 9 launching.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2010/06/04/congressional-reaction-to-falcon-9-launch/
K. From Bloomberg, SpaceX achieves success.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-04/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-reaches-earth-s-orbit-on-first-flight.html
L. From MSNBC, A “significant advance.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37509776/ns/technology_and_science-space/
M. Space.com profiles a half dozen companies with an interest in furthering human space flight.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/news/private-companies-to-launch-humans-100604.html
2. From the Orlando Sentinel, A look at a meeting Friday in Orlando between the Space Coast community, NASA’s Administrator and the Obama Administration’s Labor Secretary on employment after the shuttle’s retirement. More venture capital is needed, reports the Sentinel.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-kassab-nasa-jobs-06072010-20100604,0,5562247.column
A. From Florida Today, Kennedy Space Center job cuts, Friday was the final work day for 300 with United Space Alliance at the Kennedy Space Center. These were “voluntary” layoffs in response to the looming shuttle retirement. The losses were announced in April. The losses leave USA with 8,200 workers, 5,100 of them at Kennedy.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100604/BUSINESS/6040313/1006/news01/300+KSC+workers+set+to+lose+jobs+today
3. From the Business Wire, Space Center Houston campaigns for a retired shuttle orbiter to display. An area economist estimates that an orbiter on display could generate $45 million annually in new reviews, support 750 jobs.
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100604005686&newsLang=en