DARPA’s Next Generation Spaceplane

This is my most recent Clearancejobs.com post. It’s about DARPA’s proposed XS-1 spaceplane. The prime contractors for the first phase of the contract, and they’re working with some of the “new space” companies. I raise questions about which one of those might be able to help their partner companies succeed in the post: DARPA’s Next […]

She’s Got a Golden Space Ticket!!

Okay, so this is admittedly a nice public relations stunt from XCOR Aerospace. But for the recipient of this stunt, it’s pretty awesome. Imagine the scenario: you’re a typical comic nerd attending the San Diego Comic Con in 2012. Suddenly, there’s an announcement that certain audience members are eligible for a “golden ticket” for a […]

Slipping the Surly Bonds in a Space Balloon

I’ve written posts in the past regarding World View Enterprises, Inc.’s, plans to get a balloon to “near-space.” Such plans are decent and less expensive alternatives to riding on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two. At least until XCOR Aerospace gets its act together. Most recently, I wrote about World View’s design challenge, which just ended this week. But […]

DIY Space: Citizens in Space

Are you a citizen scientist with a satellite payload idea? Then this might be the program for you: Citizens in Space. Citizens in Space would like you to develop an actual experiment, one in which you’ll be surprised by the outcome, no matter what the outcome is. They’d like you to keep the payload experiment within […]