NASA in $272m Woomera deal

[Jonathan]

On the cover of the Adelaide paper today is the announcment that NASA will be launching rockets from Woomera in outback South Australia to supply cargo to the ISS. Work on the launch site is sheduled to start in October, and the first launch is scheduled for late 2008 with launches as often as every 2 weeks. It's interesting stuff, see the whole story here:
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...006301,00.html

[shredder]

Wow,

Well sign me up, I'll be there one way or another to see the first launch!

Cheers

M

[ving (David)]

woohoo! rockets launched from here!!!

[Jonathan]

It hope it is possible to get a good view of the launches. It's only about 5 hours drive from Adelaide so I'd be going for a look that's for sure.

[xstream (John)]

Can't miss this.
I reckon I'll try and make an effort to see the first launch also.

[Shawn]

Youll love this guys, last year I was machining parts for the scramjets they are testing out there. Seriously...

Mach 10 these things do... or at least supposed to. all drawings for my eyes only...

[sheeny (Al)]

mmm might have to plan a holiday around this!

Al.

[fringe_dweller]

this one is the strongest proposal we have seen yet for the re-opening of woomera! this one seems real even!
but I noticed the advertiser was even a little reluctant to be sucked in totally and was a little reserved even (editorial), we/they have been bitten before remember - spaceport ect.) and no triumphant pollies announcement, endorsement!! - thats a bit odd!? sounds like it gets a trial at least anyway and there will be some launches for sure

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Put me down for a campsite to watch a Launch too! Any of them if it becomes regular.

[iceman (Mike)]

Excellent news!

[CoombellKid]

Hmmmmm, sounds very interesting, wonder if they're looking for riggers

Rob

[rogerg (Roger)]

Interesting, that would be good. I can understand the hesitation over it though, I note in the article that Kistler could lose the fight for the contract with NASA which would surely mean an end to the operation in SA.

Roger.

[fringe_dweller]

did a bit of a search on this story, didnt have to look far for a few more details http://space.com/news/060818_nasa_cots_wrap.html
here's a quote from this article

'Rocketplane Kistler executives have said in recent interviews that they would conduct the first K-1 flights out of Woomera, Australia, but could eventually relocate operations to the United States, either in Nevada or Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.'

why build a lauch pad costing 100's of millions and then move operations - bizarre! oh well if it happens will be good for a little while possibly?

[rogerg (Roger)]

Sounds a bit like space.com is putting a positive spin on it for their largely american audience, and the SA newspaper is putting a positive spin on it for their SA audience

Who knows.

Sure doesn't make any sense to me building the launch setup then moving off to the US! There must be a reason they prefer SA in the first place, to be building there instead of the US.

Roger.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

If you scroll down to the bottom of that page and click on "read all comments" you'll find this comment sent in:

"The K1 has been sitting less than half complete in a shed in Mojave since they went bankrupt in 2003. Most of the engineers previously working on the project at the lead contractor Lockheed have resigned or retired. The principles have long bolted. This new venture with RPK (a holding company that now owns the intellectual property and left over scraps from the long dead program) is merely an exercise in parting foolish venture capitalists with their money. Posted by: Chris Mann of Sydney 4:34pm August 21, 2006"


I hope this isn't true, but it sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

[iceman (Mike)]

hmm that doesn't sound good. It wouldn't surprise me if it's correct.

You know how journalists jump on a story.