NASA is apparently interested in renewing its suborbital microgravity research work, which historically used expendable rockets but enquiries by Flight to Virgin Galactic on the possible future involvement of its SpaceShipTwo vehicle drew only a “no comment without prior NASA approval” response
But for orbital flights NASA has a press conference about the next flight for Space Shuttle Discovery for its STS-120 mission that is expected to launch 23 October but may be delayed due to thermal protection tile issues – however Flight is hearing that the decision will be to go for launch
Meanwhile NASASpaceflight.com claims to have information on the planning for the rescue mission that would have to be undertaken if the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which is going to repair the Hubble space telescope on mission STS-125 in August next year, finds it has TPS damage after its ascent
The US space agency has announced that its placed a series of technology contracts with small businesses
Finally NASA has chosen a Lockheed Martin Atlas V to launch its Juno mission probe to Jupiter in August 2011
