(Hat Tip: Space Pragmatism)

It looks as if two of the worlds most successful space firms (at least profit wise) may be partnering with each other in the not-so-distant future.

(Space.com) Space Adventures is having “serious talks” with Bigelow Aerospace, Anderson said, about using that entrepreneurial space firm’s orbital habitats in the future. Two Genesis-class modules are now in Earth orbit with the company planning to evolve in coming years to larger expandable modules that can be occupied.

“It’s possible we could buy an extra Soyuz and fly it to a Bigelow station. We’re certainly interested in what they are doing,” Anderson said.

A partnership between Bigelow Aerospace and Space Adventures would probably be a match “made for heaven.”

With the International Space Station destined to lose favor among NASA eyes, Space Adventures will probably need a new destination to fly its tourists towards.

Both Bigelow Aerospace and Space Adventures are planning future trips towards the moon, respectively, so a partnership between these two companies may ultimately lead towards our species becoming a space faring civilization.

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Despite their recent setbacks in the public sector, it looks as if some Japanese citizens are taking it upon themselves to enable the masses to access the heavens.

(Space Elevator Blog) Today I heard back from Mr. Shiuchi Ohno, one of the founders of the newly formed Japan Space Elevator Association (JSEA). I had emailed them a few questions – here are his responses;

Q) How long has JSEA been in existence?
A) JSEA is an association just born in this month. We will have first meeting this weekend in Tokyo. Last year, my friend and I went to Seattle to meet Mr.Michael and Mr. Tomas of Liftport company. We proposed them to start Japanese branch. But they couldn’t decide until now. Then we decided to start actual activity in Japan for the real SE.

Japan’s entrance into the space elevator field should help spark some “friendly competition” between the samurai nation and the US, at least in the private sector.

Despite the fact that this organization is still in its infancy, the Japan Space Elevator Association should help broaden the international appeal of the concept, as well as encourage other countries to form clubs of their own.

Ted Semon has more over on his weblog regarding this organization, which will hopefully impact Japan as much as LiftPort has impacted the US.

Update: Related-Russia Today Examines Space Elevators (Video)

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(Hat Tip: The Speculist)

A new breakthrough in solar technology may enable homeowners and astronauts alike to print (or paint) solar panels from their home or office, and apply them upon whatever surface they deem fit for use.

(Vnunet.com) Lead researcher Somenath Mitra, professor and acting chairman at NJIT’s Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, described the process as “simple”. [...]

“Developing organic solar cells from polymers, however, is a cheap and potentially simpler alternative,” said Mitra.

“We foresee a great deal of interest in our work because solar cells can be inexpensively printed or simply painted on exterior building walls and/or roof tops.

“Imagine driving in your hybrid car with a solar panel painted on the roof, which is producing electricity to drive the engine. The opportunities are endless.”

Aside from helping people on Earth, this technology could drastically help reduce the cost of colonizing future worlds. Astronauts could simply construct solar panels out of light weight material instead of hauling tons of wire, steel, etc. in order to power a tiny base off world.

Panels like these would also be expendable, allowing colonists to simply discard (or preferably recycle) dying panels and create new ones in their place.

Note: What makes this technology really interesting is the fact that they are using carbon nanotubes as an electrical conductor, which may help out various companies in the space elevator industry.

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Despite its romantic appeal, Mars is a very hostile planet–at least “weather wise.” Although known for harboring dust storms upon its surface, the red planet seems to throw up a tantrum every three Martian years by coating the entire planet with “crimson soil.”

(Space.com) The surface of Mars is now obscured by a globe-engulfing veil of dust, posing a potentially longer-lasting threat to NASA’s twin surface rovers.

Massive regional storms have been whipping up dust on the red planet since late June. Now, they’ve combined to create a “planet-encircling veil of dust,” according to a statement from Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS), which operates a camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA.

“The dust raised by these individual storms has obscured most of the planet over the past few weeks,” the release stated.

Of all the space trials our species will face in the future, weather by far will be the most difficult. Humans (at best) can adapt to the climate of hostile regions, but have thus far been unable to manipulate it to our desires.

Just like our ancestors before us on Earth, future colonists will be at the mercy of the red planet’s emotional weather patterns, and may have to settle for constructing cities below the surface, as well as above.

(Video: Dust storms from the view of the Opportunity Rover on Mars. Credit: NASA)

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(Image: Artist drawing of SELENE satellites, Credit: JAXA, via MSNBC)

With news of the Japanese delaying their satellite mission to the moon, some may wonder if Japan has what it takes to not only pull ahead of China, but establish itself as a space power.

While some may write off the Japanese space program as “third rate,” upon closer examination it looks as if the Japanese are making sure their satellites voyage off world is a successful one.

(MSNBC) The Selenological and Engineering Explorer — or SELENE — probe was to have been launched aboard one of the space program’s mainstay H-2A rockets on Aug. 17, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said in a statement issued Friday.

However, during an inspection it was discovered that some components were improperly installed on the two smaller satellites that accompany the main orbiter, JAXA said. The components will be replaced, and a new launch date will be announced once it has been determined, it said.

Japan’s SELENE mission will give the Japanese space program an edge over its rivals by providing crucial data on the lunar terrain and perhaps help Japan locate valuable resources on the Moon’s far side. Two of the smaller satellites will observe their respective poles, while the third larger satellite will hover about 100 kilometers above the surface.

Although news of the delay is disappointing and a setback for the Asian nation, it is better to enter the space arena “slow and steady,” than to burn out like a shooting star.

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