CU ROLE IN DREAM CHASER SPACECRAFT TO CONTINUE UNDER NEW NASA GRANT TO SIERRA NEVADA CORP.
Apr 22nd
Faculty and students at the University of Colorado Boulder will continue to play a significant role in the development of the Dream Chaser, a commercial spacecraft that will be used to carry astronauts to low Earth orbit, thanks to a new $80 million grant from NASA to Sierra Nevada Corp.
The Louisville, Colo.-based aerospace company was one of four companies to receive grants this week from NASA’s Commercial Crew Development program. The grant is a follow-on to Sierra Nevada’s NASA grant of $20 million for the Dream Chaser last year.
Roughly the size of a business jet, the 30-foot-long Dream Chaser is slated to launch vertically on an Atlas V rocket and land horizontally on conventional runways, similar to the much larger space shuttle. The spacecraft is based on NASA’s earlier HL-20 lifting body design.
As part of its continuing development of the Dream Chaser, Sierra Nevada will fund “human rating” research led by CU-Boulder Professor David Klaus of the aerospace engineering sciences department, according to Jim Voss, a CU faculty member and vice president of Sierra Nevada. Human rating research is aimed at developing a methodology for evaluating safety and operational aspects of spacecraft intended to transport crew.
“This is a great industry-academia collaboration that combines providing design input for the Dream Chaser to Sierra Nevada with four related thesis topics being pursued by Ph.D. students in our program,” Klaus said.
Sierra Nevada also will sponsor and fund a continuation of the CU-Boulder graduate student project involving Dream Chaser displays and controls, Voss said. The graduate project is focused on cockpit design and ergonomics evaluation to determine the best placement and type of controls to be used by the crew. The students are being advised by Voss and his colleague Joe Tanner, both of whom joined the CU-Boulder faculty after retiring as NASA astronauts.
Klaus, who heads the aerospace department’s bioastronautics focus area, has set up a laboratory in CU-Boulder’s Engineering Center housing three mock-ups of the spacecraft. One is a full-scale model of the Dream Chaser based on the earlier HL-20 design that is on loan from NASA to Sierra Nevada; another is a 15 percent scale model unit that was used for flight testing last December, and the third is the cockpit section being used to evaluate the layout for instrument displays and controls. A “public day” is being planned so that the community will have a chance to view the project.
“The University of Colorado and Sierra Nevada Corporation have formed a partnership that allows use of the tremendous intellectual resources of students and professors to help develop a commercial human spacecraft, the Dream Chaser,” said Voss. “I’m really pleased to continue the work that was started last year and look forward to more student involvement with this exciting project.”
-CU-
Earth Day Network Aims for Billion Acts of Green
Apr 21st
Earth Day Network Aims for Billion Acts of Green
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-21-02.html>
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-21-02.html>
WASHINGTON, DC, April 21, 2011 (ENS) – Earth Day Network and
Facebook are collaborating to motivate people to participate in the
Billion Acts of Green campaign with a new application for publicizing
environmental actions. The Facebook app is part of Earth Day Network’s
campaign to reach “a billion….
BP to Pay $1 Billion for Early Gulf Coast Restoration
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-21-03.html>
WASHINGTON, DC, April 21, 2011 (ENS) – BP has agreed to provide $1
billion toward early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico to
address injuries to natural resources caused by latest year’s oil
spill, the largest in U.S. history. …
<http://www.youtube.com/embed/OkQSQvvkW08>
Japan Enforces No-Go Zone Around Crippled Nuclear Plant
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-21-01.html>
TOKYO, Japan, April 21, 2011 (ENS) – The Japanese government will
enforce a no-entry zone within 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) of the
battered Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant from midnight
Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said today…..
Bolivia Celebrates Law Granting Rights to Mother Earth
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-20-01.html>
LA PAZ, Bolivia, April 20, 2011 (ENS) – Bolivia today marked the
International Day of Mother Earth with a ceremony in the Plaza
Murillo, the center of political power. An ancient ritual shared
center stage with speeches in which authorities in this Andean nation
extolled the Law of Mother Earth – the world’s first legislation …
BP Sues Transocean for $40 Billion Over Gulf Oil Spill
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-20-02.html>
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, April 20, 2011 (ENS) – On the first
anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig blowout in the Gulf of
Mexico, BP today filed a $40 billion lawsuit against the rig’s owner,
Transocean…..
UN Chief Charts Five-Step Path to Global Nuclear Safety
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-19-02.html>
KIEV, Ukraine, April 19, 2011 (ENS) – As he prepared to visit
Chernobyl 25 years after the world’s worst nuclear disaster, UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlined a five-step plan to strengthen
global nuclear safety…..
Entire Gulf of Mexico Reopened to Fishing a Year After BP Spill
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-19-01.html>
WASHINGTON, DC, April 19, 2011 (ENS) – Federal regulators today
reopened commercial and recreational fishing in all federal waters of
the Gulf of Mexico that were closed to fishing due to the BP Deepwater
Horizon oil spill……
BP Blowout One Year Later: Drilling Safety an Explosive Issue
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-18-02.html>
WASHINGTON, DC, April 18, 2011 (ENS) – Hundreds of activists
protesting fossil fuels marched to the Department of the Interior’s
headquarters today and swarmed inside, calling for the abolition of
offshore oil drilling, coal mining and tar sands extraction……
Georgia Court Rejects Air Permit for New Coal-Fired Power Plant
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-20-092.html>
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 20, 2011 (ENS) – A Georgia administrative
law court has sided with two citizen groups opposed to the proposed
Longleaf coal-fired power plant in Blakely, Georgia, designed to be
the largest coal plant in the nation…..
Huge Texas Wildfires Scorch 1.5 Million Acres
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-19-091.html>
AUSTIN, Texas, April 19, 2011 (ENS) – A unprecedented wildfire
situation in Texas has set more than 1.5 million acres ablaze, forced
hundreds of people to flee their homes and destroyed hundreds of homes
and buildings…..
U.S. Offers $5 Million to Advance Electric Vehicles
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-19-093.html>
WASHINGTON, DC, April 19, 2011 (ENS) – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven
Chu Tuesday announced $5 million in new funding for community efforts
to deploy electric vehicle infrastructure and charging stations. ..
Shell Eco-Marathon Winner Gets Over 2,500 Miles Per Gallon
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-19-092.html>
HOUSTON, Texas, April 19, 2011 (ENS) – A prototype car that achieved
an amazing 2,564.8 miles per gallon won first place in the Shell
Eco-marathon 2011 in Houston this past weekend. …
EPA Considers Ban on Dangerous Chemicals in Spray Foam Insulation
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-16-092.html>
WASHINGTON, DC, April 16, 2011 (ENS) – The U.S. EPA is considering a
ban or restriction on consumer insulation and sealant products
containing a family of chemicals known as diisocyantes….
U.S. Alliance Debunks Myths Surrounding Fuel Efficent Cars
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-16-091.html>
NEW YORK, New York, April 14, 2011 (ENS) – Go60MPG, a new alliance
of American environmental groups, is rallying support to raise
federal fuel efficiency standards for new cars to 60 miles per gallon
by the year 2025…..
Congress Pulls Wolves Off Endangered Species List
<http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2011/2011-04-14-093.html>
WASHINGTON, DC, April 14, 2011 (ENS) – Congress today approved a
budget bill that includes a rider removing wolves in Montana, Idaho,
Washington, Oregon and Utah from the federal endangered species list
and sets the stage for near-term delisting in Wyoming. The measure
returns control of wolf management to the states….
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Press Releases From the Environmental Marketplace
Hospitals Around the Country Hold Earth Day Events to
Highlight Importance of “Going Green”
<http://www.world-wire.com/news/1104210001.html>
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 21, 2010 –/WORLD-WIRE/– Hospitals and
other members of the health care sector will be marking Earth Day
2011 with a wide variety of events showcasing their efforts to
develop sustainable operations and reduce their environmental
footprint. From making a rap video to staging water tasting and other
educational games, those engaged in sustainable health care are
finding fun and creative ways to educate their peers and their
communities about their successes in lessening their impact on the
environment.
Toyota Financial Services Celebrates Earth Day and Boys & Girls
Clubs of East Los Angeles with $500,000 Investment and “BE GREEN
DAY” <http://www.world-wire.com/news/1104190001.html>
<http://www.world-wire.com/news/1104190001.html>
American Standard Inspires Solutions in Earth Day Video, ‘Water
Wake-Up Call’ <http://www.world-wire.com/news/1104180001.html>
PISCATAWAY, N.J., April 18, 2011 –/WORLD-WIRE/– – Water usage
and costs affect all Americans and are becoming newsier topics every
day. As Earth Day on April 22 nears, environmental news will get a
special focus.
Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud Retains Power in Scandalous
Malaysian Polls <http://www.world-wire.com/news/1104190002.html>
KUCHING, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA, April 19, 2011, –/WORLD-WIRE/–377,000
votes from a population of 2.4 million have been sufficient to enable
Abdul Taib Mahmud (“Taib”), the controversial Chief Minister of the
Malaysian state of Sarawak, to be returned to office for his seventh
term in power. Despite heavy criticism over graft and abuse of power,
the Taib-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has won the Sarawak state
polls, which were held last Saturday, with a majority of 54.5% of the
votes.
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2011 Green Frontier Fest on Sunday, May 1 in Boulder
Apr 21st
The City of Boulder’s Local Environmental Action Division (LEAD) is partnering with the ReDirect Guide and the Boulder Green Building Guild (BGBG) to present the 2011 Green Frontier Fest at Boulder’s Central Park, on Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free festival will promote options for healthy and sustainable living.
The Green Frontier Fest will feature BGBG’s annual Green Building Product & Service Fair and is intended to showcase all things “green” in the Boulder valley – from cutting-edge renewable technologies to everyday solutions that can be implemented in the home. The event gives residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy interactive and educational exhibits, sustainable food and drink from vendors, children’s activities, music, entertainment and special presentations by guest speakers.
“We strive to make our community a more sustainable and a healthier place to live, work, and play,” said Kristen Hartel, a LEAD Residential Sustainability Specialist. “LEAD is supportive of the Green Frontier Fest’s vision to showcase environmentally and socially responsible initiatives, products, and choices, as well as promote companies that make up our local economy.”
BGBG’s role in the fair offers attendees face-to-face interaction with architects, builders, solar specialists, heating and cooling experts, energy auditors and other green building service providers.
“The 5th Annual Green Building Product and Service Fair is a must for anyone considering a remodel or new construction project,” said BGBG’s Member & Outreach Manager Meagan Forney. “With so many energy efficiency programs and incentives available today, the time has never been better for homeowners to consider making their home or building more comfortable.”
The Green Frontier Fest was first held in Denver in August 2008, as part of the Democratic National Convention. Since then, ReDirect has been co-producing sustainability-focused events throughout the Front Range.
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring together so many great community partners to make this event happen,” said Boulder Area Advocate at ReDirect Guide Lori Powell. “Boulder has such a vibrant community in support of sustainability, and this festival allows us to celebrate that culture while promoting economic growth in this sector.”
Organizations and businesses interested in exhibiting at the Green Frontier Fest should contact Lori Powell at 303-519-8289 or greenfrontierfest@redirectguide.com. For more information, visit www.greenfrontierfest.com.
For additional information, contact the Local Environmental Action Division (LEAD) at 303-441-4900 or visit www.bouldercolorado.gov/LEAD.
