Status Report

Florida Spacegram 30 Mar 2001

By SpaceRef Editor
March 30, 2001
Filed under ,
SERPL Funding Included in House Budget — House Speaker
Tom Feeney has announced the inclusion of $16 million in the Florida
House of Representatives budget for the SERPL laboratory.  This
matches the amount requested in the Governors and Senates budgets
to complete the states investment in this multi-user laboratory for
Space Station research at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.  The
budget amendment was recommended by Rep. Bob Allen of Merritt
Island.

Space Grant Consortia Meet in Washington, Seek Increased Funding
— NASA-sponsored Space Grant Consortia from around the nation
gathered last week in Washington to discuss joint programs and their
need for increased NASA funding (which has already been authorized
but not appropriated by Congress).  Gov. Jeb Bush, in a recent
letter to NASA Administrator Dan Goldin, voiced his support for the
Space Grant Consortia program, calling it an excellent way for NASA
to support and interact with state-level space-related
initiatives.

And the Nominees Are& — The Florida Space Business
Roundtable has received six nominations for its annual Explorer
award, recognizing excellence in space education and research
programs.  The nominees are: Rick Abramson of Delaware North
Parks Services of Spaceport, Inc.; the Canaveral Council of Technical
Societies; Pamela Biegert of NASA/KSCs Education Programs and
University Research Division; Sam Durrance of the Florida Space
Research Institute; Dave Hosley of USAs Leadership Development
Program; and Al Koller of Brevard Community Colleges space
technician training program.  The award will be presented in
Tallahassee on Space Day 2001.
 
Bridges to Receive Debus Award — KSC Director Roy
Bridges will be honored with the 2001 Debus Award on April 6. 
The annual award, named after the first director of Kennedy Space
Center, is sponsored by the National Space Clubs Florida
Committee.
Gormel to be Honored at Air Force Association Banquet
Spaceport Authority Executive Director Ed Gormel will receive an
annual honor bestowed by the Air Force Association, Cape Canaveral
Chapter, at an annual Aerospace Tribute Banquet on March 30 at the
DoubleTree Hotel in Cocoa Beach. 
Dixie County Student Wins Space Day Art Contest — Rachel
Liles, a senior from Dixie County High School, is the winner of the
Space Day 2001 art contest and will be presented a $1,000 U.S.
Savings Bond  from Space Gateway Support.  Her artwork,
titled Moon Man,  will be on display at the Capitol during
Space Day on April 2.  Commissioner of Education Charlie Crist
will make the presentation at 1:30 p.m. on the steps of the State
Capitol.   
NASA Alumni League Supports Grant Proposal Reviews — The NASA
Alumni League is once again providing expert reviews for proposals
submitted to the FSGC/FSRI/SFA joint space research grant
program.  Their reviews will contribute to the selection process
for grant awards.
Athena Added to NASA Contract — According to Space News, NASA
has added Lockheed Martins Athena 2 rockets to a contract that will
allow the agency to use the rocket for some future launch
requirements.  The Athena rockets would use the Spaceport
Authoritys Launch Complex 46 facility for East Coast launches.
Mir Crashes to Earth — Russia successfully de-orbited its Mir
space station last week, ending a 14-year presence in Earths
orbit.

Edward Ellegood
Spaceport Florida Authority
100 Spaceport Way
Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920-4003
321-730-5301, ext. 1105 (phone); 321-730-5307 (fax); 321-698-9101
(cell)

SpaceRef staff editor.