Posthumously Awarded The Presidential Medal Of Freedom

NASA and President Obama honored the life and legacy of Sally Ride on the day a national tribute was held for the first American woman in space. The President announced Monday afternoon Ride will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House later this year.

Paul Allen To Place WWII Relic On Permanent Display

He had to sell some artwork ... described as "abstract" ... to do it, but Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has acquired a rare Wernher von Braun-designed V-2 rocket that he plans to display at his Flying Heritage Collection on the grounds of Paine Field in Everett, WA.

Historic Complex Sent Americans To The Moon, Shuttles To Space

NASA released a synopsis Friday announcing plans to issue an announcement for proposals for the commercial use of Launch Pad 39A at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The announcement is expected next week. Use of the launch pad by industry is designed to encourage commercial space activities along Florida's Space Coast and fully use the historic launch complex.

Crowdfunding Campaign Exceeded Goal By Nearly $20,000

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), in partnership with Challenger Center for Space Science Education, sponsored a first-of-its-kind crowd funding campaign to place a trailer before "Star Trek Into Darkness" ... which opened May 17 ... to educate the public, most especially young people, on the exciting human spaceflight programs now underway. The trailer will play in more than 50 cities nationwide.

Launch Planned For 2016, With Samples Returning In 2023

NASA's first mission to sample an asteroid is moving ahead into development and testing in preparation for its launch in 2016. The Origins-Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) passed a confirmation review Wednesday called Key Decision Point (KDP)-C. NASA officials reviewed a series of detailed project assessments and authorized the spacecraft's continuation into the development phase.

Company Develops Technology To Enable Microgravity-Based Life Sciences Research

The Bionetics Corporation, a diversified engineering and applied sciences company, is set to become the newest tenant of the Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL) at the Kennedy Space Center, according to Space Florida, the state’s aerospace development organization and spaceport authority.