Space News Magazine, Volume 20 Issue 12, March 23rd, 2009

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

CIVIL SPACE
Concerns Expressed About Leaderless NASA
Members of Congress, space industry officials and NASA staff are growing increasingly frustrated
that NASA is still without a permanent administrator. See story, page 4
LAUNCH INDUSTRY
GOCE Launch Provides Reprieve for Eurockot
The successful March 17 launch of the GOCE Earth observation satellite aboard a Russian
Rockot vehicle was a life-saving event for Eurockot Launch Services. See story, page 16
Inaugural Vega Launch Pushes into 2010
With a third-stage test fire behind schedule, the first flight of the small-satellite launcher will
not occur before 2010. See story, page 20
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Orbcomm Takes Precautions Following Failure
Two-way messaging service provider slows full activation of five satellites launched last June
to evaluate whether they have a similar defect to one that just failed. See story, page 6

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