Space agencies welcome new entrants developing satellites for tracking greenhouse gases

by Jeff Foust — October 9, 2018

As a growing number of organizations propose satellites to monitor greenhouse gases, national space agencies who already operate such spacecraft welcome those new entrants — as long as they’re willing to share their results.

California Earth observation Earth Science ESA GHGSat JAXA Missions NASA

California legislators move forward bill to create California Aerospace Commission

by Debra Werner — January 19, 2018

California Assembly Appropriations Committee backs plan to create a California Aerospace and Aviation Commission to recommend action the governor and state legislature could take to retain jobs and encourage the industry's growth.

Policy & Politics California Economic Development Silicon Valley

Lawmakers advance plan for California Aerospace and Aviation Commission

by Debra Werner — January 19, 2018

California lawmakers discuss plans to create a California Aerospace and Aviation Commission to retain jobs and encourage the industry's growth.

Policy & Politics California Economic Development

California eyes launch income regulation, not a new tax

by Debra Werner — May 9, 2017

California is expected to approve a regulation, supported by SpaceX, that spells out how the state will determine the amount of income tax launch companies will be required to pay.

Launch Policy & Politics California Launch Tax SpaceX

Sierra Nevada To Close California Propulsion Facility

by Jeff Foust — November 26, 2014

SNC is in the process of closing a California facility that has worked on hybrid propulsion systems.

Civil Commercial California Sierra Nevada

California House Members Urge Launch Competition

by Mike Gruss — September 29, 2014

A large, bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers from California has asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to broaden competition in its national security launch program and to move away from a Russian-made rocket engine sooner rather than later.

Civil Launch Policy & Politics California U.S. Congress

Tax Break a ‘Small Step’ for California’s Space Industry

by SpaceNews Editor — May 19, 2014

The bill exempts hardware and related items developed by space companies in the state from local property taxes.

Civil Commercial Policy & Politics California

Earth Science & Climate Monitoring | NASA Lends a Hand in Parched California

by SpaceNews Editor — March 17, 2014

When researchers at JPL began measuring snow levels in a Sierra Nevada river basin, operators of the reservoir below showed little interest in their plans because they already obtained detailed data on the snowpack from pillows designed to measure the weight of snow and tubes plunged into the snow at regular intervals.

California Missions NASA People weather

Musk Says SpaceX Being “Extremely Paranoid” as It Readies for Falcon 9’s California Debut

by Irene Klotz — September 6, 2013

The flight would be Falcon 9’s first from a newly refurbished launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Launch California Falcon People SpaceX

SpaceX Capsule Arrives at California Port after Station Cargo Run

by Dan Leone — November 2, 2012

About two days after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, the commercially operated Dragon space capsule laden with 760 kilograms of return cargo from the international space station arrived at port in San Pedro, Calif.

California Missions SpaceX

California Details Shuttle Endeavour’s Road Trip Itinerary

by Robert Z. Pearlman — August 13, 2012

HOUSTON — Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final flight plan — and road trip map — were revealed Aug. 8, previewing the cross-country, and cross-county, routes the retired NASA orbiter will follow before landing at the California Science Center for display.

Civil California Missions Shuttle

Virgin Galactic Now Hiring in California, New Mexico

by SpaceNews Staff — May 7, 2012

Virgin Galactic and the Spaceship Company — Virgin’s joint venture with Scaled Composites to build the SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane and its WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft — announced April 30 they are seeking to fill a combined 18 positions.

Civil Commercial California Mexico New Mexico Virgin Galactic

California Judge Rules Ballot Can List Hernandez as ‘Astronaut’

by SpaceNews Staff — April 9, 2012

Former NASA spaceflyer Jose Hernandez, who is running in California for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives this year, can call himself an astronaut on the ballot, a judge ruled March 29.

Civil Policy & Politics astronauts California

The Spaceship Company Gets $290K from California for Energy-efficient Hangar

by SpaceNews Staff — March 19, 2012

The Spaceship Company (TSC), the Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites joint venture building Virgin’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane, received a $290,000 incentive check from Southern California Edison for designing a final integration, assembly and test hangar — FAITH, for short — in Mojave, Calif., that exceeds the state’s energy-efficiency standards, according to a March 12 press release.

Civil California

California Space Authority Disbands [Pacific Coast Business Times]

by Pacific Coast Business Times — October 1, 2011

The California Space Authority, the nonprofit corporation whose mission was to promote the state's space industry, is no more, according to the Pacific Coast Business Times. The group's board of directors voted unanimously June 6 to dissolve the organization.

Commercial California

California