Minutes of March Oklahoma Space Alliance Meeting
Oklahoma Space Alliance met at 2:00 p.m. on March 21, 2015, at Denny’s Restaurant, SW 29th and I35 in Oklahoma City. In attendance were Steve, Karen and Brian Swift, Claire and Clifford McMurray, James and Peggy McBride, Rachelle, Gerry (sp.?) and Stephanie Thibedeau, Tim Scott, Russ Davoren, Dennis Wigley, Dave Sheely, Vickey Richartz and Syd Henderson. We also had a new attendee, Levi Airington.
We now have $1192.27 in our treasury, including checking and cash.
We haven’t been able to match operating plans with the Stafford Museum for the April meeting (which is the weekend of Yuri’s Night). We are considering either having a private Celebration of Manned Spaceflight, or a more general celebration, possibly at the Moore or Norman Public Libraries. Moore Library allows refreshment by Norman Library may not. The date will definitely be April 11.
Cliff suggested Earl’s but they weren’t open on the Saturday Steve went by.
Another occasion for celebration this year is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Spaceflight. This is in July, and General Stafford was on that mission, and Stafford Museum is planning some sort of reunion.
Russ and Steve need volunteers to help plan an event with the Stafford Museum. Brian’s a maybe.
Steve, Karen, Dave and Rachelle met with Congressman Bridenstine for two hours. Steve will post his impressions in the March What’s Happening, which will be posted on the website .
Steve, Claire and Cliff have responded to Aislinn’s request for speakers at Soonercon.
We went through the items in What’s Happening, which will be posted on the Web. Highlights included the third launch of a Falcon 9 in two months (which makes 16 altogether, and the University of Tulsa introducing a Master’s program in Space Entrepreneurship
--Minutes by OSA Secretary Syd Henderson
Notes from March 18 OSIDA Meeting
The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority met at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation building in Oklahoma City on March 18. Board members present were Jack Bonny, Jay Edwards, R. Alan Goodbary, and Robert Conner. Steve Swift, Claire McMurray, Dave Sheely and Syd Henderson attended on behalf of Oklahoma Space Alliance, and Ross Robinson was also in the audience.
The OSIDA website is now up and running at http://airspaceportok.com/. OSIDA also has a Facebook page under the full name, The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority. (Note: the old website is still up and doesn’t link to the new one.)
Cessna Aircraft Company has been doing flight testing at the Oklahoma Air and Spaceport and will be conducting their third test.
The Oklahoma Air and Space Port also has a new, large sign for their operations center, complete with the OSIDA seal.
The Spaceport has been having a continuing problem with rainwater leaking onto equipment at the control center and this has now been fixed.
The Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) will be meeting in Washington on April 1. They are starting to talk about safety and crew requirements.
The OSIDA board approved STARBASE STEM Education Classes with a $15,200 appropriation. The Western Technology Center (which is located at the Spaceport) is supplying them with technical support and printers. The STEM program is taking place in 11 different school districts and makes a huge difference in science and math scores. The Air Force also supplies money. Bill Khourie didn’t know the full cost of the program including the WTC and Air Force contribution.
The joint use agreement with the Air Force is to be renewed by April 1, but OSIDA first needs an Air Traffic Control Contract. The ATC contract would cost $603,840 but the Air Force Contract is for $1,155,812. There will be a special meeting on March 26 to take care of the ATC contract. Robinson (?) Aviation is awarded the ATC contract subject to available finds.
Claire asked about the website and Facebook sites, which are both passive, and whether they have a method of letting people know about it. Apparently they do.
--Notes by OSA Secretary Syd Henderson
--Minutes by OSA Secretary Syd Henderson
Contact person for Oklahoma Space Alliance is Claire McMurray.
PO Box 1003
Norman, OK 73070
Webmaster is Syd Henderson.
Copyright �2015 by Oklahoma Space Alliance.