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A weekend edition of the International Space Updates for February 2007

Japan successfully launched a fourth spy satellite into space that will allow the country to have a higher ability of gathering intelligence, specifically against a potential threat from North Korea.  While Japan used to rely heavily on the United States for intelligence data, it began to speed up its intelligence program after an incident in which North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan nine years ago.  The team of four Japanese satellites in space, assuming they are all working well, will allow Japan to capture images of any point on Earth once a day, according to the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Trying to conduct some damage control stemming from a public relations nightmare, NASA has mentioned that the U.S. space organization does have procedures to deal with potentially suicidal or psychotic astronauts while they are in space.  Some of the detailed, written procedures -- obtained by The Associated Press -- mention that fellow crewmates should go as far as binding the dangerous person's wrists and ankles with duct tape, tie him down with something and even go as far as injecting the dangerous person with a tranquilizer.  "Talk with the patient while you are restraining him.  Explain what you are doing, and that you are using a restraint to ensure that he is safe," the manual notes.  

The instructions after the person is neutralized seem to get a bit blurry -- the crewmembers restraining the person and NASA officials on the ground will then decide what should be done to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

NASA officials located at the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and Virgin Galatic are discussing space systems that would be able to help send astronauts and tourists into space.  The two have signed an agreement to work together to research and develop hybrid rocket motors, new space suits and other technology related to space.  The deal will also let Virgin Galatic use some of the resources located at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Ca.  Virgin Galatic hopes to test-fly a vehicle next year and have it fly commercially by 2009, both of which are lofty goals taking place in the immediate future.

This latest deal follows in a line that has the private sector agreeing to deals with the public sector to help conduct research -- NASA earlier signed a deal with PlanetSpace Inc. so both parties will be able to share technical information while PlanetSpace hopes to construct a rocket to send tourists into space.