spacetoday.net: News briefs: March 11

Posted: Tue, Mar 12, 2002, 7:28 AM ET (1228 GMT)

US Airways and Space Adventures announced an agreement Monday that will allow the airline's frequent flyers to exchange their miles for space tourism activities. The top award is a free suborbital spaceflight, which requires 10,000,000 miles. A zero-g aircraft flight in Russia is available for 250,000 miles plus $2,000.
The British space industry has grown by 17 percent in the last two years, according to a report by the British National Space Centre (BNSC) published by the AP. Revenues in the industry in 2000-2001 were $4.3 billion, while employment grew 14 percent to 17,701 in the same time period. The BNSC attributed the growth largely to growth in satellite communications services, equipment suppliers, and space insurers.
Preparations continue at Plesetsk for the launch Saturday of a Rokot launch vehicle carrying two science spacecraft, Itar-Tass reported Monday. The Rokot is scheduled to launch the two GRACE spacecraft, a NASA-German joint venture to study water transport in the Earth's oceans and the overall gravity field of the planet.