First and foremost, a Happy NewSpace New Year to all!

Following-up on multiple discussions during the last few months, Team STELLAR is moving quickly in 2009 to connect with new talent and expand its support base in Virginia. Two significant events deserve to be highlighted:

1. Team STELLAR has been invited to speak at the Virginia General Assembly Aerospace Days in early February as part of an effort to develop the Virginia Aerospace Roundtable. Jack Kennedy*, one of Virginia's NewSpace leaders, is a key force behind this effort and we appreciate his invitation.

2. The College of Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University is quite interested in Team STELLAR, and we will be presenting at a meeting in mid-February that is being hosted by Dr. Don Leo, Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Although Team STELLAR headquarters is in Raleigh, NC, we have stated from the beginning that we intend to work across the Southeast United States to broaden both our talent base and the commercial opportunities we will provide. This year will see an increase in our efforts.

*Jack is an attorney and was appointed by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to membership of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority and the Virginia Aerospace Advisory Council. He is also an elected "ADVOCATE" of the Space Frontier Foundation

- Jeff Krukin (www.jeffkrukin.com)