Curiosity and Martian Water: Look But Don't Touch

By Keith Cowing on September 10, 2012 10:33 AM. spacer Comments

spacer If the Mars rover finds water, it could be H2 ... uh oh!, LA Times

"On Nov. 1, after learning that the drill bit box had been opened, Conley said she had the mission reclassified to one in which Curiosity could touch the surface of Mars "as long as there is no ice or water." Conley's predecessor at NASA, John D. Rummel, a professor of biology at East Carolina University, said, partly in jest: "It will be a sad day for NASA if they do detect ice or water. That's because the Curiosity project will most likely be told, 'Gee, that's nice. Now turn around.' " If water is found, Curiosity could still conduct tests from a distance with instruments including a laser and spectrometers."

Categories:

  • Space & Planetary Science,
  • Astrobiology

Obama Talks Space In Florida

By Keith Cowing on September 10, 2012 8:40 AM. spacer Comments

spacer Guest column: Obama's space vision, Rusty Schweikart, FL Today

"As President Obama visits the Space Coast today, we are witnessing how his policies are bringing jobs to the area and new hope to the space community. Florida's Space Coast has become not just the launching pad for commercial rockets to the station and America's launch pad for the largest heavy-lift rocket that NASA has ever built, but is now also a launching pad for new businesses and jobs of the future. In light of this leadership, Mitt Romney's candidacy presents a stark choice. Romney claims to support the space program, but like many other issues this election, Romney fails to present Americans a plan for the future of NASA and the program that is forever etched in our nation's history."

Republicans' plan for space program mirrors Obama's, opinion, FL Today

"Mitt Romney and the Republican National Committee have blown it on space. For two years, Republicans have accused President Barack Obama of bungling Brevard County's signature industry. They hammered him in appearances and interviews for canceling Constellation, botching thousands of shuttle jobs and relying on the Russians for lifts to the International Space Station until private U.S. rockets fly. But given a chance to do better, Republicans in Tampa approved a platform that calls for ... staying the course. Their plan is, literally, Obama's plan."

Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event: Melbourne, Florida (Excerpt)

"Here on the Space Coast, we started a new era of American exploration that is creating good jobs right here in this county. (Applause.) We've begun an ambitious new direction for NASA by laying the groundwork for 21st century space flight and innovation. And just last month, we witnessed an incredible achievement that speaks to the nation's sense of wonder and our can-do spirit -- the United States of America landing Curiosity on Mars. (Applause.)

Obama courts Florida voters over Medicare, space policy, Reuters

The president picked a tricky spot in Florida to make his case. The Melbourne area supported Republican nominee John McCain in 2008 by a wide margin, but demographic changes have made the area more friendly to Democrats, an Obama campaign official said. Mindful of the importance of the space industry to voters in a part of the state that includes the Kennedy Space Center, Obama defended his administration's handling of the space program during the rally.

Space exploration is star-crossed on campaign trail, Washington Times

Mr. Romney drew laughter during a Republican debate in Florida in January when he proclaimed that he would have fired primary contest rival Newt Gingrich for proposing the establishment of a human colony on the moon. "If I had a business executive come to me and say they wanted to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I'd say, 'You're fired,'" Mr. Romney quipped. "The idea that corporate America wants to go off to the moon and build a colony there, it may be a big idea, but it's not a good idea."

Categories:

  • Election 2012

Endeavour's Final Trip

By Keith Cowing on September 10, 2012 8:10 AM. spacer Comments

spacer Shuttle Endeavour to fly over California landmarks, south U.S., LA Times

"On Sept. 19 the shuttle will head to Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso for refueling and then conduct low-level flyovers of White Sands Test Facility near Las Cruces, N.M., before landing about midday at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, where it sometimes landed on its own after space missions. On the morning of Sept. 20, the plane will conduct low-level flyovers of NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffet Field, Calif., and yet to be specified landmarks in San Francisco, Sacramento and perhaps other California cities before a low-level flyover of Los Angeles. The plane is expected to land at Los Angeles International Airport at about 11 a.m. Pacific time."

spacer Keith's note: I asked Charlie Bolden at the Discovery arrival in Washington Dulles if there'd be a series of NASA center flyovers, stops, etc for Endeavour and he said (with some apparent regret) "no". Now I see that NASA is going out of its way to make sure the NASA family and a lot of America sees Endeavour as she heads for L.A.

Well done.

- NASA Announces Events For Space Shuttle Endeavour Departure
- NASA Ames Invites Media to Planned Space Shuttle Endeavour Flyover
- NASA's Mystery Jet Flights Over Los Angeles, earlier post
- Space Shuttle Discovery: Old Friend, New Neighbor, earlier post

Categories:

  • Shuttle News

Huntsville Times Thinks Voyager Is Leaving the Milky Way - Soon

By Keith Cowing on September 9, 2012 4:28 PM. spacer Comments

spacer Voyager 1 achievements not unlike Magellan travels, moon landing, Huntsville Times

"The science is dazzling enough: the discoveries made and the measurements gauged by Voyager 1 as it hurtles toward the outer reaches of the Milky Way. But to Gary Zank, this is more than mere science."

"... What makes Voyager 1 unique, however, is that it is approaching the edge of the Milky Way. It's possible it could leave the solar system and travel into what Zank described as the "pristine" interstellar medium. In other words, to be completely free of the Milky Way and the sun's influence."

"... As for the future of Voyager 1, there is no consensus. Some scientists believe the tiny spacecraft is on the brink of breaking through the heliosphere where Voyager is currently traveling. Once clear of the heliosphere, Voyager 1 will be clear of the Milky Way."

"... Zank, however, said he believes that achievement is still five or six years away. Then a hydrogen wall barrier that has built up on the edge of the Milky Way must be cleared - something that, Zank estimates, won't happen until at least 2022 and possibly not until 2027."

"... Oh, definitely, I'll be very happy to be wrong," Zank said of the opportunity to get that pristine view beyond the Milky Way. "It will also mean I've got a lot of thinking to do about why I went wrong. But that's another good project to work on at that point."

spacer Keith's note: Huh? The Huntsville Times thinks Voyager is approaching the edge of the Milky Way? They say this 5 times so they must think it is true.

spacer Keith's update: The article has been fixed. This is what it originally said.

Categories:

  • Astronomy

Sen. Coburn Doesn't Like Klingons

By Keith Cowing on September 8, 2012 8:09 PM. spacer Comments

spacer Sequestration could be Pentagon pork killer, CBS

"You might be surprised that as part of the Defense Department's mission to protect Americans, your tax dollars funded a workshop about aliens from "Star Trek" entitled: Did Jesus Die for Klingons, Too? It's just one questionable projects under the microscope of fiscal conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who's taking his red pen to cuts that he sees as no-brainers."

Not Such a Stretch to Reach for the Stars, NY Times (2011)

"... the government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Darpa, drew hundreds this month to a symposium on the 100-Year Starship Study, which is devoted to ideas for visiting the stars. ... Other talks ruminated on theological and philosophical questions. "Did Jesus Die for Klingons, Too?" was the title of one."

Categories:

  • Congress,
  • News

Confusing ITAR Implementation at GSFC

By Keith Cowing on September 7, 2012 9:30 AM. spacer Comments

spacer Confusing ITAR Compliance at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

"On 28-29 August 2012, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) held a Systems Engineering Review for a potential geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) servicing mission. Despite stating that "Interested parties must register in order to attend" a number of participants have told me that they did not register in advance and just showed up. According to attendees, during the meeting, participants were openly encouraged to use their cellphones to take pictures of the materials shown on the screen - some (but not all) of which were labeled "predecisional". None of the charts shown had any marking denoting that they were ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) sensitive in nature."

Categories:

  • News

Iran Space Program Update

By Marc Boucher on September 6, 2012 11:25 AM. spacer Comments

spacer Iran Space Program Update, SpaceRef

The following article is a free sample from the current issue of Space Quarterly Magazine. It is our hope that if you enjoy this article you will consider subscribing to the magazine.

"Considering the changes in the Iranian space organization during the last decade, it was amazing to find a complete stand of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) at the exhibition of the International Astronomical Congress in Cape Town last fall. This kind of openness was not in concert with the organizational changes that were signified by the more military control of the space scene and space organizations in Iran during the last five years."

Categories:

  • Space Quarterly Magazine

Obama Campaign Issues Space Accomplishments Report

By Keith Cowing on September 6, 2012 10:43 AM. spacer Comments

spacer Obama for America-Florida Announces New Report on President Obama's Accomplishments with the Space Community (with report)

"President Obama has been a champion, laying the groundwork for an ambitious and sustainable NASA program that is equipped for the exploration and innovation of the future, and today. Obama for America-Florida announces the release of accomplishments President Obama has chartered for the space program through his first term in office. From continued investments in deep space exploration to extending the life of the International Space Station, the President understands this nation must press forward, ensuring a future of investment in a suite of innovative space technology research efforts that will enable bold science and exploration missions in the future."

Categories:

  • Election 2012

National Cathedral Memorial for Neil Armstrong; Burial at Sea

By Keith Cowing on September 6, 2012 7:45 AM. spacer Comments

spacer NASA To Honor Neil Armstrong at National Cathedral

"NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and other dignitaries will attend a public memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral to honor the life and career of astronaut Neil Armstrong on Thursday, Sept. 13. The memorial will be broadcast live on NASA Television and streamed online by the agency's and National Cathedral's websites."

spacer Keith's 6 Sep 7:45 am EDT update: Sources are reporting that Neil Armstrong will be buried at sea - the date is still TBD. More to follow.

Categories:

  • Exploration

Israel Space Program Update

By Marc Boucher on September 5, 2012 12:14 PM. spacer Comments

spacer Military Space Drives Israel Space Program for Now, Space Quarterly Magazine

The following article is a free sample from the current issue of Space Quarterly Magazine. It is our hope that if you enjoy this article you will consider subscribing to the magazine.

"Israel, a country of close to 8 million people with an approximate $80 million space budget, both civil and military, is ranked 9th in the world in the latest edition of Futron's Space Competitiveness Index. This, despite having less than 1/10th the GDP than four of the countries ahead of it and 1/5th of the other four. Israel is also part of a small exclusive group of nations that has the ability to both manufacture and launch its own satellites. To say that Israel is punching above its weight is an understatement. How did it reach this status? Out of sheer necessity."

Categories:

  • Space Quarterly Magazine

Endeavour's Arrival In California Is not Very Green

By Keith Cowing on September 4, 2012 3:24 PM. spacer Comments

spacer Tree removal for space shuttle arrival tempers excitement, LA Times

"... for some residents in South L.A., the excitement of the shuttle rumbling through their neighborhoods quickly faded when they learned that 400 trees will be chopped down to make room for the behemoth. The California Science Center -- Endeavour's final home -- has agreed to replant twice as many trees along the route from the shuttle's docking place at Los Angeles International Airport to Exposition Park... Several alternatives for the Oct. 12 move were considered but ultimately discarded. Taking the massive shuttle apart would have damaged the delicate tiles that acted as heat sensors."

spacer Keith's note: Just how many tiles are we talking about? Didn't NASA pull tiles on and off of shuttles on a routine basis - for decades? I am sure a few of those tile maintenance folks could have used a little consulting work. Since these shuttles are not going to fly again, why is this a big deal? The engines on these orbiters are now fake. Indeed, just today NASA announced that it was still trying to give shuttle tiles away. If NASA ever releases the actual proposals it will be interesting to see if the tree removal was mentioned and what effect it would have on property values.

Categories:

  • Shuttle News 1997-2003

Romney & Obama Campaigns Respond to Space Question

By Keith Cowing on September 4, 2012 12:45 PM. spacer Comments

spacer Romney and Obama Campaign Responses to Question on Space Policy, ScienceDebate

12. Space. The United States is currently in a major discussion over our national goals in space. What should America's space exploration and utilization goals be in the 21st century and what steps should the government take to help achieve them?

Barack Obama: ... "From investing in research on advances in spaceflight technology, to expanding our commitment to an education system that prepares our students for space and science achievements, I am committed to strengthening the base for America's next generation of spaceflight. No other country can match our capabilities in Earth observation from space. In robotic space exploration, too, nobody else comes close. And I intend to keep it that way."

Mitt Romney: "... A strong and successful NASA does not require more funding, it needs clearer priorities. I will ensure that NASA has practical and sustainable missions. There will be a balance of pragmatic and top-priority science with inspirational and groundbreaking exploration programs. Partnering Internationally. Part of leadership is also engaging and working with our allies and the international community. I will be clear about the nation's space objectives and will invite friends and allies to cooperate with America in achieving mutually beneficial goals."

Categories:

  • Election 2012

Name an Asteroid

By Keith Cowing on September 4, 2012 12:25 PM. spacer Comments

spacer NASA Announces Asteroid Naming Contest for Students

"Students worldwide have an opportunity to name an asteroid from which an upcoming NASA mission will return the first samples to Earth. Scheduled to launch in 2016, the mission is called the Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx). Samples returned from the primitive surface of the near-Earth asteroid currently called (101955) 1999 RQ36 could hold clues to the origin of the solar system and organic molecules that may have seeded life on Earth. NASA also is planning a crewed mission to an asteroid by 2025. A closer scientific study of asteroids will provide context and help inform this mission."

Categories:

  • Exploration

AGU Urges Members to Action Over Budget

By Keith Cowing on September 4, 2012 12:15 PM. spacer Comments
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