How Close to the Sun could we get?
How close to the Sun could we get?
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Congress freezes NASA’s budget until March
The space war will continue until March: Unable to pass a real budget, Congress has instead passed a continuing resolution that, among everything else, freezes NASA’s budget at 2010 numbers through the spring.
Giant Mars Pits Revealed in Sharp Detail
NASA Might Merge its Exploration and Operations Directorates
More evidence that the American government manned spaceflight program is dying: NASA is considering a merger of its Exploration and Operations directorates. Without a shuttle, there really is no need for Operations.
New Scientist story: Expect Earth’s twin planet
According to a statistical analysis, scientists predict the discovery of Earth’s twin in 2011.
Note that I reported this story three months ago, on September 13!
So What Happens When California Goes Bankrupt
So what happens when California goes bankrupt?
Ten Years On the way to Pluto
Alan Stern, project scientist of NASA’s mission to Pluto, New Horizons, gives his perspective ten years after the start of the project.
How Obamacare is Hastening the bankruptcy of state governments
Repeal the damn bill! How Obamacare is hastening the bankruptcy of state governments. Key quote:
If state Medicaid spending increases by 41 percent as projected by [the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services], then by next year Medicaid could end up consuming nearly 30 percent of the average state budget. Medicaid would greatly exceed all other state priorities, including education, which tops state budgets at about 22 percent. In fact, state spending on education would experience certain cuts next year. [emphasis mine]
Flight to test the taste of beer in microgravity delayed until February
The first flight to test the taste of beer in microgravity has been delayed until February due to poor weather.
Automakers Sue EPA Over E15 Fuel Blend
Resisting the power grab: Automakers sue the EPA over its new ethanol regulations allowing the sale of gasoline with 15% ethanol.
FCC Votes 3-2 to Regulate Internet via Net Neutrality
Power grab! FCC votes 3-2 to regulate the internet via net neutrality.
There’s a mini ice age coming, says man who beats weather experts
There’s a mini ice age coming, says a man whose predictions the last few winters have been better than the British weather service.