NASA budget stalled until lame duck session
It appears that the NASA budget deadlock will remain stalled, at least until lame duck session after the November 2nd election.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
The English language is dead
The English language is dead. R.I.P.
More caves on the Moon
Check out these newly posted images of lunar cave pits, taken by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The depth estimates range from 100 to 300 plus feet.
[Ed. I should note that some of these images have already been posted on behindtheblack. For example, the center image found here) was first discovered by reader James Fincannon and posted by me on July 15 and July 26, when I discussed the challenges of accessing the bottom of these pits. I also posted an image of the Mare Ingenii pit on July 13.]
Photo gallery of Discovery’s last rollout
A photo gallery showing the space shuttle Discovery’s last rollout from the VAB to the launchpad on Monday.
Bolden cleared by IG of ethical violations
Though NASA’s Inspector General has cleared [pdf] NASA administrator Charles Bolden of ethical violations in connection with his communications with the Marathon Oil corporation during discussions about awarding research money to a Marathon competitor, the IG also noted that Bolden’s actions were inappropriate. Key quote:
We concluded that Bolden’s contact with Marathon regarding OMEGA did not violate federal laws or regulations pertaining to conflicts of interest. However, we found that the contact was not consistent with the Ethics Pledge he, as an Administration appointee, had signed, and that it raised concerns about an appearance of a conflict of interest involving the NASA Administrator and a large oil company to which he had financial ties.
NASA outreach to the Arab world
Keith Cowing and Frank Sietzen at SpaceRef report that NASA administrator Charles Bolden will soon be heading to Saudia Arabia, ostentively to continue NASA outreach to the Muslim world, with other less obvious motives pertaining to Israeli/Palestine peace negotiations. Key quote:
According to one of several sources knowledgeable on the subject “expect to see a wave of mid-level Administration appointees embarking on a round of carrot-and-stick sweetener overtures” to Saudi officials to entice them to join the Obama effort. For their part, the Saudi government wants the U.S. to exert greater pressure on Israel to stop construction of settlements in occupied territories that might someday be a key in a peace accord. In the meantime the Obama administration is trying to give the Saudis every incentive to craft a stronger relationship with the U.S.
Orion testing goes on
Despite the program’s budget uncertainties, testing by NASA of the Orion capsule continues.
Lawmakers Curb Spending on Defense Weather Satellites
Congress cuts the budget on a proposed military weather satellite system.
For the fifth time in two years Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has had computer problems.
For the fifth time in two years Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has gone into safe mode because of a computer reboot.
An update on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, with pictures
Here’s a good inside look, with pictures, at the preparations for the October 23 launch of the second Falcon 9 rocket.
You do not have to answer any questions at the airport
Microbes survive 553 days attached to ISS
Microbes survive 553 days attached to the outside of the International Space Station as part of a scientific experiment.