Private company hires former NASA engineers and astronauts
The transition to private space: Sierra Nevada hires former NASA engineers and astronauts.
Tag: NASA
House proposes to drop NASA’s budget to 2008 levels, eliminate Webb Telescope
The House today proposed cutting NASA’s budget back to 2008 levels while eliminating all funds for the James Webb Space Telescope.
As much as I’d hate to see the Webb telescope die, it has cost far more than planned, is way behind schedule, and carries a gigantic risk of failure. However, if I had a choice, I’d rather they cut the $1.95 billion for Congress’s homemade heavy-lift rocket, the program-formerly-called-Constellation. There is a much better chance that Webb will get completed, launched, and work, than there is for this improvised and impossibly costly Congressionally conceived rocket.
Hubble Makes its One Millionth Science Observation
Former NASA administrator frets about future lack of leaders to run small planetary missions
A former NASA official frets about the future lack of scientists to lead small planetary missions.
A look inside NASA’s “Skunk Works”
NASA Foresees 2-Year Final Shuttle Retirement Phase
Seems a bit long to me: NASA foresees a two year period after the last shuttle lands to retire the program completely.
NASA sues Apollo 14 astronaut over camera ownership
NASA is suing Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell over camera ownership.
NASA Funding Mired In Budget Politics
NASA funding mired in budget politics.
And you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
NASA planes to fly low over the Baltimore/Washington region to monitor air quality
NASA research planes to fly very low over Baltimore/Washington roadways over the next month to study air quality.
As valuable as this research might be, what the hell does it have to do with the exploration of space, and why is NASA doing it? Shouldn’t this be the work of NOAA?
NASA faces subpoena on heavy-lift rocket work
The space war continues: Several senators are threatening to subpoena NASA over what they perceive as the agency’s foot-dragging in building a heavy-lift rocket.
Idiots. They give NASA less money and less time to build the program-formerly-called-Constellation, and then are surprised when things don’t go well. Of course, it doesn’t help that the Obama administration is trying to sabotage the project anyway.
More money troubles in NASA’s climate and astronomy programs
Other science money troubles: NASA’s climate and astronomy programs face delays due to cost overruns and rocket failures.
Astronaut Mark Kelly retires
NASA about to decide on its shuttle heavy-lift replacement
NASA is about to decide on its shuttle heavy-lift replacement, and it looks like it will be almost entirely shuttle-derived.
As I have said previously, this rocket will almost certainly never fly. NASA has to start over after spending billions and years developing Constellation, and is being given less money and time to do it.
And even if I am wrong and this rocket does fly, I bet it will do only one flight and then be retired as too costly.
The debate over arsenic-based life continues
The debate over arsenic-based life continues.
SpaceX Sues Expert Who Questioned Safety of Falcon 9 Rocket
Turf war: SpaceX has sued a NASA safety expert (with ties to the Ares rocket program) who questioned the safety of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Shuttle’s end leaves NASA with a half billion dollar pension bill
The pork goes on: The shuttle’s end has still left NASA with a half billion dollar pension bill.
Memo Marks Official End of Constellation
Don’t bet on it: A memo signed today by a senior NASA official marks the end of the Constellation program.
All this does is make the name change of the program-formerly-called-Constellation official. The pork continues nonetheless!
Republican presidential candidates debate space program’s future at New Hampshire debate
The Republican presidential candidates discussed the space program’s future at the New Hampshire debate last night.
NASA Finally Releases Photos of Endeavour Docked at ISS
NASA has finally released the photos of Endeavour docked to ISS, taken from a departing Soyuz.
Webb telescope disaster destroys NASA astrophysics budget
The James Webb Space Telescope: The disaster that destroyed NASA’s astrophysics program.