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This is not a NASA Website. You might learn something. It's YOUR space agency. Get involved. Take it back. Make it work - for YOU.
nasawatch@spaceref.com | Voice +1.703.787.6567 | RSS Feed | Twitter | Advertising | Important Disclaimer
International Space Station Operations Formally Extended Through 2030
"NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced today the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to extend International Space Station (ISS) operations through 2030, and to work with our international partners in Europe (ESA, European Space Agency), Japan (JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Canada (CSA, Canadian Space Agency), and Russia (State Space Corporation Roscosmos) to enable continuation of the groundbreaking research being conducted in this unique orbiting laboratory through the rest of this decade."
Categories: Biden Space, ISS News
"NASA is looking to the heavens for help with assessing how humans will react if alien life is found on other planets and how the discovery could impact our ideas of gods and creation. The agency is hiring 24 theologians to take part in its program at the Center for Theological Inquiry (CTI) at Princeton University in New Jersey, which NASA gave a $1.1 million grant to in 2014. CTI is described as building 'bridges of under understanding by convening theologians, scientists, scholars, and policymakers to think together - and inform public thinking - on global concerns.'"
NASA did NOT hire priests, for pete's sake, Linda Billings
"The oh-so-reliable (NOT) Newsmax also repeated this story, reporting, "NASA Taps Theologians to Assess How Humans Will React if Life Found on Other Planets." At least this story said, "NASA is reportedly hiring two dozen theologians to take part in a program at Princeton University to assess how humans will react if alien life is found on other planets." The reports, however, are incorrect. And also CTI is not Princeton University. CTI happens to be in Princeton, New Jersey, but it has no affiliation with the university. Okay, I've had enough. You probably have, too. Though I've discussed these stories with some of my NASA astrobiology colleagues, no one asked me to write this post. I wrote it because this kind of sloppy journalism annoys the heck out of me. It amazes me to see how careless some journalists are about reporting without any fact-checking. Dr. Davison appears to be the source of all these stories. Maybe he'll sell some books."
Keith's note: This wildly incorrect story about NASA hiring priests has made the rounds - and other news organizations have now written stories - about this story - without even bothering to verify things with NASA. The original story was featured on Drudge Report - so hundreds of millions of people - globally - saw it. But no one at NASA PAO apparently did. Or if they did see it they could not be bothered to contact the various reporters, ask for retractions, issue a clarification, etc. But one person who supports NASA's Astrobiology program, Linda Billings, did her best - on her own time - at her own initiative - to set the record straight.
Categories: Astronauts, Personnel NewsMichael "Rich" Clifford
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) December 28, 2021
October 13, 1952 - December 28, 2021
STS 53, STS 59, STS 76 #AdAstra pic.twitter.com/1bpLvORKJz
Categories: Astronomy, Space & Planetary ScienceInspiring the Next generation of Explorers
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) December 27, 2021
FYI @Dr_ThomasZ This photo shows one of James Webb's great-grandchildren watching the launch of James Webb Space Telescope - it was forwarded to me by Sean O'Keefe with the family's permission to post. #AdAstra #JWST #NASAWebb pic.twitter.com/8AkyuVBPzQ
James Webb Space Telescope 26 December, 2021 Update - First Mid-Course Correction Burn Completed, NASA
"At 7:50 pm EST, December 25, 2021, Webb's first mid-course correction burn began. It lasted 65 minutes and is now complete. This burn is one of two milestones that are time critical -- the first was the solar array deployment, which happened shortly after launch."
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launches in French Guiana, Washington Post
"Tens of thousands of people have committed over 20 years or more on a single project," Matt Mountain, an astronomer who is part of the team that designed the telescope, said at the telescope institute just minutes before launch Saturday. "And why? Why have they committed this time? We solve incredibly hard problems. It's part of the human spirit. We're curious. We explore."
Categories: Astronomy, Space & Planetary Science
The James Webb Space Telescope Has Left Earth
"The James Webb Space Telescope is safely in space, powered on and communicating with ground controllers. Webb continues in coast phase, and is now oriented correctly with respect to the Sun. At approximately 30 minutes after launch, Webb's solar array began to open up. It is now fully deployed and we have confirmed that the spacecraft is power positive."
James Webb Space Telescope Launch Replay
Pre-launch
Post-launch
Categories: Astronomy, Space & Planetary Science Keith's note: We're going to mostly take the next week or so off. But I'll be updating on the Webb mission on a daily basis and I will be on TV here and there as well talking about that. Or not. Hope y'all take some time to truly relax.
Tensions with Russia are now spilling into space, complicating International Space Station partnership, Washington Post
"But the fragile coalition that has kept the space station going all these years is fraying, as tensions between Russia and the United States, the two main partners on the station, grow to levels not seen in years. And while the countries have kept their alliance on the station going despite geopolitical tensions, the fence that has kept the station and civil space endeavors walled off from other problems is beginning to erode."
A domestic newspaper warns of the Russian space program's "rapid collapse", Ars Technica
"A long and strikingly critical article that reviews the state of the Russian space program was published in the state-aligned newspaper MK this week. None of the findings in the 2,800-word article were particularly surprising. Western observers who track the Russian space industry realize the program is deeply troubled, and to a great extent running on the fumes of its past and very real glory. What is notable, however, is that a major Russian media outlet has published such a revelatory article for a domestic audience."
Categories: Russia
Thomas Zurbuchen: Reflecting On Five Years At NASA
"I recently celebrated my five-year anniversary at NASA. Over these past 5 years, we have seen great success with NASA's Science missions.
From landing on Mars to learning more about our home planet than ever before, teams across the agency are making the impossible possible. Without the incredible individuals that make up the excellent teams at NASA and its partners, none of this would be possible. So, thank you to all the people and teams that have worked with us over these 5 years to make new discoveries and push the boundaries of exploration.
With this 5-year milestone, I have been reflecting on a few of my biggest mistakes. I also hope this motivates others because it models a key truth of leadership that took me a long time to learn: "excellence is not the absence of mistakes, but a focus on constant improvement and learning".
One thing that comes to the top of my mind is my failure early on to broaden my message regarding diversity and inclusion at NASA. This resulted in inadvertently putting up walls that kept some valuable communities out in ways I never intended. Let me explain."
Categories: Space & Planetary Science
'God of aerospace engineering': Hans Mark, former UT chancellor who fled Nazis, dies at 92, Austin Americqn statesman
"Aerospace engineer Hans Mark, a former University of Texas System chancellor who escaped the Nazis as a boy and grew up to help put a man on the moon, died Saturday morning. Mark was 92. He died at Westminster senior home in Austin and had suffered from progressive dementia."
Keith's note: Ad Astra.
Reliable Robotics Expands Commercial Team with Key Executive Hires
"A.C. Charania, Vice President of Product Strategy ... will further develop the product and service architectures for the Remotely Operated Aircraft System."
Voyager Space Announces Clay Mowry as Chief Revenue Officer
"Voyager Space, a global leader in space exploration, today announced the appointment of Clay Mowry as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Mowry, a space industry veteran and seasoned business strategist, joins Voyager from Blue Origin where he served as the Vice President of Global Sales. As CRO, Mowry will lead revenue and sales operations for the company and its subsidiaries."
Categories: Apollo, Exploration#OTD 17 Dec 1903 Wright brothers conducted the first powered heavier-than-air sustained flight with a pilot. 74 yrs later the Voyager probes were launched. 118 yrs later these human-made machines are in interstellar space. Yet humans haven't stood on the Moon for half a century. pic.twitter.com/gf4mz5ztAz
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) December 17, 2021
Social media helps friends, family attend funeral of Navy Veteran Farrell Corley
"A Navy veteran was laid to rest at Fort Sill National Cemetery Tuesday, surrounded by friends, family and community members paying their respects. Navy Commander Farrell Corley was originally listed as an unclaimed veteran, but thanks to the power of social media, family and friends that previously couldn't be located were in attendance. As a result, Tuesday we were able to learn more about the military career of Corley and, more importantly, the man he was. "As spectacular as all of his achievements are, they pale in comparison to him as a man. As a human being," said Retired Captain John Keilty Jr., who served with Corley. "Ladies and gentlemen, Farrell Corley was good. Only the best get to fly the F-14 Tomcat."
Keith's update: FYI Former Astronaut Bill Readdy saw this post on NASAWatch and was involved in reaching Captain Keilty such that he could be at the service. Others saw this post and others on the Internet and made similar efforts to reach people. Thanks to everyone involved.
Blue Origin Launches 6 New Astronauts Into Space, SpaceRef
"The third crewed flight of a Blue Origin New Shepard launch system was conducted today. The "RSS First Step" left Earth just after 10:00 am ET for a quick flight above the Karman Line followed by a perfect landing of the booster and space capsule at the Texas launch site. On board were Dylan Taylor, Voyager Space; Michael Strahan, ABC; investor Evan Dick; Lane Ventures founder Lane Bess and his son Cameron Bess; and Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of the first US astronaut Alan Shepard."
Categories: Astronauts, CommercializationThe view from #NewShepard at apogee is something our #NS19 astronauts will never forget. Today's flight featured a full capsule of six astronauts, each with their own window seat. pic.twitter.com/MOUT4YgnLC
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) December 11, 2021
Keith's note: The 2021 NASA Space Apps Challenge winners were announced today. I have posted an annotated list below. This is one of the finest worldwide outreach efforts that NASA has ever done over the half century of its existence. It is a superb example of the use of NASA's global branding in a synergistic, soft power fashion. Alas, while Thomas Zurbuchen at SMD has openly embraced this effort, over the past decade the rest of NASA has given only lukewarm mention - if any. I will have a detailed look at this project online on Monday.
NASA's 10th Space Apps Challenge Increases Global Participation, earlier post
NASA International Space Apps Challenge Winners
Best Use of Science - Ani's Cuff (Seeing the unseeable - Viewing Bugs from Space) Taipei, Taiwan - "Our lives hinge on the wellbeing of insects; at the same time, insect biodiversity is disproportionately affected by human actions. Your challenge is to develop innovative ways to advance our ability to detect insect life, track and predict change over time, and communicate that information to scientists and society to combat the loss of insect biodiversity."
Best Use of Data - Cambridge Asteroids - Cambridge, UK - "From Earth, the Trojan asteroids appear to be single points of light; their light curves - the way their observed brightness varies with time - are one of the few clues available to scientists working to determine the shapes of these distant bodies. Your challenge is to design a tool that allows users to explore how the shape of an asteroid affects the appearance of its light curve."
Best Use of Technology - Change Maker - Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia - "NASA produces a variety of surface solar and meteorological data parameters that are useful to commercial renewable energy and sustainable building ventures, but this information is not easily accessible to the typical homeowner. Your challenge is to develop a mobile application to access the information on NASA's Prediction of Worldwide renewable Energy Resources (POWER) web services portal and provide useful information about sunshine to the general public."
Galactic Impact - 4 SEEDS Chino Hills, CA - "A viable food system for long-duration exploration missions does not yet exist, but it will be necessary to maintain crew health and performance. Your challenge is to design a deployable crop production system capable of supporting the nutritional requirements of a crew of 4-6 on a transit mission to Mars and back to Earth."
Best Mission Concept - Mohakash (Virtual Planetary Exploration v2.0) - Khulna - "Future astronauts will conduct various activities in space and on or near celestial bodies to help us learn about their mission destinations, Earth, and our universe. Your challenge is to create interactive 3D models of equipment (e.g., planetary geology tools) that future space explorers might use for activities like exploring a planetary surface."
Most Inspirational - Bioshi (Space for Change) - Panama - "Marginalized communities are often disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. Your challenge is to use NASA's Earth observation data to: 1) identify regions where such environmental injustice occurs, and 2) design implementable solutions that enable equitable outcomes."
Best Story Telling - Space Travellers from Guayaquil, Guayas Ecuador - "Long-distance space travel comes with a multitude of health risks, but it is difficult to imagine the combined effects of these risks, especially for those who are not fluent in NASA jargon. Your challenge is to create an educational game for middle schoolers (approx. ages 10-14) that focuses on keeping an avatar alive and healthy during a voyage from Earth to Mars and back, and that identifies the most difficult challenges and the biggest risks involved in human spaceflight."
Award for Global Connection - EAGLE AI (Leveraging AI/ML for plastic marine debris) (Global) - "AI tracking system to track and follow ocean plastic with up to 100% accuracy "Marine debris is one of the most pervasive threats to the health of coastal areas, oceans, and waterways. Your challenge is to leverage Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning to monitor, detect, and quantify plastic pollution and increase our understanding about using these techniques for this purpose."
Arts and Technology - Jimmy In The Box (Webb Origami Design Challenge) Boston MA - "The James Webb Space Telescope is NASA's next premier space science observatory and will fulfill the agency's vision to "discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity." Your challenge is to create origami artwork that looks like the James Webb Space Telescope and showcases Webb as a technological and design marvel using an "arts-meets-science" approach."
Global Award Winner - Landslide Detection Squad - Perth, Australia - "Landslides often interfere with the economic development of rural communities. Your challenge is to develop a tool that uses data from NASA satellites and ground-based sources to determine the risk of landslides in rural communities and share the results with local communities and governments."
Categories: EducationSearch
International Space Station Operations Formally Extended Through 2030
The Biden-Harris Administration has extended International Space Station operations through 2030.