GSA chief wants to end NASA contract, AP“The head of the U.S. General Services Administration has taken the unusual step of asking the White House to deny NASA’s request to extend a multibillion-dollar government-wide information technology contract. A $4 billion space agency contract for buying computers and other IT products from IBM Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Unisys Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and CDW Corp., among others, is scheduled to end next […]
GAO Report: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Steps Remain in Incorporating Lessons Learned from Other Satellite Programs Hearing Charter – House Science Committee on GAO Report on NOAA’s Weather Satellite Program Prepared Testimony of Rep. Vernon Ehlers Prepared Testimony of Rep. Sherwood Boehlert Prepared Testimony of Conrad Lautenbacher GAO Cautions: Continuity of U.S. Weather Forecasting Satellites Not Assured
NASA KSC RFI: Supporting an Environmental Assessment of Commercial and Other Uses of the Shuttle Landing Facility“NASA is seeking information from prospective commercial and other non-NASA users of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to support an ongoing Environmental Assessment (EA) of commercial suborbital and orbital spaceflight; support and special purpose aviation; and other compatible uses. See attached documents for detail.”
Virgin to Make Astronaut Idol, Contact Music“Virgin empire boss Sir Richard Branson is in negotiations with British television networks to launch a talent show for aspiring astronauts.” Editor’s update: Images have been released. Here are a few of them: [1][2][3][4]Virgin Galactic Unveils Fullscale Mock-up of SpaceShipTwo Editor’s note: Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, will be on hand with his staff at Wired’s NextFest in New York City […]
Space Station Expedition 13 Lands in Kazakhstan with Anousheh Ansari“Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer Jeff Williams and Spaceflight Participant Anousheh Ansari landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan Thursday at 9:13 p.m. EDT. After saying their farewells to Expedition 14 then entering their Soyuz spacecraft for the ride home, they undocked from the International Space Station at 5:53 p.m.”
GAO Report: NASA: Sound Management and Oversight Key to Addressing Crew Exploration Vehicle Project Risks“NASA cannot develop a firm cost estimate for the exploration program at this time because the program is in its early stages. The changes that have occurred to the program over the past year and the resulting refinement of its cost estimates are indicative of the evolving nature of the program. While changes are appropriate at […]
Editor’s note: GAO’s Allen Li cited a $230 billion cost over two decades for VSE, said that he was disappointed at NASA’s initial response to GAO’s reccommendations, and that he still feels that NASA has gone further than he thinks it should have gone in making contractual committments for the CEV in lieu of firm cost estimates. When Doc Horowitz was asked by Rep. Gordon if he was prepared to […]
House Science Committee to Review NASA’s Plan to Develop Orion, the Crew Exploration Vehicle – and GAO Concerns House Science Committee Democrats Called for Increased Oversight of NASA’s Exploration Program Hearing Charter GAO Report: NASA: Long-Term Commitment to and Investment in Space Exploration Requires More Knowledge Opening Statement by Scott Horowitz Opening Statement by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert Opening Statement by Rep. Ken Calvert Opening Statement by Allen Li Opening Statement […]
Editor’s note: There are some possible job openings on the House Science Committee staff – assuming that the Democrats take over control of the House after the election. The following is posted on an internal website: “House Science Committee-Seeking experienced science policy professionals for possible expanded Democratic committee staff in the 110th Congress. Desire to build a nonpartisan staff of experienced and highly motivated professionals. Good communication skills and ability […]
Beijing secretly fires lasers to disable US satellites, The Telegraph“China has secretly fired powerful laser weapons designed to disable American spy satellites by “blinding” their sensitive surveillance devices, it was reported yesterday. The hitherto unreported attacks have been kept secret by the Bush administration for fear that it would damage attempts to co-opt China in diplomatic offensives against North Korea and Iran.”Rohrabacher Speaks Out Against NASA Chief’s Visit, California Chronicle“Rohrabacher […]