Editor’s note: That’s what Scott Horowitz’ and Mike Griffin’s pal Bob Zubrin wants you to think – note this excerpt from an official Mars Society email wherein Zubrin crows about his victory:“The decision to save Hubble is a great victory for science, civilization, and the Mars Society. Alone among space advocacy groups, the Mars Society responded the former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe’s stupid and cowardly decision … The Mars Society […]
– New Hubble Servicing Mission to upgrade instruments – IEEE-USA commends NASA decision to service Hubble Space Telescope – Mikulski Applauds Hubble Announcement, Says Decision Is Right For America – UA Astronomers Laud NASA Decision to Repair and Upgrade Hubble– Shuttle Astronauts to Install Ball Aerospace’s COS and WFC3 Science Instruments Aboard Hubble Space Telescope– Udall Hails Hubble Servicing Mission Decision– Lockheed Martin Team to Support Hubble Space Telescope Servicing […]
NASA approves Hubble repair, Nature“If the shuttle were damaged on assent by falling foam or other debris, then mission planners would have a maximum of three weeks to get a second shuttle into orbit a relatively short period of time. … It’s the sort of mission that the agency would never have bothered planning before the 2003 accident, but in the wake of the disaster, [Keith] Cowing says, such contingency […]
Editor’s note: When asked by a reporter about the Administration’s interest in supporting science, and the complaints that the science community has raised, Mike Griffin replied “I am bothered by the basic premise of the question”. He then went on to explain how there would be less funding for science – and the he had the Bush Administration’s backing in making these decisions. “There is nothing at NASA that is […]
Editor’s note: According to Mike Griffin, speaking at the 31 October HST SM announcement: “I was the one who took the deorbit module off of this mission because I thought it was idiotic.” Earlier post: NASA Program management Council Meeting Minutes and Actions Date: July 28,2005: Second Item of Business: Hubble Space Telescope (HST) – Decay Profile and Propulsion De-Orbit Module (PDM) Use At the request of the Administrator two […]
NASA Approves Mission and Names Crew for Return to Hubble“Shuttle astronauts will make one final house call to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope as part of a mission to extend and improve the observatory’s capabilities through 2013.”NASA Press Conference – Shuttle Return to Hubble – Transcript
NASA Invests in Its Future With Venture Capital Firm, Washington Post“Red Planet marks the first time that the federal government has started a venture capital fund for civilian purposes, but it is hardly a stretch. That is because a former president of the CIA-sponsored venture fund is Michael D. Griffin — now the administrator of NASA.”
Editor’s 28 October Update: Multiple sources note that few – if any – expect that the decision will be anything but an overt approval of the Hubble servicing mission. Indeed, many at NASA have been acting as if it were a done deal for quite some time – and some have said that it is indeed settled – some claim to have been told so. Many activities wherein real money […]
NASA MSFC Neutral Buoyancy Simulator Reunion Editor’s note: Author and former NASA engineer Homer Hickam (website) has provided these photos from the NBS (Neutral Buyoancy Simulator) Reunion at MSFC this past Sunday. Homer is one of the former NBS divers and suggests that “the tank could be ready in no time to train the next bunch of HST repair astros!” Top photo: Homer standing on the top deck of the […]
NASA Announces Discovery Program Selections“NASA Monday selected concept studies for missions that would return a sample of an enigmatic asteroid, probe the chemistry of Venus’ atmosphere and reveal the interior structure and history of the Earth’s moon.”