Editor’s 31 August update: Well, the Houston Chronicle printed Mike Coats’ letter. But they also altered their OpEd and removed the comment about the non-NASA accident. Curiously, they did not have the journalistic honesty to admit to their readers that they made a mistake in the first place.Curiously, these inept students of spaceflight history at the Houston Chronicle still do not get it. They state “… after hundreds of space […]

Outsourcing Desktop Initiative for NASA (ODIN) Mission Focus Review (MFR) Decisions, NASA Ames Office of the Chief Information Officer (840K PDF)“The agency Strategic Management Council (SMC) has approved two Mission Focus Reviews (MFR)s related to ODIN. The SMC decision includes: – MFR#7 – Consolidate all cellular services (pagers, cell phones, smartphones/PDAs, and cellular Internet) under ODIN – MFR#137 – Consolidate all laptop/desktop/workstation procurement and support under ODIN”

Editor’s note: Mike Griffin spoke at IV&V today wherein he addressed dwindling research activities at NASA and how that may affect job security. Anyone who was at the speech is welcome to send in your notes/quotes on exactly what Griffin said. Send them to [email protected] Reader note: “Mike flew his own private plane out to Fairmont this morning. Bryan O’Connor also visited. After touring the facility (including a Shuttle landing […]

JPL Employees File Suit to End Background Investigations“Twenty-eight senior scientists and engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL is a part of Caltech) have filed suit today in United States District Court for the Central District of California against NASA, the Department of Commerce and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) on behalf of a class of JPL employees who are being required to waive their privacy rights and submit […]

Richard Covey to Succeed McCulley as USA President and CEO“Richard O. Covey has been named to succeed Michael J. McCulley as President and Chief Executive Officer of United Space Alliance, effective September 28, 2007. McCulley has announced his retirement following a distinguished career spanning 38 years as a Naval aviator, NASA astronaut and a highly respected space industry executive. Daniel C. Brandenstein of Lockheed Martin Mission Services has been named […]

Commentary: Insanity Claim Makes NASA Look Inept, Discovery News“In court documents, the lead attorney for ex-astronaut Lisa Nowak outlined several mental conditions which psychiatrists say made her legally insane when she allegedly attacked a romantic rival in an Orlando airport parking lot. At least two of the afflictions, obsessive-compulsive disorder and Asperger syndrome, a neurobiological condition related to autism, typically manifest in childhood or early adulthood.” Editor’s note: There are […]

Findings of NASA Safety Review Following Astronaut Health Reviews“The lack of privacy on launch day makes it nearly impossible to hide alcohol use or alcohol-induced impairment. Could a crewmember drink to the point of inebriation in his/her room the night before launch? Certainly, but, from the time the crew wakes on launch morning until they lift off, they are surrounded by other astronauts, managers, support crew, television (TV) cameramen, still […]

Ex-astronaut Nowak may rely on insanity defense, Reuters“Former NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak may claim at trial she was insane when she stalked and attacked a romantic rival during the unraveling of a love triangle with a fellow ex-astronaut, according to court papers released on Tuesday.”

NASA Releases Results of O’Connor Safety Review“On Wednesday, Aug. 29, NASA will announce the results of a review conducted by NASA Chief of Safety and Mission Assurance Bryan O’Connor to evaluate allegations of improper alcohol use by astronauts.” Editor’s note: Word has it that O’Connor’s team was unable to substantiate any of the astronaut pre-flight drinking allegations made in the report issued in July.

Boeing Selected to Build NASA’s Upper Stage for Ares I“The Boeing Company has been awarded a NASA contract valued at approximately $514.7 million to produce the upper stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle. This element provides the navigation, guidance, control and propulsion required for the ascent of the second-stage Ares I into low -Earth orbit.”