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Month: November 2009
Creating Starfleet Academy (Ongoing)

Keith’s note: As most of you know by now, Charlie Bolden is relentless in his focus on the value of education. What if you were inclined to create NASA’s version of Starfleet Academy to prepare students for a career in space exploration. What would it do? What location(s) would be best? What age group(s) should it focus on? What courses would it teach? What skills would it emphasize? I am […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 30, 2009
Backslapping at the Broadmoor

Leonard Nimoy to Headline Space Foundation Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner April 15, Space Foundation “Since 1988, the Space Technology Hall of Fame, in cooperation with NASA, has honored those who transform technology originally developed for space exploration into products and services that help improve the quality of life here on Earth.” Keith’s note: I wonder what Mr. Nimoy’s speaking fee is? I’ll bet that the Space Foundation could […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 30, 2009
Just in Time For The Holidays – Its Buyout Time – Hurry – Limited Offer

NASA GSFC Internal Memo: FY10 Buyout/Early Out “The Buyout/Early Out window is open beginning today, Monday, November 30, 2009 through 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Employees who are approved for the Buyout/Early Out must be off the rolls by April 3, 2010 and may retire/resign as early as December 31, 2009. Eligible employees who voluntarily leave GSFC by no later than April 3, 2010 with an approved buyout will […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 30, 2009
Should We Be Wary of China in Space? (Update)

Viewpoint: Be Wary Of China Space Ties, editorial, Eric Sterner, Aviation Week “Unfortunately, there are ample reasons for the U.S. to keep its distance. While the U.S. explicitly decided to separate its space exploration activities from the military, China’s human spaceflight program is a subsidiary of the People’s Liberation Army. In that context, the risks of illicit technology transfer are considerable.” LDRA Wins $1 Million Contract in China’s Manned Spacecraft […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 30, 2009
More Mars Meteorite ALH84001 Discoveries Published (Update)

New Study Adds to Finding of Ancient Life Signs In Mars Meteorite, NASA “Using more advanced analytical instruments now available, a Johnson Space Center research team has reexamined the 1996 finding that a meteorite contains strong evidence that life may have existed on ancient Mars.” More Mars Meteorite ALH84001 Discoveries Published, earlier post Keith’s note: This is interesting news. Yet I see no mention that NASA HQ issued the release […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 30, 2009
Kiwis In Space

Rocket Lab Primed to Launch New Zealand’s First Rocket Into Space “Private aerospace company Rocket Lab is preparing for a historic first launch into space from New Zealand. One of the company’s key aims it to make space more accessible to a broader market. As part of the first launch Rocket Lab is auctioning a small amount of payload space on Trade Me for New Zealanders and on eBay for […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 30, 2009
Buying 40 Year Old Lunar Orbiter Tape Drive Parts on eBay

“Dennis Wingo: I thought this was interesting and since I am always looking for spares for our LOIRP FR-900’s I check it out on eBay. … When I looked I was pretty certain that these were boards from our FR-900 machines. It had the right part numbers, so I called Ken Zin at home the night before Thanksgiving and asked him to verify, which he did and noted that these […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 27, 2009
Human Missions to Asteroids

Trip to asteroid could give life to Ares V rocket, Huntsville Times The Augustine panel’s report also suggests that an asteroid destination would allow NASA to use resources trapped in the floating rocks and mine rocket fuel from them, setting up a “gas station” or depot in space. These could be used to help get to other planets. “There’s so much you can do with an asteroid mission. NASA could […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 27, 2009
Today's Video: STS-129 Ascent Highlights

View on ExposureRoom Keith’s 25 Nov note: This video was compiled by the SE&I folks using all the ground, air, SRB and ET video from the STS-129 launch. Keith’s 26 Nov update: NASA SE&I had this video taken offline at YouTube. It has been reposted at Exposure Room.

  • NASA Watch
  • November 26, 2009
More Mars Meteorite ALH84001 Discoveries Published

Origins of magnetite nanocrystals in Martian meteorite ALH84001, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Volume 73, Issue 21, 1 November 2009, Pages 6631-6677 “We conclude that the vast majority of the nanocrystal magnetites present in the carbonate disks could not have formed by any of the currently proposed thermal decomposition scenarios. Instead, we find there is considerable evidence in support of an alternative allochthonous origin for the magnetite unrelated to any shock […]

  • NASA Watch
  • November 25, 2009