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Month: July 2010
NASA Ames Makes Payloads Out of Phones and Toys

Cheaper, Better Satellites Made From Cellphones and Toys, Wired “Instead of investing in their own computer research and development, engineers at the NASA Ames Research Center are looking to cellphones and off-the-shelf toys to power the future of low-cost satellite technology. The smartphone in your pocket has about 120 times more computing power than the average satellite, which has the equivalent of a 1984-era computer inside. “You can go to […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 30, 2010
Gordon's Attempt To Shove HR 5781 Through Flops

Vote on NASA Bill Appears Unlikely Before September, Space News “With little time remaining in the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) sought to bring the measure to the House floor under suspension of the rules — a move that prevents amendments to a bill and requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass. But Gordon encountered resistance from House members […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 30, 2010
NASA and PeTA on CNN Tonight

This isn’t rocket science, Houston Chronicle “Since leaving her position at NASA, [April Jean] Evans has devoted much of her time to building support for an international treaty that would ban primate experiments for the purpose of space exploration. Already the European Space Agency has adopted such a position, with Director Jean-Jacques Dordain stating in an April 1 letter that ESA’s formal position is: “there is absolutely no research interest […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 30, 2010
NASA Unions Split On HR 5781

IFPTE/AFGE Letter on NASA Authorization Act “The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) are writing to inform you that this bill is far from non-controversial. In this regard, IFPTE and AFGE urge you to oppose HR 5781 if it comes before you in its current form.” Vote on NASA Bill Appears Unlikely Before September, Space News “The International Association of […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 30, 2010
Cabana: "I see a great future for KSC"

Space Center future will be bright – eventually, its director says, Orlando Sentinel “I see a great future for KSC,” center director Robert Cabana told several hundred community boosters, elected officials, union members and industry executives gathered at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the annual “Community Leaders Briefing.” But short-term challenges – including mass layoffs – are looming, he added. Unlike previous briefings, this year’s gathering resembled a […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 29, 2010
Showdown Ahead For H.R. 5781?

Commercial Space Advocates Rally To Stall NASA Authorization Bill, SpaceNews “House sources said July 28 that a floor vote on the NASA authorization could come as early as July 29, but opponents of the bill — primarily commercial space advocates — were successful in stalling the measure, which now is unlikely to be considered before July 30, sources said. Gordon is seeking to bring the measure to the House floor […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 29, 2010
SpaceX Organizes NO on H.R. 5781 Effort

Your Help Urgently Needed to Save the Future of Human Spaceflight, SpaceX “If you care about the future of American space exploration, your urgent help is necessary. The only hope for the average citizen to one day travel to space is in danger due to the actions of certain members of Congress. SpaceX does not have the enormous lobbying power of the big government contractors to stop them, however with […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 29, 2010
Video: Using Cellphones as Payloads

Video from a Google NexusOne smartphone with specially programmed Android apps, installed aboard James Dougherty’s Intimidator-5 on a CTI N4100 load. Launch from Black Rock Playa on 24-July-2010 thanks to Maverick Civilian Space Foundation.

  • NASA Watch
  • July 29, 2010
Video: Think Big Picture – For Just a Moment

Keith’s note: I feel compelled to feature this masterful video by Karen Lau and David Sanders at least once a year. This was done when Craig Steidle ran ESMD. For a brief moment, they “got it”. So folks, drop the petty internal and external politics, and think big picture – just for a moment. I don’t see this sort of thinking at NASA any more. NASA will go nowhere unless […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 29, 2010
Video: SpaceUp DC

“We’re going to carve out some time for people to give some Ignite talks at SpaceUp DC this year. Ignite is a great format. You provide 20 slides that will auto advance every 15 seconds. If you could tell the world anything about space in 5 minutes what would it be? We double dog dare you to give it a try. Here’s an example of a VERY popular Ignite talk […]

  • NASA Watch
  • July 28, 2010