Congress calls SpaceX Falcon 9 launch certification into question, Denver Post “The June 28 explosion of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying supplies to the International Space Station has members of Congress asking NASA and the U.S. Air Force for assurance that SpaceX is qualified to carry military payloads to space. A bipartisan group of 14 U.S. representatives sent a letter saying they have “serious reservations” about SpaceX’s internal investigation process […]
Astronomers Discover Planet Identical To Earth With Orbital Space Mirror, The Onion “In what many are hailing as the most significant development in the history of space exploration, NASA scientists announced Thursday that a planet seemingly identical to Earth has been discovered by the agency’s Orbital Space Mirror. According to NASA, the $2.9 billion aluminum glass mirror, which stretches over 180 feet wide and 147 feet tall, has already produced […]
Pluto’s dwarf planet status is ‘bulls—,’ says lead scientist of NASA mission, Business Insider “The mission to Pluto was meant to complete the exploration of the planets in the Solar System. But scientists reclassified Pluto from a planet to a “dwarf planet” shortly after New Horizons launched in 2006. That reclassification split the space science community. But Stern has a clear opinion about Pluto’s demotion: “It’s bullsh*t,” he told Tech […]
NASA Advisory Council Meeting “29-31 July 2015. Location: Jet Propulsion Laboratory” Agenda Keith’s note: In April the NAC came within a a vote of adopting a recommendation to NASA that the current Asteroid Redirect Mission be changed – possibly to go to Mars instead. That issue was delayed until the next NAC meeting in Pasadena i.e. this NAC meeting. – NASA Advisory Council Wants to Cancel Asteroid Redirect Mission and […]
Search for Alien Life Ignites Battle over Giant Telescope, Scientific American “The foundation was and still is interested in partnering with Arecibo, Scientific American has learned. But according to Arecibo Director Robert Kerr, that partnership is currently being prevented due to a poison pill inserted by the observatory’s owner, the National Science Foundation (NSF). The situation is a startling example of a cash-strapped federal agency seeking to offload an expensive, […]
‘Impossible’ propellantless engine appears to work despite breaking laws of physics, Sydney Morning Herald “Ridiculed as impossible by the scientific community, the electromagnetic propulsion engine – which could supposedly take a craft from Earth to Pluto in just 18 months without the need for rocket fuel – has apparently been confirmed by an independent scientist as working.” Keith’s note: Once again English-language tabloids 1,2,3 with nothing better to do than […]
The end of NTSB’s investigation and the future of Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson’s blog “This photo shows pilot Pete Siebold as he parachutes safely down to earth, with his arm up in the air to show everybody that he is alive and well.” Larger image Lack of Consideration for Human Factors Led to Breakup of SpaceShipTwo “The NTSB determined the cause of the Oct. 31, 2014 in-flight breakup of SpaceShipTwo, […]
Hearing on Pluto Flyby “Tuesday, July 28, 2015: The Science Committee’s NASA Authorization Act for FY16 and FY17 restored funds the Obama administration proposed cutting from planetary science budgets. This would bring parity between NASA’s science accounts and allow for development of missions like New Horizons to continue at the current pace.” Keith’s note: The New Horizons team is now openly talking about a New Horizons-2 mission back to Pluto. […]
AIAA Propulsion and Energy Conference Panel: Cost and Affordability of Future Systems, with Michael D. Griffin, Frank Culbertson, Mike Hawes, Lee Monson, and Mark Sirangelo Marc’s note: SpaceX, the one company driving costs down now isn’t on the panel. Maybe they we’re too busy to attend. Also, Blue Origin,a future player, isn’t on the panel either. Neither are some of the new unproven entrants like Rocket Labs. I would think […]
$126 Million Stolen From Russian Vostochny Cosmodrome Project Prosecutor General, The Moscow Times “Russia’s Prosecutor General said Monday that 7.5 billion rubles ($126 million) had been stolen during construction of a new spaceport in Russia’s Far East, news agency RIA Novosti reported. Investigators conducted a massive investigation into corruption and mismanagement at the site of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a $3 billion project seen in Moscow as vital to secure Russia’s […]
