Association of Space Explorers: “We are very sad to pass along the news that former astronaut Don Williams has passed away. Fair skies and following seas, Cap’n.” NASA astronaut bio “Born February 13, 1942, in Lafayette, Indiana. Died on February 23, 2016. He is survived by his wife and two children. He enjoyed all sports activities and his interests included running and photography.”
Air Force Awards Final Rocket Propulsion System Prototype OTAs, Space and Missile Systems Center “Today the Space and Missile Systems Center awarded the final Other Transaction Agreements for shared public-private investments in Rocket Propulsion System prototypes. One award is to Aerojet Rocketdyne for development of the AR1 rocket propulsion system. The initial government investment is $115.3 million. The other award is to United Launch Alliance for development of the Vulcan/BE-4 […]
Staying course on the Journey to Mars, Lou Friedman via SpaceReview “NASA does not yet have a plan for its now generally agreed-upon space exploration goal, human missions to Mars. It would be a mistake if they did. A plan now, without a specified and approved program and with many options for mission design and technology development, would be premature and wasteful. It would force both a timetable and cost […]
Keith’s note: DISQUS – the commenting system we use – is acting up tonight. If you cannot post your comments try again later.
Space Access ’16 Conference Information “Space Access ’16 is Space Access Society’s twenty-third annual conference on the business, technology, and politics of radically cheaper access to space, this year with a strong sub-focus on policy decisions and technology directions needed for Beyond Low Orbit: The Next Step Out.” Keith’s note: Unless I have made an error not a single speaker at the upcoming Space Access Society’s event is female. It […]
The Last Man on The Moon Wants You To Go Back (Review), SpaceRef “Nearly half a century ago we sent people on improbable voyages to another world – because we could. Indeed, for a while, such voyages became routine. Then, suddenly, it was over. We stopped visiting the Moon before we had barely figured out to do so. We knew that it might be a while before we went back, […]
Keith’s Update: Nearly 3 days after I originally submitted my Gorilla suit request to NASA PAO (long after foreign publications had already gotten answers from NASA PAO on this topic) I finally got my response back from NASA. What is hilarious is that NASA says officially that it has no idea what the suit is made out of (or how much it weighs or what volume it uses) but states […]
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Reviews Bill to Bring Stability to NASA, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology “The Space Leadership Preservation Act will improve our space program and improve morale at NASA centers by ensuring that we take the politics out of science and provide NASA with clear direction and guidance that outlasts the political whims of any one presidential administration and the political whims of Congress.” […]
Hearing: The Space Leadership Preservation Act and the Need for Stability at NASA “Tomorrow, February 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET, the House Science Committee will hold a hearing on the need for stability at NASA through changing presidential administrations. The hearing will feature former astronaut and first female Space Shuttle pilot and commander, Colonel Eileen Collins, as well as former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. Rep. John Culberson, chairman of the […]
Yes #NASA flew a gorilla suit to the International Space Station since it can't find enough science to do up there https://t.co/Mj0u8TIq8O — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) February 23, 2016 Keith’s 4:38 pm Update: Well, if nothing else, PeTA finally got a protester inside the International Space Station. As readers of NASA Watch know, I am all for making the ISS relevant to the public in new ways and for making […]