After 10 SLS flights no one is walking on Mars. #JourneyToMars https://t.co/DIzZXK44bL — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) November 30, 2016 Notional schedule of future missions, through EM-10 in 2030. One set aside for ARM crewed mission, rest simply “proving ground” cislunar. pic.twitter.com/7FRfzGwg3P — Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) November 30, 2016
Trump’s First 100 Days: Space, Scientific American “What is certain, [Bob] Walker says, is that Trump’s “space policy doesn’t contemplate any real increases in NASA’s spending.”, It will likely have to accomplish all that it is being asked to do now and in the future without significant boosts to its bottom line, and with the distinct possibility of deep budget cuts. And that, more than anything else, could be very […]
Senate Floor Action on New NASA Authorization Act Could be Imminent, Space Policy Online “Senate and House negotiators reportedly are close to agreement on a final version of a FY2017 NASA authorization act. Senate floor action on a draft compromise bill could come as early as tomorrow. A draft of a revised version of the bill reportedly reflecting compromise with the House is now circulating and rumors are that the […]
Smith, Babin Request Info on ARM Press Release, Report “As the incoming Administration evaluates ARM, it would benefit from clear guidance from both NASA and its advisory bodies. Similarly, it should be unencumbered by decisions made in the twilight of this Administration’s term. Contrary to the assertions made in the press release, numerous advisory bodies have questioned the merits of the President’s ARM mission. The NASA Advisory Council, the Small […]
Keith’s note: Explore Mars had a “leadership dinner” in Washington, DC tonight. This is a group photo (larger image) posted on Facebook. Here we go again. Another space group has a meeting. Guess who shows up: One female, nine males (mostly older white guys). This is not remotely representative of who will – should – explore Mars. The folks at Explore Mars mean well. But this event is representative of […]
President-Elect Trump Announces Additional Agency Landing Team Members “National Aeronautics and Space Administration Christopher Shank Employer (current or most recent): U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (Retired) Funding source: Volunteer” Keith’s note: Chris Shank is policy director for the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and Deputy Chief of Staff for Committee chair Lamar Smith. Prior to that he worked at NASA as part of Mike Griffin’s so-called […]
A transition vet offers tips to Trump’s NASA transition team, Courtney Stadd, SpaceNews “You will also be subject to many rumors. Information is power in D.C. Any tidbit of information, no matter how trivial, is worth something to the consultants, lobbyists, journalists, bloggers, and self-appointed social media space policy mavens who are constantly trying to demonstrate their inside knowledge. And many people with an interest in the issues within your […]
Russia is developing a mega-rocket that will transport supplies to build a base on the MOON, Deputy PM reveals, Daily Mail “Russia is developing a mega-rocket that will transport supplies to build a base on the moon, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister has revealed. President Vladimir Putin wants work to begin on the new ‘super-heavy’ rocket which will ‘pave the way’ for a lunar research station. It will enable the […]
Trump’s space policy reaches for Mars and the stars, Space News “NASA should be focused primarily on deep space activities rather than Earth-centric work that is better handled by other agencies.” “Trump to scrap Nasa climate research in crackdown on ‘politicized science’, The Guardian “Bob Walker, a senior Trump campaign adviser, said there was no need for Nasa to do what he has previously described as “politically correct environmental monitoring”. […]
Headed to the highest, driest, windiest continent on spaceship Earth. #NASA #NSF pic.twitter.com/BXMSuUnqKo — Dava Newman (@DavaExplorer) November 27, 2016 Keith’s note: This rather shameless Dava. Really. You are required to submit your formal resignation no later than 7 December. Your desk needs to be empty by 20 January. Yet you are on a victory lap to Antarctica at taxpayer expense – and bragging about it. Why? Will you even […]