NASA Investigation Uncovers Cause of Two Science Mission Launch Failures “NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) investigators have determined the technical root cause for the Taurus XL launch failures of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) and Glory missions in 2009 and 2011, respectively: faulty materials provided by aluminum manufacturer, Sapa Profiles, Inc. (SPI). LSP’s technical investigation led to the involvement of NASA’s Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Department […]
Well the numbers are starting to settle on the cost of the whole #Moon2024 thing. We've heard numbers in draft revised @NASA budget requests to Congress that come close to $8 billion more a year for the next 5 years for a total additional cost of $40 billion. #ShowMeTheMoney pic.twitter.com/hDDBkPXQsK — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) April 30, 2019 High cost, lack of support spell trouble for 2024 Moon landing plan, Ars […]
From this point forward, employees are no longer permitted to photograph or share images from *any* operations at KSC without authorization. Regardless of source. Photographing, or sharing images, from operations is grounds for termination. *Only* authorized media may do so. — K. Scott Piel (@spiel2001) April 29, 2019 We've updated the story with a statement from Jacobs and the TOSC contract. Spokeswoman confirmed they "recently sent an email communication to […]
The "new tool" is a platform for people to stand on. You have to wonder why @BoeingSpace and the @NASA_SLS team took years to think up something as simple as this. #moon2024 https://t.co/OBp6laJh9z — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) April 29, 2019
Former NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot Joins Lockheed Martin “Robert Lightfoot, a longtime NASA executive who served as both the agency’s acting administrator and highest-ranking civil servant, will join Lockheed Martin Space as vice president, Strategy and Business Development, effective May 6. In his new role, Lightfoot will lead strategic planning, advanced technology concepts, and new business strategy for the corporation’s Space business area. Lockheed Martin Space is a $9 […]
NASA to perform key test of the SLS rocket, necessitating a delay in its launch, Ars Technica “In a memo shared with senior agency managers earlier this week, NASA’s chief of human spaceflight, William Gerstenmaier, said the green run test would proceed. He also acknowledged that the first test flight of the rocket, Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), would likely be delayed beyond 2020. “Ultimately, it was my recommendation to the agency […]
This cryptic tweet from @BlueOrigin means something. This is Shackleton's ship "Endurance" from the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-17. Either Jeff Bezos found it, is looking for it, or he's going to do something at the lunar south pole. Thoughts? #Antarctica #moon2024 https://t.co/4VPrhHH0kJ — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) April 26, 2019
FYI @ISS_CASIS recently gave @JimBridenstine a briefing wherein CASIS proposed becoming an FFRDC that would take over all @NASA activities on ISS, suborbital, and related ground research. This is crazy given that #CASIS can’t even do the much smaller task that it currently has. — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) April 24, 2019 ICYMI the former @ISS_CASIS Chief Economist has been indicted for multiple reimbursements filed for hookers whose services were procured […]
NASA has been notified about the results of the @SpaceX Static Fire Test and the anomaly that occurred during the final test. We will work closely to ensure we safely move forward with our Commercial Crew Program. pic.twitter.com/yE2J5yGzA7 — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) April 21, 2019 SpaceX Statement on Crew Dragon Test Stand Anomaly “Earlier today, SpaceX conducted a series of engine tests on a Crew Dragon test vehicle on our […]
Evaluation of a Human Mission to Mars by 2033 – Full report(PDF) “In August 2017, NASA asked the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) to conduct this independent assessment, specifically requesting that STPI use NASA’s current and notional plans for human exploration as the basis for the spaceflight systems and timelines presented in this study. STPI produced a draft report in December of 2017. Because NASA’s exploration program was […]