Russia threatens criminal charges against a NASA astronaut, Ars Technica “The Russian state news service, TASS, escalated the issue in April when it published accusations that Auñón-Chancellor had “an acute psychological crisis” after suffering an instance of deep vein thrombosis in space and drilled the hole in an attempt to expedite her return to Earth. NASA pushed back against those claims at the time. Now, with the announcement that its […]
Keith’s 30 November update: I will have an update for everyone at 11:00 am ET Wednesday morning. Keith’s 30 November update: I just got an email invitation to a post-National Space Council reception by the usual big aerospace suspects. “Following the National Space Council meeting on December 1, AIA, AIAA, CDSE, and CSF will be hosting a reception at the Willard Continental Hotel. Proof of vaccination will be required. This […]
NASA’s Management of the International Space Station and Efforts to Commercialize Low Earth Orbit, NASA OIG “… Under the Agency’s current plans, both health risk mitigation and technology demonstrations will not be complete by 2030 – the expected retirement date of the ISS. Consequently, a substantial gap between the Station’s retirement and the introduction of a new, commercial destination in low Earth orbit would force NASA to accept a higher […]
(L) El Capitan, Yosemite, Earth ~1 km tall (R) ~1 km tall cliff on comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko Image Credit: ESA, Rosetta spacecraft, NAVCAM; Additional Processing: Stuart Atkinson https://t.co/HchHdfbRVo pic.twitter.com/bKrFth8scB — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) November 29, 2021
Testing Confirms Webb Telescope on Track for Targeted Dec. 22 Launch, Arianespace “Engineering teams have completed additional testing confirming NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is ready for flight, and launch preparations are resuming toward Webb’s target launch date of Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 7:20 a.m. EST. Additional testing was conducted this week to ensure the observatory’s health following an incident that occurred when the release of a clamp band caused […]
Keith Cowing · SpaceRef on Deutsche Welle: Launch of the NASA DART Mission Keith Cowing · SpaceRef on Alhurra: NASA's DART Mission Keith Cowing · SpaceRef on Deutsche Welle: NASA's DART Mission
Alan Shepard’s daughter Laura Shepard Churchley and GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan to fly on NS-19 alongside four customers, Blue Origin “Blue Origin today announced the crew of its upcoming NS-19 flight on December 9 will include two honorary guests and four paying customers. Guests include Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard, who was the first American to fly to space. […]
Keith’s note: I just watched “The Hunt For Planet B“, a documentary on the James Webb Space Telescope which aired on CNN. I must say that this is a splendid film. It managed to capture the scope and breadth of what JWST is going to do and the scientific and political complexities that have dogged its development. Most importantly, however, this fim is about the people who have labored to […]
House passes infrastructure bill with $1,115 Billion For NASA, Space Policy Online “The House finally passed the second bill to address President Biden’s infrastructure agenda. This “human infrastructure” bill has $1.115 billion for NASA, far less than what NASA Administrator Bill Nelson once hoped for, but would be a significant boost for the agency on top of its regular appropriations nonetheless. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.” […]
Newly Released Court Documents Obliterate Blue Origin’s Lawsuit Against NASA, Futurism The US Court of Federal Claims has released a 47 page document detailing its decision to drop Blue Origin’s legal challenge against NASA — and it’s a scathing rebuttal, full of damning details. In the documents, shared by New York Times space reporter Joey Roulette on Twitter today, the court expanded on its decision. “The Court finds that Blue […]