29 December 2000: Nicogossian on IPA assignment Editor’s note: word has it that former OLMSA Associate Administrator Arnauld Nicogossian will begin an IPA assignment on 2 January 2001 with both the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). Effective immediately, Dr. Richard Williams will serve as Acting Chief Health and Medical Officer. Williams is the former Director of NASA’s Office of Health Affairs and is currently serving as the […]

26 October 2000: Shuttle Main Engine Test Investigation Points to Fuel Cell System Contamination, NASA “A detailed review of a Space Shuttle Main Engine test mishap, June 16, at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, MS, has revealed that special tape was left behind inside the engine during processing, contaminating the system.” 26 October 2000: SSME 0523 TEST 902-772 Failure Investigation Final Report (10MB Adobe Acrobat) “In accordance with NPG8621.1H, enclosed is […]

According to a NASA press release, “Imaging scientists Dr. Michael Malin and Dr. Ken Edgett from NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft will present what they describe as their most significant discovery yet at a Space Science Update at 2:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 7. Their findings are being published in the December 8 issue of Science Magazine.

Today, a group of scientists sat before the world on TV and said “I don’t know”; “I am confused”; and “I laid awake at night”. In a culture where everyone expects scientists to have all the answers – especially those ‘rocket scientists’, this group was honestly and openly confused by the latest news from Mars. It was refreshing!

NASA will make a major announcement tomorrow regarding the presence of liquid water on Mars. The results to be announced are expected to focus on visual evidence from the Mars Global Surveyor that water has been present on or near the surface of Mars. Moreover it would seem that this has happened quite recently and that it may well continue at present. No direct or indirect evidence of life has been found. Rather, this announcement will be limited to describing the identification of conditions on Mars that could be favorable to life, were it to exist.