Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) Meeting“Who should attend? Participation is open to all scientists/engineers involved in Mars exploration, including international colleagues. Since this is a ‘working’ meeting, it is not open to members of the press, however, if there is interest we can make people available for interviews afterwards.” Editor’s earlier note: Once again NASA seeks to hide discussions about its Mars exploration program behind closed doors.

NASA administrator says space shuttle was a mistake, USA Today“Asked Tuesday whether the shuttle had been a mistake, Griffin said, “My opinion is that it was. … It was a design which was extremely aggressive and just barely possible.” Asked whether the space station had been a mistake, he said, “Had the decision been mine, we would not have built the space station we’re building in the orbit we’re building […]

NASA/Ames ending contracts with 400 scientists, Silicon Valley News“But even some space-related programs are now vulnerable, including divisions that test gravity’s effects on living things and others that study how to minimize human error during space flight.”NASA News Conference With Mike Griffin: Exploration Systems Architecture Study (Transcript)“Well, good question. I think I just said this was not about taking money from the science programs for human space flight and it’s […]

Senate Approves Sen. Hutchison’s NASA Authorization Bill“The legislation authorizes NASA for Fiscal Years 2006 through 2010, establishes a policy objective of uninterrupted U.S. spaceflight capability and requires completion of the International Space Station (ISS).” Editor’s note: This may be a little hard for Mike Griffin to comply with – he is proposing a 2 year gap between Shuttle shutdown (2010) and CEV operations (2012) – a gap which many expect […]

From: Sandy Johnson Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 3:43 PM To: Subject: Hurricane Rita TragedyI am sad to report that we lost a member of the Barrios family during Hurricane Rita. Wayne Hoernig, a Barrios employee on the Boeing ESS contract, was found in his car in Madison County on Friday. We don’t have any details to report other than a conversation with the Madison County Sheriffs Department. They told […]

Scott Horowitz Named to Lead NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate“NASA Administrator Michael Griffin today named veteran space shuttle commander Scott J. Horowitz as associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Griffin also appointed longtime NASA engineer Doug Cooke as deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.”

Google expected to build campus at NASA Ames – 1 million-square-foot complex envisioned as heart of Valley, SF Chronicle“At 1 million square feet, the new campus would be larger than filmmaker George Lucas’ new Presidio complex and nearly as big as the 52-story office tower in the Bank of America Center in San Francisco’s Financial District.”NASA, Google to Make Major Announcement (ARC Website)“NASA Ames Research Center, located in Silicon Valley, […]

Editor’s note: The following excerpts from internal LaRC Charts show the planning and implementation process for “in-sourcing” – i.e. bringing contractor work in-house to keep civil servants employed. Of course, this means that the contractors who used to do that work will now be laid off. Workforce Strategy ActionsMission Directorate Budget Guidlelines have been issued to the centers.Centers are currently working to understand the marks and determine level of civil […]

China Space Mission Said Planned for Oct., AP“China’s second manned space mission – and its first to carry two astronauts – is due to launch on Oct. 13, weather permitting, and return five days later, a state media report said.”Calvert Fears China May Beat U.S. Astronauts Back To The Moon, Aerospace Daily“Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Science subcommittee on space and aeronautics, said he fears that China […]

NASA Internal Memo: Goddard Director Announces Key Personnel– Dr. Michael Ryschkewitsch has been named Deputy Director for Goddard– Orlando Figueroa will assume the position of Director of AETD– Marcus Angelo Watkins has been named the Director of OSSMA