Bush’s Space Plan in Danger – Shuttle Program’s Deficit May Mean Far Fewer Flights, Washington Post“A large deficit in NASA’s troubled shuttle program threatens to seriously delay and possibly cripple President Bush’s space exploration initiative unless the number of planned flights is cut virtually in half or the White House agrees to add billions of dollars to the human spaceflight budget.”Earlier NASA Watch postings:– Griffin’s Lunch With Andy Card– Is […]

Liberals expected to field Garneau, Globe and Mail“Former astronaut Marc Garneau is expected to run for the Liberal Party in the coming election, party sources said.”

Statement by the Press Secretary, White House“On Tuesday, November 22, 2005, the President signed into law: … S. 1713, the “Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act of 2005,” which amends the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 to apply its provisions to Syria; broadens the Act to cover acquisitions from as well as transfers to Iran and Syria; and authorizes payments to Russian entities for certain work performed or services rendered related to […]

Letter from the Coalition for Space Exploration to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card“The Coalition for Space Exploration, consisting of 42 aerospace companies and 11 industry associations, respectfully urges your support for an FY07 NASA budget of not less than $16.962B — the funding proposed in the President’s budget submittal last year for FY07.”Statement by the Press Secretary, White House“On Tuesday, November 22, 2005, the President signed into law: […]

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Briefing“You are notified that the following changes are made:The draft announcement briefing has been rescheduled for December 8, 2005, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.” Editor’s note: NASA initially announced a 29 November meeting date on in a Federal Register posting on 28 October. Now, just a week before the event, after everyone has bought airline tickets and made travel arrangements – NASA suddenly changes the […]

NASA ARC Solicitation: Operation of the Ames Research Center Animal Care Facility“This is a special notice to all potential sources who are interested that the procurement is hereby cancelled.” Editor’s note: This actually makes a lot of sense given that Mike Griffin has decided to erase all life science research at ARC.

Spirit Marks One Year on Mars (One Martian Year, that is)“Spirit, the untiring robotic “wonder child” sent by NASA to explore the eerily earthlike fourth planet from the sun, has completed one martian year–that’s almost two Earth years–on Mars. Designed to last only 90 martian days (sols), the six-wheeled marvel the size of a golf cart has pursued a steady course of solar-driven geologic fieldwork, bringing back some 70,000 images […]

Former NASA executive to head Homeland Security aviation unit, Goverment Executive“Michael Kostelnik will become assistant commissioner for CBP Air, replacing acting assistant commissioner Charles Stallworth. Kostelnik will step in during what has been a difficult transition for the organization.”

Boeing Statement on Death of NASA Systems Vice President Mike Mott Editor’s note: includes info on funeral and memorial arrangements. Editor’s note: From Kathy Mott: “Kathy Mott, son – Michael, and daughter – Ashley, have asked that we let you know that Mini died peacefully this morning at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Mini was a Marine, an aviator, a patriot, and loving son, husband and father. We’ll all […]

Editor’s note: At today’s shuttle press conference NBC’s Jay Barbaree read an email from a retired engineer which stated that the only shuttle mission flown with a white, painted external tank was STS-1. That is incorrect. If you look at this image “Space Shuttle Columbia OV (101) is in launch configuration on the pad in preparation for STS-2.” you will see a white external tank. An astute reader also notes […]