Democrats block defense bill with Alaska drilling“The defense bill also includes funding for Hurricane Katrina reconstruction, the potential bird flu pandemic and a program that helps poor families pay winter heating bills.”House approves $29 billion Katrina aid plan, Reuters“The fate of the legislation is uncertain in the Senate, however, because of opposition from many senators to unrelated provisions of the bill.”Highlights of FY06 Defense Appropriations Bill“NASA – $350 million is […]

A Little Something Extra, Government Executive“It pays to be a rocket scientist. NASA gave the highest bonuses on average, with a typical award of $17,483.” Editor’s note:The following information regarding 2005 Presidential Rank Awards can be found on OPM’s website: “Each year, the President recognizes and celebrates a small group of career Senior Executives with the President’s Rank Award for exceptional long-term accomplishments. Beginning with awards granted in 2003, eligibility […]

NASA bill would postpone layoffs, Huntsville Times“Cowing said although the spending bill would keep NASA from laying off people next year, it does very little to eliminate layoffs at some point. “The language doesn’t say NASA can’t plan for a RIF over the next year. Planning for a RIF is a long process,” said Cowing, who runs the NASAWatch.com Web site. “You can’t just flip a switch and call for […]

Editor’s note: The following letter is being sent out in December 2005 by Carl Walz at ESMD to hundreds of NASA life science researchers informing them that NASA no longer wants to fund their previously solicited, peer-reviewed, approved, and funded research. The reason given for this action is as follows:“In the area of Human Systems Research and Technology (HSRT), whose budget funds your project, only that research and technology development […]

Editor’s note: If you go to this link on Time magazine’s website you can vote for the #1 image among Time’s Top Ten Editor’s Choice Images for 2005. So far, this image of Saturn is in first place with 28% of the votes. Please visit – and vote early – and often! Update: a few hours after this note was posted the image jumped ahead by an additional 2 points. […]

Congress Gives NASA It’s Marching Orders on Space Station Science, SpaceRef“NASA Administrator Griffin has been dramatically cutting basic life and microgravity science research across the agency. International Space Station (ISS) science has been devastated. These cuts have become quite a cause of concern in Congress. When asked what the criteria are for such cuts, only vague answers come back from NASA. With the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, Congress has […]

Bill would block some NASA cuts, Crain’s Cleveland Business“NASA Glenn Research Center wouldnt be able to lay off any civil servants until March 2007 under a bill passed by the House of Representatives late Saturday, but the center isnt yet in the clear. … The bill does not prevent NASA Glenn from laying off some of its more than 1,000 contractors.”

Wreckage of Beagle found scattered in Mars crater, Times OnlineBritish Mars probe found just a metre off its target, The Independent“And if the probe had landed only one metre to the north, they say it would have survived and would be functioning today.”Beagle 2 probe ‘spotted’ on Mars, BBC“The scientist behind the British Beagle 2 mission to the Red Planet says the craft may have been found in pictures of […]

NASA Presolicitation Notice: The Human Element 6-Day Training Workshops“NASA/HQ has a requirement for The Human Element hands-on, 6-day workshops focused on the hidden interpersonal dynamics that influence organizational and team effectiveness.This requirement will provide five (5) courses to NASA employees throughout the agency.”NASA update, 19 Dec 2005 (Word): “National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center,Greenbelt, MD 20771Reply to Attn of: 210.H, December 19, 2005MEMORANDUM FOR RECORDSubject: Synopsis “The […]

“3 … 2 … 1 … Rip-Off!” Taxpayer Group Blasts Boeing/Lockheed Launch Vehicle Plan, National Taxpayers Union“The pending Boeing/Lockheed “United Launch Alliance” (ULA) to provide the Air Force with expendable rockets would unfairly strand taxpayers with a half-billion-dollar-a-year subsidy: that’s the message the 350,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) delivered to Congress today, in an open letter urging lawmakers to end subsidies for the companies’ current and proposed space-booster schemes. Federal […]