Better, Faster Spacecraft Designs: New Software System Offers Promise of NASA-wide Collaboration, NASA MSFC“The suite of design tools is called PARSEC, short for the Preliminary Analysis of Revolutionary Space Exploration Concepts. It enables engineers to share design ideas, access the same highly technical information and see the latest test results – all from their desktop computers.”NASA Report: Overview of the DART Mishap Investigation Results – For Public Release, NASA MSFC“Failure […]

Lunar panda-huggers, Washington TimesRep. Dana Rohrabacher, California Republican and senior member of the Science Committee, said he opposes the plan to send Mr. Griffin to China. “It is mind-boggling that the administration would even consider cooperating with China on space or any other technological endeavor,” Mr. Rohrabacher said. “The People’s Republic of China continues to hide its military buildup, oppress its people, violate international labor standards and do business with […]

Engine may be moon-trip choice, Huntsville Times“When the plan to return to the moon was announced, Cowing said, “people inside and outside of NASA thought that it would just take shuttle hardware and create the rockets needed to go to the International Space Station and on to the moon. “That doesn’t seem to be the case. We are seeing a slow drift away from shuttle-derived hardware, and now there’s probably […]

Vice President Delivers the Commencement Address at Louisiana State University“Since the middle of the 19th century, LSU’s alumni have gone on to lives of high achievement in Louisiana, and well beyond. And year after year LSU attracts men and women of extraordinary talent to study, to teach, and to do research. Your chancellor, Sean O’Keefe, is a former administrator of NASA and an old friend of mine. He pointed out […]

Christie’s New York to Mark Star Trek’s 40th Anniversary With First-Ever Official Auction of Star Trek Studio Items“In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, Christie’s is honored to be holding a remarkable auction on October 5 – 7, 2006 of official Star Trek contents from the archives of CBS Paramount Television Studios. Over 1,000 lots from the never-before-released archives of CBS Paramount Television will include material from all […]

Editor’s note: To follow up my earlier post “Does NASA GRC Have a Stealth Lunar Rover Project?” I asked the following specific questions of NASA PAO. This is what they sent back. From: Michael BraukusSubject: RE: Questions: GRC Highlander Lunar Rover Mission Development Date: May 17, 2006 11:55:07 AM EDT To Keith CowingKeithHere’s the answer to your core question. But let me give you some background.A track rover was developed […]

NASA Solicitation: Strategic Messaging and Communication Services“NASA/HQ has a requirement for the services of a firm with extensive experience providing strategic messaging and strategic communication products and services to provide speech writing for presentation by NASA officials to business and government leaders.” Editor’s note: Meanwhile, the search to replace Joe Davis as Chief of Strategic Communications at NASA HQ continues. One name that has been circulating at NASA is Jeff […]

NASA Exploration Systems Progress Report 18 May 2006“NASA has chosen the RS-68 engine to power the core stage of the agency’s heavy lift cargo launch vehicle intended to carry large payloads to the moon.The announcement supersedes NASA’s initial decision to use a derivative of the space shuttle main engine as the core stage engine for the heavy lift launch vehicle.”CaLV Engine Changes (earlier post)

NASA Set To Launch Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2008“After a 30-year hiatus, the orbiter represents NASA’s first step towards returning humans to the moon.” Editor’s note: “30-year hiatus”? Looks like someone at PAO forgot about NASA’s Lunar Prospector which was launched in 1998. Of course there was the non-NASA (NRL) Clementine mission launched in 1994. Both served as pathfinders for LRO.

Editor’s note: The Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse woke up several weeks ago. Located at the Mars Institute’s HMP Research Station on Devon Island, this greenhouse has several webcams located inside which are now sending back images on a more or less daily basis. Webcam 2 looks south at the growing trays. Webcam 3 looks north at the heating system. Note: ignore the date stamp on these webcam images – apparently […]