Rocketplane still on track for launch, The Journal Record“Founded in 2001, the project touted the ability to eventually send civilian travelers into space on suborbital flights for those willing to pay a price nearing several hundred thousand dollars for a trip. Rocketplane opened its Oklahoma City office in 2004. The company is led by CEO George French. Subsequent tax credits by the Oklahoma Tax Commission is 2004 amounted to $18 […]

Editor’s note: Looks like NORAD got a graphics upgrade such that actual Santa Claus imagery (below) and situational awareness of proximity operations with the ISS can be obtained.

Editor’s note: Here is a special Holiday greeting from Mike Griffin to all NASA Watch readers …

HR 4837 Spacefaring Priorities for America’s Continued Exploration Act (Full Text)“a) Use of Space Shuttle for Access to Space- NASA shall fly at least 2 Space Shuttle missions per year for crew transport, instead of Russian crew and cargo services, for the period of 2010 through 2015, or until Orion is operational. There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA such sums as may be necessary, in addition to amounts […]

NASA to Make Announcement About Mars Scout Evaluation Schedule“NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EST, on Friday, Dec. 21, to make an announcement about the schedule for evaluating its Mars Scout program.”

Asteroid on track for possible Mars hit, LA Times“An asteroid similar to the one that flattened forests in Siberia in 1908 could plow into Mars next month, scientists said today. Researchers attached to NASA’s Near-Earth Objects Program, who sometimes jokingly call themselves the Solar System Defense Team, have been tracking the asteroid since its discovery in late November. The scientists, based at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Caada Flintridge, […]

Reader note: “You seem to get answers… So… With all of the recent interest in COTS and NASA’s attempt at commercialization, why is it that at JSC, they don’t even have a website linked to the main JSC organization chart??http://www6.jsc.nasa.gov/orglist/scripts/structure/orglist/index2.cfmQA – Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office [No website] Furthermore, here’s the list of personnel in QA at JSC.[below] In my opinion, that’s not a whole lot of folks dedicated […]

NASA LaRC Solicitation: Analysis of Ares 1 Thrust Oscillation Issues, NASA“NASA/LaRC has a requirement for Use of the proprietary Universal Combustion Device Stability (UCDS) process developed and owned by the Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories LLC. The Government must assess thrust oscillation issues with the Constellation Program’s ARES five-segment solid rocket booster. The Gloyer-Taylor Labs UCDS is a breakthrough modeling and analysis process, which provides detailed physical insight into the stability characteristics of […]

NASA Will Tinker With Open-Source Rocket for Return to Moon, Popular Mechanics“The “brains” of the Ares I rocket that will send four astronauts back to the moon sometime in the next 12 years will be built by Boeing, NASA announced todaybut the specifications will be open-source and non-proprietary, so that other companies can bid on future contracts. The avionics unit will provide guidance, navigation and control for the launch rocket, […]

Space station astronaut’s mom dies in car wreck, Houston Chronicle“The 90-year-old mother of an astronaut aboard the international space station was killed Wednesday when her car was struck by a freight train in a Chicago suburb. A NASA flight surgeon in Mission Control informed astronaut Dan Tani of the death of his mother, Rose Tani, while he was orbiting about 220 miles above the Earth.”