Why Has NASA Banned Access to its Partner Saudi Arabia?, SpaceRef “Last week NASA Administrator Bolden announced that access to NASA computer networks and facilities would be curtailed for citizens of various countries. Among the countries listed was Saudi Arabia. It is more than a little unusual to see Saudi Arabia targeted like this given the strong relations between the Saudis and the U.S. in a wide range of scientific […]

Keith’s note: Why does NASA JSC PAO have staff in Saudi Arabia? Are there that many NASA employees attending the ASE event such that they need a PAO handler? @amikokauderer Chilling out, maxin’ and relaxin’ with a couple new dinner friends. @ The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh http://instagr.am/p/RqUdSrpEOw/ Earth’s Astronauts Meet, earlier post Keith’s update: Correction/update: @amikokauderer says she is “not on the job” – but she is listed as accompanying Scott […]

NASA: Collaboration with Saudis a ‘cornerstone’ of U.S. policy, World Tribune “Officials said Riyad and Washington have been discussing ways to expand space cooperation, including joint satellite production. They said other options for cooperation could include joint missions, technology development as well as a training exchanges between the U.S. National Aeronautics Space Agency and the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology. “It is a cornerstone of NASA policy,” […]

Saudi Arabia signs two agreements with Nasa, Guf News “Riyadh: The King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has signed two agreements with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). The deals signed on the sidelines of the Saudi International Space and Aeronautics Technology Conference that began in Riyadh on Saturday are for extended scientific cooperation and exchange of research between them. They also signed a letter of […]

KACST celebrating silver jubilee of Prince Sultan’s space trip, Arabnews.com “Participating in the opening session of the conference will be Prince Sultan, Gen. Charles F. Bolden, a NASA administrator and a veteran astronaut of four space shuttle flights,” said the KACST chief. He added that they will be joined by Vice President of KACST Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, who is the pioneer developer of the Saudi space program. […]

Keith’s update: I guess the real question that has me perplexed is why Bolden is making this trip to Saudi Arabia now? The 25th anniversary of the STS-51-G mission (with Sultan Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia on board) was in June. Right now NASA’s future hangs in the balance as the Senate and Congress promote dueling versions of legislation that will undermine (one more than the other) the President’s […]

About Bolden’s Saudi Trip, National Review Online “While in Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, October 2, 2010, Administrator Bolden will represent NASA at an aerospace technology conference and a commemorative event in honor of the 25th Anniversary of space shuttle flight STS-51G in Riyadh. The 1985 STS-51G mission aboard shuttle Discovery included among its crew astronaut Sultan Salman Al-Saud. Administrator Bolden and some of the active and retired astronauts who comprised […]

NASA Partners with Saudi Arabia on Moon and Asteroid Research “NASA and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) have signed a joint statement that allows for collaboration in lunar and asteroid science research. The partnership recognizes the Saudi Lunar and Near-Earth Object Science Center as an affiliate partner with the NASA Lunar Science Institute at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.”