Tuesday, June 30, 2020

House, Senate continue work on space-related legislation
What James Van Allen got wrong about NASA's International Space Station

Update: Got the following correction from NASA JPL:

Hi Mark,

I’m Calla Cofield, a media relations rep at NASA JPL. We saw your op ed in The Hill about Cold Atom Lab! Thank you so much for your interest in our mission.

I wanted to make you aware of a few errors in the article. I leave it up to you what to do with the information, but I just wanted to share. Bose-Einstein Condensates have been created on Earth before. In fact there are probably tens of labs around the world making them right now. Bringing a BEC lab to space promises some advantages that we can’t get on the ground; it’s still early stages but just getting CAL up there was a major accomplishment. Also, the atom clouds actually expand MORE in microgravity because they exist for longer, and that’s one way to make them colder. And the astronauts have helped with installation and upgrades, but they do not look at the data. The facility is operated entirely from the ground!

NASA wants to use a steam-powered robot to explore icy moons that could host alien life
NASA Plans for More SLS Rocket Boosters to Launch Artemis Moon Missions
The line is forming for a COVID-19 vaccine. Who should be at the front?
Gigantic Splotches on the Star Betelgeuse Might Explain Its Freaky Dimming
On Behalf Of Environmentalists, I Apologize For The Climate Scare
Iconic '2001: A Space Odyssey' suit to hit auction block

Friday, June 26, 2020

Charles Bolden, Obama's NASA Administrator and Biden space advisor, on what a Biden space policy would be like.

"Suggest you take a look at the Obama space policy WRT mix of Earth/Planetary Science, Aeronautics and HSF (I.e. Moon & Mars)."

Bolden is being disingenuous as Obama specifically ruled out going back to the moon. As for Obamaspace 2.0, be afraid. Be very afraid.

Terrified of Light: The Depressing Argument for Crippling Our Space Program
NASA astronauts prepare for two spacewalks
After nearly a month in space, NASA seems really happy with Crew Dragon
Three exoplanets are close enough for us to see their atmospheres
Life on Earth Is a Sketchy Guide to an Alien Civilization
Frederick Douglass Begs to Differ

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Why the Trump 'Make Space Great Again' campaign ad went sideways

One result of the SpaceX Crew Dragon’s successful flight to NASA’s International Space Station is that the Trump for President Campaign has taken on space exploration as an issue. The decision has manifested itself in the production of a campaign ad called “Make Space Great Again.” However, the ad went sideways when it was discovered that it violated NASA regulations against its employees, including astronauts, appearing in commercials. The ad caused several other problems. It was eventually taken down.

Amid Covid, India-Japan Moon mission takes shape, Isro to lead lander tech
Here’s how to find out when Elon Musk’s SpaceX may provide you with satellite internet
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-8-planet-satellite-launch-rocket-landing-success.html
SpaceX launches 58 Starlink satellites and 3 Planet SkySats, nails rocket landing
'Looking at an alien sky': New Horizons probe sees shifted star positions

Thursday, June 11, 2020

The flight of SpaceX Crew Dragon means the future is not what it used to be

One lesson to draw from the flight of the Crew Dragon to the International Space Station is that the future is not what it used to be. Indeed, our future in space has taken a turn since the days of Apollo and moonwalk.

NASA chooses Astrobotic to send VIPER rover to the moon
J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues
Russia should rethink its rejection of lunar commercialization
What A Trump Loss In November Would Mean For NASA’s Lunar Return
Dear NASA, please put a particle collider on the Moon
NASA confirms JWST will miss March 2021 launch date
THREE COVID-19 VACCINES ARE READY FOR FINAL STAGE OF TESTING
Archaeologists 'find London's earliest theatre'

Sunday, June 07, 2020

Russia should rethink its rejection of lunar commercialization

The Russian News Agency TASS recently quoted Dmitry Rogozin, the CEO of Russia's Roscosmos State Space Agency, as rejecting the idea of commercial operations on the moon. He stated on the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station, "We will not, in any case, accept any attempts to privatize the Moon. It is illegal, it runs counter to international law.”

NASA, SpaceX and the private-public partnership that caused the flight of the Crew Dragon
Gardens of the galaxy: can you grow vegetables on Mars?
Antifa stokes the vote for Trump
Trump's 'Make Space Great Again' ad was like nothing we've ever seen
NASA's Parker Solar Probe flies by the sun in 5th close encounter
Northrop Grumman snags $187 million to design NASA's lunar Gateway habitat for astronauts

Monday, June 01, 2020

NASA, SpaceX and the private-public partnership that caused the flight of the Crew Dragon

The flight of the Crew Dragon was the result of a shotgun wedding between NASA, with its bureaucratic culture that prizes safety and process above all, and SpaceX, a free-wheeling private company that values outside-the-box thinking and rapid decision making. Two organizations more different from one another could not exist, yet by working together they have achieved something wonderful.

NASA says SpaceX launch is about hope, commerce, the moon, Mars — and China
NASA Wants to Go Nuclear on the Moon and Mars for Astronaut Settlement
SpaceX spacecraft docks with International Space Station on historic NASA mission
Playing Monopoly in Space
If Antifa is Designated A Terrorist Group, There Are A Lot Of Possible Charges Coming