Keith's note: This video shows Neil deGrasse Tyson speaking at the University at Buffalo making an impassioned plea for NASA and the value it has to all Americans. In my experience, no one has ever managed to capture this in such a cogent response. Tyson is the sort of people who should be speaking at the OSTP space summit. But no. Politics preside. Instead, its OSTP Vs NSC and OSTP/NSC Vs NASA and a food fight over who gets to say what NASA needs to do at the Summit. What a colossal missed opportunity.

Obama's Space Summit Coming Amid Discovery's Mission, 13 News

"Even if the shuttle program were extended today, there would still be some a gap. "The real issue we would have is just in manufacturing," [space shuttle program manager John] Shannon explained. "While you have a supply chain, while you can get a workforce back to build things like external tanks, there would be some type of a gap -- and right now, we estimate that gap would be about two years, from when we're told to when we would have the first external fuel tank rolling off the assembly line."

If shuttles kept flying, what would mission be?, Orlando Sentinel

"In response, NASA has reached out to shuttle suppliers and vendors to check whether there would be any issues, beyond the cost of restarting production lines, should NASA keep flying the orbiter fleet. The agency is also examining whether there will be enough spares on the station to continue operations until 2020."

Without Shuttles, Astronauts' Careers May Stall, NPR

"NASA administrator and former astronaut Charlie Bolden talked about that prospect when he visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier this year, saying it would be a different approach for NASA to rent not just the space vehicle, but also a private crew of astronauts to go with it. "We need to have the discussion of how important is it to have a career astronaut contingent, as opposed to none," Bolden said. He said that NASA's international partners like the idea of an elite corps, and that he doubted some random person could quickly be trained to perform at the same level as NASA astronauts, who have devoted their lives to preparing for work in space. "We need to have the discussion of what the future -- the next generation of astronauts -- will be like," Bolden said."

NASA Lost its Way, Paul Spudis, Air & Space

"Although the purpose of the VSE was clear to the White House and the Congress, it became increasingly clear over time that NASA was having difficulty understanding the mission. They eventually embarked on a multi-year study to define exactly why they had been tasked to go to the Moon and to understand what they might do once they got there. The mission to understand their mission involved lots of meetings, workshops and conferences, whereby all the "stakeholders" had an opportunity to give their input. All this "input" was distilled into a series of documents containing six themes and 181 different specific objectives. No one at NASA could state the mission of the VSE in a single sentence."

Letter from Rep. Posey to President Obama Regarding The Space Summit

"I understand you will visit Kennedy Space Center on April 15, 2010, presumably to provide details on your vision and plan for America's human space flight program. My office has not yet received an invitation, agenda, or any other preliminary information on this event. I write to inform you that I would very much appreciate the opportunity to participate in the event with you."

Keith's note: Lets see, things are already rather raw down in Florida as a result of the proposed FY 2011 NASA budget. So ... what does OSTP do? Why, they just make things worse by continuing to ignore the very people most affected by the new space policy.

But the fact that Rep. Posey is being kept in the dark should not be at all surprising. You see, no one knows exactly what this Space Summit/Conference is or is not going to be. There is currently a three-way tug of war between OSTP, NSC, and NASA over topics, content, agenda, expected outcome, attendees, and participants. With 2 weeks to go, and the course of NASA's future direction at stake, to say nothing of thousands of jobs, one would hope that all of the actors in this drama start to quickly figure out what is going to be happening.

Gov. Paterson launches NASA call in attempt to help New York's quest to land space shuttle, NY Daily News

"Paterson phoned NASA Administrator William Holden this week to plug the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum's bid to win one of the soon-to-be-retired shuttles - Discovery, Atlantis or Endeavour."

Keith's note: "NASA Administrator William Holden"? Oh well, its April Fool's day.

Buzz Aldrin App Now Available for the iPhone

"The APP Company announced the release of the Buzz Aldrin Portal To Science and Space Exploration iPhone App. Available for $1.99 on the Apple iTunes and App Stores, this iPhone app launched by the pioneering Apollo astronaut and moonwalker Buzz Aldrin takes the user on a journey through the world of everything that is Space Exploration."

Goodnight Moon: Michael Griffin on the future of NASA, Ars Technica

"... is there a value for a government-led human space flight program? See, what's being missed here is that NASA is being taken out of the business of conducting human space flight, and I think that's wrong. Those are the larger issues, and we are being diverted by the details of this vehicle or that vehicle, and I would say that the diversion is not productive. We need to focus on the larger issues: should NASA... should the US government be leading the human space flight program or not, and what are the goals? I am unsatisfied with the President's answers to those questions."

Keith's note: Mike Griffin will be speaking at an AIAA meeting on 5 April at the University of Alabama, Tuscalosa. 1:00 pm in Hardway room 252.

The Manual Pages That Saved Apollo 13, Gizmodo

"On April 13, 1970--321,860 kilometers into its Moon trip--an oxygen tank exploded in the Odyssey's Service Module. James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise had a really big problem. These pages saved their lives. The pages--with notes from Lovell--will be up for auction April 13 at Bonhams in New York."

NASA to investigate cause of Toyota problems

"The federal probe into runaway Toyotas has resulted in enough scientific mystery that investigators have asked NASA scientists for help. The nation's auto-safety regulators have tapped nine experts from the space agency to answer questions involving software, hardware and other electronics issues..."

Keith's note: No mention of this (yet) at NASA.gov. I wonder who the "NASA engineers" are? Where will the NASA funds come from?

Keith's update: According to Keith Henry at NASA LaRC PAO: "NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC), located at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., has been asked to support the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its investigation of unintended acceleration related to Toyota vehicles and, potentially, of other vehicle makes. NASA's NESC has a cadre of engineers with specialized knowledge of electronic systems, and the effects of external interferences to electrical systems who can conduct an unbiased and independent review of the information. A formal (Space Act) agreement was signed Friday between NASA and DOT. The agreement is broad -- details are still being worked out. The agreement calls for DOT to fully reimburse NASA for its work. The testing program that will be suggested by NESC analysis has not been defined, to include location of tests. It is anticipated that the majority of tests will take place at DOT or DOT-related facilities."

Toyota Accelerator Probe Turns to NASA, Science Panel, Bloomberg

"The National Research Council's study will cost $2 million and NASA's will add $1 million, LaHood said."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Major Investigations to Resolve Issue of Sudden Acceleration

"The prestigious National Academy of Sciences - an independent body using top scientific experts - will examine the broad subject of unintended acceleration and electronic vehicle controls across the entire automotive industry. Separately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is the Department of Transportation's auto safety agency, has enlisted NASA engineers with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to help tackle the issue of unintended vehicle acceleration in Toyotas."

TRB to Review Unintended Acceleration Issues, NAS/NRC

"Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation will fund a new study by the National Research Council's Transportation Research Board and Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences to review the broad subject of unintended acceleration and electronic vehicle controls across the industry, and specifically, industry and government efforts to identify possible causes of unintended acceleration."

ABC Opens Week on a Winning Note, Media Week

"Hero Buzz Aldrin got the lowest score overall, but could be saved due to the sentimental vote."

Keith's note: Go here to vote for Buzz.

Keith's 31 March update: Someone sent another fraudulent email under my name to my Congressman, Rep. Moran (apparently and incorrectly) expressing my supposed disagreement with the new space policy. One NASA Watch reader noted today that

"[Rep.] Anna Eshoo has been getting about 1 email per week "from me" and when I got them to send me the text of the email, I Googled it and found it to be from Go Boldly, but it was from a Facebook page attributed to them."

Sending emails out under someone else's name without their permission is actionable fraud, plain and simple. What goes around comes around, folks. These tactics are bound to backfire. It certainly looks like the JSC pro-Constellation/Anti-Obama Space policy Go Boldy folks have a broken system in place. They need to fix this ASAP.

The domain for this organization is registered to Gary McNeel gmcneel@lhdsonline.com. According to this video ( http://www.click2houston.com/video/22815482/index.html) and a phone call to me, Nick Gardner is the leader of this effort.

I *DO NOT* like people sending emails using my name - and I will respond and go nuclear - and personal - if need be.

Earlier posts and text of the emails I have gotten are below.

Keith's original 16 March note: Wow. Neat trick. People are sending emails to members of Congress from Virginia in my name, using my email address, making statements that are not mine. This is sort of pointless given that I make my views rather public on NASAWatch. So far Rep. Moran and Sen. Warner have sent me emails that thank me for contacting them about my concerns regarding NASA's FY 2011 budget. Moran is my Congressman and Warner is one of my Senators. Alas, I never contacted either of them - about anything. Yet these emails arrive one day apart.

You little geniuses who are behind this do know that these emails can be traced - regardless as to how you sent them - even if you think that you have outsmarted the system. You might want to check laws covering such things here in Virginia. Looks like Obama space policy opponents will now stoop to outright (and actionable) fraud and misrepresentation. Not a good sign.

Keith's 16 March update: Based on the comments from NASA Watch readers I am not alone. Someone has been sending emails under other people's names - using their email addresses - to members of Congress regarding the Obama space policy. Moreover, the people behind this seem to be checking to see where we all live and who our Congressional representatives are. This is not only fraud and but borders on cyber stalking and identity theft.

Keith's 17 March update: I got a call from one of the guys at GoBoldly and they think that their system may have something to do with all of this. Stay tuned. If it was them then it was unintentional. But I am not certain that they are responsible.

The emails I have gotten (thus far) are shown below:

Received 17 March 2010

Dear Mr. Cowing,

Thank you for contacting me regarding funding for NASA in the fiscal year 2011 federal budget. I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter.

On February 1, 2010, President Obama released his fiscal year 2011 federal budget, which can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb. The President's budget outlines several spending cuts intended to reduce the current deficit, while still investing in education and clean energy initiatives that will allow the United States to remain globally competitive in developing industries. In addition, the President's budget is projected to decrease the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years.

I believe the greatest challenge we now face as a nation is the need to balance our spending priorities with principles of fiscal discipline. I also believe that no one party can or will make the hard choices on its own to get federal spending and deficits under control. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, if current laws and policies continue unchanged, the federal budget deficit will reach $1.3 trillion for fiscal year 2010.

This is why I co-sponsored bipartisan legislation (S.2853) proposed by Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) to create an 18-member task force to address our nation's long-term budget crisis. The task force would be charged with making sweeping budget and revenue recommendations to be presented to Congress for a simple up-or-down vote, with no amendments allowed. On January 26, 2010, the Senate voted on S.2853 as an amendment to H.J.RES.45, a bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt. This amendment did not receive the 60 votes necessary for passage, with the final vote count standing at 53-46. It is regrettable that a number of Senators who traditionally had co-sponsored this legislation suddenly reversed their original position and voted against the bipartisan proposal.

I am pleased that the President recognized the value of this proposal and has issued an Executive Order to create a bipartisan debt commission that will report deficit-reduction proposals to Congress by the end of this year. I look forward to reviewing the commission's suggestions and working with other members of Congress to address long-term budget concerns.

In the coming weeks, the House of Representatives and the Senate Budget Committees will review the President's budget and present their own budget resolutions to be voted upon in Congress. As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I will work with my colleagues to craft a resolution that reflects the policies and priorities important to all Americans.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please stay in touch.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

Thank you for contacting my office. Your opinions and thoughts are important to me and I appreciate your taking the time to write.

Please know that through http://www.moran.house.gov you can access information regarding how my office can be of assistance, including:
 
Capitol and White House Tour Requests
Flag Requests
Intern Applications
Academy Nominations
Information regarding upcoming events
And a link to sign up for the Moran (http://moran.house.gov/signup.shtml)
 
If your correspondence is regarding a personal casework issue you are having with the federal government, please contact my district office by phone at (703) 971-4700.
 
Thank you again for contacting me.
 
Sincerely,
James P. Moran

Thank you for contacting me concerning the future of NASA's human spaceflight program.

As you know, President Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget calls for the cancellation of the Constellation program that began in 2005 with the goal of developing rocket and crew capsule technology capable of returning humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars. The Administration proposes using the savings from shuttering Constellation to fund increased research and development efforts, a more diverse and extensive set of international collaborations, and the development of commercial operated crew vehicles. In addition, NASA will now be able to ensure that the international space station remains functional at least through 2020, an important commitment to our international partners. Overall, President Obama's budget invests an additional $6 billion in NASA over the next five years - an overall $100 billion commitment to the agency.

As you may know, an outside panel, known as the Augustine Commission, convened last year to make recommendations on the future of manned spaceflight. The commission's report highlighted the inadequacy of NASA's budget to fulfill its current human spaceflight mission and suggested some program cancellations. The decision to end the entire Constellation program, however, was unexpected. As Congress considers the Administration's proposal, I believe it is important to keep an open mind as to the best way to maximize our nation's investment in space exploration. It is equally important, however, to ensure that in the potential absence of Constellation's Moon to Mars goal, NASA has well-defined objectives for human spaceflight so that resources are invested wisely.

As a strong supporter of federally-funded research and technology programs, I believe that a robust NASA is essential for our country. The list of NASA-derived technologies that have been utilized in commercial applications is extensive, and no other federal agency has a greater ability to attract young students into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations. It is important that the future of NASA's human spaceflight program receives a full and honest debate in Congress. Please be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind during this process.

Thank you again for writing to me about this important issue.

Sincerely,
James P. Moran

P.S. I invite you to visit my website at http://www.moran.house.gov that contains information on many topics of interest and allows you to sign up for the Moran e-News.

JPM/bl

Obama's plan to transform NASA in spotlight as Florida trip looms, Orlando Sentinel

"Lawmakers are threatening to file a congressional resolution in favor of Constellation, and several senators --- including George LeMieux, R-Fla. -- filed a bill last week aimed at preventing Obama from shutting down the program. While congressional critics have issues with the entire plan, it's the $429 million requested for KSC in 2011 that appears to be especially vulnerable. Members of Congress privately complain that nobody at NASA or in the White House has been able to explain to them exactly what the money will be used for. KSC Director Bob Cabana has said repeatedly that Kennedy is a 1960s facility badly in need of modernization. But he has also said that NASA is still studying what a 21st-century launch center should look like and how to coordinate changes with the Air Force, which now runs commercial launches at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station outside the gates of KSC. That, he said, takes time. Lawmakers are unimpressed, with some claiming that the funds are nothing but a political payoff to Florida in an election year. They have been telling members of the aerospace industry in Florida not to hold out hopes for the money."

Posey's Fight To Save Space Jobs Continues, cfnews13.com

"Posey points back to when Obama was a presidential candidate and the promise he made during a campaign speech in Titusville in the fall of 2008. "You said you would close the gap between the space shuttle and Constellation," Posey said. "And you would assure America would stay first in space. Right now he's doing neither, and I'm hoping that's going to change soon." Posey said he will be at the April 15 summit whether he's invited or not. "We have not received any notice at all from the president about the meeting," Posey said. "We've written him. We've asked to be invited."

Senators Demand Explanation of NASA's Flawed Climate Data, Fox

"Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and David Vitter (R-La.) have written a letter to NASA chief Charles Bolden demanding answers to questions surrounding newly uncovered irregularities in the space agency's climate data. Not everyone is sipping the global warming Kool-Aid. Concerns about the validity of NASA's climate research are being raised following revelations that the space agency admitted its data was less accurate than other weather trackers'. Disturbed by these reports, as well as the growing Climate-gate scandal that has left global-warming theorists reeling, Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and David Vitter (R-La.) have written a letter to space agency chief Charles Bolden demanding answers."

NASA's $500 million launcher missing just one thing: the rocket it was made for, Washington Post

"Anyone need a $500 million, 355-foot steel tower for launching rockets into space? There's one available at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Brand new, never been used. The mobile launcher has been built for a rocket called the Ares 1. The problem is, there is not yet any such thing as an Ares 1 rocket -- and if the Obama administration has its way, there never will be."

"STS-130 video highlights as compiled by the SE&I imagery team here at JSC from all of the ground, air, ET and SRB assets."

Review of the Constellation Program's Request to Discontinue Using the Metric System of Measurement, NASA OIG

"During our fieldwork, NASA's Chief Engineer told the OIG that he planned to approve the Constellation Program's request for an exception based on the additional costs required to implement the metric system, which Constellation Program officials estimated at $368 million. These implementation costs arise mainly from the reuse of hardware and software from previous NASA programs, including the Space Shuttle, that did not use the metric system, thus requiring revisions to engineering documents, test plans, test equipment, facilities, training, and operations. According to the Chief Engineer and Constellation Program management, the estimated $368 million for metric system implementation would be better spent on mitigating higher priority Program risks."

Posey Highlights Space in Upcoming Local Events

"Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) has announced a schedule of events he will be attending focusing on space related issues. Below is a list of events, with indication of events that are open to the media. In addition to the events listed below, Congressman Posey will meet with the Space Union Leaders to discuss jobs and the issues currently facing the space industry. He will also meet with Colonel Ed Wilson, the new Commander of the 45th Space Wing."

Help 25 of the top high school innovators design the future! On March 29th, the Spirit of Innovation Awards challenges YOU to vote for your favorite teams and help select this year's "Pete Conrad Scholars!" Over the past 6 months, 25 finalist teams have created real products to solve some of the grand challenges facing society. From the depths of the oceans to the edges of space, these students will knock your socks off! Piezo-electric wallpaper, robotic astronaut assistants, advanced water purification systems, and Navajo Solar "Frybread" ovens; these are just a few of the amazing products high school students are designing. To see all of the teams check out http://www.conradawards.org, and remember, online voting is open March 29th through April 9th. Winners will be announced April 10th during the 2010 Innovation Summit at NASA Ames Research Center.