Garver: Battle Over Obama Plan Imperils NASABudget Growth, Space News

"Think of it this way: If you are focused on getting the Constellation budget continued in the future -- and I harbor no ill will against those of you who do ... but if Constellation is put back in the budget without that $5 billion-a-year increase, where will we cut the budget?" she asked."

Maintaining America's lead role in space (Rep. Bill Posey), The Hill

"Providing sufficient funding for Constellation will ensure that we do not abandon the investments already made. To that end, we should work to see that America's lead role in human space exploration is maintained, not surrendered to Russia and China."

Sen. Hutchison pitches sizable expansion to proposed NASA budget, The Hill

"The space program's proposed 2011 budget would see a $1.3-billion boost under a new bill proposed by Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R). Her legislation, unveiled Thursday, would also postpone indefinitely the retirement of NASA's manned-spaceflight program, and establish an independent commission to assess the agency's shuttle system."

NASA Internal memo: Message from the Administrator - March 5, 2010

"During a Strategic Management Council meeting on Tuesday, I asked JSC Director Mike Coats and MSFC Director Robert Lightfoot to put together a very small team to help me develop an accelerated plan for research and development on a heavy lift launch vehicle for future exploration, in support of that element of the President's FY11 NASA budget. Regrettably, this was subsequently reported by the news media as a request for a "Plan B" alternative to the President's budget."

Keith's note: Sources report that Dick Covey announced his retirement as the head of United Space Alliance this morning.

Greetings. My name is Stephen Steiner. I am new to Open NASA.

I am interested in what we as a society could create by open sourcing all technologies–not just computer code, but chemistry, materials, energy, automation, and more.

As an experiment in this spirit, my colleague (and artist-by-training) Will Walker and I co-founded Aerogel.org, an open-source resource about aerogels (the “original nanotechnology”). The mission of the project is

“…to empower, inspire, and motivate people to pursue nanotechnology using open source methodology and to catalyze the discovery of new technological possibilities for aerogel materials in the process.”

To do this, we had to develop an approach to try to make what is easily an impenetrable subject to a newcomer into something digestible by anyone with the interest to learn. As part of this approach, we felt that making straightforward information about exciting science available to everyone is the best way to do so and simultaneously stimulates people to pursue science, engineering, and other creative endeavors.

So I’d like to start some “open technology” on Open NASA to transition some of the knowledge we in technological pursuit have learned to those who want to get involved. Some ideas I have:

• Open carbon nanotubes–how to grow, growth models, unsolved problems
• Open biotech–how to take what we know affordably to the third world
• (Somewhat ironically) open closed loop tech–how to close-loop manufacturing, consumption, and energy production (great for a spaceship, or a planet)
• Open energy–yes, garage innovations are left to be had, even in the 21st Century!
• and of course, open aerogel

What if we could even get NASA to open-source some of its technology development?

What do you think?

Shelby has frank discussion with NASA Administrator, WAFF

"A frank discussion took place on Capitol Hill Thursday between Senator Richard Shelby and NASA administrator Charlie Bolden. It took place behind closed doors in Senator Shelby's office. Bolden and Shelby are very far apart on NASA's vision and therefore NASA's budget. In fact, many in Congress don't even see a vision for the space agency if there is no government owned and operated human space flight program , namely Constellation, once the shuttle retires."

A Strategic Retreat From Leadership, Rep. Mike Coffman, Huffington Post

"Seeking to put his stamp on America's storied adventures in rocketry and robotics, the president could have gone boldly in new directions, using past achievements as a springboard to new destinations. But his proposed budget for space exploration describes an approach that is both reckless and naïve."

New NASA plans developing in Congress and, reportedly, inside NASA itself, Huntsville Times

"Bolden said in a statement later Thursday that NASA isn't undercutting the White House plan. "The president's budget for NASA is my budget. I strongly support the priorities and the direction for NASA that he has put forward," Bolden said. "I'm open to hearing ideas from any member of the NASA team, but I did not ask anybody for an alternative to the president's plan and budget."

Aderholt "Extremely Pleased" NASA May Be Planning Alternatives To Ending Constellation

"I am extremely pleased that NASA may be considering a Plan B option to the President's proposal to cancel human space flight. Since the President announced his Budget last month, I and many of my Republican and Democrat colleagues have expressed our disapproval of the plan, along with our desire in continuing with Constellation. But the fight is not over. I will continue to work on this because I believe that human spaceflight and exploration beyond earth is the very reason for NASA's existence."

Massive Fight Under Way To Keep Shuttle Program, WESH

"On Thursday, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said he still supports the president's plan to end U.S. human spaceflight. However, when he meets with members of Congress, he is expected to at least discuss Plan B."

New hope for Ares, ATK / NASA may be considering compromise, standard.net

"Bishop, R-Utah, cited a news story in the Wall Street Journal that says a memo by a member of Bolden's staff is telling NASA officials to plan out "what a potential compromise might look like" to satisfy Obama administration critics of the Constellation program. Bishop said Thursday that congressional delegations from Utah, Alabama, Florida and Texas are joining forces to work with NASA to keep Constellation alive. He said the memo is a hint that NASA is starting to listen."

NASA Administrator Reaffirms Support for 2011 Budget, NASA

"I'm open to hearing ideas from any member of the NASA team, but I did not ask anybody for an alternative to the President's plan and budget."

Shelby has frank discussion with NASA Administrator, WAFF

"A frank discussion took place on Capitol Hill Thursday between Senator Richard Shelby and NASA administrator Charlie Bolden. It took place behind closed doors in Senator Shelby's office. Bolden and Shelby are very far apart on NASA's vision and therefore NASA's budget. In fact, many in Congress don't even see a vision for the space agency if there is no government owned and operated human space flight program , namely Constellation, once the shuttle retires."

NASA Chief Denies Talk of Averting Obama Plan, NY Times

"In a statement NASA released Thursday, General Bolden said, "I did not ask anyone for an alternative to the president's plan and budget."

A Strategic Retreat From Leadership, Rep. Mike Coffman, Huffington Post

"Seeking to put his stamp on America's storied adventures in rocketry and robotics, the president could have gone boldly in new directions, using past achievements as a springboard to new destinations. But his proposed budget for space exploration describes an approach that is both reckless and naïve."

Florida legislators blast new NASA plan, Orlando Sentinel

"Aides to U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, the Rockledge Republican who organized the letter campaign, said every Florida lawmaker now has agreed to sign it."

Florida Congressional Delegation Letter to President Obama Regarding NASA FY 2011 Budget

"Dear Mr. President: As members of the Florida congressional delegation, we write to express deep concerns with the Administration's FY 2011 budget request as it relates to the future of America's space program. While the budget request was presented to Members of Congress and staff as a game-changing strategy to move America's human space program beyond activities in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) serious questions remain regarding its goals, milestones, inherent cost and schedule risks, and severe disruptions to the workforce at our nation's premier spaceport."

NASA JSC Memo: Commercial-Crew Vehicle Transition Concepts 1 March 2010

"The President's 201 1 Budget Proposal which was unveiled on February 8, 2010, places an emphasis on commercial vehicles "to provide astronaut transportation to the International Space Station (ISS), reducing the sole reliance on foreign crew transports and catalyzing new businesses and significant new jobs." The following paper provides recommendations for the transition to a commercial-crew vehicle to the ISS which leverages the experience gained in the operation of the Space Shuttle, the ISS, and in the design of Constellation."

NASA Chief Bolden Seeks 'Plan B' for the Space Agency, Wall Street Journal

"NASA chief Charles Bolden has asked senior managers to draw up an alternate plan for the space agency after members of Congress indicated they wanted to reject a White House proposal to hire private companies to ferry U.S. astronauts into orbit and beyond. In an internal National Aeronautics and Space Administration memo viewed by The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Bolden ordered officials to map out "what a potential compromise might look like" to satisfy critics on Capitol Hill. By calling for an alternative plan, Mr. Bolden threatened to undercut White House efforts to get its proposed NASA budget through Congress."

Johnson Space Center Prepares 'Plan B' at Bolden's Request, Space News

"Bolden, however, said March 4 that he did not request NASA human spaceflight officials to come up with an alternative to Obama's plan. "The President's Budget for NASA is my budget. I strongly support the priorities and the direction for NASA that he has put forward," Bolden said in a written statement. "I'm open to hearing ideas from any member of the NASA team, but I did not ask anybody for an alternative to the President's plan and budget. We have to be forward thinking and aggressive in our pursuit of new technologies to take us beyond low-Earth orbit, and the President's plan does this. After years of underinvestment in new technology and unrealistic budgeting, we finally have an ambitious plan for NASA that sets the agency on a reinvigorated path of space exploration."

Keith's note: According to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee staffer Jeff Bingham, posting as "51D Mascot" at nasaspaceflight.com regarding Sen. Hutchison's recent proposal:

"Absolutely right, but the point here is timing. At this stage you have "camps" at the extreme edges of "PoR" or bust and "Bold New Idea" with many of the influential folks and key players taking those positions--now. But when it becomes clear, as I believe it will, that neither of those are going to be sustainable, then a mddle ground will be sought. But it has to be articulated as an option, and THAT is the true purpose of this bill. Thus, an attempt to line up all those players prior to introduction would have been counterproductive. The hope is that having a reasonably cohesive, credible alternative "on the table" can provide an eventual rallying point for a path forward, or at the very least a focal point for the serious discussion of what that path should entail."

Bingham also notes here that "The Ares 1 references are, first, "suggestive" as options to be reviewed as part of HLV development. The notion is that an evolvable shuttle-derived HLV could begin with a core that might be an in-line configuration of 4-segment SSRBs, coupled to an ET-sized core segment (strengthened and with a boat-tail at the bottom holding SSMEs, and a payload attachment/inter-stage carrying an accelerated Orion with LAS attached) which would become the "government-operated" LEO/ISS support capability, with a target IOC of 2013."

To Boldly Go Where Ever - If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there, Elliott Pulham, Space Foundation

"As of yet, there are no commercial systems that can take crew and cargo to orbit and dock with the ISS. There are, of course, several such systems in development. A SpaceX Dragon crew capsule prototype was on display at the 25th National Space Symposium, and we look forward to seeing what commercial solutions are on exhibit at the upcoming 26th National Space Symposium. But financing, testing, regulating, and human-rating such systems will not be easy or inexpensive. Given the scale of investment required, and financial and technical risk that must be assumed, the markets for these systems need to be global, as they are with the commercial aircraft industry, to enable a reasonable return on investment. Yet we're no closer to meaningful ITAR reform that would open those markets."

Keith's note: Thus sayeth the dinosaur. With this kind of defeatist thinking coming out of a major aerospace business organization, one might conclude that American business is no longer up to the challenge of space. Elliott certainly seems to think so. Indeed, he clearly seems to think that the only solution is to have the government run everything, call all the shots, etc. One look at Constellation's technical and funding woes speaks to the inadvisability of this. Which is better, one monolithic approach ("on steroids") with no Plan B, or one that utilizes a variety of approaches, from multiple sources in a synergistic, flexible, adaptable arena?

Dancing with the Stars Season 10 Cast Lineup Annoucements, Buzzy Bloggers

"The Dancing with the Stars' Season 10 Cast includes Pamela Anderson, Chad Ochocinco, Aiden Turner, Erin Andrews, Shannen Doherty, Buzz Aldrin, Niecy Nash, Nicole Scherzinger,Evan Lysacek, Kate Gosselin."

NASA Radar Finds Ice Deposits at Moon's North Pole; Additional Evidence of Water Activity on Moon

"Using data from a NASA radar that flew aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, scientists have detected ice deposits near the moon's north pole. NASA's Mini-SAR instrument, a lightweight, synthetic aperture radar, found more than 40 small craters with water ice. The craters range in size from 1 to 9 miles (2 to15 km) in diameter. Although the total amount of ice depends on its thickness in each crater, it's estimated there could be at least 1.3 million pounds (600 million metric tons) of water ice."

NASA Announces Agency Center Management Changes

"Arthur E. "Gene" Goldman, who has been the director of Stennis since November 2008, has been named deputy director of Marshall. Patrick Scheuermann, the deputy director at Stennis will take over as the Stennis director. Stennis houses many of NASA's rocket propulsion test capabilities and applied science programs. Marshall's work includes propulsion systems, engineering, science, space operations and other work in support of NASA missions. As previously announced, Woodrow Whitlow, Jr., the Glenn center director, has been named the associate administrator for Mission Support at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Ray Lugo, the deputy director at Glenn, has been named acting director."

Reader note: A few days ago I again saw the "Step Forward" commercial that was run a lot after Obama was elected with its notable quote "Where's my moon" on TV. The commercial indicates we are to go to USAService.org I did so in hopes of obtaining some inspiration.  I wound up at  http://www.inauguralstore.com/. I could only laugh! Try it for yourself.

Famed space artist Robert McCall, 90, dies, Collectspace

"An artist whose visions of the past, present, and future of space exploration have graced U.S. postage stamps, NASA mission patches, and the walls of the Smithsonian, Robert McCall died on Friday of a heart attack in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 90."

The late, great Robert McCall, Miles O'Brien

"When the congregation decided to add a small, chapel-in-the-round for smaller ceremonies a few years ago, they called upon this artistic pair in their midst to design the stained-glass windows. ... Not long after it was finished, and not long after the Challenger disaster, the widow of the commander of the doomed flight, June Scobee visited here. After gazing into the glass and reflecting, she told the McCall's she knew where her husband was. The McCalls' eyes glisten as they recount the story."

Challenger Center Mourns the Death of Space Artist Robert T. McCall, Challenger Center

"Bob's artistic talent and imagination helped us to create the concept and design for Challenger Center, and he remained a close friend and supporter. My heart goes out to his wife Louise and his entire family," said June Scobee Rodgers, Challenger Center's Founding Chairman. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in McCall's honor to the Challenger Space Center of Arizona, 21170 North 83rd Ave, Peoria, AZ 85382, http://www.AZChallenger.org."

McCallStudios

Florida Space Day in Tallahassee March 3, 2010

"Key representatives from Florida's space industry will visit Tallahassee to participate in Florida Space Day and share the challenges the industry faces in ensuring Florida remains at the forefront of the nation's space program. Florida Space Day is a milestone event that presents an opportunity to educate and bring awareness to Florida legislators on the significance of the aerospace industry and its impact on Florida's economy."

Just when you thought you were safely nestled in a nice plateau of learning something like this has to come along and bump you off…

Actually it’s more of a welcome interruption, I could tell the engines weren’t running as smoothly as they could be. Lots of power interruptions, wasted cycles, and general confusion. But the brain is good at making anything seem normal after a while, so wasn’t everything just normal?

Well maybe not.

Today I was exploring why I didn’t get along with a colleague of mine and why it was I just didn’t have any patience for him. Was it that I was just feeling tired and low on creative energy and so was just being protective of it because I didn’t want interacting with him to use it all up?

Maybe.

But why was I afraid to use it all up? Why did I think, I of ultimate power in the universe was so power limited? Maybe to have a good excuse for why I wasn’t out changing the world more and faster and better! (‘I’m tired’ and ‘I don’t feel good’ are great get-out-of-jail free cards). So then I started to look at that. Why do I think I *have* to change the world? Why do I always feel so guilty that I haven’t done more?

Well, I guess it is an underlying world view that I have had for a long time (read a very OLD habit). It is as dear to me and as comfortable and as close as anything could be in my identity/ego. But as I looked at it, I could see, it was true it was suffocating me.

I could see that most of my life was spent trying to fix myself (gotta be perfect, gotta be perfect), trying to fix others (what is wrong with that guy anyway? how long till he gets removed from the team so I don’t have to deal with him?) and trying to fix society (I even gave an exceptional speech at TEDxNASA about how we could start too).

I instantly started to laugh. I spend so much of my day dealing with my own failings, dealing with other people’s failings and trying desperately to keep humanity’s failings from either derailing the space program or heaven forbid- following us out into space! It seemed to be all I ever did! Fight against the failings of myself, fight against the failings of others, and fight against the failings of humanity. No wonder I was so tired!

Luckily, I remembered a lesson from one of my favorite teachers, Gene Roddenberry. An episode of Star Trek where Kirk is divided in two – the good Kirk and the bad Kirk- and you think the whole time “hey, that wouldn’t be so bad, split myself in two and then jettison the bad and keep only the good!” but as the episode unwinds it becomes obvious that the good Kirk alone is missing something, he can’t make decisions or give orders and is feeling weak. Finally the crew realizes that both Kirks are dying— that they need each other to live. They miraculously fix the transporter room just in time and ‘beam’ the two Kirks back into one. The old commanding, decisive Kirk is back and when Spock asks him how to explain where the bad Kirk went to the crew, he says, “tell them that the intruder is back where he belongs and to leave it at that.”

I realized that what if I stopped fighting all the ‘bad’ inside me, and stopped worrying so much about all the ‘bad’ in others (even the guy on my team) and even stopped worrying about the ‘bad’ in humanity escaping out to the stars, or worse yet not letting us get there. It seemed strange to stop. What would I do all day? What would become of us???

I realized that in the past I had encouraged people not to fight each other but to fight entropy, after all entropy is the REAL enemy of us all right? Suddenly even that was called into question. Death is entropy and death is critical to a biosphere’s function. It is part of the design. Without it the system would not work, just like without the bad Kirk, Kirk did not work. Maybe I don’t even need to fight entropy. I started to wonder if maybe it was time to have my life be about something other than fighting.

I pondered that one as I watched strange enormous snow flakes begin to fall out my window. What would I do all day? What does the Dalai Lama do all day? I guess just be with everything as it was happening. Be compassionate, be accepting, be peaceful. It seemed a strange concept. What would I judge my self-worth on? What if people thought I was lazy? But I realized those where just thoughts of someone who was always fighting.

I began to realize that I had no idea what that life would look like and even more strangely that it was ok not to know. I am an explorer right? What better place for me then somewhere off the map… Somewhere new to explore.

What could I create or have my life be about if I wasn’t fighting? What inspires me?

What I do know is I love the beauty of snow falling, I love the sublime feeling of being connected with another person, I love the joy of exploring the unknown, and I have a lot of respect for the Dalai Lama.

Shrinking Budget and No Space Plan puts the Canadian Space Agency in a Bind, SpaceRef Canada

"While the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is not expected to see a significant change in its budget this coming year, it is possible that cuts are forthcoming in future budgets which were already scheduled to decline as the government reigns in spending."

Marc's note: As you'll read in the article the Canadian government appears to have delayed releasing Canada's Long-Term Space Plan for a year as it waits out what NASA was going to do as. FYI your login with NASA Watch will work on SpaceRef Canada if you choose to leave comments there.

NRC Report: Revitalizing NASA's Suborbital Program: Advancing Science, Driving Innovation, and Developing Workforce

"The Space Studies Board (SSB) was requested by NASA to conduct a review of the suborbital mission capabilities of NASA in the NASA Authorization Act of 2008 (Section 505). The act expresses the sense of Congress that suborbital flight activities, including the use of sounding rockets, aircraft, and high-altitude balloons, and suborbital reusable launch vehicles, offer valuable opportunities to advance science, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, and provide opportunities for participants in the programs to acquire skills in systems engineering and systems integration that are critical to maintaining the nation's leadership in space programs. Further, the act finds it in the national interest to expand the size of NASA's suborbital research program and to consider it for increased funding."

Charlie Precourt: ATK's astronaut fights Obama space plan, Orlando Sentinel

"As reported on these pages earlier this week, some folks inside NASA and in Congress say ATK has been behind the sniping at NASA's deputy administrator Lori Garver. The not so-thinly veiled broadside against her in Precourt's email appears to lend further credence to the charges. It's hard to understand how this will help ATK going forward as some could see it as a declaration of war on NASA's political leadership and is almost certain to strengthen Garver's hand. Perhaps ATK decided that with the shuttle being retired and Constellation on the brink it has nothing left to lose."

Keith's note: It is openly known here in Washington that ATK has been overtly encouraging anti-NASA gossip and has been trash talking the White House, Charlie Bolden, and Lori Garver - especially Lori Garver. How ATK management can possibly expect this thinly disguised attack behavior to be good for business escapes me. Indeed, it sounds more like sheer desperation on their part.

Sen. Vitter Has Been Drinking the Koolaid, earlier post