NASA's tough mission: Dismantling Constellation, Orlando Sentinel

"Many of the deals are called "undefinitized contracts," meaning that the terms, conditions -- and price -- had not been set before NASA ordered the work to start. That means the agency will need to negotiate a buyout with the contractor -- and that can be a long and painful process, according to government officials familiar with the cancellation process. "It can be messy, and it's going to take at least a year after the project is closed to get a final price tag assigned to many of these contracts," said one congressional investigator not authorized to talk publicly about his work."

NASA: Constellation Program Cost and Schedule Will Remain Uncertain Until a Sound Business Case Is Established , GAO, August 2009

"Undefinitized contract actions authorize contractors to begin work before reaching a final agreement on contract terms. By allowing undefinitized contract actions to continue for extended periods, NASA loses its ability to monitor contractor performance because the cost reports are not useful for evaluating the contractor's performance or for projecting the remaining cost of the work under contract. With a current, valid baseline, the reports would indicate when cost or schedule thresholds had been exceeded, and NASA could then require the contractor to explain the reasons for the variances and to identify and take appropriate corrective actions. Yet, NASA allowed high-value modifications to the Constellation contracts to remain undefinitized for extended periods, in one instance, more than 13 months."

NASA Pioneer Aaron Cohen Dies

"Spaceflight pioneer Aaron Cohen, a former director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, died Thursday, Feb. 25, after a lengthy illness. He was 79. Cohen had a 33-year career with NASA. He was a steady hand at the helm of Johnson as NASA recovered from the shuttle Challenger tragedy and returned the space shuttle to flight. Cohen left the agency in 1993 to accept an appointment as a professor at his alma mater, Texas A&M University. At the time, he was serving as acting deputy administrator at NASA Headquarters in Washington."

NASA Opens High Frontier to Education and Not-For-Profit Groups

"NASA is announcing a new initiative to launch small cube-shaped satellites for education and not-for-profit organizations. CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called picosatellites, having a size of approximately four inches, a volume of about one quart, and weighing no more than 2.2 pounds."

NASA Solicitation: Announcement of CUBESAT Launch Initiative

"A CubeSat is a type of space research nanosatellite, the base CubeSat dimension is 10x10x11 centimeters (one "Cube" or "1U"). CubeSats typically range from one to three Cubes (10x10x34 centimeters) in volume and typically weigh no more than one kilogram per 1U Cube."

Assessment of NASA's Use of the Metric System, G-00-021, NASA OIG

"By law and policy, SI is the preferred system of measurement within NASA."

Keith's note: Here we are in the 21st Century and NASA still will not adhere to its own - and goverment requirements - and conduct business in metric units. But wait ... they do - in the official solicitation. So ... did someone in PAO translate from metric units back into English units? Wacky.

Otherwise: this is a very cool program.

NASA Plan Falls Flat In Congress, Aviation Week

"Objections to it fall into two broad categories -- the lack of a clear objective in space for the new program, and the "faith-based" belief, in the words of one House member, that a commercial route to orbit for U.S. astronauts is better than the government-managed Ares I and Orion vehicles. Members also are irritated over delays in getting specifics of the broad-brush plan released Feb. 1, and the apparent lack of consultation outside a small administration circle in the decision to make such a "radical" change away from a space policy Congress has endorsed."

NASA budget plan may not pass committee as is, Florida Today

"Congressional hostility toward the administration's plans for NASA was so great that three lawmakers who don't serve on the science committee attended Thursday's hearing just to give Bolden a piece of their mind."

Keith's note: There is apparently some draft legislation floating around the Senate that addresses the development of Heavy Launch Vehicles (HLV) using Orion and Shuttle hardware at NASA. This thread at NASAspaceflight.com discusses a posting of some draft language on FlightGlobal. Take particular note of postings by "51D Mascot" i.e. Jeff Bingham, staffer on the Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee, who notes that the most recent draft of this legislation is dated 22 Feb 2010.

Burt Rutan Issues Clarification on Wall Street Journal Remarks

"To my friends in the Press... Since the WSJ chose to cherry-pick and miss-quote my comments to Cong Wolf and since the blogs have taken that to further mischaracterized my comments, I am forwarding the Wolf memo in its entirety, in the hopes that some of this gets corrected."

Space Pioneer Burt Rutan Blasts NASA Plan, WS Journal

"Commercial space pioneer Burt Rutan has sharply criticized Obama administration proposals to outsource key portions of NASA's manned space program to private firms."

UNITED SPACE ALLIANCE POLICY SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE
Company Policy A-33, Basic 02/05/10

POLICY

It has been the long standing policy of United Space Alliance (USA) and its subsidiaries to keep the public informed about company plans, programs, and accomplishments. With the evolution of social media tools and platforms, USA employees have access to participate directly in the free and open discussion of company, industry, and national issues. However, in doing so, employees must understand that their actions can have very real consequences for themselves, the company, and USA's customers.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance and policy to employees with regard to creating or contributing to blogs, wikis, social networks, virtual worlds, or any other kind of social media platform. These guidelines are designed to provide helpful, practical advice and to protect USA employees, the company, and USA's customers. Accordingly, these guidelines are a reflection of USA's standard way of doing business and are based on good common sense for Internet usage. As technologies continue to evolve, these guidelines also need to change. When in doubt, employees are encouraged to seek additional advice from their managers or from Communications and Public Relations (C&PR).

DEFINITIONS

Social Media (Other associated terms are Web 2.0, New Media, Social Networking) - Social Media is the term commonly applied to various interactive Web-based platforms and tools that encourage and facilitate the creation and distribution of information and content generated by the user community. Types of social media platforms include online media sites; blogs; microblogs, such as Twitter; social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn; virtual worlds, such as Second Life; photo and video sharing sites, such as YouTube and Flickr; social bookmarking sites, such as Delicious and Digg; and wiki sites, such as Wikipedia.

Social Media Activities - The general term "social media activities" refers to the posting, creating, contributing, or forwarding of any comments, content, or status updates to any social media platform, including blogs, wikis, social networks, microblogs, virtual worlds, or any other kind of social media.

GENERAL

a. Guidelines for responsible engagement

1. Know and follow USA's Business Code of Conduct. (See also CP-A-02, Ethics and Business Conduct, and FPP-C-01-01, Ethics and Business Conduct).

2. Know and comply with USA policies regarding time charging and use of company equipment (see Section 3). Also know and comply with any and all restrictions for the use of customer-provided equipment and in customer facilities.

3. USA employees are personally responsible for the content they publish on blogs, social networks, wikis, or any other form of user-generated media. Use common sense and discretion to protect privacy and personal security.

4. Show proper consideration for others' privacy.

5. In online social networks, the lines between public and private and personal and professional can be blurred, so honesty and openness are critical. When commenting on matters relating to USA or the space industry, employees should disclose that they have a vested interest in the issue and, when necessary, appropriate, or relevant, state their role at USA. Unless the employee is an official company spokesperson, he/she should always clearly indicate that he/she is speaking for himself/herself and not on behalf of USA, but be mindful that even when stating that opinions are his/her own, he/she will still be perceived as an affiliate of the company.

6. Do not discuss company, third-party, proprietary, restricted (technical or otherwise), or export-controlled information in any form to unauthorized persons. Refer to USA's company policies and procedures for guidance on the release of such information. Violating these restrictions could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

7. For security, export control, and privacy reasons, do not post any photographs taken inside a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and/or USA facility without first obtaining permission through the USA Information Release Request process found in FPP-C-02-06, Information Release Requests. Further, FPP-C-01-12, USA Employee Conduct Policy, prohibits the use of personal recording devices of any type without the prior consent of Human Resources (HR) and all the parties that are recorded. Violating these restrictions could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and, in some cases, could lead to individual civil or criminal liability.

8. Do not release or promote the further external distribution (e.g., "reTweet") of any company or customer information that has not been previously approved for public release. Do not disclose any company or customer information about work in progress that has not been previously approved for public release.

9. Remember that all employees are required to sign a Report For Work Notice and Employee Agreement when hired wherein each employee agrees not to disclose information concerning work in progress at USA to anyone not authorized to receive it. This agreement extends to sharing information in a social media context.

10. Do not release or promote the further distribution of information that is untrue or deceptive.

11. Respect copyright and fair use disclosure laws. Properly cite all works referenced.

12. Show respect for all participants in the social media realm. Do not use ethnic slurs, personal insults, or obscenity or engage in any conduct that would not be acceptable in USA's workplace. Remember, each employee is a representative of all USA employees.

13. Try to add value to every exchange. Provide worthwhile information and perspective. USA employees are the company's best and most respected ambassadors, so keep in mind that what they post will reflect on USA, its customers, and the aerospace industry as a whole.

14. Use good judgment. Remember that there may be consequences to what is published. If the employee is uncomfortable about anything he/she is about to post, consult with a manager or with C&PR. Ultimately, the employee has sole responsibility for what he/she posts through any form of online communication.

15. Caution should be exercised with respect to promoting personal political views directly to elected officials. USA employees are generally prohibited from engaging in lobbying activities on behalf of USA without the express approval of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). If engaging in discourse with an elected official, they should clearly indicate that the opinions stated are their own and do not represent those of USA.

16. Do not use USA's logos or trademarks without permission.

17. Seek the counsel of C&PR if asked to provide an endorsement of any product, service, or company. An endorsement is any statement offering a blanket or generalized judgment, opinion, testimonial, or other comment concerning the quality, performance, characteristics, or other features of a product, service, company, or individual. When poorly worded or executed, an endorsement may unintentionally disparage a product or service provided and can be construed as an interference with another entity's business. Also, depending on how the endorsement is used, it could create a conflict of interest. If making a personal endorsement, indicate that the endorsement is the employee's personal view and does not represent the view or opinion of his/her employer.

b. Policies about and relating to the use of social media

1. Social media initiatives

C&PR has the responsibility and authority for company-level internal communications and all external communications and marketing activities. Information Management (IM) has responsibility and authority for computing system functionality, integrity, and security. To ensure that social media initiatives are in line with ongoing communications activities and IM standards, all proposals for the use or development of internal or external social media platforms for official company purposes must receive the concurrence of C&PR and IM before using such platforms.

2. Time charging

Participation in personal (non-company-sanctioned) social media activities, even those relating to the discussion of space industry issues, must be done on personal time. Employees must also comply with any restrictions in place for use of social media within any customer facilities.

The sponsoring organization for any official or company-sanctioned uses of social media interfaces shall provide additional charging instructions for any activities performed on behalf of the company.

3. Use of company-/Government-owned equipment

In accordance with other policies relating to the use of company computing resources, employees may not use their work computers to participate in personal (non-company-sanctioned) social media activities without express written consent of management. Individuals interacting with social media platforms in an official capacity on behalf of the company may use their computers for such official purposes as identified by the authorizing organization but only as their activities relate to that identified and authorized activity.

Related company policies and functional procedures include

(a) CP-D-01, Operations, Use, and Monitoring of Computer Resources and Telecommunications Equipment
(b) CP-D-02, Internet Usage Policy
(c) FPP-D-01-02, Information Technology (IT) Resource Control and Use

4. Contacts by the news media

Members of the news media actively use and develop contacts through social media platforms. All interactions with the news media through social media are subject to the same company policies that govern traditional media activities. This includes interactions with citizen journalists and bloggers. If asked to provide any information regarding company, customer, or industry events, issues, or activities on or off the record, employees are advised to contact C&PR for counsel or to refer the reporter to C&PR for response, per company policy.

Related company policies and functional procedures include

(a) CP-A-10, Public Release of Information
(b) FPP-C-01-07, Release of Company Information to Media
(c) FPP-C-02-06, Information Release Requests

5. Other policies relating to the use of social media
Numerous other company policies may also relate in some way to participation
in social media activities. Those policies include, but are not limited to,

(a) CP-A-08, Control of Sensitive Information
(b) CP-A-09, Government, Privately Owned, and Copyrighted Information
(c) CP-A-11, Employee Communications
(d) CP-A-22, Use of Copyrighted Material
(e) FPP-D-01-01, Documentation Administration and Control
(f) FPP-C-02-05, Compliance with Export Laws And Regulations

Employees with questions not covered by the policies should contact the appropriate organization for guidance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

a. The director of C&PR is responsible for implementing the provisions of this policy statement and the issuance of the supplemental directives, procedures, and instructions. The director of C&PR is also responsible for managing the development and implementation of USA's company-level internal and external social media activities.

b. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for ensuring that Information Technology resources are protected and that those responsible for conducting official company social media activities have the necessary access to conduct company business.

c. All managers are responsible for ensuring that their employees are aware of these guidelines and for providing appropriate counsel to employees, including referring them to C&PR, regarding these guidelines.

d. All employees are responsible for ensuring that their conduct complies with all applicable policies and procedures and with USA's Business Code of Conduct. They are also responsible for the content they publish on blogs, wikis, or any other form of user-generated media. Approved:

Original approval obtained

Richard O. Covey
President and Chief Executive Officer

CHANGE HISTORY

REV EFFECTIVE
DATE
DESCRIPTION
Basic 02/05/10

Bolden Overhauls NASA Organization, Space News

"NASA field center directors and mission directorate chiefs will report directly to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden under organizational changes Bolden announced Feb. 23 in a memo to senior agency officials. The heads of NASA's 10 regional field centers and four headquarters-based mission directorates currently report to NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese, the agency's third-highest-ranking official. That reporting structure was put in place by Bolden's predecessor, Mike Griffin."

NASA Chief Bolden reorganizes his space agency (includes memo excerpts with other changes), Orlando Sentinel

"Associate Administrator: The Associate Administrator will continue to be responsible for integrating the technical and programmatic elements ofthe Agency. However, Center Directors and Mission Directorate Associate Administrators will report directly to the Administrator rather than through the Associate Administrator. No other changes are being made in the Office of the Administrator."

Keith's note: There was one bizarre series of events today in the Senate hearing on NASA's budget that I found to be very odd - and a little troubling. I am referring to the series of questions that Sen. Vitter (R-LA) asked of Charlie Bolden with regard to Deputy NASA Administrator Lori Garver. The questions focused on who made the decision to cancel Constellation and whether Lori Garver was at the heart of this. He also seemed to suggest that Lori was pushing to oust Bolden and usurp his job - something he said that he "would not support".

Within a few moments it was clear that Vitter had been programmed by his staff with some sort of magic fairy dust and that he was going to pursue a line of questioning that focused on Garver and repeated use of the word "radical" and not on anything of substance related to the budget. Clearly, Vitter's staff were using him as a proxy in a search for a cabal, smoking gun, or a scheming mastermind behind the Obama space policy. Typical Washington blood sport.

This is not new: there is a small subculture of space policy wannabes out there who seem to be convinced that Lori Garver has sold her soul in the pursuit of some sort of plan to destroy human space flight and replace it with ... well, they do not agree on that part. The silly thing about all of this is the illogic of someone like Lori ever being inclined to want to "kill" human spaceflight. Quite the contrary.

Let me say this. I have known Lori for more than 20 years. If you have read NASA Watch you will know that in the past I have not hesitated to criticize her when I saw fit. But let me tell you, for anyone with a shred of knowledge about Lori and her background to suggest that she is against human space travel - of any kind is ludicrous. Not only did she head the National Space Society, an organization devoted to human space flight, but she spent 6 months of her life training to get a seat on a Soyuz flight as "AstroMom" and even had surgery to meet the medical qualifications. It just doesn't compute.

If you want to throw rocks and dabble in second rate Da Vinci code cabal mongering, then go look into the inner workings of OSTP and OMB. That is where these policies were developed and delivered to NASA - not the other way around.

As such, I have to wonder what those staffers sitting silently behind Vitter were thinking when they poured this nonsense into his head. Clearly they know how things work here in Washington. But instead of trying to have a serious discussion about the programmatic merits or detriments of the policy, Vitter went off on a wild goose chase - and hit a brick wall.

Funny thing: Sen. Vitter never uttered the word "Michoud" as far as I could tell.

Senator's attack on NASA deputy chief Lori Garver backfires , Orlando Sentinel

"Several sources on the Hill, in industry and inside the Obama administration blame rocket maker ATK, the developer of the Ares I rocket first stage, for putting Vitter up to the attack. Sources say that complaints have been sent to ATK and so far there has been no response. In the meantime, members of the Senate and the House said they were going to refrain from any further personal attacks as they move against the White House's proposed 2011 budget for the space agency."

"NASA's Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request and Issues"

- Hearing Charter
- Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST
- Witness: Charles Bolden
- Webcast House - NASA TV
- Follow hearing on Twitter

Obama's NASA budget could cost Houston 7,000 jobs, KHOU

"Houston stands to lose big. Economists estimate as many as 7,000 jobs could be lost as the space shuttle program is phased out this year and the Constellation program winds down."

NASA chief vows help for Florida employees, Houston Chronicle

"Florida, facing the loss of some 14,000 jobs from retirement of the shuttle and President Barack Obama's proposed cancellation of the Constellation program, is widely expected to be an electoral battleground in the 2012 presidential campaign."

David Vitter criticizes NASA budget as lacking in ambition, NOLA.com

"Vitter, who also is concerned about the impact on jobs at the Michoud facility in eastern New Orleans, which produces the space shuttle's external fuel tanks, faulted the new budget for "not only ending the shuttle but completely canceling its replacement, the Constellation, with little more than a hope and prayer that commercial providers will eventually pick up the slack."

Senators to NASA chief: Go somewhere specific, AP

"NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said after the hearing that critics were confusing the lack of a specific destination or timetable with the lack of a goal. NASA has a goal, a big one, Bolden said. It's going to Mars. But Bolden added that getting astronauts to Mars is more than a decade away and NASA needs to upgrade its technology or else it never will get there."

- Senators Say Plan Puts NASA On Mission To Nowhere, NPR
- Senators grill NASA chief on President Obama's space plan, USA Today
- Senators Decry NASA's Change of Plans, SpaceNews
- NASA Chief to Senators: We're Going to Mars, space.com
- Bolden: Mars is the 'ultimate' goal, Orlando Sentinel
- NASA chief says Mars is goal, lawmakers express doubt about budget, The Hill
- Senators Vow to Fight NASA Outsource Plan, WS Journal
- Challenger Center Statement in Advance of Today's Senate Hearing on NASA Budget

Verbal Testimony by Miles O'Brien: Senate Hearing on NASA's FY 2011 Budget

"While I give the Administration plan high marks for its steely-eyed reassessment of priorities - it did a horrible job telling this story. The headlines should have read: "Space is now open for business". Or - "Space travel now for the rest of us" Or "Space Station science gets a big reprieve" or "NASA to work on fixing air traffic delays" or "NASA to focus more on our favorite planet: Earth".

You get the idea. Instead we got a bunch of blue moon stories...

Why? Well for one thing my understanding is this decision was made in the White House office of Science and Technology Policy office - and was very closely held until the weekend before the budget rollout. They were reluctant to tell the kids I guess.

Even so, everyone in the Space Cadet Nation knew Constellation was a dead man walking. But denial is a powerful thing and so NASA was caught flatfooted - with no strategic plan on how to explain the nuance of this story. And let's face it the mainstream media doesn't have a clue either. Reporters who know some things about this beat have been unceremoniously dumped by the big papers and networks right and left - and many of them are now...well...webcasting.

So it is the perfect storm: the agency is not sold on the change...the communications plan is non existent...the reporters are not well informed...and the public is disengaged."

Keith's note: Hmmm .. the person responsible for all of this messaging is NASA PAO AA (and self-proclaimed "White House Liaison for space") Morrie Goodman who said last week: "I need to make sure that the agency's message is heard loud and clear and that our position is well known, well articulated, in the best way possible for people to understand and hopefuly come to the same conclusions that we do about the things that we do and where we are going."

Something is broken, Morrie.

NASA Chief Bolden reorganizes his space agency (includes memo excerpts with other changes), Orlando Sentinel

"As announced previously, the Office of Strategic Communications will be disbanded. ... Office of Public Affairs: This organization will be renamed the Office of Communications and will be led by an Associate Administrator. The Associate Administrator for the Office of Communications will report to the Office of the Administrator and will also serve as NASA Press Secretary (also see "Changes in Center Reporting")..."

Keith's note: Curiously, the description of NASA PAO AA Morrie Goodman's job - as offered by Goodman himself last week during a meeting of the NASA Advisory Council's Education and Public Outreach Committee - is a little bit more expansive. Make that MUCH more expansive. If you listen to this video (starting at around 08:25) Goodman says:

"I have three goals. Number one is I need to make sure that the agency's message is heard loud and clear and that our position is well known, well articulated, in the best way possible for people to understand and hopefuly come to the same conclusions that we do about the things that we do and where we are going. The other job that I have is to be - I am the White House liaison for space. Uh, uh, um, In that fashion I have to articulate not only NASA's view but - you know, it is NASA's view - because what the President decides for NASA is what NASA does - basically."

"I am the White House liaison for space"? Hmm. I thought David Noble was the White House Liaison. It even says so here at NASA.gov. Goodman is the guy who is supposed to do all of NASA's messaging "loud and clear", so what he said must be accurate, right?

Embedded video below

An Open Letter to NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Homer Hickam

"It was for that reason, I guess, that I was so surprised at how you've treated a lot of the people who work for you, all of whom also love our country and spaceflight. Maybe you weren't aware that many of those people were pulling 80-hour weeks doing everything they could do move the Constellation moon program forward. The impersonal manner in which you informed them that their work was no longer needed was not good, Charlie. Nor was the fact you allowed the program that defined NASA's future to be closed down with nothing concrete to take its place. I mean, a good manager would never allow a thing like that to happen. That's why I think you were as surprised as everybody else when you got your orders from the White House. At least, I hope you were."

Space Pioneer Burt Rutan Blasts NASA Plan, WS Journal

"Commercial space pioneer Burt Rutan has sharply criticized Obama administration proposals to outsource key portions of NASA's manned space program to private firms. The White House wants NASA to use outside firms to develop and operate new rockets and spacecraft that would transport astronauts into orbit and beyond, functions that had previously been considered a core function of the agency. Mr. Rutan, a veteran aerospace designer and entrepreneur, in a letter addressed to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, says he is "fearful that the commercial guys will fail" to deliver on the promises to get beyond low earth orbit, and that the policy risks setting back the nation's space program."

A better way to go where no one has gone before, opinion by Scott Hubbard, SF Chronicle

"Some complain that the plan concedes the moon to the Chinese. This is nonsense. The United States landed on the moon six times more than 40 years ago. As Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, has pointed out, it is far more logical to partner with the Chinese on the exceedingly expensive trip to the moon. In the meantime, many of us have identified the "flexible path" as a way of moving human exploration ever more deeply into space beyond low-Earth orbit, while keeping Mars as the ultimate goal."

Losing sight of the Moon?, ABC

"Like other NASA astronauts and scientists working on the complex Constellation program, Andy Thomas was surprised when the White House chose to dump the entire project. "Many of us who'd been working in Constellation and watching Constellation had recognised that some elements were not going in the right direction," he said. "We were not surprised when they were cancelled, we were surprised when the entire program was cancelled and done so without a clear plan of what the going forward position was. The wording was rather vague."

Keith's note: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's Science and Space Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Challenges and Opportunities in the NASA FY 2011 Budget Proposal today starting at 2:30 pm EST. NASA will be broadcasting and webcasting this hearing on NASA TV - Watch. You can follow things on Twitter here.

Witness Panel 1: Charles Bolden , NASA

Witness Panel 2: Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Astronaut (Ret.); Michael J. Snyder, Aerospace Engineer; Miles O'Brien, Journalist and Host "This Week in Space"; and A. Thomas Young, Lockheed Martin Corporation (Ret.)

NASA will be broadcasting and webcasting on NASA TV - Watch

Bolden: NASA legit as it readies to end moon program, Orlando Sentinel

"NASA Administrator Charles Bolden bluntly told Congress in a letter sent Friday that the agency has kept within the law as it prepares to dismantle the Constellation moon rocket program -- despite accusations to the contrary from nearly 30 U.S. House members. The three-page letter was in response to warning sent by the lawmakers on Feb. 12 that reminded the new NASA chief that he could not shut down Constellation this year without prior approval from Congress. They said NASA has begun pulling the plug in violation of a law passed last year."

- NASA Letter To Offerors Regarding Cancellation of Exploration Ground Launch Services (EGLS) Request for Proposal (RFP), earlier post
- Letter From House of Representatives to NASA Administrator Bolden regarding Constellation contract Cancellation, earlier post

"Welcome to the NASA Lunar Electric Rover (LER) Simulator. You don't need a driver's license, but you still need to buckle up as the LER Simulator gives you a glimpse of what it might be like to support the activities of a functioning Lunar Outpost. Get busy. You never know if your skills here will become a major part of the NASA Astronaut application process in the future."

Download at the iTunes store.