PETA Protests NASA Plan to Radiate Monkeys, Scripps Howard Foundation Wire
"A man in an astronaut suit stood outside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Thursday morning. Normal enough, given the contents of the building before him. But he was not promoting an exhibit, nor was he affiliated with the museum. He and a group of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals activists were brandishing signs and distributing pamphlets protesting a NASA program."
50% Favor Cutting Back on Space Exploration, Rasmussen Reports
"Fifty percent (50%) of Americans now say the United States should cut back on space exploration given the current state of the economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 31% disagree with cutting the space program, and 19% more are not sure. The new findings mark a six-point increase in support - from 44% last July - for cutting back on space exploration."
Keith's note: Alan Stern [two videos], Dan Durda [two videos] and ten other scientist took two rides in a centrifuge located at The NASTAR Center as part of a suborbital scientist training program held on 12 & 13 January 2010. On these runs the scientists were put through simulated rides aboard Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo. The first flight was at 50% acceleration. The second flight was at 100% acceleration. You will note by his commentary that Dan Durda was determined to get on NASA Watch.
First Class of Suborbital Scientist-Astronauts Successfully Complete NASTAR Training Program
"For this diverse group of scientists to invest their own time and money for astronaut training is a true testament to the growing excitement behind the science potential of new commercial spacecraft," said Dr. S. Alan Stern, chairman of SARG and a principal organizer of the scientist training program. "Interest was so high that we've already filled up a second class of a dozen scientists for spring 2010."
List of Speakers Announced for the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in February, Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Keith's note: Early registration deadline is tomorrow, 15 January. Register here.
Cocaine found in shuttle work area, NASA says, Space.com
"NASA is investigating how a small amount of cocaine ended up in a space shuttle hangar at the agency's Florida spaceport. A bag containing the cocaine residue was discovered in the space shuttle Discovery's hangar at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The hangar, known as the Orbiter Processing Facility, is a restricted zone for shuttle workers only."
NASA Investigates Illegal Substance Found in Shuttle Hangar, NASA KSC
"NASA has launched an extensive investigation after a small amount of cocaine was found in a restricted area of the processing hangar for shuttle Discovery at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. There are no indications the incident has impacted Discovery's readiness for its planned launch in March."
Keith's note: Earlier today I had a telecon with Miles O'Brien and David Waters. You have seen them both (along with Leroy Chiao) on SpaceflightNow.com's shuttle launch webcasts. David is headed for Haiti on Saturday - and he is taking the HNS9201 BGAN satellite phone (upper left) that Scott Parazynski and I took to Mt. Everest last year. I will be giving David a quick intro on BGAN ops in remote locations tomorrow morning.
Judicial Watch Uncovers NASA Documents Related to Global Warming Controversy, Judicial Watch
"According to the NASA email, NASA's incorrect temperature readings resulted from a "flaw" in a computer program used to update annual temperature data. [James] Hansen, apparently frustrated by the attention paid to the NASA error, labeled McIntyre a "pest" and suggests those who disagree with his global warming theories "should be ready to crawl under a rock by now." Hansen also suggests that those calling attention to the climate data error did not have a "light on upstairs."
NASA Caught in Climate Data Manipulation; New Revelations Headlined on KUSI-TV Climate Special
"In a new report, computer expert E. Michael Smith and Certified Consulting Meteorologist Joseph D'Aleo discovered extensive manipulation of the temperature data by the U.S. Government's two primary climate centers: the National Climate Data Center (NCDC) in Ashville, North Carolina and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) at Columbia University in New York City. Smith and D'Aleo accuse these centers of manipulating temperature data to give the appearance of warmer temperatures than actually occurred by trimming the number and location of weather observation stations."
"While commercial and DOD space system missions, requirements, and technology development differ in key ways, the commercial sector has adopted practices that could be applied to DOD space system acquisitions to improve cost, schedule, and performance outcomes. For instance, commercial firms define their requirements before initiating development programs, which helps to close resource gaps prior to program start and limit requirements growth. They tie contractor award and incentive fees to acquisition outcomes. They follow evolutionary product development approaches that enable them to achieve gradual gains in capability in relatively short periods while limiting the extent of technology risk they take on in any one increment. The commercial approach, overall, emphasizes gaining critical knowledge before making long-term commitments."
"NASA's Deputy Administrator, Lori Garver, will be the opening keynote speaker at the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference on February 18-20, 2010, at which scientists, engineers, educators, and vehicle developers will gather to discuss the research and education benefits of new commercial suborbital spacecraft."
Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference Update, earlier post
Ex-top NASA official charged in Mississippi, Houston Chronicle
"A former high-ranking NASA official pleaded not guilty Monday to nine federal charges accusing him of steering a $600,000 contract to Mississippi State University, a client of his consulting firm. Courtney A. Stadd had already been convicted of steering a different contract for almost $10 million to the university. Stadd was sentenced in November to three years probation."
NASA LaRC Internal Memo: Let Your Voice Be Heard
"Over 500 of you responded to the Langley Story survey and we will shortly have some preliminary results. The next step is a series of focus groups to further define what kind of an organization we are and what prompts us to come to work each day."
Keith's note: One would assume that people are prompted to "come to work each day" because that is what you do when you have a "job" i.e. you go to work - each day.
Moon rocks from first and last Apollo missions turn up in locked cabinet in Hawaii, AP
"Lenny Klompus, a spokesman for Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, says the rocks were never actually missing. He says state employees knew the rocks were in a secured cabinet, but they didn't know which cabinet."
This webcast will be archive din a day or so - and we'll have a link up. Thanks for the large audience!
Photo: Alan Stern (center, green flight jacket) Twittering from the altitude chamber on Tuesday. More photos from Tuesday's activities are posted here. An embedded viewer will appear when we stream live centrifuge runs today around 11 am EST. This link points to the webcast location.
"The Suborbital Scientist-Astronaut Training Course [Tuesday/Wednesday, 12-13 Jan] has been developed by The NASTAR Center and is organized by Dr. Alan Stern and Dr. Dan Durda of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). "
Keith's note: You can follow events at the workshop at OnOrbit.com/suborbital or at The pre-flight of a sub-orbital scientist (Joe Hill)
On Twitter you can follow @thenastarcenter, NASAWatch or track all Tweets via #suborbital
You can also check the Suborbital Science page at Facebook and TheNASTARCenter on YouTube
- ETC's The NASTAR(R) Center Announces Winner of Student Patch Design Contest Outreach Effort, earlier post- NASA Solicitation: Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research Program - CRuSR - Request for Information, earlier post
- List of Speakers Announced for the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference, earlier post
Keith's note: Twitter has some 18 million active users. We've already seen how Twitter has started to alter how news and ideas are spread - instantaneously - with major TV networks scrambling to pay attention. To its credit, NASA was an early adopter and now makes remarkable use of Twitter - and is learning fast how to use other social networking tools. Twitter is paying attention - hence this banner - one that appears with regularity on Twitter.
Alas, while NASA has pushed the envelope with regard to social media, its Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs at NASA Headquarters, Morrie Goodman, has (privately) expressed deep skepticism with regard to the value of these tools. Is Morrie offering a reality check, or reaffirming the status quo of ideas and paradigms that are no longer relevant?
What is it that Twitter sees in NASA - that NASA does not see in Twitter?
Keith's update: Morrie Goodman does not agree with what I have posted. If/when he sends me a formal response, I will be happy to post it - verbatim.
Final Memorandum on Analysis of NASA's Final Program-Specific Recovery Act Plans
NASA OIG: Final Memorandum on Analysis of NASA's Final Agency-Wide Recovery Act Plan
"During our initial review of the five program plans, we found that each had a number of minor compliance issues when compared to the OMB Guidance. Specifically, none of the five program plans included a description of periodic reviews of planned Recovery Act-related activities in the Monitoring and Evaluation section. In addition, one program plan did not identify projects and activities funded under the Recovery Act and did not address the section on Federal Infrastructure Investments."
Keith's note: The NASA Astrobiology Institute recently notedthat "AstrobiologyNAI now has over one million followers!" on Twitter. One small problem: a close look at the followers for NAI's Twitter account will show that a substantial portion are fake accounts used for spam or other marketing scams. Just go through them and you will see. These accounts have no profile pictures or information, follow (at most) a couple of dozen accounts, and rarely if ever post anything. And when they do post something they do so once and it is often not in English - and yet all of NAI's Twitter postings are in English. To be certain, some of NASA's Twitter accounts are wildly popular and are of great value. But in this instance, the numerical popularity of NAI's Twitter account is due mostly to spam, not content. NAI has been informed of this issue more than once by a number of people inside and outside of NASA, but the NAI folks seem intent upon boasting about this number without understanding what it actually means. There are ways to scan and remove spam and scam followers. NAI should look into this.
STS-130 Shuttle flight facing delay due to Payload technical glitch, Universe Today
"The launch of Shuttle Endeavour on the STS 130 flight now faces a potential delay due to technical problems with the external ammonia connecting lines which are designed to provide critical cooling capability to the new Tranquility module. Tranquility is a pressurized module being brought aloft as payload in the cargo bay of Endeavour on the STS 130 mission. Launch of Endeavour is currently set for 4:39 AM on Feb. 7."
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Keith's note: Linn LeBlanc, Executive Director, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation sent a note out to a bunch of people who, in turn sent it to other people. I eventually got 7 copies. I posted it here - as I have in the past in similar situations thinking it would be nice for readers to also send in wishes. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation then called me to complain that it was posted with contact information so I removed it. I certainly wish Mr. Fullerton well and hope that he has a speedy and full recovery. However, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation really needs to take a few PR lessons i.e. if a family (understandably) wants privacy then the Foundation should not send out an email to people that contains home addresses and emails and openly ask people to send cards and messages.
