Astrobiology Update

Joint meeting of the Committee on Astrobiology Strategy for the Exploration of Mars and the Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - OPEN SESSION - 8:45 a.m. Astrobiology Status Report - Carl Pilcher, NASA Headquarters

- NASA Astrobiology Program Status, NASA
- NASA Astrobiology in Peril - Update and Action Suggestions, SETI Institute
- NASA Bungles Yet Another Attempt to Communicate, NASA Watch
- NASA Reverses Astrobiology Funding Pledge, NASA Watch
- Earlier NASA Watch Astrobiology postings

Internal Dissent on STS-121 ET Decision

MSFC claim: ET unacceptable for flight, NASASpaceflight.com

"A series of documents acquired by NASASpaceflight.com explain the split of opinion that Shuttle manager Wayne Hale referred to during Friday's Shuttle update press conference."

Artwork from Saturn

Epimetheus, Saturn's Rings, and Titan

"This image was taken on April 28, 2006 and received on Earth April 28, 2006. The camera was pointing toward Epimetheus at approximately 667,385 kilometers away, and the image was taken using the CL1 and CL2 filters. This image has not been validated or calibrated. A validated/calibrated image will be archived with the NASA Planetary Data System in 2007."

No Change to Shuttle Ice Frost Ramps

NASA: No more changes to shuttle tank until after launch, Orlando Sentinel

"NASA managers announced today there will be no more major safety changes to the space shuttle's external fuel tank until after the next planned launch in July. The decision follows a debate among engineers on whether to modify so-called ice-frost ramps on the tank's exterior before Discovery's upcoming flight. The small ramps are crafted from foam insulation that is sprayed by hand on the tank's exterior to prevent the buildup of ice."

Space Tourist Math

Five Years and $120 Million Later, Space Adventures Continues to Drive the Industry

"Space Adventures' efforts in offering commercial seats to the public have resulted in $120 million (USD) worth of orbital spaceflight sales."

Editor's note: Let's see: Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth, and Greg Olsen have already flown. Daisuke Enomoto and Charles Simonyi are planning to fly. That's a total of 5 Soyuz rides. If Space Adventures has only signed up these 5 space tourists then that puts each ride at $24 million - a lot more than the $13-20 million range quoted for Tito, and the figures closer to $20 million quoted for Shuttleworth and Olsen. Or has Space Adventures sold another seat that we don't know about? If so, at a total of 6 flights sold, this would make the average cost $20 million per flight.

Its Not Too Late to Quit

NASA LaRC Internal Memo: Early Out Authority

"Voluntary early retirement ("early out") authority was approved for Langley in connection with the FY 06 buyout. When our buyout window closed on January 3, 2006, our authority to offer early out retirements expired as well. Recently, however, NASA HQ informed Centers that early out authority would be available though the end of this FY. Langley requested early out authority from May 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006 and our request was approved."

Exploration Strategy Workshop Output Overview

NASA'S Exploration Workshop Kicks Off Strategy Development

"Why are we going to the moon? What will we do when we get there? Approximately 200 participants from 13 countries grappled with these questions during NASA's Exploration Strategy Workshop, which concluded Friday. The four-day workshop was the first in a series of activities planned for 2006 focusing on defining a strategy for lunar exploration, including the role of the moon as a stepping stone to Mars and other destinations."

Space Exploration Strategy Workshop Update

Remarks by NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale at the Space Exploration Strategy Workshop

"Decades from now, when humans routinely live and work on the lunar surface and we're getting ready to journey to Mars, all of us in this room can look back to this unique moment in time when we started to plan the strategy. It is an exciting time to be in at the ground floor of what promises to be an exciting and historic process."

NASA Announces Results from Exploration Strategy Workshop

"Findings and recommendations from NASA's Exploration Strategy Workshop will be presented to media during a teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 28."

Routine Shuttle Update Becomes Something More Important

NASA Administrator Presents Space Shuttle Program Update

"NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier will brief the media about the space shuttle program and processing for the next mission (STS-121) Friday, April 28, at 11 a.m. EDT. The briefing will be in the NASA headquarters auditorium, 300 E. St. S.W., Washington."

Editor's note: This update has had several curious changes. First, it was announced last week as a routine media telecon with Wayne Hale from MSFC on 27 April. Then that date was changed to 28 April. Then Mike Griffin visited MSFC today (27 April) where wind tunnel results were presented. Then NASA HQ PAO issues this press release at 5:00 pm anouncing that the event will now originate from NASA HQ with the addition of Mike Griffin and Bill Gerstenmaier.

Interesting PRCB Today

Reader note: "Hell of a PRCB today. After a nearly 6 hour debate, the decision was made to fly the ice frost ramps as is. Griffin and Gerst were even there for this topic. When the final poll was made it was a nearly perfect 50/50 split on fly as is or stand-down and redesign. The FCOD rep (Bowersox) said fly as is, by the way. Most of the offices with the word "Engineering" in their title voted to stand down. It was good to see the program management have the balls to make a tough decision. One of the more amusing aspects of the meeting was watching Muratore (sitting in the cheap-seat) bite his tongue for so long! Apparently, Muratore contacted Griffin either before the meeting or during the lunch break or perhaps via Blackberry to express his opinion though, because Griffin mentioned talking to John earlier in the day. John wanted to stand-down. Mike said fly as is. A truly fascinating meeting that gave me hope for the SSP management. Hope that was lost soon after Parsons was installed and I watched him in action."

Editor's note: John Muratore has been reassigned to EA4.

John Muratore Reassigned

KEY PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT - Effective immediately, John F. Muratore, is named the Senior Systems Engineer supporting the Shuttle/Station Engineering Office in the Engineering Directorate. The Shuttle/Station Engineering Office executes the Engineering technical authority and provides the Engineering integration to the programs/projects.

Mr. Muratore earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1979 from Yale University and a Master of Science in Computer Science in 1988 from the University of Houston - Clear Lake. After serving in the US Air Force, Mr. Muratore joined NASA JSC in 1983 and has held progressively responsible leadership positions including Chief, Reconfiguration Management Division, Space Shuttle Flight Director, and Chief, Control Center Systems Division in the Mission Operations Directorate; and Associate Director and Deputy Manager, Advance Development Office and Assistant to the Director, Engineering within the Engineering Directorate. In 2003, Mr. Muratore was named Manager, Space Shuttle Systems Engineering and Integration Office, Space Shuttle Program. Most recently he has served as Lead Engineer for the Space Shuttle Program.

Mr. Muratore will be located in Building 1, Room 221B and can be reached at extension 34467.

When Ordinary People Become Extraordinary Heroes

United 93 - The filmmakers got it right, By David Beamer - Todd Beamer's Father, Wall Street Journal

"Paul Greengrass and Universal set out to tell the story of United Flight 93 on that terrible day in our nation's history. They set about the task of telling this story with a genuine intent to get it right--the actions of those on board and honor their memory. Their extensive research included reaching out to all the families who had lost loved ones on United Flight 93 as the first casualties of this war. And Paul and his team got it right."

Editor's note: So much for the notion that ordinary people cannot become spontaneous heroes - and fight for things they believe to be more important than their own lives.

IFPTE Expresses Concerns to Congress

IFPTE Urges Congress to Save NASA Science and Aeronautics

"In particular, the union took issue with NASA's proposed shortfalls in the Aeronautics and the Science funding, as well as NASA's failure to provide a Workforce Strategy with sufficient content to justify the continued planning for a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) next year."

Y'all C'mon Down And Join the KSC Road Kill Posse

KSC Daily News - 4/19/06 - NASA & Contractor: Roadkill Roundup

"During the lunch of STS-114, the vehicle struck a vulture shortly after liftoff.  Fortunately, there was no severe damage to the External Tank. However, that risk is unacceptable for launch.   In an effort to reduce the risk associated with vultures, both for commuters and Space Shuttle launches, SGS Roads and Grounds has organized a "road kill posse" with support from the NASA Shuttle and Environmental Programs."

Wednesday's Congressional Hearing

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science Hearing: NASA FY 2007 Budget Request

Prepared statement by Michael Griffin (PDF)

Editor's note: I'm sorry that I can't post the text of this statement for you to read but Code L has decided only to post an image of the text - not the actual text. They also did a sloppy job at scanning it in too - most of page 7 is hidden under page 6. Yet, if you read yesterday's statement from the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Science and Space hearing you will see that there is little difference between the two statements.

Reader note: "I thought the most interesting and discouraging exchange between Mikulski and Griffin was when she asked him toward the end about using the ISS. She said you will have the ISS in orbit but won't be able to use it, and he agreed. Then he provided a list of "ifs" that might make the ISS a useful facility and she caught him on his list of "ifs." And as we know, placing all the remaining pieces in orbit, minus the centrifuge, is highly speculative as it depends on 16, 17, 18 more shuttle launches."

Mikulski Calls for Balanced Space Program, Increased Support for NASA

"NASA's role in promoting science has been ignored by this administration. NASA is absolutely crucial to the innovation economy and the innovation society. It is time for the administration to recognize both the cost and the benefits of a balanced space program," said Senator Mikulski. "A balanced space program is what made our nation the leader in space – it pushed the envelope of science and discovery, while spurring innovation."

NASA budgets concern Shelby, Huntsville Times

"While this [proposed NASA budget] is a significant increase, there are a number of programs slated for decreases that are troubling," Shelby said. "Specifically, funding for aeronautics and education have been cut, and science is being shortchanged with little hope of funding in future years."

MEPAG Finally Allows Taxpayer Insight Into Their Meetings

Report from MEPAG, Planetary Society

"Both Bruce Betts and Lou Friedman from the Society have been attending MEPAG over the last couple of days, and Bruce just sent me an email with some notes about what's been going on."

Editor's Update: It would seem that the Planetary Society's Blog editor, Emily Stewart Lakdawalla is a little confused about how MEPAG meetings have been run in the past. In a post to another website she says "As for that inexplicable NASAwatch comment about "finally allowing taxpayer insight," Lou and Bruce have been going to MEPAG for years. I'll be going to both OPAG and VEXAG."

Well, Emily, if, for example, you look at the circular for the February 2005 MEPAG meeting it was rather explicit about media attendace: "Who should attend? Participation is open to all scientists/engineers involved in Mars exploration, including international colleagues. Since this is a 'working' meeting, it is not open to members of the press, however, if there is interest we can make people available for interviews afterwards." When I asked NASA PAO if I could attend this February 2005 meeting (and a previous MEPAG meeting) and report on what was discussed I was told that I would not be allowed to attend.

As such, my comments below are hardly "inexplicable", Emily.

Editor's 21 April note: This is a welcome change from the previous formal, xenophobic, attitude adopted by MEPAG (NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group) wherein news media - or anyone who was inclined to report on what was going on - were specifically banned from attending - and reporting on - these meetings.

Are ULA Partners Thinking Twice?

Lockheed to Revisit Boeing Partnership - Delay Has Cast Doubt on Rocket Venture, Washington Post

"Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corp. plans to review whether a proposed plan to consolidate its rocket engineering and launch division with Boeing Co.'s still makes sense after being delayed months by a government review. Lockheed said the delay has left some of its top scientists in limbo and has raised questions about the original business rationale for the plan."

US nears OK of Boeing,Lockheed rocket deal-sources, Reuters

"The U.S. government is nearing antitrust approval of a proposed merger of the rocket launch units of the two top U.S. defense contractors, analysts and sources familiar with the review said on Monday.

The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing a plan announced nearly a year ago by Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co., the Pentagon's No. 1 and 2 suppliers, respectively, to merge their money-losing government satellite launch units and create United Launch Alliance."

Griffin Still Hates Earmarks

At NASA Hearing, Silence on Earmarks, Washington Post

"I feel about these earmarks the same way I always feel about earmarks," Griffin told reporters after the hearing. "Our budget is very limited. We have a strategy approved by Congress, and we can carry out that strategy . . . but every earmark, if it isn't coaligned with that strategy, is a fiscal distraction."

Statement by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin before the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space

"Earmarks have increased by a factor of more than 30 in number and almost 8 in dollar value since FY 1997, when NASA was earmarked $74 million, for 6 discrete items. The growth of these Congressional directions is eroding NASA's ability to carry out its mission of space exploration and peer-reviewed scientific discovery."

NASA Internal Memo: Enterprise Council (EC) ViTS 19 April 2005, NASA HQ

"- If earmarks from the Hill are legislated, we will release the money as soon as possible. He hates earmarks. We need to avoid earmarks in the first place or influence the earmark to benefit NASA work, but when we get them we need to fund them promptly. The bottom line is to honor earmarks when they are directed."

Enter The Dragon

China to build a space station after Shenzhou VII, People's Daily

"China will launch Shenzhou VII with three astronauts in September 2008 .. After the launch of Shenzhou VII, a space station with 20 tons will be built, Song said..."

NASA chief to visit China, China View

"The United States needs good competitors and it needs good partners and sometimes they can be the same," said Griffin, who cited the example of current cooperation between the United States and Russia on the international space station."

China's unmanned spaceship to near the moon next year, People's Daily

"Luo Ge said to NASA Administrator Michael Griffin that China is now cooperating with Europe, Russia, Brazil, Nigeria and Venezuela in the field of space. He said it was a pity that the US doesn't have space cooperation with China now, calling it a sign of decreased openness of the US compared with it was twenty years ago."

CEV By 2011? Just Send Money

Statement by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin before the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space

"The FY 2007 budget request is sufficient to bring the CEV online no later than 2014, and potentially much sooner. Given the analysis I have today and the need to balance budgets with proposed development work for the CEV and launch vehicles along with the cost estimates for that work, I cannot be more specific for our stakeholders in the White House and Congress at this time about the specific point between 2010 and 2014 when NASA will be able to bring the CEV online. NASA requested industry proposals for the CEV, and we have considerable incentives for an industry bidder to propose a planned development for the CEV as close to 2010 as possible."

NASA Chief Eyes 2011 for New Spacecraft, AP

"A new spaceship could be ready to replace the nation's aging shuttle fleet by 2011 - three years ahead of schedule - if lawmakers added money to NASA's proposed budget, the head of the space agency told a congressional panel on Tuesday."

American Competitiveness Initiative: No Room For NASA

Statement by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin before the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space

"As part of his FY 2007 budget request to Congress, the President proposed the American Competitiveness Initiative, or ACI, to encourage American innovation and strengthen our Nation's ability to compete in the global economy. Many have asked why NASA is not a part of the ACI. My response is that it is the mission of NASA to pioneer the future of space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research, while the ACI is focused on bolstering the Nation's economic competitiveness in areas such as information technology and nanotechnology."

Editor's note: Huh? Are we reading the same official White House documents, Mike? They even cite the Apollo program as an example! "Information technology and nanotechnology" are listed along with multiple other areas - many of which directly relate to what NASA does. Given the proposed increase in government funding for other scientific research endeavors, and the money lavished upon ACI, one can only draw the conclusion, by its overt omission, that NASA is not ranked as highly as are other research and technology programs. Trying to divert notice of that fact by trying to suggest that ACI is not really focused on things relevant to NASA is disingenuous, to say the least.

American Competitiveness Initiative

An important element of the American Competitiveness Initiative is Federal investment in research and development (R&D).  Under President Bush, this investment has increased by more than 50 percent to $137 billion—the largest sustained increase since the Apollo space program in the early 1960's.  Similarly, President Bush and Congress have provided historic funding increases for K-12 education over the last five years and have successfully instituted critical policy reforms as a part of the President's No Child Left Behind Act.

American Competitiveness Initiative Goals:

• 300 grants for schools to implement research-based math curricula and interventions
• 10,000 more scientists, students, post-doctoral fellows, and technicians provided opportunities to contribute to the innovation enterprise
• 100,000 highly qualified math and science teachers by 2015
• 700,000 advanced placement tests passed by low-income students
• 800,000 workers getting the skills they need for the jobs of the 21st century

This Administration has consistently pursued policies and investments that reflect the need for a vigorous science and technology enterprise, as outlined by the National Science and Technology Council's 2004 report, Science for the 21st Century, and by the President's 2004 plan to inspire A New Generation of American Innovation. 

Recognizing the critical importance of science and technology to America's long-term competitiveness and building on these previous efforts, President Bush introduced the American Competitiveness Initiative, an aggressive, long-term approach to keeping America strong and secure by ensuring that the United States continues to lead the world in science and technology, in his State of the Union Address on January 31, 2006.  

This $5.9 billion ACI includes $1.3 billion in new Federal funding and an additional $4.6 billion in R&D tax incentives.  Specifically, the ACI:

• Doubles, over 10 years, funding for innovation-enabling research at key Federal agencies that support high-leverage fields of physical science and engineering: the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the National Institute for Standards and Technology within the Department of Commerce;
• Modernizes the Research and Experimentation tax credit by making it permanent and working with Congress to update its provisions to encourage additional private sector investment in innovation;
• Strengthens K-12 math and science education by enhancing our understanding of how students learn and applying that knowledge to train highly qualified teachers, develop effective curricular materials, and improve student learning;
• Reforms the workforce training system to offer training opportunities to some 800,000 workers annually, more than tripling the number trained under the current system;
• Increases our ability to compete for and retain the best and brightest high-skilled workers from around the world by supporting comprehensive immigration reform that meets the needs of a growing economy, allows honest workers to provide for their families while respecting the law, and enhances homeland security by relieving pressure on the borders.

Alternate List of Space Exploration Strategy Workshop Attendees

Editor's note: In examining the Excel spreadsheet that NASA PAO sent me today containing Space Exploration Strategy Workshop attendee information, I came across another list of attendees - one that does not quite mesh with another list contained elsewhere in the spreadsheet - one containing breakout team assignments. This is the first list I posted earlier today. That list follows.

• Lt. Gen. James J. Abrahamson, USAF (Ret.)
• Bill Adkins, Staff Director for the House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
• Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Chairman, Starcraft Boosters, Inc.
• Dr. Marc Allen, Management and Policy Division, Science Mission Directorate , NASA Headquarters, Lee F. Arnold, Esq., General Counsel, Congressman Tom Feeney (FL-24)
• Dr. Patricia Arnold, Vice-President, Education, Space Foundation
• Dr. David Bartine, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
• Ms. Dolores Beasley, Public Affairs Office, NASA Headquarters - 2V39
• Dr. David Beaty, Jet Propulsion Lab
• Ulrich Beck, Vice President Marketing International & Industry Business Development , EADS Space Transportation
• Jeff Bingham, Staff Director for the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space
• Mr. Ralph Braibanti, Director, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental Scientific Affairs
• Mr. Kent Bress, Office of External Relations, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Bill Bruner, I Quadrant Investments, LLC
• Dr. Benjamin Bussey , Space Department, Senior Staff Scientist, Applied Physics Laboratory, MP3-E169
• Gi-Hyuk Choi, Head, Korean Astronaut Project Division, Korea Aerospace Research Institute(KARI)
• Mr. Stephen Cook, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
• Mr. Doug Cooke, Deputy Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
• Dr. Henry F. (Hank) Cooper, High Frontier
• Ms. Sylvia Cox, RLEP Program Architect, NASA Ames Research Center
• Mr. Thomas Cremins, Chief of Staff, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
• Ms. Shana L. Dale NASA Deputy Administrator
• Mr. Stephen M. D. Day, CEO, International Ventures Associates, LTD.
• Mr. Frank DiBello, President/CEO, Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation
• Dr. Juergen Drescher, DLR Office Washington, Head
• Dr. Michael Duke, Director - CCACS
• Dr. Paul Eckert, International & Commercial Strategist , Boeing IDS - Space Exploration
• Dr. Dean Eppler, SAIC-Senior Scientist
• Mr. James W. Faulconer, Applied Physics Lab 2-158
• Dr. Robert A. Fogel, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Dr. Kenneth M. Ford, Director, Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition
• Mr. Jack Frassanito, President, Jack Frassanito & Associates
• Dr. Sheldon H. Freid, Project Manager, NASA Test & Evaluation Project, Bechtel Nevada
• Dr. Louis D. Friedman, Executive Director, The Planetary Society
• Dr. Lisa R. Gaddis, Geologist/Program Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Astrogeology Team
• Ms. Lori Garver, DFI International
• Dr. James B. Garvin, Chief Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Ms. Michele Gates, Space Operations Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Leslee Gilbert, Legislative Director for Rep. Ralph Hall
• Mr. Kevin Greene
• Dr. John M. Grunsfeld, Astronaut Office, NASA Johnson Space Center, Code CB
• Ms. Lisa Guerra, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. David Gump, President, Transformation Space Corp
• Mr. Jianing Guo, Director General, Chinese Center for Research Satellite Data and Application (CRESDA)
• Mr. Rick Halbach, Senior Manager/Space Exploration System Architect, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
• Mr. Neal Hammond, Vice President, Exploration Programs, United Space Alliance
• Capt. Frederick Hauck, USN (Ret.)
• Dr. Steven A. Hawley, Director - ARES, NASA Johnson Space Center, Code KA
• Mr. Steve Heard, CEO/Executive Producer, The Futures Channel
• Dr. Klaus Heiss, High Frontier
• Edward Hodgson, Technical Fellow, Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
• Dr. Stephen J. Hoffman, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Mr. Robert Hopkins, NASA Headquarters
• Dr. Scott J. Horowitz, Assoc. Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
• Dr. Steven D. Howe, Director, Center for Space Nuclear Research
• Dr. Alex Ignatiev, Director, Center for Advanced Materials
• Mr. Kent Joosten, NASA Johnson Space Center, Code ZX
• Mr. Michael Kearney, President/CEO, SPACEHAB, Inc.
• Mr. Gib Kirkham, Acting Director,IS/Space Science and Aeronautics, Exploration Systems & Aeronautics Research
• Ms. Sheri Klug, Director, Mars Education Program, Arizona State University
• Mr. John Kohut, Program Manager, Integrated Space Exploration, Raytheon Company
• Mr. Paul Korkemaz, Director, Space Programs, Honeywell
• Dr. David A. Kring, Assoc. Professor of Planetary Sciences, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona
• Mr. Jeff Krukin, Executive Director, Space Frontier Foundation
• Mr. Alan Ladwig , Manager, Washington Operations, Space Exploration Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Ms. Debbie Ladwig, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Tony Lavole, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
• Dr. Pascal Lee, Chairman, Mars Institute
• Mr. Roger X. Lenard
• Dr. Laurie Leshin, Director of Sciences and Exploration, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Dr. Frank Little, Associate Director Center for Space Power
• Dr. John M. Logsdon, Director, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University
• Terry Lorier, Program Director, Space Propulsion Systems Development, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
• Dr. Richard Lutz, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University
• Dr. Stephen Mackwell, Director, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association
• Ms. Kate Maliga, Senior International Programs Specialist, Office of External Relations, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Robert Manning, Jet Propulsion Lab
• Mr. Doug McCuistion, Director, Mars Exploration Program, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Edward D. McCullough, Principal Scientist, Advanced Aero Analysis, Boeing Phantom Works
• Huntington Beach California
• Dr. Melissa A. McGrath, Deputy Director, Solar System Division, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Garvey McIntosh, Office of External Relations, NASA Headquarters
• Dr. Christopher McKay, NASA Ames Research Center
• Dr. David McKay, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Dr. Gordon McKay, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Dr. Wendell W. Mendell, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Dr. Thomas Morgan, NASA Headquarters
• Dr. Lee Morin, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Mr. James Muncy
• Mr. Mark Nall, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
• Dr. Clive R. Neal, Director, Civil Eng & Geological Sciences Department, University of Notre Dame
• Mr. James Nise, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Dr. Carlos Noriega, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Dr. Stewart Nozette, NASA Headquarters
• Richard Obermann, Minority Professional Staff, House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
• Mr. Michael O'Brien, Assistant Administrator, Office of External Relations, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Mark Ogles, Program Integration Manager, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Dr. Scott Pace, Associate Administrator, Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation, NASA Headquarters
• Ms. Jane Parham, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Lewis Peach, Chief Engineer, USRA
• Mr. Bruce Pittman, Profit Engineering Technologies
• Ms. Melissa Preble, The Boeing Company - Space Exploration
• Dr. Joel Rademacher, Senior Systems Engineer, General Dynamics C4 Systems, Spectrum Astro Space Systems
• Hubert Reile, DLR Program Director Space (Head of Delegation)
• Mr. Eric A. Reiners, External R&D Program Development, Caterpillar Inc.
• Shep Ryen, Majority Professional Staff, House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics (handles ESMD)
• Mr. Robie I. Samanta Roy, Assistant Director, Space and Aeronautics, Office for Science and Technology Policy
• Mr. Don Sauvageau, Director, Advanced Space Programs, ATK Launch Systems
• Mr. Robert Schingler, Program Analyst, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Hon. Harrison H. Schmitt
• Dr. Frank Schowengerdt, NASA Headquarters
• Ms. Debbie Scrivner, NASA Headquarters
• Dr. Charles Shearer
• Sr. Research Scientist, Institute of Meteoritics, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico
• Mr. Brent Sherwood, Mission Concept Development
• Dr. David H. Smith, Senior Program Officer, Space Studies Board, National Research Council
• Dr. Paul Spudis, Sr. Staff Scientist, Applied Physics Laboratory
• Ms. Rebecca Spyke, Executive Officer to the Deputy Administrator Office of the Administrator, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Eric Sterner, Associate Dep. Administrator/Policy & Planning, Office of the Administrator, NASA Headquarter
• Dr. John C. Stevens, Director, Business Development, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
• Berin Michael Szoka, Executive Director, Institute for Space Law & Policy
• Mr. George Tahu, Mars Program Policy Analyst, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Tim Tawney, NASA Headquarters
• Dr. G. Jeffrey Taylor, Planetary Scientist, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii Manoa
• Dr. Lawrence A. Taylor, Director, Planetary Geosciences Institute, University of Tennessee
• Mr. Thomas C. Taylor, Vice President, Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc.
• Dr. Andrew Thomas, Astronaut Office, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Mr. Tyrone Troutman , Construction Manager , Bechtel Systems and Infrastructure, Inc. - Defense and Space
• Ms. Jennifer Troxell, International Programs Specialist , Exploration Systems and Aeronautics Research NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Rick Tumlinson, Space Frontier Foundation
• Mr. Jeff Volosin, NASA Headquarters,
• Mr. Wang Chi, Deputy Director General, Center for Space Applied Study
• Dr. Brenda Ward, NASA Johnson Space Center
• Dr. Michael Wargo, Lunar Scientist, NASA Headquarters
• Mr. Damon R. Wells, Senior Policy Analyst Space and Aeronautics, Office for Science and Technology Policy
• Dr. Paul Werbos, National Science Foundation
• Dr. George T. Whitesides, Executive Director, National Space Society
• Ms. Lyn Wigbels, Vice President - International, American Astronautical Society
• Mr. Scott B. Wilson NASA Kennedy Space Center
• Mr. Gordon Woodcock, Gray Research
• Dr. Pete Worden
• Yuichi Yamaura
• Mr. Yuan Jiajun, President, Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
• Mr. Zhang Xiaodong, Deputy Director General Department of Planning Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
• Dr. Maria Zuber, Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Dr. Robert Zubrin, Pioneer Astronautics

Space Exploration Strategy Workshop Breakout Teams

Editor's note: The following membership of breakout teams at Space Exploration Strategy Workshop, currently under way in Washington, DC, has been released by NASA Public Affairs:

Space Exploration Strategy Workshop Attendee Listing

Editor's note: The following list of attendees at the invitation-only NASA Space Exploration Strategy Workshop, currently under way in Washington, DC, has been released by NASA Public Affairs:

Is VSE Boring the Folks at MSFC?

Editor's note: Apparently the NASA Vision for Space Exploration exhibition truck is on site at MSFC. One employee notes "It's 20 feet away from the main buildings and instead of plugging it into MSFC, they've got a huge generator making a hell of a lot of noise and buring a gallons of expensive gas. No one is going into it and the guides are doing nothing but wandering around showing no interest. What a ****ing waste of money." [Courtesy of NASASpaceflight.com]

Reader note: "I may be wrong but I think the exhibition truck is at MSFC to help support "Take Your Kids to Work" day (4/27/2006).  It may be a waste of gas but I would not assume that MSFC is bored by the Vision for Space Exploration."

Reader note: "Mr. Cowing, You've been had, I think, by an inaccurate statement. I walked by that truck about 2 pm and they were still setting it up.  The display is in a semi trailer with multiple slide-outs and is definitely set up to go all over the country.  The "power cord" is 3 inches in diameter and I would venture to guess the generator puts out nearly 25 kW."

"That would be difficult to connect to ordinary facility power.  (I'm sure much of that goes to cooling.)  I mentally remarked how quiet the generator was considering its output. No one near the vehicle seemed interested in giving tours the display because they were engaged in getting it ready for later in the week.

Thursday is "Take Your Child to Work Day" and NASA MSFC is a participant and sponsor of the activity.  Many people on Center have put a LOT of energy into ensuring the day will be a success.  It is a great time to get young people interested in the US Space Program and at least a few will be inspired.

To the writer of the original note, did you ever think about what is involved in presenting anything to the general public?  When is the last time you purchased, studied, or otherwise became interested in a subject that was not in some way advertised to you?  I would say, "never".  The time, and sometimes dollar, investments are heavy, but necessary if there is anything worthwhile to say.  Getting information out to people costs a lot, but the return will, hopefully, be worth it.  How?  In terms of public support for the program, backed up with funding to make it possible.   This, in turn, provides jobs for engineers, scientists, and, well, you.  They, subsequently, provide jobs and income for car salesmen, lawyers, doctors, service providers, restaurant owners, teachers, website owners, and all who get pieces of the income spent by the space workers.

Advertising is a necessary part of business and public government programs.  It is fun to be short sighted and critical of things because it gets you a lot of attention, but it is counterproductive in the end." 

Today's Congressional Hearing

Sen. Hutchison to Chair Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space Hearing with NASA Administrator

"On Tuesday, April 25 at 2:30 p.m. (EST), Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) will chair a Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space hearing.  The subcommittee will hear testimony from NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and will focus on the NASA budget, the transition from the Space Shuttle to the Crew Exploration Vehicle, the International Space Station and NASA contributions to U.S. technological competitiveness."

-Senate webcast
-NASA TV

Help Give JSC a Monopoly on Texas

Editor's note: As some of you may know, the venerated board game of "Monopoly" is changing its look and feel to be more hip. The public is being asked to pick new places and things to be featured in the revamped version - including "favorite landmarks". If you go to this link, and click on "Houston" you can vote for JSC as the location of choice for Houston!

You can vote once a day. JSC is currently leading with 84% - more than 55,000 votes have been cast.

Elegant Aerospace Design

Canopy on one of Langley's Raptors sticks shut on pilot, Daily Press

"Air Force pilots can't wait to get into the F-22A Raptor, the newest, fastest thing in fighter planes. But on a recent morning, Capt. Brad Spears had to wait about five hours to get out of one that was parked at Langley Air Force Base."

In The Loop, Washington Post (scroll past first story)

"What do you do when the canopy on a new F-22A fighter jet doesn't open and the pilot is trapped inside for five hours? Get out the chainsaws. That's what maintenance technicians at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia did a couple weeks ago after calling Lockheed Martin Corp., the plane's manufacturer, to find out how to free the pilot."

F-22 03-041 Stuck Canopy TSgt Robinson 1st MXG/MXQ - briefing charts

• On 10 April 06 at approximately 0815 aircraft 03-041 had a Red Ball for a canopy unlock indication. Attempts to clear the problems by cycling the canopy failed. The final cycling of the canopy resulted in it being in the down and locked position. The canopy would not cycle up form this position trapping the pilot in the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently ground aborted.

• Attempts to manually open the canopy were unsuccessful

• 27th AMU consulted Lockheed Martin and the F-22A System Program Office to determine alternate methods to open the canopy and extract the pilot

• After all maintenance options were exhausted, the canopy was cut by fire department personnel and the pilot was extracted at approximately 1315

• Trouble-shooting of the aircraft is in work

• Canopy replacement cost is $182,205

Sloppy DVD Production at NASA

Editor's note: Last week Risk Management Corporation sent out an email to all of the participants of the recent NASA Risk Management Conference VI regarding a DVD of the proceedings which has been mailed to each registered participant. This morning John Tinsley at NASA HQ sent out an email - to all 407 participants saying "Please disregard this email. It was not approved for distribution and was sent out in error. Official instructions regarding the DVD will be forthcoming from NASA." I am not certain what Tinsley is referring to, but when I popped the DVD into my Mac I had to fish around for the right file to open (manually) in my browser. None of the videos worked despite some fiddling with settings on my part. Clearly no one thought to test this out on a Mac before publishing and distributing it. Oh yes - you can't eject the DVD from your Mac unless you quit your browser first.

This is unfortunate since this was a really good conference. I hope they fix these glitches.

Planetary Science Community Survey Released

Scientists Polled on Solar System Exploration Program Priorities, University of Arizona

"The Planetary Science Institute (PSI), in collaboration with the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of The University of Arizona, the SETI Institute and the Space Science Institute, has conducted a survey of U.S.-based planetary scientists to prioritize NASA solar system exploration programs across spending categories in the face of an uncertain future for NASA space science in general."

NASA's Risks - and NASCAR's Risks

NASCAR Driver to Join NASA Director on April 21 Mining Symposium Panel

NASCAR and NASA Team Up, Wheeling News Register

"Phil Bounds, director of NASA's security management division at the agency's Washington, D.C. headquarters, then relayed his experiences in coordinating recovery efforts following the 2003 loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Following Katrina, Bounds was charged with recovery at two NASA sites in Texas and Louisiana."

Editor's note: I was not present for the presentation, so I don't know what was said. That caveat aside, it is curious that NASA sent someone to talk about the risks associated with Earthbound recovery efforts, but did not send someone to address the risks that go with strapping one's self into a vehicle that undergoes a dangerous journey - and the reasons why they take that risk - and the public's reaction to that risk taking.

Bush Lands at ARC

Bush, Schwartzenegger Arrive at Cisco Systems, CBS5.com

"Schwarzenegger was the first to greet Bush, along with the mayor of Sunnyvale and the acting director of NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Chris Christensen."

Pete Worden is the New ARC Center Director

NASA Names Pete Worden To Be New Ames Research Center Director

"NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced Friday that Simon P. "Pete" Worden will be the next director of NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffet Field, Calif. Worden, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, is a research professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, Tucson."

Editor's earlier note: The paperwork is complete - Pete Worden (USAF Bio) will be the next Center Director at ARC. A formal announcement is expected very soon.

Scott Hubbard to Depart ARC - Pete Worden to Take Over, 15 December 2005 post

Griffin on C-SPAN

The Future of Space Flight C-SPAN Newsmakers Airs on CSPAN-2 at 8:00 pm EDT 21 April 2006

"Michael Griffin was interviewed about the future of space flight and the shuttle program, as well as other NASA projects. After he left, the reporters discussed his responses with the host."

Service Module Thruster Update

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 21 April 2006

"Update on SM thruster test: Yesterday's test firing of the SM manifold #2 yaw thruster (-RZ) was executed as planned, and preliminary reports indicated that there were no issues.  [This was a repeat of Part 1 of the thruster test attempted on 4/14 which was unsuccessful due to a procedural error.]"

NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 20 April 2006

"ISS Reboost:  The test of the SM main engines scheduled yesterday at 3:49pm EDT was aborted without engine ignition when the onboard software received no signal that the sun cover on engine #2 had opened. Attitude control was handed back to US without problems. TsUP/Moscow will not plan a retry until the data is fully analyzed and understood."

Scott Crossfield Killed In Plane Crash

NASA Administrator's Statement Regarding the Tragic Loss of Aviation Pioneer A. Scott Crossfield

"Today, those of us in the aeronautics and space communities extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to Scott's family."

Search for plane of legendary pilot Crossfield finds wreck, AP

"Crews searching for a missing airplane registered to legendary test pilot Scott Crossfield found the wreckage of a small plane with a body inside Thursday, but they didn't immediately identify the victim."

Editor's note: Reliable sources tell NASA Watch that the body is indeed Crossfield's.

Like It Or Not Some Think There Is A New Space Race

China's Moon Quest Has U.S. Lawmakers Seeking New Space Race, Bloomberg

"Almost 37 years after Americans set foot on the moon, China's ambition to make the same trip is evoking rhetoric from U.S. lawmakers echoing the space race of the Cold War 1960s."

GRC Management Gears Up to Grab More Work

NASA Glenn sets its sights on space travel, Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The director of NASA Glenn Research Center, Woodrow Whitlow, is reorganizing the Northeast Ohio icon to try to grab a fatter chunk of the agency's lucrative budget for space exploration. "It shouldn't take any more than a month from now," Whitlow said of launching an office focused on fighting for, and running, NASA space projects. "I'd like to do it sooner," he said at a news conference Wednesday."

NEEMO-9 Crew Sends Greeting To NASA Bedrest Study Participant

NASA NEEMO-9 Crew Sends Greeting To NASA Bedrest Study Participant

Editor's note: The following note and photo were sent by the NASA NEEMO-9 crew, currently located within the Aquarius habitat off the coast of Key Largo, to Erin Peterson, currently flat on her back as part of a 3 month NASA bedrest study at the Cleveland Clinic.

NASA's Bedrest Volunteer Is Hanging - and Lying - In There, earlier post

Ignoring Exploration at NASA, earlier post

Breaking One's Own Embargo

Editor's update: The authors have revised their abstract so as to remove their "embargo" claim.

Editor's note: I was scanning through today's publicly available abstracts at arXiv.org. If you go to this abstract "The Carbon-Rich Gas in the Beta Pictoris Circumstellar Disk" published online on 19 April 2006 at http://xxx.lanl.gov/, you see the notice "Accepted for publication in Nature. The paper is under press embargo until publication." Click on the PDF link and you will see the paper online with the note "Scientists may reference this paper, but the contents may not be reported in the media before the embargo ends." Fine. I won't report the contents - but you can all read the paper.

Note to authors: This paper does not seem to be in this week's (20 April) issue of Nature. If you do not want the contents of your paper to be read - or known - before it is published - and exert the claim that it is under press embargo, then don't allow it to be published on a government website (in this case on a mirror site at Los Alamos National Laboratory) - one that is viewable by anyone, anywhere on Earth, any time - and mirrored all over the world - without the need for a password, username, or any other means of limiting access. This abstract and a link to the paper was also published on the Smithsonian/NASA ADS which is also wide open to any visitor - with the same (now moot) embargo note. You have broken your own embargo in so doing - indeed, YOU have already published your paper.

Editor's update: A NASA Watch reader alerted me to Nature's embargo policy which states: "Our guidelines for authors and potential authors in such circumstances are clear-cut in principle: communicate with other researchers as much as you wish, but do not encourage premature publication by discussion with the press (beyond a formal presentation, if at a conference)." Then why (as in this instance) publish the paper with the "embargoed" information where anyone can see it? This certainly looks like an instance of "premature publication" to me.

I have to say that this embargo policy contains one of the most blissfully antiquated comments I have seen in quite some time - one clearly oblivious to the global, pervasive reality of the Internet. That a scholarly scientific journal - one which breaks scientific discoveries weekly - claims to believe this is truly amazing: "Nature does not wish to hinder communication between scientists. For that reason, different embargo guidelines apply to work that has been discussed at a conference or displayed on a preprint server and picked up by the media as a result. (Neither conference presentations nor posting on recognized preprint servers constitute prior publication.)" Huh? Does this mean that Nature does not think that posting a paper on a series of webservers distributed around the world with unfettered access does not "constitute prior publication"? Um, how did I manage to download and read the entire paper then - unless it was already published somewhere?

Welcome to the 21st century, Nature. Everyone is now a publisher.

Eberhardt Rechtin Has Died

Space trailblazer Rechtin dies, Pasadena Star News

"Eberhardt Rechtin, a pioneer in deep space research and former assistant director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, died Friday after a long illness. He was 80."

Where We're Going: Two Opinions

What does Russia plan to do in outer space?, Opinion, RIA-Novosti