Scott Pace Headed for GWU

Editor's note: NASA Associate Administrator for Program Analysis and Evaluation Scott Pace will be heading to the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University as its new director. The Institute is currently run by John Logsdon. Pace should be in place after Labor Day for the Fall semester.

At PA&E Pace was responsible for providing objective studies and analyses in support of policy, program, and budget decisions by the NASA Administrator. Prior to working at NASA, Pace was the Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

Today's Video: Servers Are Our Friends. They Want to Serve Us.

NASA JPL Server Consolidation and Virtualization Assessment Request for Information

"JPL has an inventory of about 19,000 computers, ranging from Windows and Macintosh desktops, to 1,000 node compute clusters. Of these 19,000 computers, about 5,600 are computer servers performing a wide variety of computing tasks. The space requirements of this diverse server population are exceeding JPL's capacity, and plans to add many new computing capabilities over the next few years means that the Lab needs to consolidate its computing footprint both through hardware consolidation, as well as the use of virtualization tools."

[Video below]

Why Does The Official Cost of Mars Phoenix Keep Changing?

NASA to Discuss Phoenix Mission Upcoming Mars Landing

"NASA has scheduled a media briefing Tuesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. EDT, to discuss the challenges, risks and science opportunities of the scheduled May 25 landing of the Phoenix Mars Lander."

Editor's note: Phoenix once had another name: "2001 Mars Surveyor Lander". After NASA crashed two spacecraft into Mars in 1999 (Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander) it was mothballed. Then some imaginative people found a way to use NASA's investment and create a new mission using existing hardware - with lessons learned from the Mars crashes applied.

Alas, when NASA talks about Phoenix they really don't want to remind people of those sad days in 1999. In so doing they go out of their way not to remind people that a lot of money went into this spacecraft before the name change. How much? They can never really provide a straight answer. Instead, they try and pass it off as an inexpensive mission.

What follows [below] is a chronology of sorts as I thave tried to find out just what this mission costs: so far I have found official NASA statements that it is $325 million, $386 million, and $420 million. I am sure NASA can come up with several more if they try. I wonder what their answer will be at next week's press event.

Small wonder no one can figure out exactly what MSL is going to cost, eh?

Cost chronology below:

Fixing NASA IT

NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale's Blog: Information Technology Update

"This week at the Operations Management Council (OMC) meeting, a significant portion was dedicated to the work we are doing to improve information technology (IT). In 2007, the Strategic Management Council, approved strategic initiatives to:

2) realign the NASA IT organization to reflect the role of the CIO and better connect with customers;

Today's Video: Eat it, Jon Stewart! I'm talking to space

Astronaut trades jokes with Colbert in space interview, Houston Chronicle

"We have gone galactic," crowed Colbert. "I should say something really profound. Eat it, Jon Stewart! I'm talking to space."

NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 8 May 2008

"At ~10:50am EDT, Garrett Reisman participated in a live interactive PAO TV interview with Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report". [Stephen Colbert is the host and executive producer of the Emmy-nominated series "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central. The "Colbert Report" has garnered huge ratings and critical success as one of the top shows on television. This interview was live-to-tape to be aired on Comedy Central tonight at 11:30pm EDT.]"

Mikulski Pushes $200 Million For NASA

Chairwoman Mikulski Announces Funding for Critical Domestic Priorities in Emergency Supplemental

"National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): $200 million: In the aftermath of the Columbia tragedy, however, NASA was not given any additional funding to repair the remaining shuttles. To date, NASA has already spent $2.7 billion to make safety modifications to the remaining shuttle fleet. The emergency supplemental includes $200 million for NASA to help pay back the costs and restore cuts to science, aeronautics and exploration programs that were cut in order to pay for the return to flight."

Everest Update

On the way down, NASA Everest Trek Blog

"When we finally made it to base camp we were greeted by a very happy and active Scott Parazynski. He was bounding across the rocks as we were barely catching our breath. To see him so positive gave us all a lot of energy. We took a lot of pictures around base camp, and the Khumbu ice fall."

Audio Blogging With Richard Garriott

Challenger Center Launches New Audio Blog Forum

"In April Richard Garriott, the next civilian to visit the International Space Station in October, 2008, joined Founding Chairman of Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Dr. June Scobee Rogers, for the first in a series of monthly audio blog podcasts. Dr. Rodgers and Richard discussed various topics from his childhood to the motivation that brought him to where he is today."

Students to Create YouTube Videos for Live Webcast by Private Space Explorer Richard Garriott

Blending Art and Science: Challenger Center Invites Students to Create Art for Space Flight

Hip-hop Rocket Science

At NASA and Nightclubs, Stars Align for DJ Scientific, Washington Post

"By day, NASA aerospace engineer Mark Branch supervises electromagnetic compatibility and susceptibility tests on instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope. At night and on weekends, he becomes DJ Scientific, trading in his spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes for a microphone, turntables and a mixer as he cranks hip-hop tunes at some of the Washington area's hottest clubs as well as at NFL and NBA events."

More from Mark's website, ScientificBeats (below):

Wow - that's a lot of commuting

Four NASA Glenn contractors charged with fraudulent billing, Ohio.com

"Four contractors working to shut down a nuclear reactor at a NASA facility in northern Ohio have been charged with fraudulently billing the government, a federal prosecutor said Thursday. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Edwards said the four men were accused in an indictment of overbilling a total of $347,664 by falsely claiming they were entitled to per-diem mileage reimbursements."

Orion PDR Slip

Editor's note: According to ESMD PAO: "NASA is internally assessing moving Orion's preliminary design review to November. The Orion Project has been doing systems review and key architecture trades based on November's point of departure architecture. NASA believes it may be of value to give the team additional time to mature the products and complete the systems integration in advance of Orion's preliminary design review."

NASA to Update Media About Constellation Program Progress

"NASA will host a media teleconference on Thursday, May 15, at 2 p.m. EDT, to provide an overview of progress made in the last few months and work ahead for NASA's Constellation Program."

Adventures in NASAese

Reader note: I came across this write-up at KSC and thought a lot of your readers would get a chuckle out of it. Just another way to state the obvious ...

Integrated Problem Reporting and Corrective Action (iPRACA)

"Issue Title: Tile inadvertently damaged by inelastic collision with terra firma following uncontrolled descent"

Lobbying To Shrink The Gap

Space race over, but some don't want to ask Russians for a ride, The Hill

"With the breakup of the Soviet Union, the concern is less about national security and proving which country's worldview is correct than it is with more terrestrial worries like money and jobs. With some irony, lobbyists note in meetings on Capitol Hill that America's former communist foe would have monopolistic powers to charge what it likes to take astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), a program led by the United States and Russia that is scheduled to be completed in 2010. ... Meanwhile, the United Space Alliance added the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group to its roster of outside lobbyists, which already included Van Scoyoc Associates."

Today's Video: SCUBA Tanks and Rapid Prototype Development at ARC

Editor's note: NASA Ames Research Center has been developing the Modular Common Spacecraft Bus (MCSB). The MCSB is a spacecraft designed to go to a variety of destinations such as lunar surface/orbit, Mars orbit, asteroid missions, and Earth orbit. The MCSB uses a cold gas propulsion system (and some SCUBA tanks) rather than a hot gas rocket. This only allows a few seconds of flight time - but it also reduces the time needed to prepare for repeat flights from intervals of many days - even months - down to around 40 minutes. This allows rapid prototype development to be conducted. The video below shows a series of tests conducted in 2007 and 2008. More to follow.

Kicking A Bad Habit When It Comes To Space Paradigms

Bootstrapping the Moon, Dennis Wingo, SpaceRef

"In thinking about the how and the why of the economic development of space, mental frameworks are of crucial importance. A mental framework governs everything in terms of how any particular engineering project evolves from concept to implementation. Over time in the space arena our mental framework has evolved, in ways not all together positive from the perspective of those of us who believe that the economic development of space is practical and indeed crucial to the continuing development of our planetary civilization. This missive will explore the mental framework of economic development (the level zero requirement in government speak) and then explore how that would unfold."

Boeing is Hiring (If They Win FDOC)

Boeing Seeks Mission Support Systems Talent for NASA Work

"The Boeing Company is seeking talented mission operations specialists with current NASA experience in the Houston area in support of its bid for NASA's Facilities Development and Operations Contract (FDOC). Current Mission Support Operations Contract employees are encouraged to submit a contact form at http://active.boeing.com/defense-space/space/fdoc/ to receive information on an open house scheduled for May 17."

Barbara Gregory

BARBARA ANN GREGORY On May 4, 2008 of Annapolis, MD. Beloved wife of Fred Gregory. Also survived by one son, one daughter, four grandchildren, one brother and a host of other relatives and friends.

Insight Into Soyuz Ballistic Reentry

Internal NASA Documents Give Clues to Scary Soyuz Return Flight, IEEE Spectrum

"Although the technical investigation will take weeks to resolve, NASA and Russian engineers have come to several credible preliminary conclusions. And internal NASA documents, such as "15S Ballistic Entry Outbrief" by George Kafka, chief of the Safety & Mission Assurance Directorate for the ISS program, reveal a plausible idea of what probably happened."

VSE Hearing

Hearing: Reauthorizing the Vision for Space Exploration

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 09:30 AM Archived Webcast

Statement by Frederick Tarantino
Statement by Joan Johnson-Freese
Statement by Robert Dickman
Statement by Gene Kranz
Statement by George Whitesides

Editor's note: Gene Kranz is listed as representing the Coalition for Space Exploration as a witness at this hearing. Yet if you go to their website there is no mention of this hearing nor any mention of Kranz's participation in it. No press release or media advisory was issued in advance of the event. I am told that the Coalition spends $20,000 or more per month to run this website. I do not think they are getting their money's worth. The people in charge of this website are clearly asleep at the wheel.

Editor's update: The Coalition eventually updated their website so as to reflect Kranz's presence - but only after the hearing was over. They back dated it to make it look like it was posted at 9:30 am. So much for drawing attention to an event in advance, eh?

Ed Weiler Will Keep His New Job

NASA Internal Memo: Weiler Assumes Official Role As NASA Science Chief

"Administrator Michael Griffin announced Wednesday that Ed Weiler will remain as NASA's associate administrator for the agency's Science Mission Directorate. Weiler was named interim chief of the directorate March 26."

Confusing ROSES-08 Amendment

NASA ROSES-08 Amendment 8: Cancellation of Space Policy Research program

"This amendment cancels the program element in Appendix E.5 entitled "Space Policy Research." At this time, the SMD program cannot support new investigations in this area. No Space Policy Research investigations will be solicited at this time."

Editor's note: I am confused. This says "Appendix E.5 entitled Space Policy Research" yet this is what Section E.5 is titled: "E.5 OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH". Does NASA mean to cancel "E.6 SPACE POLICY RESEARCH" or are they canceling education and public outreach?

NASA ROSES-08 Amendment 8: Cancellation of Space Policy Research program

"This amendment cancels the program element in Appendix E.5 entitled "Space Policy Research." At this time, the SMD program cannot support new investigations in this area. No Space Policy Research investigations will be solicited at this time."

Editor's update: According to NASA "E6 (Space Policy) has been canceled, not E5 (E/PO)".

Today's Video: One More Reason To Retire The Space Shuttle

You can't eat in it while waiting to launch.

Spore: The Game

Astrobiology Meets the Video Game: Spore

"The soon-to-be-released Astrobiology-based game Spore by Electronic Arts (EA) is described as "an epic journey that takes you from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology, and eventually all the way into the deepest reaches of outer space." Spore explorers can wage epic battles for survival in the primordial soup, meet, greet, and co-evolve with other creatures, be part of a tribe and build a civilization, build a space ship, and explore the final frontier."

Update Setback

Editor's note: We had some serious issues (i.e. yesterday's black out offline NASA Watch) with our new upgrade so we've reverted back to the old format for a bit before trying again. Your feedback on old Vs new versions is being listened to as well. Stay tuned for NASA Watch 3.1. We are looking at a format that is much closer to the current (old) one. We'll also be adding some of the new features as well. Meanwhile, comments are enabled, so comment away!

NOMAD Says Ignore Your Welcome Email

"Tuesday May 6, 2008 - 9:10 AM Central

If you get an e-mail with "WELLCOME TO THE NEW NASA WEBMAIL" in the subject line, DO NOT provide the information this e-mail is asking for. This is a bogus e-mail that needs to be deleted and ignored. We are working to block this e-mail from NOMAD customers."

Editor's note: Hmmm - this is from NOMAD after all. How do we know that this alert is not fake and that the original message is actually legit? Isn't NOMAD supposed to prevent this from happening in the first place - or did NOMAD cause it to happen? Yes I am being silly. I just can't shake the 40 year old mental image of the "NOMAD" robot from Star Trek and the voice that it used every time I read a NOMAD Update. Perhaps someone could forward the offending email text to me?

Using NASA Artifacts To Teach

NASA Artifact Loan Opportunities

"NASA is pleased to offer a new program of Artifact Loan Opportunities created to help museums and other organizations traditionally not associated with NASA gain access to NASA artifacts. These artifacts represent the often revolutionary accomplishments that have resulted from NASA's decades of exploring the unknown."

Learning Lessons Learned

Advice from NASA's Wayne Hale: Leading Your Leaders

"When I was a new NASA employee, my branch chief put together a training class that has been on my mind recently. Among the other things he taught us new employees was that we had to lead our leaders. That has always been good advice. I'd like to share some of those thoughts and expand on them."

Space and Election 2008

Candidates' space ideas lack launch pad, NPR Marketplace

"One thing the presidential candidates haven't been talking about is a space policy. Jeremy Hobson takes a look at whether the candidates have any plans for the final frontier."

What To Do When VSE and ESAS Flop

Plan B For Outer Space, Dennis Wingo, SpaceRef

Those of us who were disappointed with the demise of SEI shared the frustrations that I am sure that Dr. Griffin shared and is trying to fix today with the ESAS architecture. NASA is furiously working to make the Ares 1 overcome its problems while also looking to the future in the development of the Ares 5 and the retirement of the Shuttle. However, there are many of us out here who were around then, I have written before, think the same forces that killed SEI are going to kill the ESAS architecture and Constellation systems.

Floating and Teaching

Northrop Grumman Foundation Accepting Teacher Applications For 2008 Weightless Flights of Discovery

"The Northrop Grumman Foundation is accepting teacher applications for the 2008 Weightless Flights of Discovery program, an initiative that places teachers on micro- and zero-gravity flights to test Newton's Laws of Motion and energize students in the formative middle-school years."

Shenzhou EVA training

Editor's note: This short video includes shots taken at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center where EVA suits are tested in a large swimming pool much in the same way that Russia and America train their crews. The EVA suits seem to bear some resemblence to Russian ORLAN suits.

Hacking NASA

Hacking NASA: One small step for man, one giant leap for hackers?, ZD Net

"The CORE Security Team released an advisory to the Full-Disclosure mailing list today that documented a stack overflow in NASA's Common Data Format libs. Looking at this bug, the tech details aren't overwhelming, I think I'm mostly excited about it due to the high profile of hacking NASA libs. One can hardly fault NASA though, I mean, our government can't even get them enough money to do some real space exploration, it's hard to fault them for missing some security issues."

Common Data Format (CDF) Version 3.2 and earlier Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

"The libraries for the scientific data file format, Common Data Format (CDF) version 3.2 and earlier, have the potential for a buffer overflow vulnerability when reading specially-crafted (invalid) CDF files. If successful, this could trigger execution of arbitrary code within the context of the CDF-reading program that could be exploited to compromise a system, or otherwise crash the program. While it's unlikely that you would open CDFs from untrusted sources, we recommend everyone upgrade to the latest CDF libraries on their systems, including the IDL and Matlab plugins. Most worrisome is any service that enables the general public to submit CDF files for processing."

Rep. Miller's Staff Seeks Space Bimbo Info

House Panel Second Guessing NASA's Zero-G Contract Award, Space.com

"Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), chairman of the investigations and oversight subcommittee, sent two letters to NASA Administrator Mike Griffin April 15 requesting materials related to the Zero-G deal. Miller's first letter, according to sources familiar with the document, included multiple allegations disputed by Zero-G, among them that the company conducted a weightless flight for the makers of the "Girls Gone Wild" video series."

Editor's note: Miller's staff quickly sent a second letter without the false allegations in it. This "Girls Gone Wild" urban myth is really old news and was openly disavowed years ago. Indeed a simple phone call to ZeroG would have been all that that Miller's staff needed to do. The fact that Rep. Miller would allow such a sloppily unresearched letter to be sent as an offical request to NASA calls the credibilty of his own staff into question. I wonder of the staff bothered to get a copy of the actual weightless bimbo video and look at the credits .... What's next - requesting photos of the alien bodies stored in freezers at JSC?

Here's the internal memo ARC circulated to employees several weeks ago asking for information:TO: Resident Staff

FROM: Thomas W. Berndt, Chief Counsel/ Deborah Feng, Director (Acting), Strategic Communications

SUBJECT: Urgent Request for Zero-G related Documents

NASA Headquarters has requested that Ames personnel provide the following documents in response to an official House Science & Technology Committee inquiry:

(1) All records relating to research collaborations between NASA and Zero-G to be implemented at Ames Research Center;

(2) All records related to the use of Ames and Moffett Field by Zero-G for the company's non-governmental activities.

Because of the urgent nature of this request by Congress, we ask that all Ames employees with documents, as described above, to please forward hard paper copies no later than COB Monday, April 21 to Terence Pagaduan, Mail Stop 943-4.

Please contact Mr. Pagaduan at ext. 4-1181 if you have any questions.

Thank you for your assistance on this important matter.

Alternatives to the VSE - The Report

NRC Report: United States Civil Space Policy: Summary of a Workshop

"What are the principal purposes, goals, and priorities of the U.S. civil space program? This question was the focus of the workshop on civil space policy held November 29-30, 2007, by the Space Studies Board (SSB) and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB) of the National Research Council (NRC). In addressing this question, invited speakers and panelists and the general discussion from this public workshop explored a series of topics."

NASA Credit Cards: Christmas Trees, t-shirts, and iPods

Review shows NASA employees bought seemingly personal items, AP

"Among the transactions questioned by NASA investigators last year were 393 charges to a graphics support vendor totaling more than $235,000 - so much money that not bidding the purchases competitively may have been illegal, documents show. "That should send up a red flag," said Scott Amey, general counsel of the Project on Government Oversight, a government watchdog organization. "You have to ask: Is somebody trying to get around competitive requirements?"

NASA employees big spenders on government credit, Houston Chronicle

"NASA employees have made numerous charges for seemingly personal items, including custom-engraved iPods and a Christmas tree. About $270 worth of T-shirts and hats purchased from a NASA gift shop were justified by one cardholder as "safety attire," and one former civil servant pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges last year after spending more than $157,000 on things including jewelry, electronics and an air conditioner for her home."

Report on NASA ignites call for credit card crackdown, Houston Chronicle

"Congressional supporters of a bill meant to curb government credit card abuse called Monday for stricter sanctions -- including termination and jail time -- against employees who misuse the cards at NASA, as well as other agencies."