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The White House announced Friday afternoon that it intends to nominate Michael Griffin as the next administrator of NASA. Griffin is currently the head of the space department of the Applied Physics Laboratory of the Johns Hopkins University. Griffin also previously served in NASA as the head of its exploration office during the Space Exploration Initiative in the early 1990s and later as the agency’s chief engineer. He also held executive positions with Orbital Sciences Corporation and In-Q-Tel. Griffin’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate; no timetable for confirmation hearings is has been announced.
+ White House Announcement
+ Space.com Article
NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The CEV is the spacecraft that will carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and to the moon by 2021.
The nation’s Vision for Space Exploration set a goal of developing a new CEV by 2015. The CEV represents one building block in a future exploration architecture that can send astronauts to the moon and form the basis for exploration missions to other destinations.
The contract to build the CEV is a full and open competition. The anticipated period of performance is September, 2025 through December, 2009. The CEV acquisition will use a phased approach that anticipates a maximum of two contractors.
The two contracts will be Cost-Plus-Award-Fee. As part of the Phase 1 contract, the contractors will conduct a demonstration flight that provides risk reduction for the human-rated CEV to be delivered in 2015. The Phase 1 portion of the contract will end with a planned down select to a single prime contractor in late 2009.
The CEV proposals are due no later than 2 p.m. EST, May 2, 2025. A selection will be made in September, 2025.
For more information about the RFP on the Internet, visit:
http://exploration.nasa.gov/acquisition/cev_procurement.html
Japan plans to start building a manned base on the moon and a space shuttle within the next 20 years, a newspaper report said Monday.
Japan's space agency, JAXA, hopes to develop a robot to conduct probes on the moon by 2016, then begin constructing a solar-powered manned research base on the moon and designing a reusable manned space vessel like the U.S. space shuttle by 2026, the Mainichi Shimbun said.
The space agency's budget could be boosted six-fold to $57 billion to finance those plans, the Mainichi said.
Veteran Astronaut to Step in as Interim NASA Chief. Gregory is currently second in command at the space agency.
He will step into the top job until President Bush nominates, and the U.S. Senate confirms, a replacement for Sean O'Keefe, agency spokesman Robert "Doc" Mirelson said Wednesday.
O'Keefe's last official day is Friday. Citing personal and financial reasons, O'Keefe decided in December to take a job as chancellor of Louisiana State University's Baton Rouge campus after three years as NASA's chief.
+ Read Article (Space.com)
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that it has joined a Lockheed Martin led "all-star" team of aerospace industry innovators competing to design and build NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). Orbital's teaming agreement with Lockheed Martin continues the company's history as a key participant in the development of a next-generation human space transportation system.
Orbital will bring its expertise and extensive experience in several areas to the Lockheed Martin team, including solid fuel propulsion integration, in-orbit space systems, safety and risk management, and a new capability, in-orbit autonomous rendezvous.
+ Read News Release (Orbital)
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) have completed and signed a formal agreement to compete as a team for NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and related human lunar exploration systems.
The agreement was signed on Jan. 21, just one week after the one-year anniversary of the nation's decision to renew its commitment to space exploration. It concludes a negotiation process that began in October when the companies signed a memorandum of agreement to explore teaming opportunities. The major participants in the agreement are Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector and Boeing NASA Systems.
You are invited to review the draft NASA/Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Crew Exploration Vehicle solicitation. The Nation's Vision for Space Exploration sets a goal of developing a new Crew Exploration Vehicle by 2015 that is capable of carrying astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and a goal of landing astronauts on the Moon no later than 2021.
Bezos' Blue Origin venture to build West Texas rocket facility
After years of work behind closed doors, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos has gone public with a plan to build a suborbital space facility on a sprawling ranch under the wide open skies of West Texas.
Bezos' Seattle-based Blue Origin suborbital space venture is starting the process to build an aerospace testing and operations center on a portion of the Corn Ranch, a 165,000-acre spread that the 41-year-old billionaire purchased north of Van Horn, Texas. Over the next six or seven years, the team would use the facility to test components for a craft that could take off and land vertically, carrying three or more riders to the edge of space.
+ Read Article (MSNBC)
+ Read Article (Van Horn Advocate)
Sean O'Keefe, the NASA administrator who guided the agency through sweeping changes after the Columbia shuttle accident, will resign and pursue a job as chancellor of Louisiana State University, agency and university officials said on Sunday.
+ Read Article (NY Times)
NASA/Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for design, development, test and evaluation of a Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). Attached to the synopsis are the draft Statement of Work (SOW) and the draft Data Requirements Documents list for this contract. The efforts described in this SOW occur prior to NASA down-selection in 2009. These documents are available for review by potential bidders. Of particular interest to NASA are comments concerning the entrance and exit criteria for program milestones, and comments concerning the Work Breakdown Structure utilized in developing the SOW.
+ Read News Release (NASA)
+ Draft Statement of Work (NASA)
The Transformational Space Corporation (t/Space) today posted on its Web site a public version of its Mid Term Briefing to NASA, a task under the company's contract to the space agency for the development of complete architecture to realize the Exploration Vision.
The briefing is located on the “Background” page in both Flash Paper and PDF formats.
In addition, t/Space announced that it will showcase its approach to low-cost, fast-paced exploration in an exhibit at the 1 st Space Exploration Conference in Orlando , Jan. 30—Feb. 1, 2025. The conference, organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, will feature a panel of companies that won $3 million contracts under NASA's Concept Exploration and Refinement competition. t/Space will report on the current status of its exploration architecture studies during that panel.
+ Read Briefing (Transformational Space Corporation)
Presently, our organization has been tasked with developing a Crew Exploration Vehicle that will be used by astronauts to travel in space. We are also developing nuclear technologies that will enable long-duration space travel and evaluating plans for a new capability that may service, repair, and eventually de-orbit the Hubble Space Telescope. We are conducting research to ensure the health and safety of astronauts during long-duration space exploration far from Earth. We are actively engaged in promoting new approaches that will substantially involve industry and universities in these efforts. Our Centennial Challenges Program, which offers prizes to stimulate innovation, is one example of a novel approach.
+ Read & Download (NASA Office of Exploration Systems)
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) have signed a memorandum of agreement that outlines the structure of a team that will compete for NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and other elements of Project Constellation, a planned architecture of human and robotic space systems that will allow astronauts to travel to and explore the moon, Mars and beyond. The two companies expect to finalize the teaming agreement in the near future.
CEV, the first of several space systems envisioned within Project Constellation, will serve as the architecture's central human space transportation system. A competition to begin development of the CEV is expected to begin in 2025.
+ Read News Release (Northup Grumman)
Anyone who wants to follow in the shoes of Burt Rutan and win the next big space prize will have to build a spacecraft capable of taking a crew of no fewer than five people to an altitude of 400 kilometers and complete two orbits of the Earth at that altitude. Then they have to repeat that accomplishment within 60 days.
While the first flight must demonstrate only the ability to carry five crew members, the winner will have to take at least five people up on the second flight.
And one more thing. They have to do it by Jan. 10, 2011.
+ Read Article (Space News)
Campaign policy statement from the Kerry/Edwards team. Only significant item is that a Kerry administration would increase NASA's budget beyond inflation (something Clinton didn't do). What's more disconcerting is what is not in there... no mention of whether the retirement of the Shuttle will be accelerated (as many space pundits are saying), and lukewarm support for the Vision for Space Exploration.
Still with so many problems in the country, who knows what a new Kerry administration would mean for NASA. For comparison, Clinton never appointed his own NASA Administrator, and never gave a significant space policy address like Bush did on January of this year.
NASA's Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology, known as DART, will leave California's Vandenberg Air Force Base suspended beneath a Stargazer L1011 aircraft, which will drop it shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern time about 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. A Pegasus rocket will ignite and carry DART into orbit to catch up with a military satellite flying 475 miles above Earth.
The Bush administration is billing DART as the opening act in its "Vision for Space Exploration" to the moon and Mars -- the prototype for a workhorse, low-cost vehicle that could just as easily hump supplies to astronauts in outer space or repair unmanned Earth-orbiting weather satellites.
Human flight took a significant step forward today as the privately built SpaceShipOne flew into suborbital space for the second time in five days, securing the $10 million Ansari X Prize.
With pilot Brian Binnie at the controls, SpaceShipOne rocketed to an unofficial height of 368,000 feet, setting a new altitude record for the craft and proving that private industry can build a viable vehicle for sending paying passengers to space.
"This is a milestone for humanity," said John Spencer, president of the Space Tourism Society in Los Angeles.
Shortly after SpaceShipOne became airborne this morning, Spencer told SPACE.com the flight represents "the kickoff of the space tourist industry."
+ Read Article (Space.com)
+ Read Article (CNN)
Editor's Note: This is a great achievement, so great that we don't yet understand the significance.
While a team of aerospace engineers takes aim this week on the $10 million Ansari X Prize competition for privately developed suborbital spaceflight, a Nevada millionaire is planning an even loftier contest.
Robert Bigelow, chief of Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace, is apparently setting higher goals for private spaceflight endeavors with America's Space Prize, a $50 million race to build an orbital vehicle capable of carrying up to seven astronauts to an orbital outpost by the end of the decade, according to Aviation Week and Space Technology.
+ Read Article (Space.com)
Richard Branson, Britain's best-known entrepreneur and part-time daredevil, plans to launch the world's first passenger service to space in 2008, offering zero-gravity flights for $198,600.
Branson, whose Virgin empire stretches from planes and trains to vodka, music and personal finance, is teaming up with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to build five, fish-shaped capsules for the two-to-three hour flights.
Virgin Galactic will be the latest offshoot of Branson's business empire, which started in mail-order recorded music in the 1970s. It will invest $100 million in ground infrastructure and spacecraft capable of carrying five passengers.
+ Read Article (Reuters)
The aerospace firm SpaceDev cast its hat into the ring of private human spaceflight today, announcing its plans to build a reuseable spacecraft that may one day carry passengers into orbit.
Based in Poway, California, SpaceDev is designing a piloted sub-orbital spacecraft that could eventually be scaled up for orbital flights. The effort springs from a partnership between SpaceDev and NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California to explore hybrid propulsion-based hypersonic testbeds for routine human spaceflight.
"We have tried to make it clear that SpaceDev does have plans of our own in terms of human spaceflight, both orbital and suborbital," said Jim Benson, the firm's founding chairman and CEO, in a telephone interview.
Benson said the SpaceDev Dream Chaser, as the vehicle is known, could make its maiden flight by 2009 if it is fully funded. The project is currently a partially funded effort, he added.
+ Read Article (Space.com)
Editor's Note: I have always admired SpaceDev and their execution of building low cost space hardware. I'm sure they will eventually be successful.
Also announced today, they signed an agreement with NASA to help achieve the Vision for Space Exploration.
"Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. were among eight companies to win $6 million NASA contracts to help develop the architecture of space transportation systems that will once again send astronauts to the moon, and – one day – to Mars.
Each contract also calls for initial development of a crew exploration vehicle, the first space transportation system in Project Constellation’s architecture. NASA also awarded three smaller concept exploration and refinement contracts that did not include preliminary planning for the exploration vehicle. Those contracts, worth up to $2 million each, went to Raytheon Co., Science Applications International Corp. and Spacehab Corp.
+ Read Article (Washington Technology)
"As part of a $6 million concept exploration and refinement (CE&R;) contract awarded by NASA's Office of Exploration Systems, Northrop Grumman will help NASA define the "system of systems" architecture for Project Constellation, a constellation of human and robotic space transportation systems, launch vehicles and related in-space and lunar infrastructure required to ferry astronauts to and from the moon and Mars."
+ Read Press Release (Northup Grumman)
Editor's Note: Although I'm not sure what else I'd expect, it looks like NASA is awarding these study contracts to the typical aerospace giants and rejecting bids from the small startups like Armadillo Aerospace. I'm not sure if this is good or bad; what do you think?
"The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) has the most visible damage. According to Kennedy the damage can be seen on the South and East walls of the VAB. There are some 1,000 panels that have lifted off of the building. There are also areas of insulation and subpanels missing. Each panel is 4x10 feet in size. According to Kennedy, "this means that there is as much as 40,000 square feet more or less open to the elements on the VAB. The good news is that not much critical hardware was in the VAB. There are two ETs - and two aft SRB skirts in there but they are protected from the elements. The VAB was being used for storage of cars and trucks. We now need to see what we can do to protect VAB from further damage." Kennedy added "we have not inspected the VAB roof yet."
"The Shuttle Tile Facility suffered significant damage. The roof is partially gone an there is extensive water damage inside. "Tile manufacturing is on the critical path for return to flight. We are looking at possibility of Palmdale as a back up" Kennedy said."
+ Read Article (Spaceref.com)
"This procurement is for the purchase of the legal services and business advice in support of the Agency's effort to create a venture capital fund similar in concept to the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) In-Q-Tel. NASA's fund is hereby referred to as "The Mercury Fund"...The goal of The Mercury Fund will be to invest in tandem with established private sector venture capital funds to sponsor innovative, multi-use technologies to help NASA achieve its mission and to better position these technologies for future multiple and/or commercial uses."
+ Read News Release (NASA)
"Raytheon Company has been selected by NASA to participate in a six-month study team to define various system requirements and design the architecture for the agency's Project Constellation Moon-to-Mars program. Raytheon, led by engineers at its Missile Systems business, received a nearly $1 million contract for the Concept Exploration and Refinement (CER) work, which could extend beyond the initial six-month award period."
+ Read Press Release (Raytheon)
+ Read News Story (Tucson Citizen)
"China, a rising space power, provided a rare look into its top-secret launch center Wednesday, promoting the military-funded project as a lure for foreign investment and a key to the nation's growing prosperity."
+ Read Article (Space.com)
"Astronomers announced today the first discovery of a new class of planets beyond our solar system about 10 to 20 times the size of Earth - far smaller than any previously detected. The planets make up a new class of Neptune-sized extrasolar planets.
In addition, one of the new planets joins three others around the nearby star 55 Cancri to form the first known four-planet system."
+ Read News Release (JPL)
+ Read News Release (Carnegie Institution)
+ Read News Release (McDonald Observatory)
From Lori Garver (former NASA Associate Administrator and National Space Society Executive Director, as well as prospective space tourist)
"Please don't write-off the Kerry-Edwards camp on space. The Bush initiative is simply hot-air and has made it impossible in an election year for Kerry to say much on space. What he has said -- will support increased funding for NASA R&D;, will support Prizes, a more genuinely international effort, etc... is already more than most Presidential Candidates. It took Bush 3.5 years and a tragic Shuttle accident to come up with a policy. Democrats will be able to pull-off a better record -- if not rhetoric!
Totally agree on futility of ISS as pharmacy source and need to retire Shuttle -- Kerry can be convinced of this, but perhaps not in the campaign.
The Moon-Mars Blitz was a good way for Congress to see citizens supporting space -- always a good thing."
+ Read Article (KerrySpace - Yahoo! Groups)
Editor's Note: While I would like to keep this blog non-partisan and focused on space issues, in case you are wondering: I will be most likely be voting for Libertarian Michael Badnarik, a symbolic vote for me because he values the U.S. Constitution and would favor many of the Moon-Mars commission's recommendations, as I do. But I will always welcome readers of all stripes to participate in this community.
"NASA issued this week a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) focused on what's needed in human and robotic technology to put into high gear any Moon, Mars, and beyond space exploration.
As part of a sweeping roster of needs, NASA is asking for proposals in the fields of artificial gravity, inflatable structures, as well as living-off-the-land machinery."
+ Read Article (Space.com)
"NASA's renewed commitment to human space exploration has a strong support base amongst the American public, according to a new poll released today.
More than two-thirds of those polled supported a stepping stone approach for NASA's space efforts, starting with resumed space shuttle flights and the completion of the International Space Station (ISS), and leading to eventual manned missions to the moon, Mars and beyond."
+ Read Article (Space.com)
"Building on this successful history and recognizing the potential value of prize competitions to augment our ability to implement the Vision for Space Exploration and ongoing NASA programs, we conducted an internal study to gather ideas for NASA prize competitions. Two of the founders of the X PRIZE, including Dr. Peter Diamandis who is with us here today, assisted with this study. We collected almost 130 prize competition concepts and winnowed the list to 15, which was the basis for the initial formulation of Centennial Challenges."
+ Read News Release (NASA)
The one aspect the Times misstated is that Cassini "may be the last of its kind, now that a new austerity in space exploration has set in." To the contrary, bold new planetary exploration missions are planned in furtherance of President Bush's vision for space exploration. Over this decade NASA will deploy three more missions to Mars to build on the remarkable scientific return of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers.
+ Read Response (NASA)
I got an email from a gentleman at Boeing letting me know about this website and if I could add a link to it: "I thought some of your folks would be interested in our site"
+ Visit Website (Boeing)
I have also updated the links area with two new space weblogs - The New Space Age and Spaceship Summer
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe spoke today to NASA employees and held a press conference on the plan for "transformation" of the agency.
The transformation streamlines NASA into four Mission Directorates: Science, Space Operations, Exploration Systems, and Aeronautics.
NASA has released the first set of requirements which flesh out the new space vision. Much of this restates the President's agenda from last January, but it is in black & white for NASA bureaucrats to digest. Worth a read.
Mission Statement: NASA shall advance U.S. Scientific, technological, security, and economic interests through a robust human and robotic space exploration program.
+ Read News Release (NASA)
"A privately-developed rocket plane will launch into history on June 21 on a mission to become the world's first commercial manned space vehicle. Investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and aviation legend Burt Rutan have teamed to create the program, which will attempt the first non-governmental flight to leave the earth's atmosphere."
+ Read News Release (Scaled.com)
Very positive interview with the director of NASA's Exploration Office. Talks about the feedback from congress and industry, the fact that they are looking at heavy-lift, the horizontal integration between the office and Space Science, Earth Science, and ISS programs.
MUST READ!
+ Read Article (The Space Review)
This is the official logo for NASA's Office of Exploration.
"President George W. Bush plans to make a major speech early this summer defending his plan for a new U.S. space exploration initiative, administration sources told United Press International.
Sources said although drafting the speech -- termed a vigorous call to support the president's new space exploration policy he announced last January -- has not yet begun, aides have been narrowing prospective dates and venues.
The speech apparently will be timed to coincide with a report by the presidential commission appointed earlier this year to review the space plan and seek broad public comment."
+ Read Article (UPI)
Editor's Note: This MUST-READ article also mentions that a comprehensize plan for reorganization of NASA is in the works, and will be "the most far-reaching revamping of NASA since its creation in 1958."
"In an unprecedented show of unity, thirteen of the nation�s premier space advocacy groups, industry associations and space policy organizations have teamed up to support the new space exploration effort.
The organizations involved include: Aerospace Industries Association, Aerospace States Association, American Astronautical Society, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, California Space Authority, Florida Space Authority, The Mars Society, National Coalition of Spaceport States, National Space Society, The Planetary Society, ProSpace, Space Access Society and Space Frontier Foundation."
+ Space.com Article
+ AP Article
Editor's Note: I just recieved confirmation of this from the Mars Society as I'm a longtime member of that organization. This is huge and exciting news since in the past many of these groups have not cooperated well. Hopefully this new effort will be successful in answering some of the concerns voiced by critics of the new space initiative.
NASA "Request for Information" (asking contractors for white papers, etc) for the Project Constellation initiative. As we've said in the past, it's discouraging this is only coming out now, 3 months after the President's announcement of the program.
On this day 43 years ago, Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the earth aboard Vostok 1.
On this day 23 years ago, the first Space Shuttle flight STS-1, utilizing the orbiter Columbia, launched John Young and Bob Crippen into space.
Today, as part of the celebrations in Russia, President Putin called for the demilitarization of outer space. I can think of no better way to honor the memory of these achievements than for the United States to accept the proposal to demilitarize space for all time.
+ Yuri's Night Celebrations Worldwide
+ Yuri's Night - Seattle (I will be there!)
NASA selected Garry M. Lyles as Deputy Director of Project Constellation and Charles J. Precourt as Program Director of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV).
"I am very excited about the addition of these two excellent managers to the Office of Exploration Systems' team," said Craig Steidle, Associate Administrator for the Office of Exploration Systems. "Their experience and skills will be critical as we begin developing plans for extending human presence to the moon by 2016," he added.
Lockheed Martin is reportedly laying off 65 workers at the Michoud Assembly Facility. Below are two AP articles from different sources (and strangely have different last paragraphs)
"Lockheed officials have said the plant remains a prime candidate to be involved in the manufacture of the spacecraft that will replace the shuttle. The plant has 2,000 employees working on the space shuttle program."
+ Read Article (AP)
"The plant now makes six fuel tanks per year, but NASA has informed Lockheed that the number of tanks needed will be changed. The plant employs about 1,500 people."
+ Read Article (AP)
As a follow-up to the other day's entry on the Shuttle landing gear system, check out this article from Florida Today, mentioning the hand-sewn nature of the Shuttle's thermal protection system.
"A NASA official says some of the U.S. space shuttles flew for 25 years with flaws in the rudders of the tail section, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
Shuttle Program Manager William Parsons said some gears in the two-part rudder, which also acts as a speed brake, were apparently installed improperly in at least one shuttle when they were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s."
Editor's Note: I don't know what you guys think, but this is really &%$#@* incredible. To think that every single Shuttle flight dodged a bullet on landing... I sure hope that if there is anything else lurking, they will find it before Return To Flight!
"A new Boeing office created this month could eventually lead to a vast database of Earth science data.
After President Bush�s new directive for NASA, Boeing was forced to wind down its Orbital Space Plane office in Huntsville, Ala. In its place, the company created a Washington, D.C., office of Space Exploration Systems and a Clear Lake office of Earth Science Applications."
Congressional testimony of Craig E. Steidle, NASA's new Associate Administrator for the Office of Exploration Systems.
"Project Constellation will develop a new Crew Exploration Vehicle for future crew transport. This vehicle will be developed in stages, with the first flight demonstration test in 2009, the first unmanned flight in 2012, and the first crewed flight in 2015. Project Constellation will be discussed at the Partnership Council this spring to ensure that our space partners in DoD are kept fully abreast of the ongoing implementation of our Vision for Space Exploration. "
"Boeing Co. has opened two new offices to support the administration�s space exploration initiatives, the company said.
The Space Exploration Systems office and the Earth Science Applications office will be run out of Washington and Houston, respectively."
Just two days after reorganizing their space agency to refocus it, Russian President Putin replaced its head, Yuri Koptev, after a dozen years of service. Koptev oversaw the creation of the space agency following the demise of the Soviet Union.
The new administrator for Russia's space program, Colonel-General Anatoly Perminov, previously the head of the military's space program.
Russia Replaces Space Agency Chief (Reuters)
Space expert's star fades (AP)
From SpaceToday.net:
"A reshuffling of the Russian government has given the Russian space agency a new name and removed aircraft from its purview, but has left its long-time head still in charge, Itar-Tass reported Wednesday. Since 1999 the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, or Rosaviakosmos, had been responsible for both aviation and space issues. However, on Tuesday the aviation portion of the agency's portfolio was transferred to the Transport Ministry. The agency, now called the Federal Space Agency, will remain responsible for space issues as part of the Ministry of Industry and Energy. Yuri Koptev, who has led the Russian space agency since its formation in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, will remain in charge of the Federal Space Agency, according to the Itar-Tass report, which cited an unidentified source within the agency. The change is apparently part of a wider reshuffling of the Russian government announced Tuesday by president Vladimir Putin, who consolidated the 30 ministers who had made up his cabinet down to 17 positions."
Koptev remains in charge of Russian space industry (ITAR-TASS)
"On Wednesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m., the Science Committee will hold a hearing with non-governmental witnesses regarding the President's recently announced space exploration initiative. The Committee will focus on the following overarching questions: What are compelling justifications for sending humans into space? What scientific research on the Moon or Mars is aided by a human presence? What criteria should be used to determine whether robots or humans should conduct particular science and exploration missions on the Moon and Mars?"
+ Read Announcement
+ Live Webcast
Thanks,
James Burk
Editor, MarsNews.com
and ProjectConstellation.US
Article by Frank Sietzen reviewing the first comprehensive document released by NASA about its Office of Exploration Systems enterprise. (see link below)
"NASA's plan to implement President George W. Bush's moon-Mars-beyond space vision will use small incremental steps called space policy building blocks, according to documents just released by the agency."
+ Read Article
+ Office of Exploration Systems - Program Overview
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (which is actually part of CalTech) announced today the creation of a new Exploration Systems and Technology Office, created to better align JPL with NASA's new exploration vision.
"Mike Sander has been appointed manager of the new Exploration Systems and Technology Office. He will be responsible for all JPL activities and missions related to NASA's new Office of Exploration Systems, except the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter. Sander had served as project manager for the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission."
NASA's new Exploration Systems office, headed by retired Navy Admiral Craig E. Steidle, will hold a press briefing on Wednesday, March 3rd at 10:00am Eastern.
"Lockheed Martin has formed a new organization to manage the Corporation's efforts in support of NASA's space exploration initiative. The organization, which will be called Space Exploration, will be led by John C. Karas and be headquartered in Denver, Colo., as part of the Space Systems Company."
At today's congressional hearings on the President's new space initiative, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe revealed that the name of the new "Crew Exploration Vehicle" program at NASA will be "Project Constellation".
NASA announces an agency realignment in concert with Bush's new space initiative. NASA has created a new Code T office which will be responsible for the new Crew Exploration Vehicle and other technology development.
The office will be headed by retired U.S. Navy Admiral Craig E. Steidle, who formerly oversaw the Joint Strike Fighter program.
"The Office of Exploration Systems is established to set priorities and direct the identification, development, and validation of exploration systems and related technologies. Users and technologists will work together to enable a balancing of factors between requirements, program schedules and costs."
President Bush announced a new vision for the Nation's space exploration program. The President committed the United States to a long-term human and robotic program to explore the solar system, starting with a return to the Moon that will ultimately enable future exploration of Mars and other destinations.
"Our second goal is to develop and test a new spacecraft, the Crew Exploration Vehicle, by 2009, and to conduct the first manned mission no later than 2015. The Crew Exploration Vehicle will be capable of ferrying astronauts and scientists to the Space Station after the shuttle is retired. But the main purpose of this spacecraft will be to carry astronauts beyond our orbit to other worlds. This will be the first spacecraft of its kind since the Apollo Command Module. "
+ Announcement Summary (White House)
+ Renewed Spirit of Discovery (Policy Directive) (White House)
+ Transcript of Bush's Speech (White House)
+ NASA's Future: Exploration and Discovery (NASA)