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Monday, October 7, 2013

Fwd: NASA News Summary for Monday, October 7, 2013



Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Date: October 7, 2013 6:54:03 AM GMT-06:00
To: "Moon, Larry J. (JSC-EA411)" <larry.j.moon@nasa.gov>
Subject: FW: NASA News Summary for Monday, October 7, 2013

Enjoying this brief taste of fall everyone?  

 

Another good friend of ours escaped my memory as having joined us last Thursday at our monthlyluncheon for a brief visit- Harold Battaglia.  Thanks to Harold for stopping in at the front end to say hello to us,,,unfortunately he was unable to stay and join us for lunch and visit further.

 

 

Some Expect NASA To Lose Time, Money During Shutdown.

In continuing coverage of how the government shutdown affects NASA, SPACE (10/6, Kramer, 186K) reported that astronaut Tom Jones said that while space station crews are still operating, it will result in a "significant amount of lost time, productivity and planning" for both space station research and work on systems like the Orion and the Space Launch System. Jones said this will cost the public "big bucks" when trying to restart programs and make up for the lost time.

        Some Of Texas' NASA Employees Support Cruz. The AP (10/5) reported on how some in Texas, like Dale Huls of the Johnson Space Center, support Sen. Ted Cruz' efforts to shutdown the government as long as the Affordable Care Act is funded. Pedro Rivera, who works on the Orion capsule, said a delay in the spacecraft's first launch would be a "small price to pay" to hinder the new healthcare law. The article notes that this support comes even though NASA has been he "hardest-hit federal agency."

        Bill Would Give Furloughed Employees Back Pay. The Army Times (10/5, Reilly, 319K) reported the House on Saturday passed a bill that would allow furloughed workers to receive their back pay once government functions resumed. Matt Biggs, legislative director for the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which does represent NASA workers, expected the bill to pass the Senate as well.

       

        Blog Coverage. Jeff Foust at Space Politics (10/7) writes how the "Past, Present, and Future of Human Space Flight" symposium at the US Naval Institute took place on Thursday with a recorded video message from ISS astronauts. A live link was planned but that did not take place. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden also had to cancel his appearance. Replacement speakers were found, including former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. Griffin praised the ISS for its "multinational partnership," but thought more is needed to keep it alive. he did think the ISS should be kept operational as long as possible, with Foust noting that when he was leading NASA the ISS was scheduled to end in 2015. Meanwhile, Bolden said in a statement that "any reduction to the proposed level of funding for the commercial crew program will result in a delay. ... We are not helped by the current shutdown and will likely threaten our ability to make the already-delayed operational readiness date for commercial crew."

Chinese Banned From Upcoming Kepler Conference At Ames.

The Guardian (10/4, Sample, 1.59M) reported there is US scientists are creating "extraordinary backlash" against NASA for not allowing Chinese scientists to attend a conference next month at the Ames Research Center to discuss the Kepler telescope program. For instance, Debra Fischer of Yale University pulled out of the conference when she learned the news. Geoff Marcy of UC Berkeley said the ban "completely shameful and unethical." Chris Lintott of Oxford University thought the conference should be moved off of Ames' campus. Ames Kepler project specialist Mark Messersmith said, "Unfortunately … federal legislation passed last March forbids us from hosting any citizens of the People's Republic of China at a conference held at facilities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Regarding those who are already working at other institutions in the US, due to security issues resulting from recent Congressional actions, they are under the same constraints."

        Blog Coverage. Jeff Foust at Space Politics (10/7) writes that reports conflict on whether NASA wants to work with China or not. Some recently said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden previously met with Chinese space officials about being "highly serious" about collaboration. Foust noted this comes as the Guardian reported some US scientists are pulling out of the Kepler conference because of barriers to cooperation. Foust thinks the Guardian's reporting lacks "some details and nuance" since NASA is not at fault here, but Congress. He added that no one made any such complaints when the same rule was in effect when the conference was held in 2011. Foust commented all of this may be a "moot point" because of the government shutdown, which will have a bigger impact on whether the conference will go through or not.

       

Gibson Enters National Aviation Hall Of Fame.

The Tennessean (10/6, De Gennaro, 417K) reported that Robert Gibson became the first astronaut ever "enshrined" in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. At the ceremony Friday, Gibson was introduced by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

Commercial Companies Offer Potential Paths For NASA's Asteroid Initiative.

Space News (10/6, Klotz, Subscription Publication, 481) reported NASA's invitation for asteroid initiative ideas could "spell trouble" for the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion capsule, because it is generating proposals that would use ULA Atlas 5 and SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets instead. Deep Space Industries Chief Executive David Gump suggested using a COTS-like structure to produce a mission similar to the spacecraft that was developed to resupply the ISS. Meanwhile, Joel Sercel of ICS Associates said NASA could use the asteroid redirect mission to create propellant depots that "collapses the cost" of manned missions to Mars. At another conference, Gerry Griffin, former director of the Johnson Space Center who is now chairman of Golden Spike, said that because no one will get to Mars commercially, NASA will have a "role in all of the commercial space activities," so it should "push the technologies" those companies will need, allowing them to do the "grinding."

        NASA, Others Preparing For Asteroid Threat Now. USA Today (10/6, Griggs, 5.82M) reported on NASA's and others' efforts to find the dangerous asteroids that could impact the Earth. Even though the risk from an impact is low, the article noted how experts stressed preparations have to be made now for when one is imminent. Jason Kessler of NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist, said, "This is one of the only natural disasters that we have the ability to solve. We have the ability to prove that we are smarter than the dinosaur." As for NASA's asteroid redirect mission, the article claimed it could sound like a "punchline to a space cowboy joke," but NASA officials are "serious" about the undertaking. James Green, NASA's director of planetary science, said, "The president has set an objective that Mars is our ultimate destination, and asteroids are along that path."

       

Original Moon Landing Continues To Have Impact On Space Ambitions.

TopNews Arab Emirates (10/7) reports on the original footage of Neil Armstrong on the moon, noting that NASA "carefully selected" the footage to inspire future space missions. The article cites a study which "illustrates how the images of the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing were used by NASA. TopNews notes "more than 400 'memory cards' were left by visitors to the National Space Centre. It consisted of people's memories of the moon landing and the 1960s." These images were used to develop a narrative of its own importance for the future."

"Gravity" Has Elements Of Real Spacecraft, Space History.

SPACE (10/5, Kramer, 186K) continued comparing the movie "Gravity," with real activities in space, with a focus on the spaceships displayed. The article described the actual space shuttle, ISS, Manned Maneuvering Unit, Soyuz, and Chinese spacecraft, versus their roles in the movie.

        Meanwhile, in an article for Popular Mechanics (10/7, 10.85M), astronaut Tom Jones wrote about his feelings on the film, noting it captured the "jaw-dropping beauty" of space and the "ever-present" danger from living in space. He noted astronauts do practice for emergencies at the ISS, relying on the "crew's training and skill, our well-designed equipment, and our ever-ready ground teams" to minimize what could go wrong.

       

        The New York Post (10/6, Callahan, 1.4M) similarly asked former ISS commander Chris Hadfield discuss what it was like to go for a spacewalk at the station. He said he did have to overcome "primal awe and fear" of stepping out, and then about going blind because he started tearing up due to a lithium hydroxide leak that will "nearly kill him." However, by following instructions from NASA, this was prevented. Hadfield said his "number one concern" overall was to avoid floating into space.

        Coleman: Life At ISS More Normal Than In The Movie. Popular Science (10/5, Bogo, 5.37M) interviewed astronaut Cady Coleman about her thoughts on the movie, noting life aboard the ISS is a lot more "boring" than portrayed in the film. Meanwhile, she does think this movie will be part of the changing perception about NASA's post-shuttle role in space. Coleman said the agency is making progress in space, but progress can seem "slow." However, there has been a "really big success" in getting to Mars: mainly that when she returned from the ISS, she had "the same physical amount of bone than I left with." New equipment there appears to be the "key" to stopping the loss.

       

       

Putin Lights Olympic Torch.

The AP (10/7) reports Russian President Vladimir Putin lit the Olympic torch yesterday, ahead of its relay across the country. The article notes that one of the torches, the one that will be used to light the Olympic flame in Sochi, is heading to the ISS next month

       

NASA Looks For Astronaut Candidates With Variety Of Skills, Good Personalities.

USA Today (10/5, Nuwer, 5.82M) reported on the "minute" chances anyone has to become a NASA astronaut. John Armstrong, a professor of physics at Weber State University, recommended aspiring astronaut have a "realistic backup plan" since few will make the cut. The article also notes that astronauts today need a "diversity of experiences" in order to deal with the varied tasks they have at the ISS. Duane Ross, manager for astronaut candidate selection and training, said, "We're not really looking for one thing, just a good mix of things." According to the article, it also is a "necessity" that candidates have good personalities, since they will be dealing with "cramped quarters" while at the station.

ISS Astronauts To Conduct Livecast October 23.

The Fergus Falls Journal (10/5, Reinoos, 12K) reported ISS astronaut Karen Nyberg and Mike Hopkins will conduct a livecast from the ISS on October 23, a few weeks before Nyberg returns to Earth.

UH Looking For New Participants In Spaceflight Analog Studies.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (10/6, Marcellus, 439K) reported the University of Hawaii (UH) is looking for new participants for the next round of "space exploration analog studies" at the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation site. The projects, which could last from four to 12 months, will help NASA learn how people will function during "long-duration missions."

DLR Will Be First Customer For MUSES Platform At The ISS.

Space News (10/5, De Selding, Subscription Publication, 481) reported German Aerospace Center (DLR) is now the "inaugural customer" for Teledyne Brown Engineering's Multi-User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES) platform. The platform will be sent to the ISS in 2015. According to the article, this is "long-awaited validation" the ISS can be the location for an "Earth observation market." DLR Chairman Johann-Dietrich Woerner said, "It is effective to use existing platforms, such as the ISS, as carriers of Earth observation instruments. ... We are delighted at the formation of this partnership between science and industry, which through its very existence will be a catalyst in the ongoing development of new Earth observation systems."

Parmitano, Nyberg Send Back Pictures From The ISS.

The News.com.au (10/7, 72K) reports ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano posted a "spectacular view...of city lights, a green-glowing aurora and a sky full of stars" as part of his "latest offering" from the ISS. The article notes NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg also has "embraced" sending images via Twitter.

       

NASA, Commercial Experts To Be At Upcoming ISPCS.

The Las Cruces (NM) Bulletin (10/6, Dickson, 58K) reported this month's International Symposium on Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) is expected have leaders from both NASA and the commercial spaceflight industry. As of now, Bill Gerstenmaier, is scheduled to be there in his role overseeing "NASA's programs on the space station," including commercial launches. ISPCS organizer Pay Hynes said that with all the "expertise" at the White Sands Test Facility (WSTF), Las Cruces should be more prominent in the industry, but it is "intolerable" that there is a "lack of southern road to Spaceport America." Meanwhile, Hynes stressed that promoting the suborbital spaceflight industry is important helps keep up "demand" for the ISS to keep it in orbit longer.

NASA Outlines Latest Plan To Reach Mars With Multiple SLS Launches.

The NASASpaceFlight (10/7, Bergin, 305) reports the latest version of the Space Launch System (SLS) Concept of Operations (Con Ops) presentation shows NASA is considering "multiple SLS launches, including nuclear stages," to conduct a mission to Mars. The article notes how hard it is to plan for such a long term mission when NASA only is given short term budgets. According to the article, the US' "ace in the hole" may be Elon Musk, who with SpaceX and its "large pools of cash" is "highly likely" to reach Mars first. There could be a "level of cooperation" between NASA and SpaceX in the end, but no matter the course, any plan for Mars is "certain" to go through more revisions.

International Team Of Astronauts Complete CAVES Mission.

SPACE (10/5, Howell, 186K) reports on the completion of the ESA's CAVES exploration course, in which six astronauts participated. The course "trains spaceflyers to work together in multicultural teams under difficult conditions." The CAVES team simulated a mission in space, with members following a research plan similar to one they might experience at the ISS. Reports the piece, "Astronauts on the crew included NASA's [Mike] Barratt and Jack Fischer, the European Space Agency's Paolo Nespoli and the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen. Russian cosmonaut Aleksei Ovchinin and Japanese spaceflyer Satoshi Furukawa rounded out the team." The acronym stands for Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behavior and performance Skills

Japan, US Pledge To Work Together More On Surveillance, Space Objects.

Space News (10/5, de Selding, Subscription Publication, 481) reports on an October 3 agreement between the United States and Japan agreeing to increase cooperation on "space-based maritime surveillance" and track objects in space. The agreement also notes the US Global Hawk UAV will begin flying over Japan in 2014 to strengthen ISR agreements. According to the article, "The U.S. and Japanese governments have been slowly increasing their space situational awareness (SSA) relationship in recent months with bilateral exchanges, notably through the Comprehensive Dialogue on Space and an agreement in March on sharing SSA information."

Space Center Houston's Shuttle Replica To Be Named "Independence."

The AP (10/6) reported that on Saturday, officials announced that the "space shuttle replica" that will be housed at Space Center Houston, described as a "consolation prize" for not getting an actual shuttle, will be called "Independence." Tim Judd submitted the name for the center's "Name the Shuttle" contest.

        collectSPACE (10/5, Pearlman) also covered the story.

LADEE Spacecraft Now In Lunar Orbit.

Spaceflight Now (10/5, Clark, 3K) reported that on Saturday, mission managers were readying to issue command for the "make-or-break rocket burn" that would place the LADEE spacecraft into its lunar orbit on Sunday. The article noted that there will be two more burns this week, but because of the shutdown, there would be no official announcements from NASA on the burns' results.

        Another Spaceflight Now (10/7, Clark, 3K) article reports that now that it has successfully entered the moon's orbit, the spacecraft will begin a "feverish four-month campaign" to commission the spacecraft, demonstrate its laser communications systems, and make measurements of the moon's environment.

       

Former Langley Employee Appearing On ABC's "Shark Tank."

The Virginia Gazette (10/5, 50K) profiled Don Sandusky, a specialist on composite materials who took a nontraditional path to Langley Research Center and was funded by NASA to attend graduate school at the University of William & Mary. Sandusky will be starring on ABC's reality television program, "Shark Tank," this Friday, which centers around entrepreneurial efforts.

Astronaut Stasis Thought To Have More "Political" Than Technological Hurdles.

Michael Venables at Forbes (10/6, 6.03M) wrote that through a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) grant, SpaceWorks Engineering President John Bradford is investigating whether people can be put into "stasis" for long spaceflight, a "science fiction" concept that has been envisioned for years. Since no studies have ever been done before, according to Bradford, researchers will examine how this technology will impact missions to Mars, and the health effect three to six months of stasis would have on the body. Outlining the questions that need to be answered before the technology could be used, Venables notes that Bradford believes there is research that can be done now, "especially on the International Space Station." According to Venables, Bradford believes that one of the biggest hurdles for final implementation will be "acceptance" by NASA and astronauts that travelers should be put to sleep for long periods of time, making it "more political rather than technology."

Chamitoff, Garan Announce Departure From NASA.

Emily Carney at Spaceflight Insider (10/4) wrote that right before the government shutdown, astronauts Gregory Chamitoff and Ronald Garan announced they were leaving the agency. Both were noted for their "illustrious careers" at NASA with missions aboard the shuttle and the ISS.

Space Show Guest Thinks People Should Not Be Sent To Mars.

At The Space Show (10/4) podcast, David Livingston interviewed inventor and programmer Robert Walker about his view that people should not explore or colonize Mars in order not to contaminate it. Walker was "much more supportive" of missions like Inspiration Mars. Livingston also discussed the potential of using the ISS or the moon for a Mars sample return mission.

       

Lockheed To Furlough 3000 Today.

The AP (10/5) reported that because of the government shutdown, Lockheed Martin will furlough 3,000 employees starting today, and it expects more if the shutdown continues. Lockheed CEO said the hope is the government will correct the situation soon.

        The Seattle Times (10/5, Grunbaum, 1M) noted Boeing also said it could furlough those in "defense, space and security operations," but not in the Commercial Airplanes unit.

        Bloomberg News (10/5, Salant, Miller, 1.91M) noted that the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has predicted the industry could ultimately furlough tens of thousands of defense contractors. AIA president Marion Blakey called the shutdown a "tragic mistake."

        Another Bloomberg News (10/7, Selway, Ratnam, 1.91M) article reports Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said President Obama did sign into law legislation that allows the Defense Department to call back many of the civilians that have been furloughed. The article notes that some of those returning include the thousands Lockheed planned to furlough because they could not access government facilities.

        According to another AP (10/7) article, Lockheed still plans to furlough employees, until it "confirms" the situation is going forward as stated.

     

Court Upholds Cosmonaut's Lawsuit.

The AP (10/4) reported a Moscow court "upheld" cosmonaut Sergei Volkov's lawsuit, after he sued the government for stripping retired military members of "extra pay for their space experience." Volkov, who spent time at the ISS, is now the head of cosmonauts at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Russia's RIA Novosti (RUS) (10/4, 4K) also covered the story.

Brazilian Spaceport Nearly Half-Finished, Ready For Launch By 2015.

Space News (10/5, de Selding, Subscription Publication, 481) reported Alcantara Cycllone Space (ACS) plans to launch from the Brazilian Alcantara site in 2015, having completed "nearly three quarters" of Cyclone 4 rocket development and "48 percent of the launch site's construction." ACS was created by "a Ukrainian-Brazilian bilateral treaty and after the investment of several hundred million dollars." According to the article's analysis, the ACS launches may not be high enough priorities for AEB, the Brazilian space agency.

Halle Berry To Star In Astronaut Drama "Extant."

The AP (10/4) reported on the upcoming television series "Extant," a science fiction drama about an astronaut premiering on CBS next summer. The series will star Halle Berry, who will play "an astronaut trying to reconnect with her family when she returns after a year in outer space."



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