Demystifying him.
This reminds me of the last time Hubble needed repairs two decades ago, and Sean O’Keefe didn’t want to risk a crew on it after Columbia. When Mike Griffin came in, he reversed the decision. I won’t be surprised if the same thing happens this time.
Eric Berger describes potential changes in policy in a Trump administration. Not sure why they would consolidate Goddard and Ames in Huntsville. This would also make it inconvenient for Goddard to work with APL at Johns Hopkins.
This is the future of serious astronomy.
Failed space “czar.”
Not that it in any way distinguishes her from her other failures. But FWIW, I hate the word “czar” as a title for anyone in an American government. There is no constitutional authority for “czars.”
It looks like Polaris Dawn is finally about to launch.
Everyone has noted that this will be the highest-altitude flight since Apollo, but all of the Apollo astronauts were men. Menon and Gillis will hold the altitude record for women after this, until a woman goes to the moon (which may or not be on Artemis, given the ongoing boondoggle).
Lord help us, the new cost estimate of NASA’s Mobile Launcher-2 project is now a mind-boggling $2.7 billion.https://t.co/KE7WZEtcQ5
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) August 27, 2024
[Update a while later]
Bob Zimmerman has thoughts on the latest SLS fiasco.
[Wednesday-afternoon update]
I weep when I consider what *actual useful* space hardware we could have for $2.7B. https://t.co/USS3NwXBFx
— Rand Simberg (@Simberg_Space) August 27, 2024
The Webb telescope may have solved it.
I think it was actually more interesting when it was a clear disparity, because that might have been an opportunity to learn some new physics (and new physics will be required if we’re to venture beyond the solar system).
An interesting article (from NPR!) about the internal controversy at NASA over a private rescue mission. No doubt there is some politics in play within the astronaut office.
The debate rages on.
[Via Phil Metzger, who has significantly contributed to the debate]
If they’re artificially intelligent, they may be stranger than we think.