Here are our tidbits for October 28, 2017: Japan’s last astronaut?, GRACE ends gracefully, could Rendezvous with Rama come true? Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
Here are our tidbits for October 27, 2017: Saturday is International Observe the Moon Night; JPSS-1 is just fine despite an earthquake; and a terrific view of Washington, DC from Sentinel-2. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
The White House announced tonight President Trump’s intention to nominate Mike Griffin to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD/ATL). Griffin is a former NASA Administrator who led the George W. Bush Administration’s Constellation Program, but who also has served in high level government national security space positions as well as in academia and industry.
The National Academies’ Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics (CAA) was briefed yesterday by the co-chairs of a committee that reviewed the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission. Their report already prompted NASA to require the WFIRST project team to downsize the mission. Some CAA members questioned whether removing the coronagraph — an instrument added by NASA after WFIRST was chosen as a priority by the scientific community — could be one of the options.
Vice President Mike Pence visited Lockheed Martin’s facilities near Denver, CO today. Little was said about the visit in advance or during the day, but several tweets appeared this evening from the Vice President, NASA, and Lockheed Martin, which also issued a press release. Pence was joined by Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and NASA Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen.
Here are our tidbits for October 26, 2017: NASA will announce the new EM-1 launch date “in about a week”; JSC and JPL have a friendly World Series wager; is Ceres another Ocean World? Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a three-page letter to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee today expressing her strong opposition to Rep. Jim Bridenstine becoming the new NASA Administrator. The committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for Bridenstine next week.
Here are our tidbits for October 25, 2017: Vice President Pence to visit Lockheed Martin in Colorado; Russia gets ready to choose crews for new generation spaceship; and Energia’s long term plans for human spaceflight. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on November 1, 2017 that includes the nomination of Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) to be Administrator of NASA. President Trump announced his intention to nominate Bridenstine on September 2.
Here are our tidbits for October 24, 2017: CBS This Morning highlights military space; a stunning sunset from space. Be sure to check our website for feature stories and follow us on Twitter (@SpcPlcyOnline) for more news and live tweeting of events.