Ares Rocket Test Rescheduled for September 10
Space.com is reporting today that the new target date for testing the Ares rocket motor is September 10 at ATK’s facilities in Promontory Utah. The first attempt was scrubbed 20 …
Mount Wilson Observatory Situation Improving
UPDATE: 6:30 PM EDT, Wednesday, September 2 According to the Associated Press, Mt. Wilson isn’t out of the woods yet, but the situation is improving. Observatory Director McAlister continues to …
To Boldly Go — And Not Come Back?
One option for human exploration of Mars that gets little attention or discussion is whether these new explorers should plan on a one-way trip. Lawrence Krauss, director of the Origins …
NASA's Orion Spacecraft Passes PDR
NASA’s Orion spacecraft has successfully completed its preliminary design review (PDR), according to the agency. Orion and its Ares launch vehicle are part of NASA’s Constellation program to replace the …
Washington Post Endorses Commercial Human Space Flight
An editorial in today’s Washington Post issued a rallying call for NASA to embrace entrepreneurial space companies. Here’s an excerpt: “Now that the station is nearly complete, this might be …
California Fire Now Threatens Mount Wilson Observatory
The fire raging near Los Angeles, CA now threatens Mount Wilson and the astronomical observatory and bevy of cell phone and television and radio transmission towers atop it, according to …
India Loses Contact with Its Moon Probe
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has lost contact with its Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiting spacecraft. According to the Times of India, ISRO has not formally given up on regaining contact …
Politifact.com Cites Obama "Promises Kept" on Space Activities
Politifact.com, which describes itself as a project of the St. Petersburg Times “to help you find the truth in American politics,” has begun updating its entries on whether President Obama …
Thales Alenia Space Gets Bad News, Good News
Indonesia’s Palapa D telecommunications satellite, built by the European company Thales Alenia Space, failed to reach the correct orbit after being launched by a Chinese Long March 3B rocket today, …
Shuttle Discovery Set to Dock with ISS Tonight; Only Six More Shuttle Flights Scheduled
Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) tonight at 9:04 pm. The STS-128 mission appears to be proceeding smoothly. Only six more shuttle flights …