• Heads Roll After GLONASS Launch Failure (Update)

    Updated: 2010-12-31 15:44:02
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support Heads Roll After GLONASS Launch Failure Update By Keith Cowing on December 31, 2010 10:44 AM 2 Comments Russian space officials fired over satellite crash Reuters The GLONASS satellites , intended for Russia's rival to the American GPS system , a project dear to the Kremlin , were lost because the Proton M rocket carrying them into orbit was loaded with too much fuel , a investigating commission found . Russia's first GLONASS phone an iPhone 4 competitor , except not

  • Inaugural Commercial Human Spaceflight Technical Forum

    Updated: 2010-12-31 14:48:54
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support Inaugural Commercial Human Spaceflight Technical Forum By Keith Cowing on December 31, 2010 9:48 AM No Comments Special Aerospace Services Announces Inaugural Commercial Human Spaceflight Technical Forum The forum is being held in Boulder , Colorado from 12-14 January 2011, and will present a focused and concentrated technical agenda created for Commercial Human Spaceflight providers and NASA . Attendees will gain insight to techniques that will be required to

  • NASA Releases LEO Commercial Crew Certification Requirements

    Updated: 2010-12-31 14:44:02
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support NASA Releases LEO Commercial Crew Certification Requirements By Keith Cowing on December 31, 2010 9:44 AM 18 Comments Commercial Crew Transportation System Certification Requirements for NASA Low Earth Orbit Missions This document defines the requirements , standards and certification package contents that will be used to certify a CCTS for LEO Missions . It will be the responsibility of the NASA Program Manager and Technical Authorities to determine the applicability of

  • Image of the Year - The Himilayas from Space

    Updated: 2010-12-31 08:14:00
    The Himalayas (meaning "abode of snow") separate the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau and includes the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and other, lesser, ranges that extend out from the Pamir Knot. The mountain system is the planet's highest and...

  • Photos: Testing Dextre on the International Space Station

    Updated: 2010-12-30 17:33:13
    : Friday , December 31, 2010 About On Orbit Advertise Here Contact Information Feedback Log Out Home Blogs Features Recent Posts Photos : Testing Dextre on the International Space Station Submitted by keithcowing on Thu , 12 30 2010 10:33. Gadgets Blog Space Exploration This photo , recorded by an Expedition 26 crewmember on the International Space Station , features two components of the Mobile Servicing System on the orbital outpost . Part of the Station Remote Manipulator System's arm Canadarm2 is visible at left . Dextre right also known as the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator SPDM is a two armed robot . high res 1.0 M low res 68 K This photo , recorded by an Expedition 26 crewmember on the International Space Station , features two components of the Mobile Servicing System on the

  • What Would Elon Do?

    Updated: 2010-12-30 15:16:49
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support What Would Elon Do By Keith Cowing on December 30, 2010 10:16 AM 58 Comments Can NASA change in order to survive Orlando Sentinel via LA . Times In the world of government spaceflight , that's almost a rounding error . And the ability of SpaceX to do so much with so little money is raising serious questions about NASA . The agency that once stood for American technical wizardry is starting to lose its luster . Inside NASA , some employees have taken to wearing T-shirts

  • Congress Still Funds a Cancelled Rocket

    Updated: 2010-12-30 00:33:08
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support Congress Still Funds a Cancelled Rocket By Keith Cowing on December 29, 2010 7:33 PM 22 Comments NASA spending 500 million for canceled rocket Orlando Sentinel Thanks to congressional inaction , NASA must continue to fund its defunct Ares I rocket program until March a requirement that will cost the agency nearly 500 million at a time when NASA is struggling with the expensive task of replacing the space shuttle . About one-third that money 165 million will go to Alliant

  • Ariane 5 Rocket Lifts Off for Final Launch of 2010

    Updated: 2010-12-29 22:23:02
    One final rocket launch in 2010 took place as Arianespace successfully launched the Hispasat 1E and KOREASAT 6 telecommunication satellites aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. Liftoff was at 4:27 p.m. EST (21:27 GMT). KOREASAT 6 is a commercial telecommunications satellite of the KT Corporation of the Republic [...]

  • Highlights of 2010 from the European Space Agency

    Updated: 2010-12-29 17:41:30
    It has been another great year in space, and the European Space Agency has put together a video highlight reel for 2010. They look at the achievements in different areas, including Earth Observation, Science, Human Spaceflight and Telecommunications. From the launch of Cryosat to the Planck sky scan, from Node 3 Cupola completing the ISS [...]

  • International Space Station on the Moon?

    Updated: 2010-12-29 15:23:59
    From our vantage point on Earth, it takes just a half second for the International Space Station to fly across the face of the Moon, so catching a transit is tricky. But award-winning French astrophotographer Theirry Legault captured an amazingly sharp and detailed transit image that makes the ISS look like it is sitting on [...]

  • Mysterious Ring Galaxy 600-Million Light-Years Distant

    Updated: 2010-12-29 09:00:00
    The mystery is: Is this one galaxy or two? This question came to light in 1950 when astronomer Art Hoag discovered this odd extragalactic object. On the outside is a ring dominated by bright blue stars, while near the center...

  • Galaxy 15 Under Control Again

    Updated: 2010-12-28 15:39:35
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support Galaxy 15 Under Control Again By Keith Cowing on December 28, 2010 10:39 AM 1 Comment Galaxy 15 Status Update : Power , Communications , and Control Restored On 23 December , the power from the Galaxy 15 battery completely drained during its loss of earth lock and the Baseband Equipment BBE command unit reset , as it was designed to do . Shortly thereafter Galaxy 15 began accepting commands and Intelsat engineers began receiving telemetry in our Satellite Operations

  • China Poised to Explore Mars

    Updated: 2010-12-28 08:10:00
    China has drawn up a technical plan for an independent Mars orbiter exploration project, space technology experts said. Based on research conducted by the China Academy of Space Technology, the plan envisions a launch date as early as 2013, Huang...

  • Photo: Monster Blizzard As Seen From Orbit

    Updated: 2010-12-28 01:25:05
    "Snows are finally winding down in New England today, Dec. 27, as a powerful low pressure system brought blizzard conditions from northern New Jersey to Maine over Christmas weekend. The GOES-13 satellite captured an image of the low's center off the Massachusetts coast and saw the snowfall left behind."

  • ISS National Lab CAN: NASA's Murky Clarification

    Updated: 2010-12-27 23:03:10
    : Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support ISS National Lab CAN : NASA's Murky Clarification By Keith Cowing on December 27, 2010 6:03 PM No Comments NASA Supplemental Information : Competitive Acquisition of Cooperative Agreement for ISS National Laboratory Management Entity The information provided below supplements prior postings at the official procurement web site in specific areas of high interest to potential bidders . Any additional questions related to this supplemental information should be directed to

  • A New "Branch" of NASA in Colorado? (Updated)

    Updated: 2010-12-27 23:00:00
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support A New Branch of NASA in Colorado Updated By Keith Cowing on December 27, 2010 6:00 PM 9 Comments NASA looking into Loveland Coloradan.com Representatives from NASA were in Loveland on Wednesday , touring the old Hewlett-Packard Agilent campus , where they are considering developing a technology park that could house 60 to 80 businesses and create 10,000 jobs , said Don Marostica , Loveland resident and the state's development director . Members of the association and

  • India's Launch of GSAT-5P Fails (with video)

    Updated: 2010-12-25 11:27:31
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support India's Launch of GSAT-5P Fails with video By Marc Boucher on December 25, 2010 6:27 AM 4 Comments India's Launch of GSAT-5P Telecommunications Satellite Fails SpaceRef ISRO , the Indian Space Research Organization , saw its GSLV Mark 1 rocket begin to disintegrate about a minute after launch today . It was carrying the GSAT-5P telecommunications satellite . The launch was at 5:34 a.m . EST 10:34 GMT The launch started off well but just a minute after launch the rocket

  • NASA Presses Ahead With STS-135 Preparations Despite Budget Uncertainty

    Updated: 2010-12-24 20:47:11
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support NASA Presses Ahead With STS-135 Preparations Despite Budget Uncertainty By Keith Cowing on December 24, 2010 3:47 PM 9 Comments NASA Internal Memo : Maintaining Capability to Conduct the STS-135 Mission I ask that you continue planning and preparations efforts to execute this mission in late June 2011 as currently planned . This includes maintaining the requisite workforce to safely conduct this mission and extending contracts if necessary . We must focus on STS-135 as a

  • Movies From Mars

    Updated: 2010-12-24 02:45:55
    Movies: A Martian Sunset and a Solar Transit by Phobos "A new Mars movie clip gives us a rover's-eye view of a bluish Martian sunset, while another clip shows the silhouette of the moon Phobos passing in front of the sun. America's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, carefully guided by researchers with an artistic sense, has recorded images used in the simulated movies."

  • Internal ESA Food Fight Stalls ISS Extension Approval

    Updated: 2010-12-23 15:49:36
    Home SpaceRef OnOrbit SpaceRef Canada Astrobiology GeneRef Newsletter Sign In This is not a NASA Website . You might learn something . It's YOUR space agency . Get involved . Take it back . Make it work for YOU . Important Disclaimer nasawatch spaceref.com Voice 1.703.787.6567 RSS Feed Twitter Advertising Archives Support Internal ESA Food Fight Stalls ISS Extension Approval By Keith Cowing on December 23, 2010 10:49 AM 4 Comments ESA Unable To Secure Commitment to Station Extension Space News The European Space Agency ESA was unable to win its member governments' approval of NASA's proposed five-year extension of operations of the international space station because of an unrelated dispute over financial support for Europe's Arianespace commercial launch services consortium , ESA and

  • Kepler Spacecraft Enters Safe Mode

    Updated: 2010-12-23 15:48:23
    Kepler Goes Into Safe Mode "On Dec. 22, 2010, Kepler experienced a safe mode event. A safe mode is a self-protective measure that the spacecraft takes when something unexpected occurs. During safe mode, the spacecraft points the solar panels directly at the sun and begins to slowly rotate about a sun-aligned axis. This safe mode orientation provides the vehicle with the maximum power, and limits the buildup of momentum from the solar wind."

  • 'The Daily Galaxy' Holiday Classics - The Best of 2010

    Updated: 2010-12-23 14:26:31
    During the coming Christmas and New Year's holidays, we'll be posting several of 2010's most popular Daily Galaxy posts that were featured on NASA, Twitter, Facebook, Huffington Post, and other news sites.

  • Eclipse Success!

    Updated: 2010-12-21 08:30:28
    Well, That Will Teach Me Amazingly enough, the sky cleared up enough for us to see the eclipse from our deck.  That will teach  me to post a gloomy note about how we probably weren’t going to see the lunar eclipse!  In fact, it cleared up so nicely that we had a starry sky for quite [...]

  • Space Show Appearance This Afternoon

    Updated: 2010-12-13 20:35:37
    Just a last second reminder that I’m going to be on The Space Show this afternoon (2-3:30pm PST), talking with Dr. Livingston about my new company and what we’re up to (including info about our SBIR award).  If there’s extra time, we may talk about propellant depots and other space business or space technology topics [...]

  • Get Your Daily Dose of Awe @The Daily Galaxy Facebook Page

    Updated: 2010-12-06 14:35:38
    Link & Share The Daily Galaxy Facebook Page

  • The Daily Galaxy 'Holiday' Contest -2 Days Left to Win a Free $500 Apple Gift Card!

    Updated: 2010-12-02 16:01:45
    Use it towards a purchase of an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Hundreds of Other Apple Products and Accessories. Users of Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Reddit, and StumbleUpon are invited to discover, review and share Daily Galaxy posts you love on...

  • The Daily Galaxy 'Holiday' Contest -3 Days Left to Win a Free $500 Apple Gift Card!

    Updated: 2010-12-02 08:00:51
    Use it towards a purchase of an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Hundreds of Other Apple Products and Accessories. Users of Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Reddit, and StumbleUpon are invited to discover, review and share Daily Galaxy posts you love on...

  • NASA Academy 2011 Applications Now Open!

    Updated: 2010-11-12 05:14:46
    Home Lunar Library About Contact Web www.outofthecradle.net Subscribe to : OotC With RSS : Atom Click the feed icon below Or via : email Enter your email address and click Subscribe : Sections Main Book Reviews Civil Space Programs International Space Station Space Science Space Shuttle Vision for Space Exploration Commercial Space Lunar Orbital Suborbital EVA Interviews EVA FAQs JAT D EVA Reviews Humor Interviews Ken’s Lunar Library Apollo Big Rocks From Space BRfS Fact BRfS Fiction Cultura Lunaris Fun Games High Frontier HF Biologics HF EML-1 HF Facilities Infrastructure HF Fiction HF Navigation HF Resources HF Settlements Habitats La Luna La Lune Moon Fiction Moonbases Selenography Selenology Selenospheres Space Biz Space Law Youth Youth Apollo Youth Educator Materials Youth High

  • “Planet Killers”

    Updated: 2010-11-07 23:53:09
    Home Forums About Contact Web www.outofthecradle.net Lunar Library : Sections Main Apollo Big Rocks From Space BRfS Fact BRfS Fiction Cultura Lunaris Fun Games High Frontier HF Biologics HF EML-1 HF Facilities Infrastructure HF Fiction HF Navigation HF Resources HF Settlements Habitats La Luna La Lune Moon Fiction Moonbases Selenography Selenology Selenospheres Space Biz Space Law Youth Youth Apollo Youth Educator Materials Youth High Frontier Fact Youth High Frontier Fiction Youth Moon Fact Youth Moon Fiction Yueh OotC : Sections Main Book Reviews Civil Space Programs International Space Station Space Science Space Shuttle Vision for Space Exploration Commercial Space Lunar Orbital Suborbital EVA Interviews EVA FAQs JAT D EVA Reviews Humor Interviews Ken’s Lunar Library Apollo Big Rocks

  • Depressing Note

    Updated: 2010-11-07 23:45:29
    I was just looking back to see when was the last time that I had posted original technical material here (before last week’s post on xGRF). Has it really been since mid-February? That’s depressing. Anyhow, I have a provisional patent app I really need to get in this week, but once that’s over, I’m [...]

  • Contact Us Astronomy Magazine

    Updated: 2010-10-27 09:00:35
    CURRENT ISSUE THE MAGAZINE Current Issue Next Issue Back Issues Preview the Magazine Special Issues E-mail Newsletter About the Magazine Subscribe , Renew or Give a Gift Subscriber Benefits Trips Tours Advertise Advertiser Links Sweepstakes Press Room Contact Us COLUMNISTS Bob Berman Glenn Chaple Tony Hallas David H . Levy Stephen James O'Mera NEWS OBSERVING Astronomy News StarDome Plus Intro to the Sky Astronomy for Kids Urban Skies Astronomy Myths The Sky this Week The Sky this Month Star Atlas Ask Astro Astro Imaging Constellation Observing Glossary EQUIPMENT Products Reviews How To MULTIMEDIA Picture of the Day Reader Photo Gallery Videos Podcasts Wallpaper COMMUNITY Why Join Blog Astronomy Groups Astronomy Events Forums Astronomy Day Contests SHOP Subscribe Binders Back Issues

  • Astronomy.com News - Presented by Astronomy Magazine

    Updated: 2010-10-27 08:59:46
    The latest news and stories from Astronomy Magazine

  • More Posting Coming Soon

    Updated: 2010-10-25 16:25:58
    Apologies again for the light posting, but I think things are going to improve soon. I’ll hopefully be on payroll here at Altius soon, so blogging both on the ASM Blog and here on Selenian Boondocks will be higher priorities. I’ve got several technology blog ideas to discuss over here, and I have [...]

  • Urdeneta City Philippines LDS Temple Announced

    Updated: 2010-10-08 19:26:02
    This isn’t space related, but I wanted to mention this anyway. After all, the “boondocks” in Selenian Boondocks is a reference to my time I spent in the Philippines as an LDS missionary (boondocks is an Americanized version of the Tagolog word “bundok” which means “mountain”). Last weekend, during General Conference, the LDS [...]

  • Tech Patriots and Dana Rohrabacher

    Updated: 2010-10-08 19:07:58
    This isn’t the newest of news, but I’ve been pretty busy lately so I’m trying to catch up on the blogging. Anyhow, a few weeks back, I found out that there is a movement to try and help Dana Rohrbacher move up in the Republican leadership for the space technology committee he’s currently on. [...]

  • SSI Conference

    Updated: 2010-10-08 18:55:32
    For those of you who read Selenian Boondocks, but don’t read Hobbyspace (I’m sure there’s at least two of your out there), I wanted to mention the SSI Space Manufacturing Conference this month on the 29th-31st, at the NASA Ames Conference Center. It looks like I’ll be attending this year. SSI has been [...]

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