NASA may be running out of astronauts: related news

NASA may be running out of astronauts

Washington, September 18: Among the looming 2010 retirement of NASA's aging space shuttle fleet and at least a four-year gap before the replacement spaceship take flight, the agency is worried that it's running out of astronauts.

Hubble Stops Sending Data, Mission On Hold

mknewman writes to tell us that NASA is no longer receiving data from the Hubble Space Telescope, which could possibly delay the shuttle launch planned just two weeks from now. There is a backup system installed which may be used instead of training the astronauts on the installation of the new component, but that would itself leave no fallback option. "NASA is reviewing whether the mission should be delayed a couple of months so that plans can be made to send up a replacement part for the failed component, said NASA spokesman Michael Curie. It would take time to test and qualify the old replacement part and train the astronauts to install it in the telescope, Curie said. NASA also would have to work out new mission details for the astronauts who have trained for two years to carry out five Hubble repair spacewalks.

Australian Internet Filters Have No Real Opt-Out; Only Opt-In To Fewer Filters

We've covered the long history of Australian politicians looking to set up their own censored internet "to protect the children" (of course). The plans have changed over time, but the end goal has always been the same: to force ISPs to block a list of sites provided by the government. In the latest incarnation, the plan supposedly included an "opt-out" option, where a web surfer could specifically ask to opt-out of the filters (effectively asking someone to sign up for a "porn-surfing license"). That, on its own, might scare some people off, but now it turns out that the opt-out isn't really an opt-out. Instead, it's just opting you in to a somewhat less restrictive blacklist. Once again, this idea of mandatory filtering out of "bad" sites on the internet sets a dangerous precedent.

Astronauts Cast Votes From Space, But It's Only One Regular Vote For Mankind

Astronauts Michael Fincke and Gregory Chamitoff did what only four other Astronauts have done in NASA's 50 years when they voted today—from space. Thanks to a Texas bill passed in 1997, NASA space cases are able to legally vote while they're out of the planet on business. But how did they cast their ballot from space, you ask? Here's the answer that Space.com got.

NASA?s Mars Science Laboratory: Blastoff in 2009?or Slip City?

Tomorrow, a NASA decision may be forthcoming on the cost-overrun and highly complex Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. Will a decision be made to stay the course to Mars with a liftoff next year…or move it to 2011?…or decide its fate at a later time? But time is running out. The call itself is expected to come from NASA chief, Mike Griffin.

NASA-TV Streams HD Film to Celebrate 50 Years in Space

50 years ago this month NASA rocketed into existence, and to celebrate this fact NASA-TV is streaming its special retrospective show "50 Years of Exploration: The Golden Anniversary of NASA" in HD format today at 1pm and 8pm EDT (and again tomorrow at 10am and 2pm). Check it out: it's presented by none other than Neil Armstrong, and it'll remind you how frickin' astonishing the achievements of the Agency are, despite its recent rockety woes. [NASA-TV]

NASA Tests Deep-Space Network Modeled On the Internet

hcg50a writes "NASA has successfully tested the first deep space communications network modeled on the Internet. Working as part of a NASA-wide team, engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, used software called Disruption-Tolerant Networking, or DTN, to transmit dozens of space images to and from a NASA science spacecraft located about 20 million miles from Earth. The store-and-forward protocol was designed by NASA in consultation with Vint Cerf. Here's a discussion from last July before the test began."

NASA may be able to speed up launch of moonship

NASA scientists begin trials on the Small Pressurized Rover (SPR), designed to travel on the moon, on rocky terrain similar to the conditions on the moon at Black Point Lava Flow, north of Flagstaff, AZ. Astronauts would not have to wear spacesuits while in the rover, but could easily climb into spacesuits mounted on the outside through a hatch at the rear. The new rover allows astronauts the travel great distances from a lunar base station without bulky spacesuits. The battery-powered vehicle has 12 wheels and can travel up to 6 mph.

NASA's Moon Rocket Ares I May Not Fly

NASA's latest version of moon craft, the very one who put its original designer, Michael Griffin, in the position of NASA administrator 3 years ago, has encountered new glitches. This would mean millions of dollars over the budget and a considerable lag in terms of deadline, but NASA is prepared to do anything to see the rocket lift off. The Ares I issues and the management approach of the agency have angered much of the personnel. Most of them would rather see the rocket not leaving the ground than give in to the compromises that would possibly help the craft reach the Moon.

Watch: NASA is beyond astronauts and spaceships

If you think NASA is all about space technology and astronauts then think again NASA has seeped into our everyday lives. Have a look.

Spirit Mars rover running out of power

Due to massive Martian dust storms, NASA's Spirit Mars rover is running out of power, it was announced on Tuesday.

Spirit Mars rover running out of power

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Due to massive Martian dust storms, NASA's Spirit Mars rover is running out of power, it was announced on Tuesday.

Is Anyone Buying T-Mobile's Googlephone?

Hugh Pickens writes "Laura Holson writes in the NY Times that she 'wandered down to the T-Mobile store at Ninth Ave. and 43rd St. in New York City to see what kind of crowds — if any — were lining up to buy the new T-Mobile G1 which went on sale Wednesday' and saw no lines out the door, no crowding at the counter, and a complete lack of crowds. The iPhone appears to still be the gold standard and Etan Horowitz writes that the G1 'doesn't do a great job showcasing its potential. It isn't as intuitive as the iPhone, and it may take average users a while to figure out basic and advanced shortcuts and features' and 'may appeal more to techies who value open-source products and don't mind a somewhat steep learning curve.' Part of the reason for slow interest may also be that T-Mobile's 3G high-speed data network won't be up and running in

NASA Restores Historic Lunar Orbiter Image

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA released a newly restored 42-year-old image of Earth on Thursday. The Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft took the iconic photograph of Earth rising above the lunar surface in 1966. Using refurbished machinery and modern digital technology, NASA produced the image at a much higher resolution than was possible when it was originally taken. The data may help the next generation of explorers as NASA prepares to return to the moon.

NASA's IBEX Ready For Launch

dj writes "NASA has designed a mission to map the boundary of the solar system. The mission is called IBEX (Interstellar Boundary Explorer) and it is ready to launch. The data collected by IBEX will allow scientists to understand the interaction between our Sun and the galaxy for the first time. Understanding this interaction will help us protect future astronauts from the danger of galactic cosmic rays." The IBEX Launch Blog will go active "about 2 hours before launch scheduled for 1:48 p.m. EDT," and the Southwest Research Institute will be running webcasts of the event. The IBEX fact sheet provides more details about the mission (PDF). IBEX will reach space via a Pegasus rocket launched from an L-1011 "Stargazer" carrier plane. You can see the launch countdown schedule at NASA's site.

NASA Restores Historic Lunar Orbiter Image

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA released a newly restored 42-year-old image of Earth on Thursday. The Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft took the iconic photograph of Earth rising above the lunar surface in 1966. Using refurbished machinery and modern digital technology, NASA produced the image at a much higher resolution than was possible when it was originally taken. The data may help the next generation of explorers as NASA prepares to return to the moon.

NASA Says Phoenix Mars Mission Has Ended

This artist's rendering provided by NASA shows the Phoenix Mars spacecraft. NASA said Monday, Nov. 10. 2008, that the Phoenix Mars mission has ended. The lander has been digging trenches and conducting science experiments since May, to study whether the environment on Mars could support primitive life. (AP Photo/NASA)

NASA to Discuss Hubble Anomaly and Servicing Mission Launch Delay

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 6 p.m. EDT today to discuss a significant Hubble Space Telescope anomaly that occurred this weekend affecting the storage and transmittal of science data to Earth. Fixing the problem will delay next month's space shuttle Atlantis' Hubble servicing mission. The briefing participants are: - Ed Weiler, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington - John Shannon, Shuttle Program manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston - Preston Burch, Hubble manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. To participate in the teleconference, reporters in the U.S. should call 1-800-369-6087 and use the pass code Hubble.

NASA Updates Time for Space Shuttle Atlantis' Roll from Launch Pad

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA managers have adjusted the time for space shuttle Atlantis' rollback from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Oct. 20, to 7 a.m. EDT. Atlantis is expected to be in the Vehicle Assembly Building by about 2 p.m. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO ) NASA Television will provide live coverage of Atlantis' move off the pad beginning Monday at 6:30 a.m. Video highlights of the rollback will air on NASA TV Video File. Media are invited to a photo opportunity of the shuttle's move from the pad at 7 a.m. Monday, and must arrive at Kennedy's News Center by 6 a.m. for transportation to the viewing area.

NASA Restores Historic Lunar Orbiter Image

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA released a newly restored 42-year-old image of Earth on Thursday. The Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft took the iconic photograph of Earth rising above the lunar surface in 1966. Using refurbished machinery and modern digital technology, NASA produced the image at a much higher resolution than was possible when it was originally taken. The data may help the next generation of explorers as NASA prepares to return to the moon.

NASA: Google Gulfstreams not science experiments

Update from Spacemen Google's top execs have purchased a fighter jet and parked it at NASA's Moffett airfield because - contrary to their original agreement with NASA - the execs' fleet of passenger jets is unsuited to running the space agency's earth science experiments. At least, that's the word from NASA.

NASA sees no quick fix for broken Hubble telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope is backdropped against black space as the Space Shuttle Columbia, with a crew of seven astronauts on board approached in this March 3, 2002 file photo. NASA engineers said they know how to fix the broken Hubble Space Telescope: They have to wake up a backup data-handling system that hasn't been turned on since the telescope launched in 1990. On Wednesday Oct. 15, 2008 NASA will start a complicated remote-control fix of a major glitch that stopped the telescope from capturing and beaming down pictures. Hubble should be able to send stunning astronomy photos back to Earth by Friday, officials said. (AP Photo/NASA, FILE)

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