As Mars draws closer than it’s been in over 59,000 years, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board published its final report, and it doesn’t hold back on NASA’s institutional failings. As I’ve said numerous times before, I very much hope we as a nation reaffirm our commitment to space, although I expect very little leadership in this regard from the Bushies — particularly with all our money currently pouring into Iraq. “‘Kennedy was able to relate space exploration to a greater national cause,’ a Bush adviser said earlier this week. ‘I’m not sure that exists today.’” Well, a greater national cause won’t exist unless it’s articulated and promoted by our elected officials. (Besides, since when has the non-existence of something ever stopped Dubya before?) At any rate, despite the vacuum of leadership in the White House, hopefully NASA will take this moment at the crossroads to get its act together and work to redevelop its vision. (Mars link via Blivet.)
Category: Space
Failing Sight.
Astronomers and scientists at NASA contemplate the end of Hubble. “One astronomer compared it to the fate of the faithful dog in the movie ‘Old Yeller.’“
Grounded.
Space policy analyst Mark Whittington laments the squandered opportunity of Apollo in the LA Times.
More fun than Sea Monkeys!
If you thought Manhattan for $24 was a great deal, check this out…Entire galaxies for $19.99 each. Sure, the location’s terrible, but think of the space… (Via Footprints.)
Inherit the Stars.
NASA discovers a 13-billion-year-old planet in M4, a globular star cluster in Scorpius. I presume it’s where the monoliths came from.
Not just for Trekkies anymore.
After a decade in the dark, SETI finally gets some ‘spec from NASA.
Earth-2?
Astronomers find a Jupiter-sized planet outside the habitable zone of a solar system not unlike ours. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until at least 2007 to see what lies closer to HD70642.
The Writing on the Wall.
Apparently, the forthcoming independent panel report on the loss of Columbia contains some harsh indictments of NASA’s current culture. I haven’t been covering this story as well as I’d have liked in this space, but, as I’ve said before, I do hope NASA takes this opportunity to rebuild from the ground up and to return to the big goals and lofty dreams that characterized the agency in the years before Challenger.
Spiders and Bots.
Two stories from the Welcome to the Future dept: NASA and the European Space Agency send dueling rovers to Mars in search of life, while scientists perfect gecko tape technology to create real-life “Spiderman” gloves. There’s a few origin stories in here somewhere.
X Gonna Give it to Ya.
Aircraft designer Burt Rutan unveils SpaceShipOne, a rocket plane designed to make private space tourism affordable. The design could garner him the X Prize, to be awarded to the first privately funded manned space flight. If it works like it’s supposed to, I expect Rutan will make a good deal more than $10 million.