In a scenario that has been all too common during the run of the shuttle program, NASA is already saying the launch of space shuttle Endeavour Saturday evening may be delayed because of stormy weather. Such weather in the late afternoon and early evening is nearly the rule in Florida summers because of the energy that builds in the atmosphere through the early part of the day and the moisture in the air over a fairly narrow peninsula.
As long as spaceflight remains based on rocket launches, flying from Florida will have to factor in the weather. NASA's next program, Constellation, will also depend on rocket launches, and will also leave from Cape Kennedy. Long term, a robust space program must have a more reliable launch capability. Going somewhere that has more benign weather would be one solution, but NASA is not about to turn Cape Kennedy into an historic site any time soon. The ultimate solution will be moving away from rocket launches to spaceships that can take off from runways, and do so in most weather conditions. Unfortunately, those ships are likely decades away.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Crew Comes To Cape Kennedy
The crew of space shuttle Endeavour arrives at Cape Kennedy today in anticipation of a Saturday launch. Last month's attempted launch was scrubbed due to a hydrogen gas leak in the external tank, but NASA is confident that problem has been fixed.
Endeavour's mission is scheduled to last 16 days. At the end of that time, NASA will be fast approaching being only a year away from the planned September 2010 retirement of the shuttle. It's unlikely, in light of the history of the program, that NASA will be able to complete all the missions now scheduled by then. Congress and the Obama administration are considering extending the shuttle program until all those missions are flown, but spending more on shuttle might take money from Constellation, thus delaying NASA's new manned program. Those responsible for space policy over the latest couple of decades have put the agency in a tight box.
Endeavour's mission is scheduled to last 16 days. At the end of that time, NASA will be fast approaching being only a year away from the planned September 2010 retirement of the shuttle. It's unlikely, in light of the history of the program, that NASA will be able to complete all the missions now scheduled by then. Congress and the Obama administration are considering extending the shuttle program until all those missions are flown, but spending more on shuttle might take money from Constellation, thus delaying NASA's new manned program. Those responsible for space policy over the latest couple of decades have put the agency in a tight box.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sharing Meteor Info
This blog recently reported the Pentagon was changing a policy under which it gave data from surveillance satellites to scientists when the satellites picked up meteors burning their way through the atmosphere. The satellites that gather the data are designed to monitor Earth, looking for nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, and will also detect large meteors.
According to journalist Leonard David, there will be an accomodation. Indeed, the USAF general in charge of dispensing the information says there has been no change in policy. Rather, he says, he has simply been reviewing the procedures that govern the program. Those procedures need tightening, he says, but once that's been done, the data will continue to be released to the scientific community.
He hopes the new procedures will make the data even more useful to scientists.
According to journalist Leonard David, there will be an accomodation. Indeed, the USAF general in charge of dispensing the information says there has been no change in policy. Rather, he says, he has simply been reviewing the procedures that govern the program. Those procedures need tightening, he says, but once that's been done, the data will continue to be released to the scientific community.
He hopes the new procedures will make the data even more useful to scientists.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Pace Of Development
On July 4, 1776, some three million people scattered along the east coast of North America announced to the world their independence from the mightiest empire on Earth. Before two centuries were up, that largely agricultural society had transformed into a continental nation, an industrial giant, leader of the Free World, and a people with the wherewithal and vision to put a dozen men on the Moon and return them all safely to the Earth.
One of many lessons in the sweep of American history bears on the question of interstellar civilizations. Societies change. Sometimes they get on incredible rolls. What is impossible at one time may not be even a short trip down the spacetime road. In 1776, who could've imagined mankind was two long human lifetimes from setting foot on the Moon-- or that the people to do that would be the descendants of New England minute men, Southern planters, and enslaved Africans?
Those who profess to know how interstellar civilizations would behave, or who argue that humans will never travel to the stars, might do better to read more history. Humility and open minds are better guides to the future than simple extrapolation from what we have and think we know today.
One of many lessons in the sweep of American history bears on the question of interstellar civilizations. Societies change. Sometimes they get on incredible rolls. What is impossible at one time may not be even a short trip down the spacetime road. In 1776, who could've imagined mankind was two long human lifetimes from setting foot on the Moon-- or that the people to do that would be the descendants of New England minute men, Southern planters, and enslaved Africans?
Those who profess to know how interstellar civilizations would behave, or who argue that humans will never travel to the stars, might do better to read more history. Humility and open minds are better guides to the future than simple extrapolation from what we have and think we know today.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Data From Phoenix Mars Lander
Results from the mission of the Phoenix Mars Lander are beginning to be published. They make an interesting casse for Martian life.
Perhaps most importantly, Lander confirmed that water ice exists just under the surface in the polar regions. It also found compounds, like calcium carbonates, that can be associated with life.
Increasingly, the case can be made that if life ever arose on Mars, it could have existed for quite some time. In fact, there seems to be a possibility that life could still exist well underground, safe from the deadly radiation that likely makes the surface sterile.
Perhaps most importantly, Lander confirmed that water ice exists just under the surface in the polar regions. It also found compounds, like calcium carbonates, that can be associated with life.
Increasingly, the case can be made that if life ever arose on Mars, it could have existed for quite some time. In fact, there seems to be a possibility that life could still exist well underground, safe from the deadly radiation that likely makes the surface sterile.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Endeavour Rescheduled
NASA engineers think they have found and sealed the hydrogen gas leak that scuttled the shuttle launch last month. Endeavour is now scheduled to launch July 11.
The centerpiece of Endeavour's mission will be the delivery and installation of the final piece of Japan's Kibo laboratory to ISS. Kibo will be an important component of the scientific research capability of ISS.
At the same time NASA is pushing to complete construction of ISS before the planned retirement of the shuttle next year, it is also beginning to look to deorbiting ISS in 2016. After all the billions spent on ISS, that would only give us five years use of the fully deployed station. Surely there's a better way. Such shortsightedness is one piece of the argument for bringing private enterprise and commercial interests into the space program. An element concerned frankly with the creation of wealth would take a more strategic view of assets in space as well as fashioning a broader, more coherent vision of space development. In the current economic situation, creating new wealth would seem to be an excellent idea.
President Bush, in his 2004 speech announcing his Moon-Mars plan, held out the possibility that private companies might be brought into the heart of the program. His NASA never really pursued that. Perhaps the Obama administration, which seems to support public-private partnerships in other areas-- as well as an expansion of basic scientific research-- should approach the private sector about joint space projects. It could begin by trying to work out more of a future for ISS.
The centerpiece of Endeavour's mission will be the delivery and installation of the final piece of Japan's Kibo laboratory to ISS. Kibo will be an important component of the scientific research capability of ISS.
At the same time NASA is pushing to complete construction of ISS before the planned retirement of the shuttle next year, it is also beginning to look to deorbiting ISS in 2016. After all the billions spent on ISS, that would only give us five years use of the fully deployed station. Surely there's a better way. Such shortsightedness is one piece of the argument for bringing private enterprise and commercial interests into the space program. An element concerned frankly with the creation of wealth would take a more strategic view of assets in space as well as fashioning a broader, more coherent vision of space development. In the current economic situation, creating new wealth would seem to be an excellent idea.
President Bush, in his 2004 speech announcing his Moon-Mars plan, held out the possibility that private companies might be brought into the heart of the program. His NASA never really pursued that. Perhaps the Obama administration, which seems to support public-private partnerships in other areas-- as well as an expansion of basic scientific research-- should approach the private sector about joint space projects. It could begin by trying to work out more of a future for ISS.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Troy Comes To Pasadena
JPL engineers trying to find a way to unstick NASA's Mars rover Spirit have built an area duplicating as closely as possible the area around Spirit, which the rover team has dubbed Troy. They've also placed a replica Spirit in the real Spirit's predicament. Soon, they will begin working on ways to free their rover, in hopes that what works in Pasadena will also work on Mars.
The first test will be spinning the wheels. If that has no effect in Pasadena, the engineers can proceed to work the problem with more confidence. If the test rover is easily freed, however, the engineers will have to rebuild their little bit of Mars.
The first test will be spinning the wheels. If that has no effect in Pasadena, the engineers can proceed to work the problem with more confidence. If the test rover is easily freed, however, the engineers will have to rebuild their little bit of Mars.
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