The top story for This Week in Space is of course NASA's FY2010 budget request along with a blue ribbon review of manned spaceflight ordered by President Obama. Thus, the space blog wars have now begun as to what budget request really means. I have the ignominious position of being an Obama supporter and a Constellation/Ares supporter. In other words, I am taking flak from just about everyone. And strangely there are very partisan Repugs who are agreeing with me. I am getting a queasy feeling. Check out the rest of the Top Ten Space Stories. And if you hungry then take a quick bite of the Oreo story in Weird Space.
Space Radar
Number of rocket launches: 2 (US - military satellite, Russia - ISS Progress cargo resupply.)
Nella's Top Ten Space Stories
- NASA Announces Fiscal Year 2010 Budget NASA So now everyone is trying to determine what President Obama's space policy really means. The naysayers are crying that Obama is going to kill manned spaceflight. The Constellation critics are high fiving because the think Obama is going to kill Ares I and V. I think too many people are reading way to much into the budget request. They would have better luck at divination. That is just my opinion of course which doesn't for much anyway. To see the comments for yourself try NASA Watch or Space Politics.
- Obama Orders Up Sweeping Review Of NASA Florida Today President Obama announced a review of the manned space program to determine if NASA is on the right course and what other options exist. Some take this to mean there are big changes in store for NASA.
- NASA: Ares, Orion To Continue During Review Florida Today The Constellation program, mainly Ares I/Orion development, received $250 million in stimulus money for this year and another $250 million more above previous funding level in FY2010. So despite what some what some may think, Ares I and Orion are sticking around for awhile and I find it hard to believe that Obama would continue to blow money on these programs if they were on the chopping block.
- NEWS FLASH - Space Florida's Kohler resigns Orlando Sentinel Remember that last week I mentioned that Charlie Crist could be tainted by the scandal involving economic development agency Space Florida? The President of Space Florida Steve Kohler has resigned after questions began surfacing about his role in lobbying contracts being awarded to his friends. Be interesting to see how far this goes.
- Countdown begins for shuttle launch to Hubble Next week is a big week in the space biz kicking off with the launch of Altlantis for Hubble repair mission.
- Herschel and Planck: The countdown begins This mission will follow on placing Europe on the forefront of astronomical research with a successful launch of these two telescopes.
- Cosmic six: new crew to depart for the ISS By the end of the month, ISS will have its full complement of six crew members and some scientific research work can actually be done for the first time.
- Star Trek's Warp Drive: Not Impossible The new Star Trek is in the theaters now. I enjoyed the movie and maybe you will too. So ishere something to chew on in the meantime.
- Rideau Institute Releases Ground-Breaking Report on Canadian Space Policy What is this? Canada is going to start a full fledge space program?
- NOAA, NASA Select Contractor to Build GOES-R Series Satellite Fellow Kossack Vladislaw has been writing about climate monitoring satellites for the last several Saturdays. These new ones will be going up within several years.
Astronomy Corner
Dark matter signal recedes into the shadows Man! It is so hard to see in the dark! Someone turn the lights on please!
Orange stars are just right for life I knew there was a reason I liked Sol so much.
Weird Space
Outer Space Oreos Yum! Cookies! With filling!
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Space Photo of the Week
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NASA and Space Diaries by Fellow Kossacks
Click on these links NASA and space. Please forgive me for being a little lazy this morning, but I have to go pick up my kids.