With the upcoming 40th anniversary of Apollo lunar landing and humanity's first steps on the Moon, a plethora of articles and online posts have filled the nation's newspapers and blogs commemorating the event and raising the questions of whether we will return. Over the many years, I often stop at night to look up at the dark sky and stare at the Moon. Its ethereal beauty has awed me all of my life. Last night, I was walking on the Plaza when I looked up into the clear sky. I knew I would not see that ghostly disk since it was in the new moon phase, but I was unpleasantly surprised at how few stars that I could see. I could not even make out a single constellation. I recalled only 30 years ago as a child I was able to stand on top of Royall Hall at the local university not far from the Plaza and see the sky filled with stars and peer through the telescopes of Warkoczewski Observatory at the rings of Saturn. Today, I wonder if our children are missing the stars.
Extra
Walter Cronkite, Iconic Anchorman, Dies at 92 New York Times Sadly, one of the news broadcast greats has passed away amidst the celebration of the Apollo 11 landing. 'I am speechless'
Nella's Top Ten Space Stories
- SpaceX Hits the Mark with Launch eWeek This launch was a crucial milestone for SpaceX and its success has helped put a new United States company back in the low to medium range launch business. Hooray!
- Senate confirms Bolden as NASA chief Orlando Sentinel NASA has a new boss. You can also check out my diary from Thursday.
- Space shuttle finally blasts off BBC Well, if third time the charm, what the hell is the sixth time? A level on Dante's Inferno?
- New Photos Reveal Apollo 11 at First Moon Landing Site Space.com The LRO currently orbiting the Moon were able to take closeup photos of the Apollo landing sites! See photo for Apollo 11 below! Wow!
- Marking 40 years since man's first walk on the moon Los Angeles Times Good article on commemorating Apollo lunar landing.
- Moon landing tapes got erased, NASA admits Reuters Oops! That historical moment was erased?! Not to worry there are plenty of copies. We just won't have the master. Thanks NASA for giving the Moon Hoaxers more rubber bands to sling their crap.
- Space company to lay off 160 Houston employees Houston Chronicle The space shuttle era is coming to an end. More and more people are going to feel the pain. But, no pain, no gain right?
- Is Ares program dead? NASA told to explore new ways to reach the moon Orlando Sentinel I know Robert Block hates the Constellation program and he is not the only one, but this is just ridiculous. Norm Augustine refuted this claim in the story below.
- 'Wrong to say Ares dead in the water' Huntsville Times Aaawww. Some heartbreak is coming for the naysayers.
- After $18 million, Rocketplane only launched empty promise for Oklahoma Oklahoma Gazette This story should be a cautionary tale for local and state governments and NASA actually got this one right. You, see while the state of Oklahoma forked over $18 million dollars to Rocketplane, NASA did not give Rocketplane a single cent. Why? Because part of the COTS contract awarding Rocketplane Kistler $206 million stipulated that the company had to raise at least $40 million dollars in capital, but since they failed to do so NASA did not give them the money.
Bonus: Why Does NASA Launch Space Shuttles from Such a Weather-Beaten Place? Scientific American After having to postpone the space shuttle launch 4 times due to weather over the last month, some of you may wonder why NASA launches in Florida. Here are the answers.
Astronomy Corner
Space Week: Why the Moon rocks Cosmos Yes, it is all about the Moon this week.
Weird Space
Astronauts May Get Their Wheaties Astrobiology Magazine Crappy cereal still tastes like crappy cereal even when the wheat is grown in space. Go figure.
Space Photo of the Week
This photo is from LRO taken of the Apollo 11 landing site this last week.