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Trading Spaces, Martian Style
Category: General Interest 
Launch on a mission to Mars this Saturday morning, December 3, as astronaut Captain Michael Foreman appears in the newest episode of Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls. The episode features Capt. Foreman of STS-120 helping to transform the bedroom of a 10-year-old New Jersey boy into a NASA-inspired Martian surface, complete with a control center and Mars Exploration Rover that doubles as a bed. The show premieres Saturday morning on NBC's Discovery Kids programming package (11 or 11:30 a.m. EST depending upon your market; check your local listings), then airs again on Discovery Kids at 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Monday, December 5 and Friday, December 9.
The out-of-this-world collaboration between NASA and Trading Spaces was spearheaded by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls is a variation on the original Trading Spaces. Rather than two sets of adults swapping rooms in their homes, a boy and a girl swap bedrooms for a full room makeover in only two days. In between working with their best friend, brother, or sister (or astronaut!) on their rooms, the kids compete in extreme challenges to win either clues about their own room or help from the Trading Spaces Labor Savers. Watch as Captain Foreman surprises one of NASA's biggest fans? and three of its newest! You can also catch Capt. Foreman answering questions like "How do you go to the bathroom in space?" in Ask an Astronaut!, a series of fun facts airing throughout the day on Discovery Kids. For more details on Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls, check out the show website.
View this site (non-NASA link)Posted: December 1, 2005.
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NASA Establishes Commercial Crew/Cargo Project Office
Category: General Interest NASA has formed the Commercial Crew/Cargo Project Office to spur private industry to provide cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit and the international space station in support of the Vision for Space Exploration. Part of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, the office is located at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. NASA named Alan J. Lindenmoyer project manager. The office will manage orbital transportation capability demonstration projects that may lead to the procurement of commercial cargo and crew transportation services to resupply the space station.Read more about this itemPosted: November 7, 2005.
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NASA Appoints Constellation Program Managers
Category: General Interest Jeffrey Hanley has been appointed manager of NASA's Constellation Program. He will lead development of the nation's new spacecraft and launch system, which as part of the Vision for Space Exploration will take astronauts to the moon, Mars and beyond. Mark Geyer was appointed as deputy program manager.View this sitePosted: November 2, 2005.
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Detailed ISS Research Information
Category: General Interest A new section for ISS research has been added to the Exploration Systems Web Site. The section contains detailed information on all experiments past, present and future on the International Space Station (ISS). The experiments are listed by name and ISS expedidition (date), and the detailed experiment pages contain an overview, history, operational information, results and publications, both for results and related research. In addition, there is a complete listing of publications for all experiments and a "look ahead" for ISS activites in the upcoming week.View this sitePosted: September 15, 2005.
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Successful Drop-test of Dummy Boosters
Category: General Interest 
In an Exploration Systems-funded test, Transformational Space Corp. (t/Space) and Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites drop-tested dummy boosters from an aircraft using a technique that caused them to rotate towards vertical without requiring wings on Tuesday, June 14. t/Space is one of eight companies funded by ESMD to develop concepts for the agency's Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) that will take over non-cargo duties from the Space Shuttle. NASA agreed to let t/Space use some of its $3 million second-phase study money to build and test hardware in addition to conducting analytical studies.
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a larger image.
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a time lapse image.
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a movie of a similar drop test conducted in late May by t/Space (2 MB Quicktime Movie).
Additional information and photos are available on the
t/Space Web site (non-NASA link)
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Posted: June 15, 2005.
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Admiral Steidle to Leave NASA
Category: General Interest
Dear Exploration Team Members,
When an organization gets a new leader, it is usually customary for that leader to bring in his or her own management team and this is what Dr. Griffin has decided to do. Yesterday, I was offered a reassignment to another job within NASA at one of our Centers, which I declined. Declining the reassignment means that I will be leaving NASA at the end of the month.
Although I will have the opportunity to talk to many of you before I leave, I wanted to share some thoughts with you.
I have held many leadership positions during my career, but I have never led an organization that was as dedicated, intelligent, and hard working as the NASA Exploration team.
As I think about where we were just over a year ago and where we are today, I can't tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you for your contribution to this effort of national importance. You should be proud of your contributions to this program, and to your part in making the president's vision a reality.
I am extremely grateful for this experience and I know that you will make my successor just as proud.
Thank you all,
Craig
Posted: June 8, 2005.
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Mysterious Cancer
Category: General Interest  Despite urgent warnings from Hollywood, double-jawed aliens are probably not a spacefarer's biggest risk. Radiation is worse. It shreds not flesh, but DNA molecules, and that can cause a multitude of problems. One big one: it can lead to cancer. Researchers agree that space radiation can cause cancer. They're just not sure how.Read more about "Mysterious Cancer.Posted: May 9, 2005.
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NASA Crew Transportation System (CTS) Requirements Documents (Rev E )
Category: General InterestCategory: Revision E documents are now available. These documents are a summary of the NASA Crew Transportation System (CTS) requirements. Ultimately, the requirements in these documents can be traced back to the requirements expressed in A Renewed Spirit of Discovery: The President's Vision for U.S. Space Exploration, January, 2004 and captured in the Level 0 Exploration Requirements for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.Download.Posted: May 3, 2005.
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On Orbit Anomaly Ends DART Mission
Category: General Interest The Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft that was successfully launched Friday, April 15 at 10:25 a.m. PDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., experienced an on orbit anomaly late Friday. After a successful rendezvous, acquisition of the target spacecraft, and approach to within approximately 300 feet, DART placed itself in the retirement phase before completing all planned proximity operations, ending the mission prematurely.View this site.Posted: April 18, 2005.
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National Space Society's International Space Development Conference: Benefits of Space Exploration
Category: General Interest The National Space Society's International Space Development Conference will be held May 19-22, 2005, at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Va. NASA is an official sponsor of the conference and Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Craig Steidle is the opening lunch speaker on Thursday, May 19. With the theme "Your Ticket to Space," the conference will highlight new opportunities for citizens to participate in space exploration?and to realize its benefits on Earth! NASA is running a "Benefits of Space Exploration" track. Burt Rutan will open the conference Thursday morning.Learn more and register. (non-NASA link)Posted: April 7, 2005.
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Prometheus Nuclear Systems and Technology Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
Category: General Interest NASA, is evaluating whether or not to pursue development of a space nuclear reactor to provide on board instrument power and propulsion capabilities. We are seeking input on what sorts of issues we should consider in our evaluation. We will document our evaluation, including alternatives that we have considered in a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) scheduled for publication in 2006.Read more about "Prometheus Nuclear Systems and Technology Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement."Posted: March 30, 2005.
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En Route to Mars, the Moon
Category: General Interest  NASA has a new Vision for Space Exploration: in the decades ahead, humans will land on Mars and explore the red planet. Brief visits will lead to longer stays and, maybe one day, to colonies. First, though, we're returning to the Moon. Why colonize the Moon before going to Mars? NASA scientists give their reasons.Read more about "En Route to Mars, the Moon."Posted: March 18, 2005.
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NASA Announces First Chief Engineer for Exploration Systems
Category: General Interest
NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) has selected Mr. Garry Lyles to be the Directorate's first Chief Engineer. For the past year, Lyles has been on detail from the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., to NASA Headquarters serving as the Director of Constellation Systems.
Lyles' responsibilities as Chief Engineer will include broad technical cognizance, insight, and oversight of all ESMD programs and will establish, approve, and maintain technical requirements, processes, and policy.
ESMD is responsible for directing the design and development of new capabilities necessary to achieve the Vision for Space Exploration ? human and robotic missions to the moon, Mars and beyond. The anchor of this capability will be the new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) that will carry humans from Earth to space.
As the ESMD Chief Engineer, Lyles will have broad technical responsibilities over ESMD programs including the Constellation "system of systems", which includes the CEV, and supporting technology investment programs. He will work closely with NASA's Chief Engineer to ensure development efforts and mission operations are planned and conducted with sound engineering, safety, and controls to manage technical risks.
"Garry is a proven technical leader within NASA's engineering and technical management community and will contribute tremendously to the highly complex development of new human spacecraft and supporting systems," said Craig Steidle, NASA's Associate Administrator of ESMD. "Garry's experience and understanding of NASA programs will be a major factor in our ability to ensure technical readiness of our development efforts."
Lyles has 29 years of experience in systems analysis, system test and evaluation, and technology program management. These attributes make him an ideal selection for this position. He also served as the Chief Engineer for the Space Shuttle main engine program.
Posted: March 8, 2005.
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Ultrasound for Astronauts
Category: General Interest  Here on Earth, doctors can look at broken bones with an x-ray machine, they can look for tumors with a CAT scanner, and they can examine your brain with an MRI. None of those bulky instruments is available on any NASA spacecraft. There is, however, an ultrasound machine onboard the ISS. Far away from doctors and hospitals, astronauts in space are learning to give themselves checkups using ultrasound.Read more about "Ultrasound for Astronauts."Posted: February 16, 2005.
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The Sands of Mars
Category: General Interest  Imagine this scenario. The year is 2030 or thereabouts. After voyaging six months from Earth, you and several other astronauts are the first humans on Mars. You're standing on an alien world, dusty red dirt beneath your feet, looking around at a bunch of mining equipment deposited by previous robotic landers. Driving, digging, mining: these are things astronauts will be doing one day in the sands of Mars. It's not as simple as it sounds.Read more about "The Sands of Mars."Posted: January 31, 2005.
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Sickening Solar Flares
Category: General Interest  NASA is returning to the Moon--not just robots, but people. In the decades ahead we can expect to see habitats, greenhouses and power stations up there. Astronauts will be out among the moondust and craters, exploring, prospecting, building. The biggest solar proton storm in 15 years erupted last week. Researchers discuss what it might have done to astronauts on the Moon.Read more about "Sickening Solar Flares."Posted: January 27, 2005.
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Team me up, Scotty
Category: General Interest  Weakened bones, radiation-damaged cells, spacecraft malfunctions -- when you think of journeying through space, these are the threats that come to mind. Yet, there's another issue equally critical. To an astronaut far from home, it's as important as oxygen, fuel and radiation shielding: team work.Read more about "Team me up, Scotty."Posted: January 10, 2005.
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Last Updated: September 14, 2007 |
