Curiosity has been getting ready to do its first serious drilling into Mars rocks.

This image shows the results of one test:

The bit in the rotary-percussion drill of NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity left its mark in a target patch of rock called “John Klein” during a test on the rover’s 176th Martian day, or sol (Feb. 2, 2013), in preparation for the first drilling of a rock by the rover.

Emily Lakdawalla describes the drilling preps and also a new picture the rover took of itself : A new rover self-portrait and a new color image of Curiosity from orbit – The Planetary Society

And an amazing shot of Curiosity from space by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Color view Curiosity on Mars from HiRISE, sol 157 – The Planetary Society.

Space Policy

Sequestration could hit NASA space science hard

February 5, 2013 TopSpacer

Planetary science at NASA could take a major hit if the sequestration budgeting happens and the big projects like the SLS are protected from cuts:

Update: Jeff Foust reports on the sequestration impact on NASA funding: Worrying about sequestration again – Space Politics.

Eyes in the Sky, Space Arts, Space Music

Chris Hadfield making great pictures and music in space

February 5, 2013 TopSpacer

Alan Boyle reports that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield is taking marvelous pictures of earth from the ISS and posting them online : Astronaut’s artistry hits warp speed – PhotoBlog

See the Col. Chris Hadfield Facebook page and Chris Hadfield (Cmdr_Hadfield) on Twitter for his latest shots. For example, Twitter / Cmdr_Hadfield:

Where the Mississippi enters the Gulf of Mexico. The soil of America’s heartland forming a vast, deep delta. pic.twitter.com/Dctu8ipH

And Hadfield is also a musician who will soon premier a new song in space with collaborator Ed Robertson: ‘Is Somebody Singing’: Ed Robertson on why he wanted to work with Chris Hadfield – CBC Music

On Feb. 8, astronaut Chris Hadfield and Barenaked Ladies singer Ed Robertson will premiere “I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing).” It’s a unique collaboration for a number of reasons, but first and foremost because Hadfield will be floating somewhere in outer space aboard the International Space Station, while Robertson will be joined by a youth choir in the CBC Toronto studios. It’s an out-of-this-world collaboration, to say the least.

For the weeks leading up to the premiere, Robertson will be updating us with interesting aspects about the project, something he says has been in the works for a long time.

Space Policy

Responding to space in Iran, NK, and China + Space law roundup

February 5, 2013 TopSpacer

The New York Times hosts discussion on the question of how the U.S., Europe and Russia should respond to space development in Iran, North Korea and China: A New Space Race, or Chances to Collaborate? – Room for Debate – NYTimes.com.

There are several posts including ones from Bill Nye, Anousheh Ansari, and James Oberg.

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Res Communis post the latest collection of space and aviation law, regulation and policy links: Library: A Round-up of Reading.

Education, History

Rocket Science Tutors and DC-X on The Space Show

February 5, 2013 TopSpacer

Nino Pollizzi was interviewed on the Space Show yesterday and talked about the Rocket Science Tutors volunteer education program, which I posted about here recently: Nino Pollizzi, Sunday, 2-3-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog.

Pollizzi also talked about one of the original NewSpace projects, the DC-X reusable rocket, which he worked on.

In our second segment of this 1 hour 42 minute program, we talked about the DC-X as Nino worked on that program when he was with McDonnell Douglas. DC-X is having their 20th reunion this August in New Mexico, an event which Nino talked about during our discussion. We also talked about the DC-X vehicle, its problems, the plans to scale up the demo to the two more advanced models, and ultimately its cancellation and the NASA selection of the X-33. Nino also took some questions about the possibility of a single stage to orbit vehicle with a useful payload.

More DC-X resources can be found here. And here is a video about the DC-X