The latest presentation to the Future In-Space Operations (FISO) study group is now posted in the FISO Working Group Presentations Archive. Both slides (pdf) and audio (mp3) are available for the talk, Innovative Robotic Systems for In-Space Operations, Dave Akin, U. Maryland – Jan.22.14
Akin reviews the many robotic projects at the Univ. of Maryland Space Systems Lab. Here is a sampling of his slides:
John Kavanagh created this excellent timeline of major events since 2001 in the development of human spaceflight systems in the USA : Struggle for 21st Century U.S. Human Spaceflight Capabilities – Timeline
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More space policy/politics related links:
The Explore Mars organization sponsored a recent workshop in DC:
Workshop Report WASHINGTON, DC — January 14, 2014 — A global working group of more than sixty leaders from more than thirty government, industry and academic organizations issued a joint statement today announcing consensus that a human mission to Mars is both feasible and affordable assuming policy consistency among international space agencies and levels of funding consistent with pre-sequestration levels and modest increases annually in line with inflation… View Report
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The latest selection of space policy related links:
This NASA video gives a brief update on what has been happening on the International Space Station and what’s planned for the coming weeks:
NASA JPL posted these short (3 min) videos about the 10 years of exploration by the Spirit and Opportunity rovers:
This video gets a brief overview of the science uncovered by the rovers:
This video is about operating the rovers from millions of miles away:
The impact on the lives of the some of the team members who were still in college or had just graduated when the rovers first landed: