Space Policy

Space policy roundup – Nov.15.13

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Some space policy/politics related items today:

NASA Just Cancelled its Advanced Spacecraft Power Program – The Planetary Society – Another casualty of $3B going to the pointless SLS/Orion program:”Goodbye, outer planets.This is the latest consequence of the White House’s war against planetary exploration in the United States. If you want to help change this dim future, please take 2 minutes to write the President and your Congressional representatives (use this form if you’re outside the U.S.).”
A Modest Proposal: the COTS Approach to SLS/Orion – Selenian Boondocks
Commercialization, law and governance in outer space — The International
NOAA satellite programs earn mixed reviews — fear of “coverage gap” remains — FCW
How NASA Can be Innovative on Reduced Budgets – Universe Today
Space junk apocalypse: just like Gravity? | Corrinne Burns – theguardian.com

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Living in Space, Space Arts

A Cosmic Dancer on the Mir space station

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The Art in Space section at HobbySpace describes various art related works and projects that were done in space or at least in weightlessness. These include The Cosmic Dancer Project described on artist Arthur Woods‘ site about artworks that were taken to the Mir space station in the 1990s.

Ths article describes some of the background to the Mir project and includes a video of the Cosmic Dancer sculpture on Mir: The Mir Space Station: An Unlikely Place for a Beautiful Art Exhibit – Universe Today

Mars, Space Science

MAVEN cleared for launch to Mars on Monday

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The MAVEN spacecraft heading for Mars has gotten clearance for launch.

MAVEN ‘Go’ to Proceed Toward Monday Launch

A Launch Readiness Review ended this morning with NASA and contractor managers giving MAVEN the “go” for launch at 1:28 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 18, from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Today’s review is the final mission review for MAVEN and its ride into space, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V was also cleared for the rollout to the launch pad Saturday. Teams have not encountered any significant technical issues or concerns for launch. Forecasters from the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predict a 60 percent chance of favorable conditions during the two-hour launch window.

The MAVEN Launch Blog will provide the latest updates on the countdown.

This video outlines the MAVEN science mission:

Here is a time lapse showing the preparation of the MAVEN spacecraft:

Satellite Watching, Software

Binary Space Satellite Tracking Tool – now available in standalone mode

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The Satellite Tracking Tool from BINARY SPACE is available here at HobbySpace. The Windows based program allows you to track a large set of satellites in both low earth and geostationary orbits. It comes free with many features and display options.

Up till now the Tool has only run within a browser but there is now the option to install it as a standalone program on your system. This avoids the various compatibility problems that crop up as browsers are modified.

When you open the program in your browser, if you can right click on the display a popup menu will appear and include the option: “‘Install Satellite Tracking Tool onto this computer…” Just select this and give the installer permission and the program should soon be up and running.

Astronomy, Exoplanets, SETI

Video: A galaxy full of planets – discussing the Kepler conference results

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SETI Institute scientists Jason Rowe, Doug Caldwell and Kepler mission scientist Natalie Batalha discuss the latest Kepler exoplanet findings and the plans for the future in this Google+ Hangout moderated by SETI Institute scientist Franck Marchis.