Here is the latest episode of This Week @NASA:
NASA honors the 17 astronauts and other NASA family members who’ve given their lives for exploration and discovery.
Also, Orion’s Photo-op; TDRS-K Social: RapidScat; Small Sats, Big Numbers; Electrolysis Power; Skylab Saluted: Stardust memories; and more!
Via the Spaceports blog comes this video news report of last week’s successful launch of the South Korean Naro rocket (powered by a Russian first stage) and the release of the SK STSAT-2C technology demonstration satellite:
Here is a full video of the stage separation events and the release of the satellite (via Innerspace.net):
Virgin Galactic has licensed a set of “Limited Edition” models of the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo combo. They are available in 1/400 and 1/200 scale die-cast models at B4 YOUR FLIGHT.
Don’t see any SpaceShipTwo models at Amazon yet but there are several SpaceShipOne models, e.g.
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.
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.