Monitoring Radiation During Eight-Month Passage To Mars
NASA's car-sized Curiosity rover has begun monitoring space
radiation during its 8-month trip from Earth to Mars. The research
will aid in planning for future human missions to the Red Planet.
Curiosity launched on November 26 from Cape Canaveral, FL, aboard
the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). The rover carries an instrument
called the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) that monitors
high-energy atomic and subatomic particles from the sun, distant
supernovas and other sources.
Hope To Accelerate The Growth Of Technology Companies
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and the Houston Technology
Center (HTC) have formed a strategic partnership to further expand
HTC's mission of accelerating the growth of emerging technology
companies in the Houston region and to further develop the insights
required to support NASA's long-term goals of increasing private
and public collaboration.
Dragon To Make Near Approach, Possibly Rendezvous With ISS
December 8 2011, marked the one year anniversary of
Dragon’s first Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
(COTS) demonstration flight. The flight made history as SpaceX
became the only commercial company to successfully return a
spacecraft from orbit. This feat had previously been accomplished
only by five nations and the European Space Agency. The company is
now preparing the Dragon spacecraft for yet another historic
flight – becoming the first commercial vehicle in history to
visit the ISS.
Bolden: Competitive Agreements Will Help Keep U.S. Commercial
Space Program On Track
NASA on Thursday announced a modified competitive procurement
strategy to keep on track the agency’s plan to have U.S.
companies transport American astronauts into space instead of
outsourcing this work to foreign governments. Instead of awarding
contracts for the next phase of the Commercial Crew Program, the
agency plans to use multiple, competitively awarded Space Act
Agreements.
Space Act Agreements Should Shorten The Gap, Create Jobs,
Reduce Dependence On Russia
The Commercial Spaceflight Federation issued a statement
Thursday congratulating NASA on the agency’s important
decision to continue to use Space Act Agreements for the Commercial
Crew Development Program. The organization feels the decision will
shorten the gap in U.S. access to space, help spur additional
private investment, reduce America's dependence on Russia, save
taxpayer money, ensure the future of the International Space
Station, and increase industry competition.
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