Methinks Jeffrey Doth Said Too Much

Just ask Senior Editor Pete Combs about this one... when you make your living in radio, you quickly learn the potential dangers of a "hot" microphone -- one that unexpectedly carries a message to the masses that you'd really rather not have out there just yet.

True, that's probably one lesson that isn't taught to astronauts at NASA, as they've got enough on their plates as it is... but perhaps the space agency should consider adding it, considering US astronaut Jeffrey Williams let slip a rather significant secret on Tuesday, one that NASA didn't want to get out just yet.

It all started while Williams recorded a broadcast from the International Space Station Tuesday that was supposed to go direct-to-tape... but it turns out the message was going out in real-time, too, over space-to-ground radio.

And what was that message? The official name of the crew exploration vehicle, which is... Orion.

NASA had intended for that information to become public knowledge on August 31.. the same time the agency is set to announce which contractor has been selected to build the vehicle.

That information, alas, is still up the air -- with teams from Lockheed Martin, and another comprised of a partnership between Northrop Grumman and Boeing, waiting patiently for the news -- but at least both teams now have a name for the spacecraft they hope to begin building soon.

And as for astronaut William's fledgling career in public relations radio... well, you know what they say. Don't call us... we'll call you.

FMI: www.nasa.gov