Still about 500 e-mails behind (new ones just keep coming in), so I have a feeling that these summary postings are going to be the mode of operations until I get caught up.
NASA will hold a one hour briefing (starting at 9:00 AM—I presume EDT but it doesn't say—on Monday, September 19, 2005) concerning the Exploration Systems Architecture Study. The White House has backed NASA's plans for the new architecture. No details on how they will address the gap between the stated retirement date for the shuttle (2010) and the first flights of the CEV (2012). If all goes well, look for a return to the Moon in 2018. Here are some shots of the proposed shuttle-derived launchers as well as proposed changes to processing, etc.
The Senate has approved a $200 million budget increase for NASA. The budget process continues, now the House and the Senate have to work out the differences between their two budgets. Meanwhile, attempts to clear the way to buy Russian crew and cargo vehicles stumbles on.
Bridging the Moon to Mars...how about a limited edition watch?
Meanwhile...on Mars: The place of origination for one our most famous martian visitors appears to have been located. A company on Earth has set the goal of colonizing Mars within 20 years. A recent glitch on the Mars Global Surveyor threatened an opportunity to look for the lost Mars Polar Lander. Finding some clue as to what happened to that lander could help in the upcoming Mars Phoenix Lander mision.
Where has all the water gone on Mars? Maybe a lot of it is locked up in the dunes of Mars.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter did a little orbital adjustment on its way to Mars.
The ESA has launched an investigation on one of the troubled instruments on the Mars Express orbiter.
A long overdue review of Garrett P. Serviss' novel Edison's Conquest of Mars!
A review of a slightly newer and non-fiction book on Mars.
Are some volcanoes on Mars active?
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Inverted Channels
Next: Huygens Wind Streak
Related
MRO Update (Jan 10, 2005)
MGS Update (Nov 24, 2006)
Desert Update (May 8, 2004)
Opportunity Update (May 19, 2004)