Lunar News Network

U.S. To End Moon Program

It's all over. The U.S. is getting out of the manned space exploration business. The Obama Administration has decided not to fund the Constellation program. NASA will not return to the Moon and go on to Mars and beyond. The dream is dead. From the AP:

The money in the president's budget is not enough to follow through with NASA's Constellation moon landing plan initiated by President George W. Bush. An aide to an elected official who was told of Obama's plans, but who asked that his name not be used because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said Obama is effectively ending the return-to-the-moon effort, something that has already cost $9.1 billion. [...] Obama is adopting the preferred option of a White House-appointed outside panel of experts last year. That concept includes reliance on a commercial spaceship, a space station that functions for five more years than planned, and a "flexible path" for human space exploration. That might mean trips to a nearby asteroid, a Martian moon or a brief visit to the moon, instead of the Bush plan for a moon base by the end of the decade. [...] So far NASA has spent $3.5 billion on Ares I and $3.7 billion on Orion and nearly $2 billion on other moon mission work.

I'm deeply disappointed that a president who finds billions of dollars for trains in California, Illinois and Florida (trains!) can't find billions for the U.S. space program, a proven investment. At a time when other countries have announced (and funded) ambitious manned space programs (and Moon programs) the U.S. is leaving the field. Quitting the game. Didn't Obama just say yesterday that he wasn't a quitter? What a difference a day makes.

Apollo 11 Anniversary

As the anniversary of the moon landing approaches, I recommend Space.Com's coverage in which they ponder THE MOON: Then, Now, Next:

Forty years after Apollo 11 astronauts first set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, SPACE.com examines what we've done since and whether America has the right stuff to get back to the moon by 2020 and reach beyond. In a series of never-before-seen video and interviews, you'll hear from the brave men who went and the people who shape the space industry today.

I like that the coverage is balanced between looking back at the amazing achievement of the lunar landings and looking forward to going back to the Moon and the future of the U.S. space program.

Saving Lunar Images

What an extraordinary story this is, a tale of long forgotten photos of the moon, as well as obsolete media, and the dedicated fans who worked to bring off an amazing restoration project years in the making.

Looking Back

The Voice of America is offering a series of reports looking at the history and future of NASA (NASA Remembers First 50 Years of Manned Space Flight):

On October 1, 1958, the U.S. space agency NASA first opened its doors. Fifty years later it still has its sights on space exploration, new worlds and distant frontiers. In part one of a series, VOA's Paul Sisco takes a look back at NASA's manned space flight program.

I'm really enjoying all of these anniversary retrospectives.

NASA At 50

Come on people, let's keep focused on the future (AP - Is the Right Stuff Now List in Space?):

In some ways, the future is reminiscent of the moonshot days of the 1960s. The new rocket would have an Apollo-like capsule on top. Astronauts would first fly in that ship in 2015 but stay in Earth's orbit, with a moon landing by 2020. Once there, astronauts would build a base camp and eventually journey to Mars.

But, sadly, most of this AP report is rather disparaging, it's not a hatchet job, but it does paint NASA as old, tired, a bit lacking in focus. Let's hope they're wrong. The only thing in this report that has me really worried is this part about the current and soon-to-be budget environment:

The two presidential nominees and many in Congress say they want to keep the shuttle flying past the 2010 retirement date mandated by the Bush administration. But doing so would be costly, and given the current financial meltdown, big spending on NASA in the future doesn't seem likely.

I'm worried about that as well as funding for the rest of the Moon, Mars and Beyond program. In last week's presidential debate there was a telling moment when the moderator challenged both candidates to explain how the credit crisis would change their priorities, and neither of them had an answer. I'm worried that whoever wins in November, NASA may be part of that answer.

NASA Group Photo

Take a look at this photo of past and present astronauts who recently gathered to celebrate NASA (NASA - Astronauts: Past and Present):

An all-star gathering of legendary American astronauts appeared in Cleveland Aug. 29, 2008 to celebrate NASA's 50th anniversary. John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, Jim Lovell, veteran of two Apollo missions, and Kathryn Sullivan, the first woman to walk in space joined 15 other astronauts from Ohio.

That's quite an impressive gathering, I think they still have the right stuff.

Ranger 7

The New York Times ON THIS DAY section reminds us that it was on this day in 1964 that the American space probe Ranger 7 transmitted pictures of the moon's surface.

B-Day Wishes from BBC News

The BBC is wishing NASA a happy birthday with an audio slideshow (To the Moon and Beyond):

Nasa is celebrating 50 years of space exploration - which has taken the American space agency up into the Earth's orbit, on to the Moon, and deep into our Solar System. That journey has produced many iconic images - from the Apollo moon landings, to the space shuttle missions, and the colourful pictures beamed back from the Hubble Space Telescope. Here, space writer and historian Piers Bizony recalls some of Nasa's defining moments.

B-Day Wishes from Google

In one of its trademark logo makeovers Google is wishing NASA a happy birthday.

Happy Birthday, NASA

Wired News wishes NASA a happy birthday:

This week, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration observes the 50th anniversary of its creation. And make no mistake: There's a lot to celebrate. NASA's achievements write a glorious chapter in human history, one that's nearly impossible to overstate. Is it fair to call NASA the greatest scientific and exploratory agency ever created? It is.

Be sure to check out the impressive photo gallery.

Moon Walk Anniversary

The New York Times ON THIS DAY section reminds us that it was on this day in 1969 that astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. The full text of the original NYT report can be found here.

When We Left Earth

A quick TV reminder about the Discovery Channel's 'When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions' which premiers today. For more on this new TV series about the birth of the U.S. space program, see this Los Angeles Times article.

Gemini 4

The New York Times ON THIS DAY section reminds us that it was on this date in 1965 that astronaut Edward White became the first American to "walk" in space, during the flight of Gemini 4.

What If: Kennedy and the Space Age

The fate of Apollo had President Kennedy not been assassinated in 1963 is one of the biggest what-if questions in the history of the Space Age. Dwayne Day discusses (The Space Review: Part 1 , Part 2) such questions and the potential outcomes as suggested by the historical record.

Glenn Orbits Earth

The New York Times On This Day section reminds us that it was on this date in 1962 that astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth as he flew aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule.