Lunar News Network

Building A Lunar Science Community

Space.com has an important report about the need to resurrect the lunar science community if we are to return to the Moon (Lunar Science Community Needs Rebuilding, Researchers Say):

NASA's plan to return to the Moon - first by robotic missions scheduled to start this year, followed by the replanting of human footprints there by 2020 - will require a new cadre of lunar research and exploration specialists. [...] The rebuilding of a lunar science community is essential, said Paul Spudis, a planetary geologist and lunar expert at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston. "We not only need competent lunar scientists to plan and execute the future exploration of the Moon, but also to help design and build the machines and technologies we need to learn to live and stay on the Moon ... particularly in regard to resource utilization and long-term habitation. It is important to get started with students at all levels now so that a stable, experienced lunar science community exists when we return to the Moon," Spudis said.

There is also an important discussion taking place in the comments section of the article about the need to inspire a new generation of students to study science. I'd like to suggest one way to inspire a new generation raised on video games and YouTube: allow students to pilot a lunar rover by remote control from the classroom and record their excursion so they can send the clip to friends and family and post to their social networking sites. It would be viral marketing for NASA and would help build public interest in the Moon-Mars mission. 

The Wrong Stuff?

MSNBC - NASA chief: China will beat US back to moon:

“I personally believe that China will be back on the moon before we are,” NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said in a low-key lecture in Washington two weeks ago, marking the space agency’s 50th anniversary, still a year away.

“I think when that happens, Americans will not like it. But they will just have to not like it.”

Griffin’s candor startled many in the space community, but insiders acknowledge the reality. China has pulled off two manned spaceflights with its own rockets and is eager to head for the moon.

This is an incredibly discouraging mindset for the NASA administrator to have. I wonder how effective he can be in leading the U.S. space program when he has this kind of attitude?  Don't we need someone with a "can-do" attitude, someone willing to do everything possible to focus national attention, interest, and funding on the larger goals of space exploration? Or, perhaps he is merely playing the China in an attempt to rouse our competitive spirit?

Back to Blogging

I'm emerging from the dog days of summer, with vacation time receding into the past, but not yet back up to full blogging speed. Still, I did want to note this Forbes article taking a look at The Future Of NASA. Also of note, an important bit of news regarding the hardware, NASA has awarded a contract to build the first stage rocket for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (Science Daily - NASA awards Ares first-stage contract).

Foggy Vision?

The Advanced Nanotechnology blog has a post reviewing the current state of space programs. I liked the post because it makes some sensible proposals for the space program, but was disappointed that it ultimately casts doubt on the viability of the Vision for Space Exploration.

NASA Twitters, Part 3

Here is some more info on NASA's new plan to promote public awareness and inspire support using new communication tools (The Space Review - NASA’s new outreach plan) and social networking sites:

The document also describes how NASA plans to implement the plan and communicate those messages to the public. That effort will be linked with NASA’s year-long celebration, starting this October, of its 50th anniversary (the agency was officially created on October 1, 1958.) The core message and related themes will be used in a variety of 50th anniversary events, including a series of “NASA Future Forums” around the country: one-day conferences about the role of innovation in economic development, in particular the role NASA plays. Also in the works are a lecture series, new public service announcements, and targeted outreach to state and local leaders linked to upcoming shuttle missions.

Online media will also play a role in this outreach effort. According to the document, NASA is in the process of redesigning its web site to leverage a suite of technologies and techniques collectively known as “Web 2.0” that emphasize communication and collaboration among users. The new web site will include dynamic, customizable content; “social bookmarks” akin to web sites like Digg and del.icio.us; and the ability for the public to comment on NASA content. The document also mentions the creation of a “NASATube” and “NASApedia”, presumably similar to the video-sharing site YouTube and editable encyclopedia Wikipedia, respectively.

Good ideas, all. I joined a NASA group on Facebook. There were several and I joined the one that looked the most official, though it was hard to tell really. I've still had no luck with Twitter, does anyone know how NASA is making use of Twitter?

NASA Twitters, Part 2

This post is prompted by my previous post about NASA launching new efforts to use social networking sites and emerging technology to connect to a younger demographic and build support for the space program. This CNET report (Next NASA mission: Twitter and Facebook) notes not only the use of Twitter, but also Second Life, Facebook, and blogs to reach more people. According to the report:

CoLab, NASA's Collaborative Space Exploration Laboratory, hosted a one-day tech event called the Participatory Exploration Summit, which brought together representatives from across the space agency, as well as from Twitter, Creative Commons and game companies like Virtual Heroes and Virtue Arts. CoLab's sole purpose is to foster partnerships between the space program and tech entrepreneurs, and then develop novel applications and make use of NASA resources.

I applaud these efforts as well as the general vision of making NASA resources available to programmers and gamers to incorporate into their products to boost not only realism, but greater awareness and appreciation for exploration themes. These new technologies allow people to use NASA resources in a way that previous generations never experienced. For the public, space exploration has always been a spectator sport, now, thanks to social networking sites and new video and remote links, people have a chance to personally participate in this great adventure. I don't think we can underestimate the value of personal participation in building support for space exploration. Good job, NASA!

NASA Twitters

According to the Daily Galaxy blog, NASA is using the Twitter social networking site to boost the popularity of space exploration. Whatever helps, I guess. I was a bit annoyed though that the post didn't actually give us the NASA twitter name so we could add them as friends we are following, if we wanted to be friends with NASA. Anyone know what it is?

Wired Bashes Vision

I generally enjoy reading Wired News, I like to keep up on all the cool tech developments, but I was rather disappointed to read this report (How NASA Screwed Up) that is very critical of NASA and the manned space program. Their proposed list of priorities does not include manned exploration and settlement of any moons or planets and instead elevates environmental research as the number one priority. If their priorities are followed humanity will never get off-planet. There will always be those who don't believe in the value of human exploration, I'm just surprised to find such sentiments expressed in a bastion of technology news.

Link Fest

I've had a very busy week and I've not really had a chance to keep up on the news, which apparently never slows down. It's been an interesting week for the U.S. space program, we said no to Russia and the idea of exploring the Moon together, NASA announced it was going to develop a policy on what to do if an astronaut dies during a mission, and then sadly, one of the pioneers of the space program, Wally Schirra Jr., died.  So, without any further comment, here are the links:

Sci-Tech Today - Russian Says US Refuses Moon Offer

Space.com - On Trip to Mars, NASA Must Rethink Death

Houston Chronicle - Schirra dies at 84; was part of original Mercury 7 team

Vision Status

Space.com takes a look at where things stand now with the Vision for Space Exploration (The Vision at Three Years and Counting): When U.S. President George W. Bush stepped to the podium at NASA headquarters here Jan. 19, 2004, to call for returning humans to the Moon by 2020, cynics could be forgiven for giving the Vision for Space Exploration little chance of succeeding.