I recently celebrated my five-year anniversary at NASA. Over these past 5 years, we have seen great success with NASA's Science missions.
Book Review: "The Next Everest" by Jim Davidson
Those of you who are familiar with my writing about space know that I spend a lot of time on exploration and the risks that accompany it. "The Next Everest: Surviving the Mountain's Deadliest Day and Finding the Resilience to Climb Again", by Jim Davidson provides a gripping insight into what it is like to prepare for an ascent of Everest.
Chasing Satellites With Jacques Cousteau
Leaving from Nassau on a Tuesday night in late August 1975, Jacques Cousteau, his divers, and a team of scientists set out on the Calypso for a three-week expedition to determine if the young Landsat satellite mission could measure the depth of shallow ocean waters.
Lava Tubes On Mars And The Moon Are So Wide They Can Host Planetary Bases
The international journal Earth-Science Reviews published a paper offering an overview of the lava tubes (pyroducts) on Earth, eventually providing an estimate of the (greater) size of their lunar and Martian counterparts.
Vice President Pence Visits Kennedy Space Center
Vice President Mike Pence addresses invited guests, elected officials and NASA, Lockheed Martin and other industry leaders at Kennedy Space Center's Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building on July 20, 2019.
Virgin Galactic Sculpture 'On The Shoulders Of Giants'
Virgin Galactic revealed at their Apollo 50th anniversary event at Kennedy Space Centre a sculpture that encapsulates a journey through time, recording in chronological order 360 historic aviation and space achievements and milestones.
If NASA Wants To Do Bold Things Then It Should Say So
NASA's current slogan is "Forward To The Moon". They say this because they do not want to say "Back To The Moon" Isn't about time for NASA to speak boldly about what it plans to do?
Walking On The Moon - Underwater
It's one of the deepest 'swimming pools' in Europe, but for three years has been helping preparations for a human return to the Moon.
Weather Satellites Aid Search and Rescue Capabilities
The same satellites that identify severe weather can help save you from it.
Thinking Of Sir Arthur C. Clarke On His 100th Birthday
Today would have been Sir Arthur C. Clarke's 100th birthday. Arthur C. Clarke has had more influence on me as a writer than just about anyone else has - and it started at a very early age.
Rocket Boys, Vulcans, and Wandering Apollo Rockets
I first wrote this for StarTrek's official website in 2002 the day after the "Enterprise" episode "Carbon Creek" first aired. The story was clearly inspired by my friend Homer Hickam's book "Rocket Boys" Well, that episode was on TV last night.
Doing Something Again For The First Time
There is a lot of talk these days about yet another pivot in America's civilian space policy. This time it is "back" to the Moon.
SIRIUS-17 Analog Mars Mission
Before humans will go to Mars, NASA has practice missions on Earth.
Human Exploration Research Analog Team Completes Mission
After 45 days in NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA), the four-man crew can hardly hold their eyes open.
NASA's Deep Space Gateway
NASA is leading the next steps into deep space near the moon, where astronauts will build and begin testing the systems needed for challenging missions to deep space destinations including Mars.
European Astronaut Field Training At A Mars Analog
ESA astronauts Luca Parmitano and Pedro Duque, together with Eurocom Matthias Maurer are starting the second phase of their ESA 'Pangaea' planetary geological field training on a landscape very similar to Mars at Geoparque Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands.
Taking In The View From Wharton Ridge
Today I learned that a feature on the surface of Mars has been named after a friend of mine.
Video: AIAA Space 2016 Opening Plenary Featuring Charles Bolden, Winston Beauchamp and Steve Jurvetson
Today the annual AIAA Space 2016 conference began with an opening plenary that included presentations by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Winston A. Beauchamp, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space, and the Director, Principal DoD Space Advisor Staff, and Steve Jurvetson, Managing Director, DFJ. This was followed by a panel with the opening speakers.
My Star Trek Episode at Everest
As we approach the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, I thought I'd write about how many experiences in my life have intersected with- and have been affected by its legacy.
Video: Future Explorations: Our Solar System's Origins, Water, and Life
At the AIAA Space 2015 conference a panel discusses the Future Explorations: Our Solar System's Origins, Water, and Life.
Wanderers: A Short Film by Erik Wernquist
Wanderers is a vision of humanity's expansion into the Solar System, based on scientific ideas and concepts of what our future in space might look like, if it ever happens.
The Path Forward In American Space - 2014 Edition
Before we address today's space policy issues, it must be understood that the core problem with the America's "space program" has been with us since the Apollo program "space race" began in earnest in the early 1960's. As such, we need to look through the lens of history.
How do Scientists Search for Habitable Planets?
There is only one planet we know of, so far, that is drenched with life. That planet is Earth, as you may have guessed, and it has all the right conditions for critters to thrive on its surface. Do other planets beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, also host life forms?
NASA's Polar Robotic Ranger Passes First Greenland Test
Defying 30 mph gusts and temperatures down to minus 22 F, NASA's new polar rover recently demonstrated in Greenland that it could operate completely autonomously in one of Earth's harshest environments.
Moon, Mars, or Asteroids, Which is the Best Destination for Solar System Development?
By Dennis Wingo: This is a 5,000 word blog post. I ask you who read to read all of this so that you will get the gestalt that is being conveyed. This may be the first chapter of a forthcoming book on the subject of the economic development of the solar system. Consider it a sneak peek.
NRC Committee on Human Spaceflight Needs Input
The National Research Council Committee on Human Spaceflight Needs is looking for input
from communities interested in human exploration. The deadline for submissions is July 9.
Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is soliciting the submission of multiinstitutional team-based proposals for research as participating members of the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), hereafter referred to as "the Institute."
Navy Research Vessel to be Named in Honor of Neil Armstrong
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today that the first Armstrong-class Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research (AGOR) ship will be named Neil Armstrong.
Cavenauts return to Earth
The international team of astronauts taking part in ESA's caving adventure have returned to Earth after spending six days underground. The voyage to the surface of our planet took them five hours from basecamp.