NASA, space and shit

There are a lot of news on the space science front:
ranging from SETI's new "Sagan Center", through APL becoming a NASA field center to the "new improved National Space Policy, with Extra Classified Sections"

I'm way behind, so go browse NASAwatch for now, may catch up on the details in a few days at most. Hah.

Have to say though the "go to the Moon, greet the Chinese, and shoot them" quip I heard from a space policy admin earlier this year makes much more sense now. Wasn't funny then either.

UPDATE: - figured I ought to put in some details. A lot if shamelessly trawled from NASAwatch over the last couple of weeks.

SETI Institute is setting up a "Sagan Center" They need $4 million to get going, I'm figuring at least $100 million to endow it for long term operation.
They're in the right place.

Carl talks to Mike about astrobiology and its long term importance,

The HST had some hiccups: the ACS safed, looks like the electronics are getting dusty.
It is back on, but the STSCI asked for "backup proposals" to use NICMOS or WFPC2 (which has one bad chip). Interestingly only Large Proposals are sought - 70+ orbits.
So, go think of something fun to do, Methinks the STSCI folks have reason to worry about ACS if they're preparing for failure.

Mary Cleave is speaking out. It is hard work, clearly.

APL is now a full NASA field center? With a $750 million five year contract.
Hm, I thought money was so tight that HQ could not find $10-20 million to save major missions in the pipeline. Good to know it is available for important causes (I know, it probably isn't new money, or not much, mainly consolidation of ongoing independent contracts, but still, can NASA really just make a new field center like that - no Congress, no announcement, not bidding?).
And APL has produced some very good people, some of whom even went on to work at NASA HQ at the highest levels.
Wonder if we could interest APL in some Astrobiology contracts? Or maybe LISA work...

I'm not ready to tackle the new National Space Policy.
Lot to say, serious implications people may not appreciate. Some other time.