The Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center is located on the Potomac River in Maryland, just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national/ . It is the crown jewel of the newly developed National Harbor, a dynamic, new waterfront community. A world-class resort hotel and convention center covering 41.7 acres, Gaylord National overlooks the monuments and skyline of our nation's capital. Ideally situated along the scenic shoreline of the historic Potomac River, Gaylord National is the largest combined hotel and convention center on the Eastern Seaboard. A block of rooms has been reserved for a rate of $159 per night (excluding taxes) and is available until October 15, 2010. The resort fee is also included in the rate and free internet access in your room. To make lodging reservations, go to
Friday, January 29, 2010
ASGSB 26th Annual Conference - Get your room now!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Next NASA - Rumors Fly - Does Constellation??
Postings I am sharing with you. These are rumors and may just be the white house using the media to test trial balloon statements to gauge public reactions. I find it interesting that one of the reports says the White House is ready for conflict with Congress if policies are extremely different. (paraphrasing). The only thing I can say is that Congress is indeed getting ready for a battle if the white house nixes major programs. The only thing that seems to be in agreement is ISS till 2020, and I have even seen budget exercises for the 2025 timeframe. Next week should reveal more with the release of the FY2011 budget.
The Houston Chronicle (1/27, Berger, Powell) reports analysts "say it's likely the space agency's budget will remain 'flat' for the coming year, potentially leaving humans stuck in near-Earth orbit for the foreseeable future." Citing supportive statements from several Texan Congressmen, the article notes "Congress has vowed to fight for the resources the Augustine Commission said NASA needed." However, according to the article, other than appointing Charles Bolden as NASA Administrator and setting up the Augustine Commission, "Obama has been mum, never articulating his vision for NASA."
According to the Orlando Sentinel (1/27, Block, Matthews), "NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon are dead. So are the rockets being designed to take them there - that is, if President Barack Obama gets his way." Reportedly "according to White House insiders, agency officials, industry executives and congressional sources familiar with Obama's long-awaited plans," the entire Constellation program will be cut, with NASA directed to focus on "a new technology research and development program that will one day make human exploration of asteroids and the inner solar system possible." A conflict with Congress is seen as "looming," but reportedly the White House is "ready" for this.
In contrast, Space News (1/27, Klamper) reports, "A top White House budget official suggested to reporters Jan. 26 that NASA could still see a budget increase for 2011 despite U.S. President Barack Obama's proposed three-year freeze on most non-defense discretionary spending."
Monday, January 11, 2010
Next-Gen Suborbital Researchers Conference Feb 18-20, 2010 in Boulder, CO
NSRC Pre-Registration Deadline: 15 January
Pre-Register for NSRC Before Jan 15 to Guarantee Your Seat: The early registration deadline for the Next-Gen Suborbital Researchers Conference (Boulder, Colorado; 18-20 February) is right around the corner next week—on January 15th.
We are encouraging those interested in attending to register early because attendance will be limited by the meeting facility size; early registration is also less expensive than full registration.
For more information on the meeting program, list of speakers, linked speaker abstracts, and how to register, go to: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/nsrc2010/
About NSRC: The Next-Gen Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) will bring together researchers from government, industry, and academia, NASA and FAA officials, and firms building next-gen suborbital vehicles. NSRC will provide a forum to learn about the experiment and EPO capabilities of these new suborbital systems and their revolutionary capabilities. NSRC will also provide an opportunity for attendees to make inputs on vehicle design requirements for science and education.
Friday, January 8, 2010
New ground based solicitation for space radiation program
This NRA solicits ground-based proposals for the Space Radiation Program Element (SRPE) components of the Human Research Program (HRP). Proposals are solicited by the SRPE in the area of Space Radiation Biology utilizing beams of high energy heavy ions simulating space radiation at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory, at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York.
The full text of the solicitation is available on the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com <http://nspires.nasaprs.com/> under menu listing "Open Solicitations." Potential applicants are urged to access this site well in advance of the proposal due date to familiarize themselves with its structure and to register in the system. Proposals solicited through this NRA will use a two-step proposal process. Only Step-1 proposers determined to be relevant with respect to the Research Emphases outlined in Section (I)(F) of this NRA will be invited to submit full Step-2 proposals. Step-2 proposals must be compliant with respect to all sections of this NRA or they will be declined without review. Proposals must be submitted electronically. Step-1 proposals are due February 16, 2010. Step-2 proposals are due April 20, 2010.
