Report from Headquarters
Space Foundation Co-Hosts Educational Exchange
The question of the day on Aug. 3 for Dr. Amitabha Ghosh, a planetary geologist assigned to work on NASA’s Mars Missions, was, “When will human exploration on Mars become possible?” Ghosh was the guest speaker at the Charles County Public Schools (Md.) Educational Exchange held at North Point High School (Waldorf, Md.) in partnership…
Colorado Technical University Makes Donation
Colorado Technical University (CTU) has donated tables, chairs and furnishings valued at more than $20,000 to help continue development of the Space Foundation Discovery Institute. Opened in 2009 at 105 Coleridge Ave. in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation Discovery Institute provides space- and aerospace-themed professional development, training, and support for teachers and students from around the world. It…
Cool Stuff on the Internet
Here are some interesting space-related tidbits from the Internet: James Cameron, director of “Avatar,” the most successful film ever released, talks to MTV about his plan to film on Mars; click here. Cameron has also produced a series of public service announcements spotlighting NASA’s Earth science program’s contributions to environmental awareness and exploration of our home planet; click here.…
Team Members Aim High
Bernadette Sormani, who was recently promoted to Space Foundation Senior Customer Service Associate, has completed “Through the Customer’s Eyes” training and is now Customer Service Certified. Certification is based on professional experience combined with six interactive training modules that address key competency areas and core skills necessary for delivery of world-class customer service, including: Why…
Space Foundation has Four Papers at IAC
Space Foundation Research Analyst Mariel John will present four papers at the 61st International Astronautical Congress (IAC) this month in Prague, Czech Republic. Sponsored by the International Astronautics Federation (IAF), the IAC is a well-established conference that attracts an average of 3,000 high-level space decision-makers every year. John’s will be among the almost 1,600 papers…
D.C. Focuses on Commercial Space Issues
During August, activities in Washington, D.C., focused heavily on space issues commercial. Here are some highlights: NGA Contracts Awarded On Aug. 6, the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awarded new contracts potentially worth a combined $7.3 billion over the next decade to DigitalGlobe and GeoEye under the EnhancedView program. EnhancedView follows up on previous NGA…
NEO Options Discussed
NASA’s Exploration of Near-Earth Objects (NEO) Objectives Workshop, held Aug. 10 in Washington, D.C., was designed to accomplish several objectives: increase the collective understanding of NEOs; solidify what the science community already knows about NEOs; and capture new ideas for future robotic and human missions to NEOs. Several key themes imaged among the many presentations…
Space Foundation to Exhibit in Washington, D.C.
The Space Foundation is demonstrating how astronauts conduct experiments on the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Oct. 23-24 at the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. Using gloveboxes similar to the ones used in space to prevent experiments from floating away and to keep scientists and astronauts safe, the Space Foundation will…
Administration Announces Export Reforms
The Obama administration has announced changes to rules governing the export of sensitive military and other technologies, which will streamline export processes and free up U.S. space companies to compete more effectively in the global marketplace. The changes to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) come after a year-long review by departments of State,…
Space Technology Helps Pets Sleep; Snoozer Pet Beds with Outlast® Technology are now Available
A technology developed for use in space is helping pets sleep better on Earth. Snoozer Pet Beds with Outlast® technology are designed to maximize pet comfort by managing the bed’s heat, mositure and odors. Originally developed for NASA, Outlast® technology is a patented heat management technology that absorbs excess heat and stores it until there is…