Video- President Obama on a Bold New Course for NASA

Obama to unveil vision for space program

So why are Neil Armstrong and others bitching if he hasn't even announced his policy yet?

Washington (CNN) – President Obama will announce his administration's vision for America's space program during a visit to Florida on Thursday, according to documents provided to CNN by a White House official.

"The Administration is committed to a bold, new approach to human spaceflight, and is increasing the NASA budget by $6 billion over the next five years in order to embark on this ambitious strategy that will foster the development of path-breaking technologies, increase the reach and reduce the cost of human spaceflight, and help create thousands of new jobs," the documents say.

The future of the space agency as outlined in the White House documents would include a multi-billion-dollar moderization of Kennedy Space Center, expansion of private-sector and commercial space industries, creation of thousands of jobs and eventually human travel to Mars.

Video- Afternoon Distraction: First Images From Refreshed Hubble Telescope

Oooooh, good stuff. You can find more daily here.

Open Thread

From the Moon to the Earth
Credit: Apollo 11, NASA

Explanation: After the most famous voyage of modern times, it was time to go home. After proving that humanity has the ability to go beyond the confines of planet Earth, the first humans to walk on another world -- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin -- flew the ascent stage of their Lunar Module back to meet Michael Collins in the moon-orbiting Command and Service Module. Pictured above on 1969 July 21, the ascending spaceship was captured by Collins making its approach, with the Moon below, and Earth far in the distance. Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the first human moon landing.

Open Thread

Three Galaxies in Draco
Credit & Copyright: Giovanni Benintende

Explanation: This intriguing trio of galaxies is sometimes called the Draco Group, located in the northern constellation of (you guessed it) Draco. From left to right are edge-on spiral NGC 5981, elliptical galaxy NGC 5982, and face-on spiral NGC 5985 -- all within this single telescopic field of view spanning a little more than half the width of the full moon.

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Video- President Obama taps African American ex astronaut to head NASA

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He seems like a straight up guy.

Apollo Astronaut Makes Case For UFOs

The hearing is live here.

Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell believes the U. S. government is withholding information regarding the truth about the unidentified flying objects and extra-terrestrial life, and he's making his case at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Monday morning.

NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb resigns

By GottaLaff

NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb has resigned and President Obama accepted his resignation. Here is the letter:

Dear Mr. President:

With this letter I tender my resignation as the Inspector General of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, effective April 11, 2009.

I have been honored to serve the United States over the past seventeen years, first at the Office of Government Ethics, then at the White House, and for the last seven years as Inspector General.

A new Inspector General will find an organization with extraordinarily talented employees dedicated to rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse and promoting the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of NASA.

At NASA, the seemingly impossible is turned into marvels of human achievement. Challenges facing NASA are many, but I am confident that they will be ably met by your Administration, working with NASA's gifted scientists, engineers, institutional leaders, and contractor workforce.

I wish you every success.

Very Respectfully,

Robert W. Cobb

NASA and Prez O have had previous issues.

NASA Not Cooperating With Obama Transition

This has to be the epitome of WTF? Wonder how far out of a job his ego is willing to go. h/t.

CAPE CANAVERAL – NASA administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is “not qualified” to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.

In a heated 40-minute conversation last week with Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator who heads the space transition team, a red-faced Griffin demanded to speak directly to Obama, according to witnesses.

In addition, Griffin is scripting NASA employees and civilian contractors on what they can tell the transition team and has warned aerospace executives not to criticize the agency’s moon program, sources said.

Griffin’s resistance is part of a no-holds-barred effort to preserve the Constellation program, the delayed and over-budget moon rocket that is his signature project.