USGS Astrogeology Hot Topics

NASA Safety Panel Members Resign

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

Nine experts on a NASA space safety advisory panel have resigned in the wake of sharp criticism from the Columbia accident investigation board and by Congress, the space agency said Tuesday. The members of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel and two staff members of the panel sent letters of resignation to NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe. Congress first chartered the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel in the aftermath of the Apollo 1 fire in 1967 to act as an independent body to advise the NASA Administrator on the safety of operations, facilities, and personnel.

More: Wired Magazine - NASA Safety Panel Members Resign

More: NASA - NASA Administrator Accepts Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Resignations

Link: NASA - Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel

Posted by HotTopics in NASA & U.S. at 12:00

Galileo To Taste Jupiter Before Taking Final Plunge

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

In the end, the Galileo spacecraft will get a taste of Jupiter before taking a final plunge into the planet's crushing atmosphere, ending the mission on Sunday, Sept. 21. The team expects the spacecraft to transmit a few hours of science data in real time leading up to impact. The spacecraft has been purposely put on a collision course with Jupiter to eliminate any chance of an unwanted impact between the spacecraft and Jupiter's moon Europa, which Galileo discovered is likely to have a subsurface ocean. The long-planned impact is necessary now that the onboard propellant is nearly depleted.

More: JPL - Galileo To Taste Jupiter Before Taking Final Plunge

More: JPL - Countdown to Jupiter Impact

Link: JPL - Galileo Journey to Jupiter

Posted by HotTopics in Other Missions at 12:00