News NASA's Future: The News and Updates Thread

I agree. Here's an example of a cool NASA project that is likely to get lost in the manned spaceflight noise:
RFI: Electrodynamic Tether Propulsion Demonstration Mission
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=34809
The Electrodynamic Tether Propulsion Demonstration mission's primary objective is to demonstrate predictable and controlled orbital maneuvering (orbital altitude change and inclination change) using an electrodynamic tether propulsion system.
 
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Look how small the asteroid is! There is a little space suited figure on the rock. :lol:

asteroid-mission-plymouth-rock-2-100830-02.jpg
 
From the Spaceflight Now's article already mentioned on "Plymouth Rock" Asteroid Mission topic:
Congress continues to debate the White House plan, which also cancels NASA's program to return humans to the moon and turns over crew transportation to low Earth orbit to commercial operators.

When legislators return to Washington Sept. 13, there will be less than three weeks until fiscal year 2011 begins, meaning NASA will likely be forced to get by on a continuing budget resolution for at least some time.

The continuing resolution would freeze next year's funding at or near fiscal year 2010 levels, putting any asteroid exploration dreams on the backburner.
 
I'm not sure it's strictly on this topic (there's nothing about politics nor new plans for future), but it says about 10-year contracts for launch services, so it's somehow connected to the nearest future of NASA -

Spaceflight Now: NASA selects rocket fleet for unmanned satellite launches:
NASA has selected four companies to launch the space agency's robotic Earth observation, astronomy and planetary exploration probes for the next decade.

In a statement released late Thursday, NASA announced it was awarding Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Orbital Sciences Corp., Space Exploration Technologies Corp., and United Launch Alliance a 10-year contract for rocket flights of agency spacecraft.
...
 
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