Steve Bruhn at right, during our first interveiw with Channel 48 news.

Steve Bruhn, "TFS"--The Factory Spectator.

May 17, 1960 - May 8, 2013

NEW YORK CITY -- A re-elected and re-empowered President Obama should finish the job he started and kill the big new NASA rocket being developed in Huntsville, Ala., according to a former congressional space advocate and a NASA adviser. Both men made their case in an article in Sunday's Wall Street Journal entitled "Commercial Space Development Needs an Obama Relaunch." The article is behind a Journal paywall, but it can be read by pasting the title into a Google search box.

Obama tried to kill NASA's plans for a new rocket capable of carrying astronauts to deep space after being elected for his first term. His position then -- that commercial companies should build the rockets while NASA concentrates on cutting-edge technology -- is the same argument made in the Journal piece by writers Robert Walker and Charles Miller. The article says, "Mr. Walker is a former chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee and now is chairman of Wexler & Walker. Mr. Miller is a former NASA senior adviser for commercial space and president of NexGen Space LLC, a space policy consulting firm."

According to Walker and Miller, Congress stopped the president because it was concerned about jobs in Florida and Alabama. Huntsville, Alabama, is where NASA is developing the compromise rocket Congress and the White House agreed on after a long and heated fight in 2010. The compromise has NASA funding both the new rocket, called the Space Launch System (SLS), and commercial companies' space efforts.

"So as the country struggles with trillions in debt and deficits," the writers say, "it makes no sense for NASA to build rockets that are already available or can be developed at much lower cost by U.S. private industry. Why spend approximately $20 billion to build an unneeded SLS super-heavy-lift rocket, for instance, when existing commercial rockets can carry payloads more often, efficiently and cheaply?"

Thousands of Huntsville workers, mostly in the aerospace contractor workforce, are at work on the new rocket. When the president killed its predecessor, the Constellation program, several thousand were laid off. Some have been rehired, and advocates of a continued NASA role in rocket development say the skills at risk are critical to national preeminence in science and space. They also doubt commercial companies will build rockets to explore deep space, which SLS is being designed to do, precisely because there is no clear profit potential.

What do you think? Is this article a trial balloon by a White House still intent on re-directing NASA? Or an attempt by commercial space advocates to get more of the budget pie? Or is it a serious second look at a national debate about NASA's future that won't go away?

Full Story: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/01/obama_urged_to_kill_new_nasa_r.html#incart_river_default

Photo courtesy of NASA. Space Shuttle Landing.

Story by Alex Byers. December 28, 2012 04:46 AM EST.

One giant leap for mankind. One small step for the GoDaddy Martian Rover?

With NASA’s budget unlikely to see a boost anytime soon, legislators and policymakers are left looking for a financial fix. Enter one option: selling private sponsorships to future NASA projects or vehicles.

Robert Walker, a former Republican chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, floated that idea at a committee hearing on NASA’s strategic direction earlier this month.

Far-fetched? Maybe. But with federal appropriations declining each year since 2009, NASA needs to look outside Washington for a cash infusion, Walker says.

“Sponsorship brings in people who have no place in aerospace but see an opportunity to have their name associated with it,” he told POLITICO.

And lawmakers have more to grapple with than just the question of NASA resources: Washington can’t even agree on what exactly the agency’s job should be.

Congress and the White House have butted heads over NASA’s direction, with many on the Hill supporting new human exploration missions, such as going back to the moon. The White House, while not writing off that goal, has also promoted technology development and a research mission that would study samples of asteroids that come from deep space.

The two bodies were able to pass a space plan in the partisan political climate of 2010 that included components from both sides, noted David Weaver, the agency’s associate administrator for communications. But that deal has been described as a compromise that made no one happy rather than a road map for NASA’s future.

That lack of consensus among political leadership was the key finding of a report commissioned by Congress and released earlier this month. The administration, a National Research Council Committee concluded, needs to take the lead in “forging a new consensus on NASA’s future” and eliminate “the current mismatch between NASA’s budget and its portfolio of programs, facilities and staff.”

One way to do that, the report states, is by committing to cost-sharing deals with other government agencies and international partnerships. And, as Walker pointed out at the House hearing, there are private-sector options. That includes sponsorships, but it also encompasses partnerships that could solidify or increase NASA’s access to technology or projects developed by innovative space companies like Space X or Virgin Galactic.

That’s a key component of the administration’s space policy, Weaver said.

“We now are hiring folks to transport our supplies to the space station, and eventually very soon, we’ll be hiring companies to take our astronauts to the space station,” he said. “That’s going to save us money — money that we will then plow into the development of the most powerful rocket ever developed and a space capsule that will take our astronauts further than we’ve ever gone before.”

There’s no indication that the agency is talking about selling naming rights, and it’s not clear whether sponsorships would be a viable funding source. Proponents of the idea would need to contend with federal rules that prohibit government employees from endorsing a private-sector project, said Scott Pace, director of the Space Policy Institute at The George Washington University.

Frank Slazer, vice president of space systems at the Aerospace Industries Association, said the sponsorship idea has been floated before — Pizza Hut put its logo on a Russian rocket in 2000, for example. But once the novelty hits, he said, it can fade fast.

“I don’t think these things have long-term potential for long-term funding,” he said.

Lawmakers may not have a strong stance on the sponsorship issue yet — incoming House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) hasn’t made up his mind. But he noted the option.

“The commercialization of space and space exploration can inspire our nation and encourage new generations of astronauts, engineers and innovators,” Smith said in a statement to POLITICO. “As the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee begins working on a NASA reauthorization bill next Congress, we will examine ways to promote the commercialization of space that help modernize NASA’s mission.”

A spokesman for outgoing Chairman Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) said the lawmaker had no further comment on the naming rights issue. Immediately after Walker finished his sponsorship remarks at the House hearing, Hall, whose space priority is the International Space Station, did add, “and that’s the way it is.”

So far, at least one legislator is opposed.

“I’m very skeptical and the idea is distasteful to me,” Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) said in an interview. “I did not like the idea of selling naming rights to NASA missions, I don’t like the idea of astronaut spacesuits looking like a NASCAR uniform,” he added, concurring with concerns about the unreliability of corporate funding.

Naming rights are likely a long way off, if they come at all. NASA, Walker said, would have to restructure how some of its centers operate. And that possibility also depends on how well the commercial community can till the field.

“Everybody who looks at NASA says they are dramatically underfunded for the kinds of things they are asked to do,” Walker said. “This is just one idea.”

© 2012 POLITICO LLC

Full Story: http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/nasa-seeks-partners-to-launch-projects-85539.html?hp=r6

By Lee Roop

Marshall Space Flight Center's headquarters Building 4200 in Huntsville. (The Huntsville Times)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - More than 1,300 aerospace jobs will be at risk in Huntsville in 2013 if the national budget goes over the so-called "fiscal cliff," according to an aerospace industry study released Thursday.

None of those jobs would be NASA civil servants, who are protected by federal law from layoffs in 2013, the study's sponsors said. Civil servants might, however, face furloughs.

Instead, the job losses would be borne by contractors, sub-contractors and businesses providing goods and services to the Marshall Space Flight Center and its employees, according to the study released by the Aerospace Industries Association in Washington, D.C.. It was conducted by Dr. Stephen S. Fuller, a professor and analyst at George Mason University.

Cuts of that magnitude would chop Marshall's contractor workforce by more than a third as the center tries to build a new heavy-lift rocket to take astronauts to Mars. Marshall, with a $2.5 billion annual budget, employs about 6,000 people broken into 2,400 civil service employees and 3,600 contractor employees. According to the study, the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 exempted NASA civil servants from any job losses through fiscal year 2013.

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, said Thursday night that the job losses forecast "are consistent with (predictions) we saw on the defense side." Brooks said, "I'm not happy about it," but there is little Congress can do until President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner reach an agreement to stop it. He predicted that nothing will happen until "right before the new year."

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NASA is serious about sending astronauts back to the moon's neighborhood and will likely unveil its ambitious plans soon now that President Barack Obama has been re-elected, experts say.

The space agency has apparently been thinking about setting up a manned outpost beyond the moon's far side, both to establish a human presence in deep space and to build momentum toward a planned visit to an asteroid in 2025.

The new plans have probably already been cleared with the Obama Administration but have been kept under wraps in case Republican candidate Mitt Romney won Tuesday night's (Nov. 6) presidential election, said space policy expert John Logsdon, a professor emeritus at George Washington University.

"NASA has been evolving its thinking, and its latest charts have inserted a new element of cislunar/lunar gateway/Earth-moon L2 sort of stuff into the plan," Logsdon told SPACE.com. (The Earth-moon L2 is a so-called libration point where the two bodies' gravitational pulls roughly balance out, allowing spacecraft to essentially park there.) [Gallery: Visions of Deep-Space Station Missions]

"They've been holding off announcing that until after the election," Logsdon added, noting that Romney had pledged to reassess and possibly revise NASA's missions and direction.

A new vision of human space exploration

In 2010, President Obama directed NASA to work toward sending astronauts to a near-Earth asteroid by 2025, then on to the vicinity of Mars by the mid-2030s. To reach such deep-space destinations, the agency is developing a huge rocket called the Space Launch System (SLS) and a crew capsule named Orion.

But astronauts likely won't head straight to a space rock when SLS and Orion are ready to fly together in 2021. In the last year, word has begun leaking out that NASA wants to explore Earth-moon L2, a point in space that lies beyond the moon's far side, as a precursor.

Rumors currently point toward parking a spacecraft at the Earth-moon L2 gateway, so NASA (and perhaps international partners) can learn more about supporting humans in deep space. Astronauts stationed there could also aid in lunar exploration — by teleoperating rovers on the moon's surface, for example.

NASA officials think they can pull off such manned missions without busting their budget, which stands at $17.7 billion in the proposed 2013 federal budget.

"They're not talking about plans that imply significant budget increases," Logsdon said. "It gives a more focused use for SLS and Orion before an asteroid mission."

Moon missions coming soon?

Exploration of Earth-moon L2 could get started as early as 2021 with the first manned flight of SLS and Orion, which NASA calls Exploration Mission 2. (Exploration Mission 1 is the initial, unmanned test launch of SLS, slated for late 2017.)

"I'm not privy to the specifics of this, but one could conceive of the second SLS mission being the start of activity in cislunar space, rather than just being a lunar orbit mission," Logsdon said.

We may know soon enough. NASA higher-ups have dropped hints recently that a big announcement may indeed be in the offing before too much longer.

"We just recently delivered a comprehensive report to Congress outlining our destinations which makes clear that SLS will go way beyond low-Earth orbit to explore the expansive space around the Earth-moon system, near-Earth asteroids, the moon, and ultimately, Mars," NASA deputy chief Lori Garver said at a conference in September.

"Let me say that again: We're going back to the moon, attempting a first-ever mission to send humans to an asteroid and actively developing a plan to take Americans to Mars," Garver added.

Full Story: http://www.space.com/18380-nasa-moon-missions-obama-election.html

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Neil Armstrong, the first human ever to walk on the surface of the moon, died Saturday at age 82.

Armstrong was catapulted onto the world stage on July 20, 1969, when, as commander of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, he stepped on to the moon's surface for the first time and said words that will forever be remembered: "That is one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind."

Armstrong died due to complications from recent heart surgery. He was a Navy test pilot before joining NASA's astronaut corps in 1962 and was one of a handful of pilots to fly the X-15 rocket. Here are the first tributes to Armstrong from U.S. officials, NASA and others:  

U.S. President Barack Obama

Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Neil Armstrong.

Neil was among the greatest of American heroes - not just of his time, but of all time.  When he and his fellow crew members lifted off aboard Apollo 11 in 1969, they carried with them the aspirations of an entire nation.  They set out to show the world that the American spirit can see beyond what seems unimaginable - that with enough drive and ingenuity, anything is possible. And when Neil stepped foot on the surface of the moon for the first time, he delivered a moment of human achievement that will never be forgotten. [Photos: Neil Armstrong – A Space Icon]

Today, Neil's spirit of discovery lives on in all the men and women who have devoted their lives to exploring the unknown - including those who are ensuring that we reach higher and go further in space. That legacy will endure - sparked by a man who taught us the enormous power of one small step.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney

Neil Armstrong today takes his place in the hall of heroes. The moon will miss its first son of Earth.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

On behalf of the entire NASA family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Carol and the rest of Armstrong family on the passing of Neil Armstrong. As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them, remembered for taking humankind's first small step on a world beyond our own.

Besides being one of America’s greatest explorers, Neil carried himself with a grace and humility that was an example to us all. When President Kennedy challenged the nation to send a human to the moon, Neil Armstrong accepted without reservation.

As we enter this next era of space exploration, we do so standing on the shoulders of Neil Armstrong. We mourn the passing of a friend, fellow astronaut and true American hero. [Giant Leaps: Top Milestones in Human Spaceflight]

Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 lunar module pilot and second man to walk on the moon

I am very saddened to learn of the passing of Neil Armstrong today. Neil and I trained together as technical partners but were also good friends who will always be connected through our participation in the mission of Apollo 11. Whenever I look at the moon it reminds me of the moment over four decades ago when I realized that even though we were farther away from Earth than two humans had ever been, we were not alone.

Virtually the entire world took that memorable journey with us. I know I am joined by millions of others in mourning the passing of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew. My friend Neil took the small step but giant leap that changed the world and will forever be remembered as a landmark moment in human history. I had truly hoped that in 2019, we would be standing together along with our colleague Mike Collins to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of our moon landing. Regrettably, this is not to be. Neil will most certainly be there with us in spirit.

On behalf of the Aldrin family, we extend our deepest condolences to Carol and the entire Armstrong family. I will miss my friend Neil as I know our fellow citizens and people around world will miss this foremost aviation and space pioneer.

May he Rest in Peace.

Michael Collins, Apollo 11 command module pilot

He was the best, and I will miss him terribly.

Family of Neil Armstrong

We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati.

He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.

As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.

While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.

For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.

The Apollo 11 crew leaves Kennedy Space Center's Manned Spacecraft Operations Building during the pre-launch countdown. Mission commander Neil Armstrong, command module pilot Michael Collins, and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin prepare to ride the special transport van to Launch Complex 39A where their spacecraft awaited them. Liftoff occurred at 9:32 a.m. EDT, July 16, 1969.
CREDIT: NASA

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio)

A true hero has returned to the Heavens to which he once flew. Neil Armstrong blazed trails not just for America, but for all of mankind. He inspired generations of boys and girls worldwide not just through his monumental feat, but with the humility and grace with which he carried himself to the end.

George Whitesides, CEO and President, Virgin Galactic private spaceflight company

Armstrong will be remembered for thousands of years, not just as a pioneering explorer but as a man who represented the best of humanity. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Astronaut. Professor. United States Naval Aviator. First man on the moon. Neil Armstrong, a man who is all these things, addresses guests at NASA's 50th anniversary celebration in 2008.
CREDIT: NASA/Paul Alers

John Logsdon, space policy expert and professor emeritus at George Washington University

Neil Armstrong was a true pioneer of the science and art of flight. That was what drove him – pushing the frontier on human ability to travel through air and space at the edge of performance. More broadly, he wanted to contribute to making the experience of flight accessible and safe for everyone.

Although he was never comfortable with his status as an icon because of Apollo 11, as he got older he accepted that reality and came to enjoy sharing his experience of landing on the moon with all who would listen.

Although Neil Armstrong may have passed away, his name will be part of human history forever.

John Pike, director of public policy organization GlobalSecurity.org

People of a certain age know exactly where they were and who they were with when they saw "Live from the Moon" at the bottom of the TV screen.

Lon Rains, chairman of the Coalition for Space Exploration

Today we mourn the loss of Neil Armstrong, a true hero for all mankind. Neil was a humble man who devoted his life and his career to serving a greater cause. From the children who strive to explore the stars to those who devote their lives to reaching beyond the bonds of earth, one can only hope to follow in his footsteps.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of this great man. We will forever celebrate his life, his accomplishments and his spirit.

Elliot Pulham, Space Foundation CEO

Armstrong's quiet resolve and unyielding belief in the importance of exploration will be missed by a grateful nation. In an age when Hollywood and professional sports manufacture so-called 'heroes,' Armstrong exemplified the right stuff. He was the real deal. Particularly in this age of timid exploration goals and paltry NASA budgets, Armstrong looms as a larger-than-life reminder of what our nation was once capable of.

Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), senior member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Neil Armstrong and I share the grief of a nation in mourning.

Neil Armstrong's name will be one of the few iconic names from our era found in history books a thousand years from now. But there is no way those history books will be able to capture the bravery, kindness, and dignity of this great pilot and brave astronaut.

I had the honor of meeting him and discussing the future of our space programs with him over the years. There has never been a stronger advocate for America to continue the bold exploration of space.  I can think of no greater tribute to his memory than for America to heed that call.

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta

I was deeply saddened to learn today of the passing of Neil Armstrong, one of America's greatest heroes and Naval aviators.  On behalf of the Department of Defense, I express my condolences to the Armstrong family during this difficult time. 

We are bidding farewell to one of our own. As a decorated Korean War veteran, as an astronaut for NASA, and as the first man to walk on the moon, Neil inspired generations of Americans to believe that as a nation we are capable of achieving greatness that only comes with determination, perseverance, and hard work.  

As a true pioneer, his one small step showed all mankind the great feats we can accomplish when we set ourselves to the task.  While Neil is no longer with us, his spirit and his legacy of American achievement and national pride will live forever.

You can follow SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter @tariqjmalik and SPACE.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook & Google+. 

Full Story:  http://www.space.com/17301-neil-armstrong-dies-reactions-nasa.html