Keep your eyes on the sky…and ears at the ready for new news about Near Earth Objects (NEOs), as well as power-beaming satellites. A Congressional hearing is on track for October 11, one that will deal with that controversial and contentious NASA report on dealing with the space agency’s NEO survey program. Lawmakers want to examine the status of NASA’s ability to track and catalog NEOs, and current thinking about how best to thwart an incoming space rock with Earth’s name on it. NASA recently sent to Congress — at its request — a report that scopes out asteroid detection and deflection. That study has come under fire, particularly by former Apollo astronaut, Rusty Schweickart, as reported here: http://www.space.com/adastra/070527_isdc_asteroids.html In a newly issued note on the hearing – The Near-Earth Objects: Status of the Survey Program and Review of NASA’s Report to Congress — the witnesses will be James Green, Director of Planetary Science Division, NASA; Scott Pace, Associate Administrator, Program Analysis and Evaluation, NASA; Donald Yeomans, Manager, Near Earth Object Program Office, JPL/NASA; Donald Campbell, Professor of Astronomy, Cornell University; and Russell Schweickart, Chairman, B612 Foundation. Meanwhile, in another space arena, word is that an interim report on satellite based solar power is headed for an official outing. The Pentagon’s National Security Space Office (NSSO) is expected to unveil its study findings on power-beaming satellites in Washington, D.C. next week too. For additional info on this concept, go to: http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/070919_sps_airforce.html
