Spacecraft

Space Tools

As the curmudgeon notes, this sounds like a good idea:

A simple foam paint brush that costs only pennies at hardware stores could be an essential tool in returning the space shuttle to orbit....

However, once this little item of ground support equipment has gone through phase 0/1, phase 2, and phase 3 safety reviews, I doubt that its cost will be measured in pennies.

Assured Access to Station

Jeff Bell writes about NASA's change of focus on getting to and from the ISS.

What's missing?

Joe Katzman, at Winds of Change, has a nice article on space policy issues: Making Space Work: 2 missing pieces. I'm not giving anything away to tell you that the two pieces are "cheaper launch technologies" and "a space industry that doesn't have to depend solely on ... central planning agencies." Read entire.

Danish Space Policy

Denmark has a Space Policy. I suppose Tycho Brahe would approve, but I was surprised to see yahoo's Space>Policy listings include only one national space policy page and that one being Denmark.