From MSNBC

"There's a new Buzz on the big screen: No, it's not Buzz Lightyear in a "Toy Story" sequel. Instead, you'll see an animated version of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the new 3-D children's movie, "Fly Me to the Moon."

If anything, Aldrin gets even more animated in real life, particularly when he's talking about what he'd do to fix America's space program.

Aldrin has to rank among the most visible and most traveled astronauts from the Apollo era: Just in the past week, he popped up at the Virgin Galactic rollout of SpaceShipTwo's mothership and on NBC's TODAY show as well as the New York and Los Angeles premieres of "Fly Me to the Moon."

He's currently in talks for a movie based on his life story - and Aldrin's wife, Lois, thinks Reese Witherspoon would be the perfect actress to take on her role in the film. "Lois likes Reese Witherspoon because she played a similar part in [the Johnny Cash biopic] 'Walk the Line,'" Buzz Aldrin told reporters.

Like Cash, Aldrin has faced his own demons, including bouts of depression and alcohol abuse in the wake of his flight to the moon in 1969. Aldrin and Neil Armstrong came under extra pressure because of their status as the first humans on the moon - and while Armstrong is dealing with the burden of fame by carefully guarding his privacy, Aldrin is dealing with it by immersing himself in public life.

Nowadays his greatest passion is getting space exploration back on track, and he's come around to a view that's different from NASA's. When I called up Aldrin today to talk about the movie, which premieres Aug. 15, his perspective on exploration was the first thing we talked about.

Here's an edited transcript of the Q&A..."

Click here for the transcript.

From Wired.com

"The third time was definitely not a charm for SpaceX.

The spaceflight company run by PayPal founder Elon Musk suffered its third high-profile mishap Saturday when an undisclosed problem caused a rocket launch to fail. The light-lift Falcon 1 was lost after its two stages failed to separate during the launch from the Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean.

Also lost were a Department of Defense satellite, two NASA satellites and the ashes of 208 people, including astronaut Gordon Cooper and James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty in the original Star Trek television show, according to The New York Times.

Wired.com spoke with Musk about SpaceX's string of setbacks, the power of patience and the future of privately funded spaceflight.

Wired.com: What happened up there Saturday?

Elon Musk: We're not quite ready to release details on the initial investigation yet, but we should do it very soon. We think we have a very good idea but I don't want to get ahead of ourselves and then be wrong. We definitely know where the problem occurred, but 'why?' is the question. We think we know, but have to be sure. We think it's very small and will require a tiny change, so tiny that if we had another rocket on the pad we could launch tomorrow..."

Click here for the full interview.

For those of you who haven't yet heard about the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket launch on Saturday night - and the anomaly that happened two minutes and 20 seconds into the launch - here is the statement from Elon Musk, which can be found on his website at:  spacex.com

Message from Elon Musk
Posted August 2, 2008

Plan Going Forward

It was obviously a big disappointment not to reach orbit on this flight [Falcon 1, Flight 3].  On the plus side, the flight of our first stage, with the new Merlin 1C engine that will be used in Falcon 9, was picture perfect.  Unfortunately, a problem occurred with stage separation, causing the stages to be held together.  This is under investigation and I will send out a note as soon as we understand exactly what happened.

The most important message I'd like to send right now is that SpaceX will not skip a beat in execution going forward.  We have flight four of Falcon 1 almost ready for flight and flight five right behind that.  I have also given the go ahead to begin fabrication of flight six.  Falcon 9 development will also continue unabated, taking into account the lessons learned with Falcon 1.  We have made great progress this past week with the successful nine engine firing.

As a precautionary measure to guard against the possibility of flight 3 not reaching orbit, SpaceX recently accepted a significant investment.  Combined with our existing cash reserves, that ensures we will have more than sufficient funding on hand to continue launching Falcon 1 and develop Falcon 9 and Dragon.  There should be absolutely zero question that SpaceX will prevail in reaching orbit and demonstrating reliable space transport.  For my part, I will never give up and I mean never.

Thanks for your hard work and now on to flight four.

--Elon--

(In a message to Employees, August 2, 2008)

"And we have to do more than provide short-term relief. We have to secure our long-term prosperity and strengthen America's competitiveness in the 21st century. One of the areas where we are in danger of losing our competitive edge is our space program. When I was growing up, NASA inspired the world with achievements we are still proud of. Today, we have an administration that has set ambitious goals for NASA without giving NASA the support it needs to reach them. As a result, they've had to cut back on research, and trim their programs, which means that after the Space Shuttle shuts down in 2010, we're going to have to rely on Russian spacecraft to keep us in orbit.

We cannot cede our leadership in space. That's why I will help close the gap and ensure that our space program doesn't suffer when the Shuttle goes out of service by working with Senator Bill Nelson to add at least one additional Space Shuttle flight beyond 2010; by supporting continued funding for NASA; by speeding the development of the Shuttle's successor; and by making sure that all those who work in the space industry in Florida do not lose their jobs when the Shuttle is retired because we cannot afford to lose their expertise.

More broadly, we need a real vision for space exploration. To help formulate this vision, I'll reestablish the National Aeronautics and Space Council so that we can develop a plan to explore the solar system - a plan that involves both human and robotic missions, and enlists both international partners and the private sector. And as America leads the world to long-term exploration of the moon, Mars, and beyond, let's also tap NASA's ingenuity to build the airplanes of tomorrow and to study our own planet so we can combat global climate change. Under my watch, NASA will inspire the world, make America stronger, and help grow the economy here in Florida. That's what this election is all about. It's about raising our sights, seizing this moment, and reclaiming our destiny in this country. And yet, at a time when the stakes could not be higher - when the challenges facing our country could not be greater - my opponent is talking about Britney and Paris. Well, I think the American people deserve better. Senator McCain and I have real differences and that's what we should be talking about - because we have a real choice to make in November."

To view the entire speech transcript, click here.

"The Coalition for Space Exploration is pleased that two of the leading presidential candidates recognize the importance of America’s space program as a national imperative. We look forward to the continuing development of a robust space policy in the next Administration. Our country's preeminence in space is at a critical juncture. We need strong leadership and a sustained commitment to ensure NASA has the necessary funding and resources for its Constellation program and other exploration initiatives to remain a leader in space, science and technology. These are key factors that benefit every American, strengthen our nation’s economy and maintain our national security. "

Tracy Lamm, Acting Chair – Public Affairs Team
Coalition for Space Exploration

 Statement by John McCain on the 50th Anniversary of NASA

ARLINGTON, VA -- July 29, 2008 - U.S. Senator John McCain issued the following statement on the 50th anniversary of NASA:
"Fifty years ago today, President Eisenhower signed the bill that launched the United States on the magnificent journey to space discovery and exploration. In doing so, he sent a powerful message to the world that the United State would harness its creativity, inventiveness and drive to lead all others into this most distant frontier. Since that time, Presidents of both parties have remained steadfast in guaranteeing U.S. leadership in space. Under current plans, the United States will retire the space shuttle in 2010 after its final mission to the international space station, and thus lose the capability to send on our own, an American to space. While my opponent seems content to retreat from American exploration of Space for a decade, I am not. As President, I will act to make ensure our astronauts will continue to explore space, and not just by hitching a ride with someone else. I intend to make sure that the NASA constellation program has the resources it needs so that we can begin a new era of human space exploration. A country that sent a man to the moon should expect no less."

NASA's 50th Anniversary: Statement from Sen. Obama

Chicago, IL | July 29, 2008
Chicago, IL -- Senator Obama today released the following statement on the 50th Anniversary of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's signing of the legislation that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):

"Fifty years ago, President Eisenhower officially created the NASA space program, capturing the imagination of generations and inspiring Americans to think bigger, aim higher and believe in a greater tomorrow. When I was young, the astronauts would come to Hawaii after landing in the Pacific Ocean. I remember the incredible inspiration I felt from knowing that these men had gone where few had gone before them.

"In recent years, Washington has failed to give NASA a robust, balanced and adequately funded mission. Though the good people of NASA who work day in and day out on new frontiers are doing amazing things, Americans are no longer inspired as they once were. That's a failure of leadership.

"I believe we need to revitalize NASA's mission to maintain America's leadership, and recommit our nation to the space program, and as President I intend to do just that. We must revive the American ingenuity that led millions of children look to NASA astronauts and scientists as role models and enter the fields of math, engineering and science. Our leadership in the world depends on it."