plover's Journal: I'm hopeful about this submission!

This one is actually news.

plover writes: Because of Congressional legislation passed quietly in 2003, the Air Force Space Command will no longer distribute space surveillance data via NASA. There was supposed a three year transitional period where the data was to be made available via a NASA web site, but earlier this month their transitional server went down hard, and NASA has decided to not rebuild it. (It was scheduled to be shut down on 31 March 2005 anyway.)

The only way to obtain satellite data now is by signing up with the official Space-Track website. Part of the agreement to obtaining data from their site is that you agree to not redistribute their data.

Of course, amateurs are still free to redistribute their observations, including those of classified satellites.

Not too shabby

[paganizer]

As good a submission as I've seen lately.

Re:Not too shabby

[plover]

Thank you. I thought it was both relevant AND geeky.

And not only that, but it got accepted on the front page! [slashdot.org] w00t!