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CSExtra – Wednesday, May 16, 2012

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:05:36 +0000

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Wednesday’s CSExtra offers a collection of the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities. China looks to June for the launching of the country’s fourth human spaceflight. In the U.S., policymakers ponder the future of human spaceflight, with tight budgets an influencing factor. Power companies confront an increase in solar activity. Arianespace launches telecommunications satellites for Japan and Vietnam. The Pentagon seeks help from NASA in solving a puzzling problem faced by X-22 pilots. Russia’s 30 Soyuz mission is expected to dock with the International Space Station early Thursday with American Joe Acaba among the three crew members. Why did the former high school teacher bring a small Smokey the Bear figure with him?

1. From Spaceflightnow.com: China looks to June for the launching of the nation’s fourth human spaceflight mission. The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, with a crew of three, will attempt a manual docking with China’s Tiangong 1 space station. The crew may include a woman. The identities of the crew and the length of the mission have not been announced.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1205/14shenzhou9/

2. From Space News: In an op-ed, Chris Carberry tracks the dilemma confronting U. S. space policymakers. It’s shaped by big dreams for the future, but a lack of resources and a leadership confronted with challenges on other fronts. The situation is not much different in Europe, Russia, China and Japan. The best we can do, Carberry writes, may be to keep our sights set on Mars until the environment improves. Gilbert is a visiting scholar at the George Washington University Space Policy Institute.
http://www.spacenews.com/commentaries/120516-space-dreams-into-reality.html

A. From Discovery.com: Is the NASA fostered U. S. commercial space race drawing to a close? The House version of NASA’s commercial crew development initiative raises the possibility.
http://news.discovery.com/space/might-nasa-kill-the-commercial-space-race-120515.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

B. From Space.com: U. S. aerospace companies ponder their options, as NASA considers who to fund in the initiative to foster U. S. commercial crew transportation services. The agency hopes to award development funding to at least two companies this summer under the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability initiative. SpaceX plans to continue with its development efforts, whether it receives funding or not. Boeing is unsure. Others face the same choice.
http://www.space.com/15700-private-space-taxis-nasa-funding.html

C. From Aviation Week & Space Technology: NASA, adjusting to funding constraints, is unlikely to launch another robot rover to Mars until 2020. NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory, which is headed toward a landing on the red planet in early August and a two year mission, will have to suffice.
http://www.aviationnow.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_05_14_2012_p27-456466.xml

3. From the Wall Street Journal: Power companies brace for an increase in solar activity. An intense solar storm could disrupt power grids, leading to interruptions in service as well as losses in revenues.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303505504577404360076098508.html

4. From NASAspaceflight.com: An Ariane 5 launches communications satellites for Japan and Vietnam from French Guiana.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/ariane-5-eca-jcsat-13-and-vinasat-2-into-orbit/

5. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post: The Pentagon seeks assistance from NASA and Navy experts in solving a puzzling problem with the U. S. Air Force F-22. Some pilots experience dizziness and symptoms of oxygen shortage while flying the high performance stealth fighter. A remedy has eluded the military for months, prompting some pilots to refuse to take to the air.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/panetta-limits-f-22-fighter-to-flights-near-landing-zones-due-to-oxygen-deficit-problems/2012/05/15/gIQAFaabRU_story.html

6. From Collectspace.com: Remember Smokey the Bear?. NASA astronaut Joseph Acaba is carrying a small Smokey figure aboard Russia’s 30 Soyuz mission, which is on its way to a docking with the International Space Station early Thursday.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051412a.html

Brought to you by the Coalition for Space Exploration, CSExtra is a daily compilation of space industry news selected from hundreds of online media resources. The Coalition is not the author or reporter of any of the stories appearing in CSExtra and does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtra contains links to other websites and domains which are wholly independent of the Coalition, and the Coalition makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in any such site or domain and does not pre-screen or approve any content. The Coalition does not endorse or receive any type of compensation from the included media outlets and is not responsible or liable in any way for any content of CSExtra or for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of any content appearing in CSExtra. For information on the Coalition, visit www.spacecoalition.com or contact us via e-mail at Info@spacecoalition.com.

CSExtra – Tuesday, May 15, 2012

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:45:00 +0000

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Tuesday’s CSExtra offers a collection of the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. Three U.S. and Russian astronauts lift off late Monday for the International Space Station. SpaceX prepares to demonstrate the commercial sector’s role in future exploration. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, of Florida, takes issue with the House version of NASA’s 2013 budget and its restrictive treatment of commercial crew space transportation. Essays look deeper into the significance of Saturday’s SpaceX launch and supply mission to the space station as well as the value of the station to the future exploration of Mars. One NASA shuttle veteran with roots in the Apollo era is not at all pleased with the nation’s direction in space. The European Space Agency looks to crowd sourcing for a asteroid identification. An asteroid flies close.

1. From Spaceflightnow.com and CBS News: A Soyuz rocket with two Russians and an American lifts off late Monday for the International Space Station. The Soyuz transport carrying Gennady Padalka, Sergei Revin and Joe Acaba is on a course to dock with the station early Thursday.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp31/120514launch/

2. From The New York Times: SpaceX, one of two companies that has partnered with NASA to initiate commercial re-supply services to the International Space Station, is scheduled to lift off early Saturday on a potentially historic mission. SpaceX founder Elon Musk predicts the commercial sector will be pivotal in humanity’s exploration of Mars.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/science/space/contracts-help-private-sector-edge-deeper-into-space.html?_r=2&ref=science

3. From Spacepolitics.com: U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson, of Florida, predicts the Senate will remove House restrictions on NASA’s efforts to foster U.S. commercial crew space transportation services. The restrictions are included in the House version of NASA’s 2013 budget.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2012/05/14/nelson-early-commercial-crew-downselect-would-be-silliness/

4. Two essays from Monday’s The Space Review assess a) the stakes for SpaceX as the company undertakes its mission to the International Space Station and b) the value of the International Space Station to the future exploration of Mars.

A. In “The big test” TSR editor Jeff Foust offers perspective on The SpaceX launch early Saturday of the first U.S. commercial re-supply mission to the International Space Station. The 18-day Falcon 9/Dragon mission, in every sense an ambitious test flight, promises to be closely watched. If all goes well, confidence in NASA’s strategy of turning orbital cargo and crew missions over to the private sector is likely to grow, Foust writes. The outcome of a setback is more difficult to predict. However, House appropriators are already urging NASA to scale back from four to one the number of commercial crew partners the agency is funding.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2082/1

B. In “Why ISS can advance Mars exploration,” Chris Carberry executive director of Explore Mars Inc., believes a Mars analog mission based from the ISS is essential. Move quickly, Carberry urges, to keep the effort from being politicized. The station can also serve as a test bed for a range of environmental control and crew health equipment that will be needed for the long journey, Carberry writes.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2081/1

5. From the Examiner.com: NASA has no leadership, no goals, says retired NASA shuttle astronaut Story Musgrave, who flew aboard the space shuttle six times.
http://www.examiner.com/article/legendary-astronaut-criticizes-nasa-and-it-s-future-goals

6. From The Coalition for Space Exploration: The European Space Agency enlists amateur astronomers in efforts to catalogue the many asteroids that pass close to the Earth.
http://spacecoalition.com/blog/nasa/amateurs-to-%e2%80%9ccrowdsource%e2%80%9d-asteroids

7. From Space.com: The 40 foot asteroid 2012 JU was the latest of the many near Earth space rocks to pass close to the planet. On Sunday, the asteroid slipped within 120,000 miles of the Earth, well inside the orbit of the moon. http://www.space.com/15676-asteroid-earth-close-flyby-2012ju.html

CSExtra – Monday, May 14, 2012

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:03:19 +0000

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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world, plus a roundup of weekend happenings. In Russia, U. S. and Russian astronauts prepare to lift off for the International Space Station late Monday. A look at NASA’s 2013 budget dilemma. Europe’s Exo-Mars mission plans are again in peril. Proponents sketch out a “low cost” Mars life detection mission. Scientists head for California’s Mojave Desert to prepare for the landing of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission. The U. S., Europe and Japan restate intentions of working cooperatively in space. A crucial solar mission emerges from safe mode. Life bearing planets may be cosmic nomads. NASA’s Kepler space telescope demonstrates a new technique for identifying exo-planets. In Florida, NASA’s shuttle fleet is powered down for the final time. Insights from Shumann resonances. A look at major space related activities scheduled for the week ahead.

1. From Spaceflightnow.com, May 13: Russia prepares for a late Monday lift off of the 30 Soyuz mission to the International Space Station with a U. S. and two Russian crew members. Lift off for Gennady Padalka, Sergei Revin and Joe Acaba is set for 11:01 p.m., EDT. After a two day transit, the spacecraft would dock with the space station on Thursday at 12:38 a.m., EDT. The website will offer updates as the countdown unfolds.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp31/status.html

2. From Space.com: NASA’s budget dilemma, balancing the cost of operating the many complex missions it has under way with the expense of developing new technologies for future endeavors. At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where most of NASA’s planetary missions are operated and developed, the impacts of the changing environment is evident, says a top lab manager.
http://www.space.com/15647-space-technology-innovation-nasa-budget.html

A. From Spacepolitics.com: A look at how the House, Senate and White House versions of NASA’s 2013 budget stand, following passage of the House version last week. They vary widely, and in part because the Senate version would hand NASA responsibilities previously assigned to NOAA.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2012/05/13/updated-nasa-budget-summary/

3. From Space News., May 11: The European Space Agency led Exo-Mars mission is again facing a challenge. NASA, faced with cost constraints, withdrew from the joint effort last year. Russia stepped in, but Space News reports the future of 2016 and 2018 missions are again on shaky ground. An ESA steering council will gather May 16 to assess the project’s fate. Exo-Mars includes landers, rovers and a telecommunication’s orbiter.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/120511-exomars-brink-collapse.html

4. From the Huffington Post:, May 11: In an op-ed, U. S. proponents tout a Mars mission they say balances cost and a high priority science objective, determining whether the planet hosts or once hosted some form of life. The proposed mission would drop a series of penetrators on the Martian surface to investigate the prospects. In 2013, NASA’s Mars program is facing cuts.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dirk-schulzemakuch-phd/bold-mars_b_1510355.html

A. From The Los Angeles Times, May 11: Top scientists associated with NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory discuss the mission’s science goals and operational challenges during a trip to California’s Mojave Desert, which serves as a Martian analog. MSL, also known as Curiosity, is headed for a landing in Gale Crater in early August. There, the mobile chemistry lab will attempt to scale a three mile rise in search of conditions that may be or once were favorable for Martian life.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-mars-20120512,0,6625848.story

5. From Spacepolicyonline.com: The U.S., Europe and Japan re-express intentions to work cooperatively in space. The expression includes an offer of $100 million from the U. S. to play a “minor” role in the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer program.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/esa-japan-continue-space-cooperation-with-u-s

6. From Space.com, May 11: SOHO, a joint NASA/European Space Agency mission to monitor solar activity, returned to action late last week following an operational problem. The mission has growing priority as the sun enters a period of increased activity. The difficulties sent the spacecraft into a protective “safe mode” for about a week.
http://www.space.com/15660-sun-observing-soho-spacecraft-recovery.html

A. From the Washington Post, May 11: A giant sunspot rotates into an Earth facing position. The spot may be primed unleash a large cloud of charged particles toward the Earth.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/space-weather-update-massive-sunspot-region-now-facing-earth-primed-to-hurl-out-solar-flares/2012/05/11/gIQAvUHQIU_blog.html

7. From The Coalition for Space Exploration: New studies suggest the best place to search for life bearing planets may be in the space between stars.
http://spacecoalition.com/blog/it%e2%80%99s-crowded-out-there-life-bearing-earth-size-planets-%e2%80%93-new-study

8. From the San Francisco Chronicle: Astronomers turn to a new technique called transit timing variations to discover exo-planets using NASA’s Kepler space telescope. TTVs are small gravitational disturbances on the motion of a known planet. Kepler’s primary technique for planet discovery is a measured dip in brightness as a planet crosses the face of a star.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/14/BA2K1OGDED.DTL&type=science

9. From Collectspace.com, May 12 NASA’s preparations of the shuttle fleet for public display reach another milestone. Endeavour is powered down on May 11 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the last of NASA’s three orbiters “to go dark.” Endeavour will be airlifted to Los Angeles later this year for display at the California Science Center.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051112a.html

10. From Discovery.com, May 12: Shumann resonances, an electromagnetic phenomena found on Earth, could offer new insights into some solar system planets.
http://news.discovery.com/space/lightning-flashes-on-origin-of-solar-system-120512.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

11. From Spacepolicyonline.com, May 13: A look at major activities scheduled for the week ahead. They include the late Monday launch of U. S. and Russian astronauts to the International Space Station and the SpaceX launch of the prospective first U. S. commercial cargo delivery to the space station early Saturday.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/events-of-interest-week-of-may-14-19-2012

CSExtra – Friday, May 11, 2012

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:38:31 +0000

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Friday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. In the U. S., scientists present major findings from NASA’s Dawn mission: the asteroid Vesta appears to be a rocky Earth-like planet in the making. An update on the House version of NASA’s 2013 budget. SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace announce a partnership to transport commercial passengers to Bigelow’s future orbital space stations. Op-eds urge the world’s wealthiest nations to do more to monitor and protect the Earth’s environment. NASA’s deep space Orion spacecraft undergoes ground testing. A newly uncovered version of the Mayan calendar reveals no signs of impending disaster. China launches an Earth observing satellite. A NASA astronaut returns to television’s Big Bang Theory for a cameo.

1. From Discovery.com: Asteroid Vesta graduates to baby planet status in findings published in the journal Science this week. Round and differentiated, Vesta is closely related to the inner solar systems rocket planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, say scientists. NASA’s Dawn mission will wrap up an extended stay at Vesta and soon depart for a second large asteroid, Ceres.

http://news.discovery.com/space/protoplanet-vesta-asteroid-dawn-120510.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

A. From the New York Times: Vesta has been around for a long time, has an iron core, gravity and possibly once had a weak magnetic field.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/science/space/asteroid-vesta-proves-to-be-dwarf-planet.html?_r=1

2. From Spacepolicyonline.com: A look at the House version of NASA’s 2013 budget, following passage on Thursday. It includes a $126 million cut from cross agency support.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/house-passes-fy2013-cjs-bill-replaces-sequester-for-dod-with-other-cuts

3. From The Los Angeles Times: Bigelow Aerospace and SpaceX partner to market commercial spacecraft missions to low Earth orbit. Bigelow’s inflatable space stations will offer a destination. SpaceX fill furnish the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon space capsule for transportation under the arrangement. Bigelow’s stations may include orbiting hotels for space tourists.
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-spacex-bigelow-space-hotel-20120510,0,1960311.story

4. From the Economist: An op-ed from the magazine takes note of the European Space Agency’s confirmed loss of Envisat, a large and capable Earth observing satellite, earlier this week. There’s no replacement. The U.S., Europe, China, India and Brazil should be doing more to ensure a steady flow of data gathering to inform the global debate over climate policy, the Economist writes.
http://www.economist.com/node/21554528

A. From the New York Times: Canadian oil reserves, high in carbon dioxide, pose a serious new global warming threat, writes James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, in an op ed. Hansen urges the White House to do more to prevent drilling of Canada’s vast tar sand oil reserves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/opinion/game-over-for-the-climate.html?_r=1

5. From The Huntsville Times: NASA’s Orion/Multipurpose Crew Vehicle service module undergoes ground tests at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The structural loads tests show the SM can survive launch and space travel loads, the Times reports.
http://blog.al.com/space-news/2012/05/nasa_in_huntsville_test_orion.html

6. From Space.com: The Mayan calendar is often the topic of dire speculation. The oldest known version is discovered in Guatemala, and there’s no indication of the world coming to an end.
http://www.space.com/15633-apocalypse-oldest-mayan-calendar.html

7. From Xinhuanet of China: China launches an Earth observing satellite atop a Long March 4B rocket.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-05/10/c_131580382.htm

8. From Collectspace.com: NASA astronaut Mike Massimino joins the cast of the Big Bang Theory for Thursday’s episode.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051012a.html

CSExtra – Thursday, May 10, 2012

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:57:17 +0000

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From the Coalition for Space Exploration: T-10 Days and counting!

The deadline for entries to the CSE “Why Explore Space?” video contest is rapidly approaching.

Make sure to submit your 1-2 minute video on why you think space exploration is important by May 19.

The grand prize is an iPad 3. Good luck!

http://spacecoalition.com/benefits-of-space/why-explore-space

Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. NASA’s proposed 2013 budget cut in House action to its lowest level in four years. Utah-based ATK unveils a commercial space transportation plan called Liberty for orbital human, cargo and satellite missions. Europe’s Enviasat Earth observing spacecraft lost. Space enters the billionaire age. Sierra Nevada unveils a test flight plan. Russia opens a door for cooperation with the U.S. and Europe in the exploration of Mars. Solar power finds a U. S. commercial niche. Europe completes work on a key component for the James Webb Space Telescope.

1. From Space News: The House cuts NASA’s proposed 2013 budget to $17.447 billion, by voting to transfer $126 million in cross agency support to a Justice Department community policing program. The losses to NASA include field center funding for cyber security, medical support for astronauts and flight safety. The White House has already signaled a veto of the measure over other issues. The president proposed $17.71 billion for the coming year.
http://www.spacenews.com/policy/120509-nasa-budget-takes-hit.html

2. From MSNBC: ATK, of Utah, unveils plans for a commercial crew transportation system orbit based on its Liberty rocket design and a composite crew capsule. The spacecraft could be ready for low Earth orbit missions in three years, according to Liberty program manager Kent Rominger, the former astronaut. The proposal debuted at the Space Craft Technology Expo in Los Angeles. ATK’s partners include Astrium of Europe and Lockheed Martin. Markets include NASA missions to the International Space Station, space tourism and foreign space programs.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47363362/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.T6sZdNWQlrY

A. From The Salt Lake Tribune: ATK’s Liberty will carry cargo as well as human passengers to Earth orbit. Liberty’s first stage is based on a longer version of solid rocket boosters used by NASA’s space shuttle.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/54083574-79/liberty-atk-system-crew.html.csp

B. From Spaceflightnow.com: ATK joins a competition for NASA Commercial Crew Development initiative funding that already includes SpaceX, Boeing, Sierra Nevada and Blue Origin and others.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1205/09liberty/

3. From Space.com: The European Space Agency’s 10-year Envisat Earth observing satellite was declared inactive on Wednesday. Efforts to re-establish communications with the spacecraft after contact was lost on April 8 have been unsuccessful.
http://www.space.com/15608-huge-satellite-envisat-dead-space.html

4. From USA Today: The newspaper examines what it calls the new “billionaire age” of space exploration, a trend that features the accomplishments of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the promise of enterprises like Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch and Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining company unveiled last month by a lineup of wealthy investors.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/story/2012-04-25/space-exploration-billionaires/54866272/1

5. From Spaceflightnow.com: Sierra Nevada unveils plans to begin atmospheric flight tests of the winged Dream Chaser commercial crew transportation vehicle this summer. An orbital demonstration mission is planned in 2016, say company managers.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1205/09sierranevada/index.html

6. From Space.com: Russian space officials express interest in working with the U. S., Europe and others on a mission of human exploration to Mars.
http://www.space.com/15600-mars-mission-nasa-russia.html

A. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post: After months of inactivity during the Martian winter, NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover is ready to resume its scientific travels on the Martian terrain. Opportunity reached the Martian surface in January 2004.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasa-rover-driving-again-after-staying-put-in-1-spot-during-martian-winter/2012/05/09/gIQAukFvDU_story.html

B. From Sky and Telescope Magazine: NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter finds Martian sand dunes on the move. The finding is a surprise because of a thin Martian atmosphere and light winds.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/Martian-Dunes-On-the-Move-150670415.html

7. From The New York Times: Solar electricity is making its way into the U. S. residential and commercial markets, through a combination of factors, including tax breaks, consumer sales through companies like Lowe’s and Home Depot and inexpensive Chinese made solar panels.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/business/energy-environment/solar-installers-offer-homeowners-deals-gaining-converts.html?_r=1&hp

8. From the Coalition for Space Exploration: A key contribution to the James Webb Space Telescope from the European Space Agency is ready for transfer to NASA. The designated successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the JWST is being readied for a 2018 launch.
http://spacecoalition.com/blog/james-webb-space-telescope-new-milestone

CSExtra – Wednesday, May 9, 2012

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:01:08 +0000

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Wednesday’s CSExtra offers the latest in reporting and commentary on space-related activities from around the world. Budget reductions will prompt a lengthy break in the launch of new Martian rover missions. NASA’s communications lead outlines the agency’s exploration blue print. New solar activity unleashes a blast toward the Earth. NASA’s Aqua Earth observing mission reaches a 10-year milestone. The U.S. Air Force/Boeing X-37B exceeds expectations during orbital mission. NASA looks to amateur astronomers for help with an asteroid sample return mission. Houston prepares a big welcome for a shuttle mock up destined for public display.

1. From Space News: New Martian rovers missions before 2020 are unlikely because of budget cuts, NASA’s new Mars strategist informs the NASA Advisory Council on Tuesday. The space agency’s budget, facing a 2013 reduction, might support a stationary lander, says Orlando Figueroa, who is leading an assessment of the options. NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory is headed toward and early August landing on Mars and a two year mission.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/120508-figuera-rules-out-rover.html

2. From The Hill: As NASA ‘s shuttle orbiter fleet heads for museums in U. S. major cities, NASA is headed toward a new era of exploration, David Weaver, the agency’s associate administrator for communications, explains in an op-ed.
http://thehill.com/opinion/letters/225913-shuttles-retirement-marks-the-next-era-of-exploration

A. From The Huffington Post: Space tourist Richard Garriott finds promise in NASA’s turn to commercial providers for access to Low Earth Orbit. Though the process is disruptive to the status quo, it offers a promising future not only for wider human access to space but future exploration, Garriott writes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-garriott-de-cayeux/space-shuttle_b_1501583.html

B. From Florida Today: Now is the time to determine the commercial potential of science research in space, especially in medicine; and the National Laboratory portions of the International Space Station are the place to make the determination, according to the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, or CASIS, the non-profit organization selected by NASA to lead the effort. CASIS plans to solicit research proposals for launch opportunities as soon as next year.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120509/SPACE/305090031/Center-Advancement-Science-Space-aims-showcase-uses-ISS?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Space%20News

3. From Discovery.com: A new large sun spot unleashed a coronal mass ejection towards the Earth late Monday. The impact is expected early Wednesday. More solar storms may be in store.
http://news.discovery.com/space/zooms/sunspot-ar1476-120507.html

4. From the Orlando Sentinel: NASA and SpaceX, one of the agency’s Commercial Crew Development initiative partners, reach a milestone in the configuration of the astronaut version of the company’s Dragon capsule.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2012/05/as-spacex-awaits-launch-of-cargo-capsule-crew-capsule-gets-test-sit.html

5. From Wired.com: NASA’s Aqua Earth observing spacecraft marked its 10th anniversary in orbit earlier this month. The spacecraft has been a key instrument in the gathering of weather and climate data.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/05/aqua-satellite-anniversary/

6. From Space.com: The U.S. Air Force’s second X-37 B draws praise as the un-piloted mini-shuttle reaches the 430 day mark in its classified mission. The reusable spacecraft was developed by Boeing Phantom Works.
http://www.space.com/15575-secret-x37b-space-plane-mission-success.html

7. From Sky and Telescope Magazine: NASA’s Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource — Identification Security — Regolith Explorer mission seeks help from amateur astronomers in characterizing a class of primitive carbon rich asteroids. The OSIRIS-Rex is working toward a 2016 lift off of their mission to return a small sample from an asteroid in the class by 2023.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Join-the-Target-Asteroids-Project-150567265.html

8. From the Friendswood Journal of Texas: Space Center Houston is looking to June 1 to celebrate the arrival of a space shuttle mock up that will accommodate visitors. The shuttle display will be shipped from the Kennedy Space Center
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/friendswood/news/shuttlebration-to-mark-arrival-of-space-shuttle/article_93679e40-cd52-5439-81f7-fd328b71068a.html

CSExtra – Tuesday, May 8, 2012

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:01:19 +0000

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Tuesday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. In Washington, the White House threatens to veto a House 2013 appropriations measure that includes NASA’s budget because the legislation challenges a spending agreement struck between Republicans and Democrats last year. Three Apollo vets back a provision in the House version of NASA’s 2013 budget that would force the agency to quickly select a single Commercial Crew Development partner. NASA’s 2013 budget strategy wins an editorial endorsement. A reassessment reaffirms evidence pointing to an asteroid impact as the most likely cause of the dinosaur extinction. Essays urge a multi-destination approach to future human exploration and examine the potential for valuable space resources to drive human exploration. Scientists propose a low cost life detection mission for Mars. Enthusiasm grows at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for a 2014 test flight of the Orion crew capsule that NASA is developing for future deep space missions.

1. From The Associated Press via the Washington Post: The White House and House appropriators are at odds over Republican supported cuts in a multi-agency spending measure that includes Commerce, Justice, NASA and other science agency expenditures for 2013. The White House vowed Monday to veto the bill because it violates a larger budget agreement between Democrats and Republicans struck last summer. The 2013 Commerce, Justice and Science measure is the first to clear the House appropriations process.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-promises-veto-of-gop-spending-bill-over-cuts-below-last-years-debt-agreement/2012/05/07/gIQAdFVq8T_story.html

2. From Aviation Week & Space Technology: Three Apollo commanders, Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan and Jim Lovell, back a provision in the House version of NASA’s 2013 appropriations bill that calls on the space agency to down select to a single Commercial Crew Development initiative partner. The move, say the Apollo commanders, would give NASA normal government contractor oversight of future development. NASA has favored funding at least two contractors through a third phase of development to nurture competing transportation providers. The three men outlined their concerns in a letter to the chair of the House appropriations panel with responsibility for NASA.
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_05_07_2012_p0-455611.xml

3. From the Philadelphia Inquirer: In an editorial, the Inquirer offers support for President Obama’s civil space strategy and its implementation in NASA’s 2013 budget submittal. The plan nurtures a deep space mission for humans and new commercial opportunities, the editorial notes. While planetary sciences will suffer, NASA is holding the future exploration of Mars as an ultimate goal, the Inquirer writes.
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20120507_Mars_mission_remains_the_goal.html

4. From The New York Times: New research suggests the dinosaurs were struggling to thrive against a range of challenges millions of years ago. Yet, the evidence suggests an immense asteroid impact was the primary cause of their extinction about 65 million years ago. The latest evidence was gleaned from the fossil record leading up to the disaster.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/science/asteroids-impact-still-central-to-dinosaurs-extinction.html?_r=2&ref=science

5. From Space.com: Distant Stars with “Hot Jupiters,” large planets that orbit close, are unlikely to host Earth-like extra solar planets, say scientists who’ve looked at trends gathered by NASA’s Kepler telescope. These large planets likely formed at a distance from their host stars and migrated close over time. The spiraling course and the gravitational pull of the big planets likely boots anything small out of the system.
http://www.space.com/15572-earth-alien-planets-hot-jupiters.html

6. Two essays from Monday’s The Space Review examine the discord in the space community over whether the moon, Mars or a near Earth asteroid should be the next destination for human deep space explorers and recent commercial interest in prospecting the asteroids for valuable resources.

A. “The Triway into Space Declaration” suggests an alliance among space community factions supporting the moon, Mars or the asteroids as a first next destination for human exploration. All three share a symmetry of requirements from reusable propulsion and habitats to multi use space suits and regenerative life support. Together, they form a chain of destinations with resources and learning experiences for the future development of space. Authors Peter Kokh and Al Anzaldua urge planners to place the International Space Station in a more prominent role in the exploration of all three.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2078/1

B. “Space merchants and planetary mining,” responds to the recent announcement by Planetary Resources of plans to survey and eventually mine Near Earth Asteroids for resources, including water and precious metals. Essayist Ayodele Fayetole suggests efforts by Planetary Resources and Google X-prize contestants to extract resources from the moon may form a new critical mass for the exploration of space . The lure is new industries, wealth and jobs.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2076/1

7. From Space.com: A Washington State University scientist proposes a low cost Mars life detection mission that could be ready for lift off in 2018. The Biological Oxidant and Life Detection Mission, or BOLD, would dispatch a half-dozen small probes to check underground conditions at the Red Planet rather than attempt to return soil and rock samples to Earth for analysis.

http://www.space.com/15578-mars-life-search-bold-probe-fleet.html

A. From MSNBC.com: NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter photographs a series of circulating dust storms on Mars.
http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/07/11584846-trio-of-twisters-spotted-on-mars?chromedomain=cosmiclog&lite

8. From Florida Today: United Space Alliance personnel grow excited as they prepare for the assembly of an MPCV/Orion capsule at the Kennedy Space Center for a 2014 test flight. The $375 million flight will expose an unpiloted capsule to deep space re-entry conditions. Lockheed Martin, the Orion developer, will carry out the test mission for NASA.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120508/SPACE/305080017/Crews-pumped-Orion-project-takes-shape?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Space%20News

CSExtra – Monday, May 7, 2012

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:03:12 +0000

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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. SpaceX looks to a May 19 launching of the first U. S. commercial re-supply mission to the International Space Station. Sierra Nevada Corp. announces plans to process Dream Chaser, the company’s entry in NASA’s Commercial Crew Development initiative, in Florida. Rustic Mojave, Calif., becomes a mecca for the nation’s New Space movement. The European Space Agency lays the groundwork for a lower cost successor to the Ariane 5 heavy lift rocket. Photos of the super moon. An editorial urges U. S. policy makers to bolster the nation’s Earth science program. A U. S. Air Force communications satellite reaches orbit. As equatorial waters in the Pacific drift toward normal temperatures, U.S. weather becomes more challenging to predict. Three of NASA’s shuttle era astronauts enter the U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. An aging Corvette, possibly owned by Neil Armstrong, attracts astronomical bids. A look at major space related events scheduled for the week ahead.

1. From Spaceflightnow.com, May 4: SpaceX looks to May 19 for the launching of the Falcon9/Dragon on the first U.S. commercial re-supply mission to the International Space Station. The company missed launch opportunities on April 30 and May 7 as it worked its way through flight software verification testing.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120504date/

2. From the Houston Chronicle, May 6: In April, the FAA disclosed SpaceX’s interest in Brownsville, Tex., as a possible commercial launch site. While officials in Brownsville have rushed to support the prospect, state officials in Texas have been slow to publicly display their position, which puzzles some in the space community.
http://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/article/Is-Texas-forfeiting-the-private-space-race-3537616.php

A. From the Brownsville Herald of Texas, May 4 : Brownsville’s city commission supports the possible development of a commercial launch complex in the South Texas city by SpaceX. About 600 jobs are linked to the prospective commercial space effort.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/spacex-139857-support-city.html

3. From Florida Today, May 4: Sierra Nevada, one of four companies participating in NASA’s Commercial Crew Development initiative, announces plans to process and launch its Dream Chaser spacecraft in and from Florida. Hundreds of jobs could be in the offing for Central Florida. NASA expects to select companies for the next round of development this summer– though the budget could be an issue.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120504/SPACE/120504004/Mini-shuttle-maker-expresses-interest-Florida-expand-operations?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Space%20News

4. From the New York Times, May 5: Rustic Mojave, Calif., becomes a mecca for the nation’s New Space movement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/science/space/a-california-desert-town-on-the-way-up-to-space.html?_r=2&ref=science

5. From Space News, May 4: The European Space Agency looks at a strategy of lower production costs as it develops a successor to the Ariane 5 heavy lift rocket. The approach would allow ESA to free itself of a geographic return principle.
http://www.spacenews.com/launch/120504-affordability-not-geographic-return.html

6. From MSNBC and Cosmic Log, May 6: The weekend featured a ”super moon.” The moon’s full phase coincided with its closest approach to the Earth. The website offers a collection of photos.
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/06/11564767-your-views-of-the-supermoon?lite

7. From the Washington Post, May 4: In an editorial, The Post urges Congress to focus more attention on the status of the U. S. Earth observing program. The National Research Council, in a report issued last week, characterized the satellites that NASA and NOAA are responsible for operating as aging and their successors delayed and over budget. The network is at risk of collapse, the NRC said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/satellites-at-risk/2012/05/04/gIQAHFdK2T_story.html

8. From Space News, May 4: United Launch Alliance launches an Atlas V with a U.S. Air Force communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
http://www.spacenews.com/launch/120504-aehf-sat-launched.html

A. From Xinhuanet of China, May 6: China launches an Earth observing satellite atop a Long March 2 rocket.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2012-05/06/c_131571160.htm

9. From the Los Angeles Times, May 6: The Southwest U. S may be facing an uncertain weather outlook. The influences of La Nina and El Nino, distinct sea water temperature swings in the equatorial Pacific, have abated. That makes it difficult to predict drought or flooding rains.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-weather-20120506,0,5783086.story

10. From Collectspace.com, May 6: Three from NASA enter the U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame: Shuttle Astronauts Franklin Chang-Diaz, Kevin Chilton and Charles Precourt are inducted into the Hall in Titusville, Fla., on Saturday.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050612a.html

11. From Collectspace.com. May 6: Bids soar to $250,000 for a 1967 Corvette that sellers claim was first owned by Neil Armstrong, the Apollo 11 commander. Ebay hosts the auction.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050512a.html

12. From Spacepolicyonline.com, May 6: A look at space policy related activities scheduled for the week ahead.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/events-of-interest-week-of-may-6-11-2012

CSExtra – Friday, May 4, 2012

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:45:01 +0000

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Friday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. Late Saturday brings a “Super Moon.” United Launch Alliance looks to a mid-afternoon attempt Friday to launch an Atlas V with a military communications satellite. Boeing’s CST-100 Commercial Crew capsule carries out a landing systems test. Greenland’s melting ice pack worrisome but not dire. SpaceX founder Elon Musk predicts he’ll orbit the Earth in five years. NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity spots a rock formation resembling a terrestrial water feature. Newt Gingrich drops out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but vows to speak more on his moon colony proposal. Canadian aerospace company to remain in Canadian hands.

1. From Discovery.com: Just a reminder. Earthlings are in store for a “Super Moon” on Saturday. The moon will appear larger because it’s reached its closest point to Earth of the year at the same time its entering the full phase.
http://news.discovery.com/earth/supermoon-earthquakes-tsunami-link-120503.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

A. From Space.com: The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak around the “Super Moon”.
http://www.space.com/15513-supermoon-meteor-shower-skywatching-tips.html

2. From Spaceflightnow.com: United Launch Alliance plans a second attempt to launch at Atlas V with a military communications satellite from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Friday at 2:42 p.m., EDT. Thursday’s launch attempt was scrubbed by ground support equipment problem. See updates.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av031/status.html

3. From Wired.com: Boeing’s CST-100, the seven person capsule the company is developing under NASA’s Commercial Crew Development initiative, underwent tests of its parachute and airbag landing systems in the Nevada desert this week. The testing involved a drop from a helicopter hovering at 14,000 feet.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/boeing-performs-drop-test-of-its-new-space-capsule/

4. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post: The melting of Greenland’s ice pack has accelerated, but not at the dire pace some predicted. “So it’s not good news, but it’s not bad news,” said one researcher. The work was supported by satellite based observations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/greenland-glaciers-shrinking-quickly-but-not-worst-case-glacial-pace-not-slow-anymore/2012/05/03/gIQAfgC0yT_story.html

5. From MSNBC’s Cosmic Log: SpaceX founder Elon Musk predicts he’ll be a commercial passenger on his own orbital spacecraft, the Dragon, within five years. His remarks came as part of a web chat organized by the Associated Press on Thursday. In the meantime, his company is attempting to launch the first U. S. commercial supply mission to the International Space Station using a cargo version of the Dragon. Plans for a May 7 lift off were postponed for more flight software verification. A new launch date will be announced with days, Musk tells chat participants.
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/03/11525131-spacex-chief-wants-to-be-spaceflier?lite

6. From Space.com: NASA’s long running Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has spotted rock formations typically created by water moving over rocks on the Earth — formations that might shelter Martian life.
http://www.space.com/15533-mars-water-rocks-life.html

7. From Spacepolitics.com: One time Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich officially bowed out of contention this week. Gringrich famously raised space policy as an issue during the Florida primary earlier this year by proposing a future moon colony. As he formally dismissed himself from presidential contention, Gingrich said he plans to re-visit the space policy debate.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2012/05/03/gingrich-ends-his-campaign-but-not-his-interest-in-space/

8. From Space News: Canadian aerospace company MDA finds itself in a business pinch. The Canadian government blocked a prospective sale to an American company in 2008, yet the government has failed to produce the investments the company needs for financial growth. Nonetheless, a top executive says the company will remain Canadian owned.
http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/120503-mda-canadian-forever-ceo-says.html

CSExtra – Thursday, May 3, 2012

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:06:55 +0000

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Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. Without adequate funding, NASA’s commercial crew development initiative will not have the resources to foster competition, agency managers caution. SpaceX acknowledges a likely slip in plans to launch the first U. S. commercial re-supply mission to the International Space Station. In Washington, a National Research Council report finds U. S. Earth observation efforts falling behind the goals outlined in a five-year-old blue print. The European Space Agency looks to Jupiter’s ice-covered moons as a destination for a new missions. Astronomers observe a distant massive black hole rip apart a star that comes too close. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter tracks the moon’s expansions and contractions. California’s Death Valley offers a science analogue for NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory. The nearly full moon, Saturn and a bright star gather in the night sky.

1. From Spaceflightnow.com: Leaders of NASA’s commercial crew development initiative say the effort needs sufficient funding to foster the competition that will keep development and operational costs low. The House version of NASA’s 2013 budget calls for a down select from four competitors to a single provider.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1205/02commercialcrew/

2. From the Associated Press via Yahoo.com: SpaceX on Wednesday acknowledges a likely delay in efforts to launch the first U. S. commercial re-supply mission to the International Space Station. Plans for a May 7 lift off are likely to slip to accommodate more software testing, the company says in a statement.
http://news.yahoo.com/1st-private-cargo-run-space-station-delayed-173443749–finance.html

3. From Spacepolicyonline.com: In a progress report, the National Research Council finds U. S. Earth observations programs falling behind a decadal road map unveiled in 2007. The assessment panel blames the Office of Management and Budget and Congress for failing to provide adequate resources. Other factors include a lack of affordable launch vehicles. The NRC study panel credits NASA with responding to the objectives of the five-year-old road map before the agency was overcome by spending constraints.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/u-s-earth-observation-systems-in-precarious-situation-says-nrc

A. From the New York Times: The decline in U. S. Earth observing missions imperils weather observations, natural disaster planning and studies of climate change, the Times reports.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/lights-out-for-research-satellites/

4. From Science Insider: The European Space Agency looks to Jupiter as the destination for its next major robotic scientific mission. JUICE, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, will study the moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, each a place that scientists believe is a prospective home for primitive life.
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/05/jupiter-picked-for-next-major.html?ref=hp

5. From the Los Angeles Times: Astronomers using ground and space based telescopes watch as a distant massive black hole rips a nearby star apart. The drama, which unfolded two billion years ago, has been followed by astronomers since 2010 using ground and space-based observatories. The observations were reported in the science journal Nature.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-black-hole-20120503,0,6876637.story

6. From Discovery.com: Scientists involved in NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission find the moon growing and shrinking in response to internal forces once thought dormant.
http://news.discovery.com/space/our-growing-shrinking-moon-120502.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

7. From Space.com: NASA’s $2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory is barreling toward Mars, where it is expected to land in early August. This week, the MSL mission scientist led a small group of journalists through Death Valley in California to give them a preview of what the major U. S. science mission is all about.
http://www.space.com/15511-mars-rover-death-valley-science.html

8. From MSNBC: Look for a rare conjunction in the night sky an hour after sunset on Thursday. The moon, nearly full, the planet Saturn and the bright star Spica, appear to merge.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47268603/ns/technology_and_science-space/