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CSExtra – Monday, May 20, 2013

admin — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:50:54 +0000

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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest news and commentary on space related activities, plus a look back at weekend happenings. NASA’s widely watched but troubled Kepler mission to find Earth-like exo-planets draws suggestions for remedies from engineers and scientists. An impasse over NASA’s Commercial Crew Program? Star Trek Into The Darkness opens atop the U. S. box office. Calculating the appeal of the Dutch Mars One mission. Russia’s critter filled Bion-1 mission descends. Why the high cost of spaceflight? The answer is long standing. Georgia’s place in commercial space. Lessons drawn from Canadian Chris Hadfield’s space station flight. China invests in the satellite navigation business. Still due Congress, NASA’s 2013 operating plan harbors a deep cut to the planetary science line in spite of Congressional opposition. Buzz Aldrin recalls the Apollo 11 moon landing. Telescopes spot powerful meteor blast on the moon. Searching for bipartisanship in the Texas congressional delegation. A look at major space policy events scheduled for the week ahead.

1. From NBC News and CosmicLog.com, May 18: Engineers and scientists rush forward with advice to recover NASA’s popular exo-planet hunting Kepler Space Telescope. Operations were suspended earlier this month when a second of the spacecraft’s four reaction wheels stopped spinning. NASA plans to attempt a recovery.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/18/18328881-scientists-respond-to-planet-hunters-plight-with-pointers-and-poetry?lite

A. From Space.com, May 18: With 2,700 exo-planet candidates to its credit, Kepler has locked a place in the annals of space exploration regardless of the mission’s future.

http://www.space.com/21210-nasa-kepler-exoplanet-telescope-legacy.html

2. From SpacePolitics.com, May 19: Differences between NASA and Congress emerged last week during a Washington meeting of the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). NASA Administrator Charles Bolden urged support for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program request for $821 million in 2014 spending to avoid further contracts with the Russians to launch astronauts to the International Space Station. A recently renewed agreement with the Russians ends in 2017. A Congressional staffer suggests the space agency must “find a way” to work with the money available to achieve a 2017 crew launch capability.

http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/05/19/differing-perspectives-on-commercial-crew/

3. From The Los Angeles Times, May 19: Star Trek Into the Darkness tops the U.S. box office during the opening weekend.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-ct-box-office-weekend-star-trek-20130518,0,1911444.story

4. From Space.com, May 19: If space tourism affords more humans a view of the Earth from space, it may save the environment, NASA’s John Grunsfeld, a former astronaut and currently the space agency’s associate administrator for space science, tells a California audience.

http://www.space.com/21215-space-tourism-could-save-earth.html

5. From NBC News and CosmicLog.com, May 19: The Dutch sponsored Mars One mission to send Earthlings on a one way colonization mission draws nearly 80,000 applicants in the early going. What’s the appeal? a novelist, student and aging psychiatrist offer their opinions.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/19/18305415-why-sign-up-for-a-one-way-mars-trip-three-applicants-explain-the-appeal?lite

6. From Ria Novosti, of Russia, May 19: Russia recovers its Bion 1-M unpiloted satellite with a host of biological specimens aboard, including mice, geckos and snails.

http://en.rian.ru/science/20130519/181232414/Space-Capsule-Returns-Cosmic-Rodents-to-Earth-after-Month-Long.html

A. From AFP via Discovery.com, May 19: Russia’s Bion 1-M mission takes casualties. Scientists flew the animals to gather data for a future human trip to Mars.

http://news.discovery.com/space/mice-gerbils-animals-space-experiment-130519.htm

7. From Florida Today, May 18, Why the high cost of spaceflight? It’s the expense of reaching Earth orbit, an obstacle that public-private partnerships are organizing to solve, writes columnist John Kelly. Kelly tracks the testimony of Wayne Hale, the retired former NASA shuttle program manager, who appeared before a Senate panel last week.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130519/COLUMNISTS0405/305190046/John-Kelly-Hale-tells-senators-public-private-union-way

A. From The Orlando Sentinel, May 17: In Florida, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center announces plans to make Pad 39A available to commercial launch vehicles. Pad 39A was one of two former space shuttle pads.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/mobile/os-nasa-to-lease-old-ksc-shuttle-pad-for-commercial-launches-20130517,0,5725207.post

B. From Florida Today, May 17: NASA is seeking commercial operators for Pad 39A and prepared to sign a five year lease. Money at NASA to maintain the pad with an Apollo heritage is evaporating.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130517/SPACE/130517013/NASA-shops-historic-launch-pad-39A-commercial-use?nclick_check=1

8. From the Columbus Ledger Enquirer, of Georgia, May 18: Georgia is well suited to join the competition for a state supported commercial space port, writes Shawn Cruzen, Columbus State University professor of space and Earth sciences.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2013/05/18/2507383/spaceport-georgia.html

9. From Time Magazine, May 19: Canadian Chris Hadfield, just back from nearly five months aboard the International Space Station introduces new audiences to the “cool” of space flight with song and use of social media, according to a critical assessment of NASA’s recent missions. Many Americans have no idea NASA operates an International Space Station let alone who is aboard, according to the Time op-ed.

http://science.time.com/2013/05/19/lessons-from-the-singing-spaceman-what-governments-can-learn-from-chris-hadfield/?iid=tsmodule

10. From Xinjuanet, of China, May 18: Beijing is prepared to invest $1.1 billion in satellite navigation based industries.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-05/18/c_132391419.htm

11. From Space Politics.com, May 17: NASA’s operating plan for 2013, a reflection of the sequester and rescission, will seemingly not spare the agency’s planetary science line a significant cut, according a Planetary Exploration Newsletter report that examined a draft of the operating plan that was due Congress May 10.

http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/05/17/nasa-operating-plan-may-reverse-congressional-increase-in-planetary-science/

12. From The Wall Street Journal, May 16: NASA Astronaut Buzz Aldrin reminisces on the Apollo 11 moon landing of July 20, 1969. “When I see the moon up there, I don’t say to myself, Hey, I walked on your face, or Thanks for disrupting my life,” writes Aldrin. ”I just feel grateful it let us land safely in 1969 and let us take off.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324030704578426963477307022.html?KEYWORDS=Aldrin

13. From Space.com, May 17: Earth-based telescopes spot a bright March 17 blast on the moon. The impactor may have part of a larger event that included a meteor shower on the Earth.

http://www.space.com/21197-moon-crash-meteor-impact-explosion.html

A. From Space.com and NASA: The video version of the March 17 bright lunar impact.

http://www.space.com/21195-56-000-mph-space-rock-hits-moon-explosion-seen-video.html

14. From The Texas Tribune and and The New York Times, May 16: In Washington, two Texas lawmakers, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, invite their fellow state lawmakers to a bipartisan breakfast to assure support for topics of interest to both parties. NASA is one,

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/us/2-representatives-try-to-unite-texas-congressional-delegation.html?_r=0

15. From Spacepolicyonline.com, May 19, a look at the major space policy events scheduled for the week ahead.

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/space-policy-events-for-the-week-of-may-20-24-2013

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 – Friday, May 17, 2013

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:56:56 +0000

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Friday’s CSExtra offers the latest news and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. A tribute to Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space and an advocate for science education. On Mars, NASA’s Opportunity rover out runs its lunar predecessors. Launching Inspiration Mars. NASA and Google join forces to explore quantum computing. On the International Space Station, astronauts preview the latest Star Trek feature, Star Trek Into the Darkness. Russia embraces a space warning role. After Chris Hadfield’s starring role in space, who is next for Canada? Who to follow in space over social media. Unraveling changes in Texas politics over support for U. S. space expansion.

1. From USA Today: America’s first woman in space, Sally Ride, who championed science and science education, will be honored Monday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Ride flew for the first time in 1983. She died last year of pancreatic cancer.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/05/16/astronaut-sally-rides-educational-legacy-lives-on/2164575/

2. From Space.com: NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover breaks an Apollo moon rover record for distance traveled..

http://www.space.com/21193-mars-rover-opportunity-driving-record.html

A. From Discovery.com: Dust devils create art on the Martian terrain. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter tracks the planet’s artistic flare.

http://news.discovery.com/space/dust-devils-mars-nili-fossae-hirise-130516.htm

3. From Space.com: Inspiration Mars, the privately organized mission to send two astronauts on a 501 day mission around Mars, weighs the launch vehicle options. They include SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Heavy, United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 and Delta 4 and possibly NASA’s Space Launch System. A 2018 departure is planned.

http://www.space.com/21158-inspiration-mars-mission-rockets.html

4. From The New York Times: NASA joins with Google to establish a lab for studies of quantum computing. The project may lead to computing thousands of times faster than even current super computers.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/google-buys-a-quantum-computer/

5. From Space.com: The crew of the International Space Station and cast of Star Trek Into the Darkness connect on Thursday. The event coincided with the Star Trek feature film’s opening.

http://www.space.com/21184-astronauts-star-trek-into-darkness.html

6. From Ria Novosti: Russia initiates measures to warn its citizens of space disasters.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130516/181191507/Russia-Boosts-Emergencies-Space-Monitoring.html

7. From CBSNews: Canada, celebrating the popularity of native Chris Hadfield’s first space command, confronts the fiscal realities as it looks to launching more of its countrymen into space. Those on deck include Jeremy Hansen, like Hadfield a former Canadian Air Force officer, and David St. Jacques, an astrophysicist-physician.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/05/15/f-next-canadians-in-space.html

8. From National Geographic: Who in space to follow on social media, now that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield is back on Earth. National Geographic suggests Karen Nyberg, who will be launching in late May, and Mike Massimino, a NASA astronaut who serves as an adviser to a network sitcom and an adjunct professor at Rice University in Houston.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/05/130516-space-science-social-media-twitter-nasa-astronaut-hadfield/

9. From The Orlando Sentinel: In Texas, U. S. Senator Ted Cruz brings a changing perspective to space launch. His soft spoken predecessor, Kay Bailey Hutchison, championed a federal mission beyond low Earth orbit. Cruz favors a more commercial approach.

www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-nasa-commercial-space-20130516,0,4063332.story

CSExtra – Thursday, May 16, 2013

admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:06:38 +0000

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Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest news and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA’s Kepler space telescope, the centerpiece of an extended search for Earth-like planets around other stars, encounters a major technical problem. United Launch Alliance places another U. S. global positioning satellite in orbit. Apollo 13 commander James Lovell signs with Golden Spike, the U. S. commercial human lunar exploration company. U. S. astronaut Gordon Cooper flew NASA’s final Mercury mission a half century ago. Star Trek Into Darkness premiers on the International Space Station.

1. From the New York Times: The second of four reaction control wheels aboard NASA’s planet hunting Kepler space telescope mission malfunctioned. Launched in March 2009, Kepler is credited at this point with spotting 2,700 planet candidates orbiting other stars. The count suggests most stars in the Milky Way host at least one alien world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/science/space/equipment-failure-may-cut-kepler-mission-short.html?ref=science&_r=1&

A. From The Los Angeles Times: While NASA plans to develop a recovery strategy, astronomers are jolted by news of Kepler’s breakdown. “I really think this telescope was a gift to our civilization,” noted one leading astrophysicist involved in the search for exo-planets.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-nasa-kepler-20130516,0,2624898.story

B. From Spacepolicyonline.com: NASA’s Kepler team vows to develop and attempt a recovery strategy in the coming weeks. The observatory lost one of four reaction wheels used to aim and steady the telescope in July 2012. On Tuesday, mission controllers learned the telescope was in “safe mode” and had lost the use of a second reaction wheel. Three of the devices are needed to continue the distant planet search.

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/kepler-down-but-not-out

C. From Spaceflightnow.com: Forty millions miles from the Earth, Kepler is too far for repairs by astronauts.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1305/15kepler/#.UZSlMaLQq6o

D. From The Washington Post: Kepler’s planet hunting days may be over.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasas-kepler-space-telescope-malfunction-may-end-hunt-for-planets/2013/05/15/3c79e664-bd9e-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html

E. From USA Today: At least temporarily unable to point the Kepler space telescope, NASA begins a recovery strategy and looks to a possible secondary mission.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2013/05/15/kepler-safety-mode-stability/2162889/

F. From Space.com: Kepler’ s alien planet count reaches 2,700 candidates.

http://www.space.com/21167-alien-planets-kepler-spacecraft-crippled.html

G. From CBS News: NASA’s Kepler planet hunter sidelined – at least for now.

http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/home/spacenews/files/d8dcc926ab5e2a998afb587392de9c54-581.html

H. From MSNBC and Cosmic Log: NASA’s Kepler space telescope planet hunter encounters a serious difficulty.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/15/18280269-wheel-fails-on-nasas-kepler-probe-halting-its-search-for-alien-planets?lite

2. From Spaceflightnow.com: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket places a U. S. Air Force Global Positioning satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av039/#.UZRKmaLQq6o

3. From Space.com: Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the ill fated Apollo 13 mission, signs on with Golden Spike, the commercial space start up that plans to launch humans to the moon.

http://www.space.com/21156-private-moon-travel-jim-lovell.html

4. From Americaspace.com: Wednesday and Thursday mark the 50th anniversary of the Mercury program’s final mission. NASA astronaut Gordon Cooper circled the Earth 22 times in 34 hours aboard Faith 7, signaling the U. S. was on a course to catch the former Soviet Union in space.

http://www.americaspace.com/?p=19291

5. From Space.com: NASA beams an advance showing of Star Trek Into Darkness to the crew of the International Space Station.

http://www.space.com/21139-star-trek-into-darkness-astronauts.html

CSExtra – Wednesday, May 15, 2013

admin — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:21:55 +0000

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Wednesday’s CSExtra offers the latest news and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, just back from five months on the International Space Station, inspires audiences well beyond his homeland about space. Some characterize a Chinese rocket launch this week as an anti-satellite weapons test. NASA ponders placing a Hubble like observatory in Mars orbit. The opening of the feature film Star Trek Into Darkness prompts talk of an actual warp drive propulsion system. Remembering Skylab, the first U. S. space station. In Kansas, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos prepares an Apollo era Saturn V rocket engine pulled from the Atlantic for display. More solar fury. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center ready to welcome a commercial neighbor. Russia launches a European telecommunications satellite.

1. From The Washington Post: A look at the inspiration for space coming from Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s just concluded mission to the International Space Station, through his music, photography and use of social media.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/astronaut-chris-hadfields-space-station-music-video-is-a-first/2013/05/14/9e6c79d8-bca7-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_story.html?hpid=z1

A. From MSNBC News and CosmicLog: Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield reminds a wide audience that men and women from around the world share a permanent presence in space. NASA’s Karen Nyberg, a young mother and wife to another astronaut, is prepared to connect with new audiences through space later this month as well.

http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/14/18254269-first-quilter-in-space-nasa-astronaut-plans-to-turn-orbital-rags-to-stitches?lite

B. From The Atlantic: Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, inspirational in a non Kardashian kind of way.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/space-the-reality-tv-show/275832/

2. From Spacepolicyonline.com: Was a Chinese rocket launch earlier this week actually an anti-satellite weapons test?

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/did-china-conduct-another-asat-test

3. From Space.com: U. S. Scientists ponder launching one of two Hubble class satellites donated to NASA by the U. S. National Reconnaissance Office to Mars. In orbit around Mars, the observatory could study the surface of the red planet and deep space. Two of the former spy satellites were donated to NASA last year.

http://www.space.com/21064-nasa-donated-spy-telescope-mars.html

4. From Space.com and TechNews Daily: NASA examines Star Trek’s warp drive propulsion system as a way around the cosmic speed limit.

http://www.space.com/21140-star-trek-warp-drive-possible.html

5. From Wired News: Looking back at NASA’s Skylab space station. The first launch in this successful program that served as a bridge between the Apollo and space shuttle programs was launched 40 years ago Tuesday.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/skylab-40th-anniversary/

6. From Collectspace.com: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos answered the call to salvage Saturn V rocket engines from the Atlantic Ocean. The restored artifacts from the Apollo-era will go on display later this month at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051413b.html

7. From The Los Angeles Times: On Tuesday night, an active sun unleashed its fourth powerful flare of the week.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-fourth-xclass-solar-flare-20130514,0,2704008.story

8. From Florida Today: Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana suggests NASA is open to sharing space with a Florida sponsored commercial space launch complex.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130514/SPACE/130514023/KSC-director-NASA-would-consider-making-land-available-Shiloh?nclick_check=1

9. From Ria Novosti, of Russia: A Russian Proton launches a French telecommunications satellite.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130514/181145744/Russia-Launches-Proton-M-with-French-Telecoms-Satellite.html.

CSExtra – Tuesday, May 14, 2013

admin — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:06:47 +0000

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Tuesday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. U.S., Canadian and Russian astronauts return to Earth in remote Kazakhstan late Monday, concluding a 146-day mission. The descent marks the end of the first space station command by a Canadian. The sun unleashes the latest in a series of powerful flares on Monday. Experts debate the value of a mission to an asteroid as part of an eventual human expedition to Mars. Sierra Nevada Corp’s Dream Chaser lifting body departs for NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, Calif., and upcoming flight tests. Payload bay doors aboard the retired shuttle orbiter Atlantis swing open in preparation for a soon to open permanent public display.

1. From Spaceflightnow.com: A U. S., Canadian and Russia crew departs the International Space Station for Earth late Monday. Their safe landing in Kazakhstan ends a 146 day mission for Chris Hadfield, Canada’s first spacecraft commander, NASA’s Tom Marshburn and cosmonaut Roman Romanenko.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp35/landing.html

A. From USAToday: Command of the International Space Station shifts from Canadian Chris Hadfield to Russia Pavel Vinogradov, a veteran cosmonaut.

http://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2013/05/13/2155579/

B. From NBC News and Cosmic Log: Canadian Chris Hadfield makes the most of his space station voyage, both for his proud homeland as well as a planet that often forgets men and women have been living steadily in space for more than a dozen years.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/13/18232749-chris-hadfields-space-oddity-is-a-hit-whats-next-for-space-superstar?lite

C. From The Los Angeles Times: Canadian Chris Hadfield raises the bar for space commanders by personalizing the experience through his words, his Twitter account and his passion for music. Hadfield’s late breaking rendition of David Bowie’s Space Oddity goes viral before he and space station crew mates Tom Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko return safely to Earth late Monday.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-space-oddity-hadfield-20130513,0,3007681.story

D. From The Canadian Press: Chris Hadfield is the latest in a line of Canadian men and women to make contributions to the exploration of space.

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/Notable+Canadians+have+made+history+space+exploration/8373332/story.htm2. From Discovery.com: The sun unleashes three X-class flares over Sunday and Monday, the most powerful eruptions of the year. The origin of the flares was a sun spot turned away from the Earth. More activity is forecast as the active region rotates this way.

http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/sun-unleashes-three-x-class-flares-130513.htm

A. From Space.com: The anatomy of a solar flare.

http://www.space.com/21121-solar-flares-causes-classification.html

3. From The Space Review: “In Asteroids on the way to Mars, or just in the way?” TSR editor Jeff Foust unsorts last week’s Human to Mars Summit in Washington last week and all the discussion over the role an asteroid visit might plan in the future human exploration of Mars.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2294/1

4. From The Huntsville Times: Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser lifting body, a participant in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program heads for NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center to begin autonomous flight tests.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/05/dream_chaser_spacecraft_bound.html

5. From Collectspace.com: At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, preparations continue toward the opening of a public venue for the shuttle orbiter Atlantis on June 29. Last week, the long payload bay doors of Atlantis swung open as part of preparations for the display near Titusville and Cape Canaveral.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051213a.html

CSExtra – Monday, May 13, 2013

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:22:04 +0000

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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world, as well as updates from the weekend. Canada’s first International Space Station commander, Chris Hadfield, NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and cosmonaut Roman Romanenko are set to descend to Earth late Monday, ending a 146 day expedition. NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn address a sudden coolant leak outside the International Space Station with a spacewalk. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden is pleased with Langley Research Center programs, but concerned about the impact of an extended budget sequester. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reach worrisome milestone. Suborbital strides. International Space Station program managers assess possible damage from a late April Progress supply ship docking. Canada loses use of an early Earth observing satellite. At the Kennedy Space Center, engineers test Orion capsule prior to 2014 unpiloted flight test. A look at major space activities scheduled for the week ahead.

1. From CBSNews.com, May 12: International Space Station crew members Chris Hadfield, Tom Marshburn and Roman Romanenko are to conclude a 146 day mission late Monday, as they descend to Earth in a Russian Soyuz capsule. Hadfield, the first Canadian to command the space station, marks the departure with a performance of David Bowie’s Space Oddity.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57584119/cdr-chris-hadfield-bids-farewell-with-space-oddity-cover/

A. From The Telegraph of London, May 13: Canada’s Chris Hadfield used his space station command opportunity to “bring space back to Earth,” with word, song and social media as well professional competence, writes The Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/10053092/How-Chris-Hadfield-brought-space-travel-back-to-us-Earthlings.html

2. From CBS News and Spaceflightnow.com, May 11: NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn replace a leaking International Space Station cooling system component with a spacewalk on Saturday. Flight controllers plan a lengthy post-spacewalk evaluation of the thermal control system before declaring the repair a success. The leak was spotted Thursday, prompting an unusually rapid spacewalk response.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp35/130511spacewalk/#.UZAPtKLQq6o

A. From Space News, May 11: Good chance ammonia leak fixed.

http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/35277spacewalking-astronauts-hopeful-new-pump-fixes-space-station-leak#.UZAYI6LQq6o

B. From The New York Times, May 11: Space station leak prompts hasty spacewalk, shutdown of solar power channel.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/science/space/astronauts-replace-a-pump-hoping-to-stop-leak.html?_r=0

C. From The Boston Herald, May 12: From York, Maine, a proud mother looks on as her son, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and former U. S. Navy SEAL, participates in a spacewalk repair outside the International Space Station. “It’s just amazing to think that that is my son in the space suit, floating around doing all those things,” says Janice Cassidy.

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/05/proud_mom_is_over_the_moon

3. From The Hampton Roads Daily Press, of Virginia, May 10: Administrator Charles Bolden visits with engineers at work on advances in aeronautics and other projects at NASA’s Langley Research Center. In remarks, Bolden cautions that near term spending has been tailored to deal with the 2013 budget sequester but that many of the agency’s projects could face setbacks unless lawmakers change course.http://www.dailypress.com/news/science/dp-nws-nasa-bolden-visit-20130510,0,1769522.story

A. From USA Today, May 10: President Obama’s civil space strategy, an initiative that looked to new commercial orbital space transportation services, finds resistance in Congress. Some policy analysts believe tensions formed over a White House decision to cancel the previous administration’s Constellation back to the moon program.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/10/congress-and-administration-at-odds-on-nasa-mission/2151559/

B. From The Orlando Sentinel, May 11: Advances in commercial space promise more jobs. In Florida, though, it could bring changes to sanctuaries for the region’s wildlife. “Which child do you love most?” asks one state official.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-shiloh-space-florida-controversy-20130510,0,7534435.story

4. From The Associated Press via the Houston Chronicle, May 12: Carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere rise to a new milestone. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researcher cautions there will be more to come.

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Experts-CO2-record-illustrates-scary-trend-4508335.php

5. From Parabolic Arc, May 10: The U. S. suborbital passenger market flexes its muscle with a Virgin Galactic price increase and a competitor’s plans to accommodate scientific researchers and engineers.

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/05/10/the-power-of-the-suborbital-experiments-market-is-growing/

6. From Space News, May 10: ISS managers assess a possibility that the late April docking of a Russian Progress cargo capsule with an un-deployed navigation antenna may have damaged a docking port reflector needed to berth a future European Space Agency resupply craft. Inspections and a reflector replacement may be required.

http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/35269nasa-worries-latest-progress-docking-damaged-atv-reflector#.UY5PBqLQq6p

7. From The Canadian Press, May 9: The Canadian Space Agency declares the country’s first Earth observing spacecraft, Radarsat-1, no longer operational due to a technical problem. A replacement constellation is nearing a 2018 lift off.

http://thetyee.ca/CanadianPress/2013/05/09/Cda-Radarsat1-End-23271941/

8. From Spaceflightnow.com, May 12: At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, engineers test the Orion capsule assigned to an unpiloted test launch in late 2014. The ground based stress testing will assess repairs to cracks found in the spacecraft after a 2012 pressure test.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/orion/eft1/130512eft1loads/#.UZARiqLQq6p

9. From Spacepolicyonline.com, May 12: A look at major space policy events scheduled for the week ahead.

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/space-policy-events-for-the-week-of-may-13-17-2013

CSExtra – Friday, May 10, 2013

admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:19:01 +0000

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Friday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA addresses a leaking thermal control system aboard the International Space Station. With an executive order, President Obama directs NASA and four other federal agencies to fund a $1 billion “manufacturing institute” initiative to trigger a U. S. industrial revival. Though making strides, NASA’s search for Earth-like planets could stall over financing, U. S. House members caution. New evidence from rocks gathered by the Apollo 15 and 17 crews suggest the Earth and moon share a common source of water, meteorites. Apollo moon walker Buzz Aldrin, Los Angeles space tourist Dennis Tito urge U. S. on to Mars. The Hubble Space Telescope spots planetary debris in an unanticipated place. The South Pacific witnesses a solar eclipse late Thursday.

1. From Spaceflightnow.com: International Space Station managers address a growing thermal control system leak on the orbital outpost’s oldest solar power system module. The leak surfaced Thursday, four days before three of the six crew members are scheduled to depart for Earth. Canadian Chris Hadfield, NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko are to descend to Earth late Monday. Mission Control ponders a spacewalk.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp35/130509leak/

A. From Space.com: Coolant leak poses no threat to space station’s six member crew.

http://www.space.com/21053-space-station-leaking-coolant.html

2. From The New York Times: President Obama issues an executive order establishing “manufacturing institutes” to set off a high tech industrial revival and create new jobs. The directive funds the initiative with $1 billion from five agencies, including NASA. The move comes as the U. S. President visits Austin, Texas as part of a middle class and jobs opportunity tour that includes a visit to Manor New Technology High School near the state’s capital.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/us/politics/in-texas-visit-obama-hopes-to-spotlight-manufacturing.html?_r=0

3. From The Hill: In a joint hearing before the House Space and Research Subcommittee, representatives from NASA, SETI and the National Science Foundation point to a bright future in the search for Earth-like alien planets. But lawmakers caution the funds may not be available if the 2013 budget sequester remains in place.

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/298893-lawmakers-urge-nasa-to-be-mindful-of-budget-constraints-

4. From Science News: Scientists point to a common source for water on the Earth and moon after an assessment of the hydrogen locked in glass particles contained in lunar magma samples gathered by the Apollo 15 and 17 crews. The original water source appears to be the carbonaceous chondrite class of meteorites, whose origins are the asteroid belt.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350303/description/Moons_water_may_have_earthly_origin

5. From U. S. News & World Report: Head for Mars, not an asteroid, Apollo 11 astronaut and author Buzz Aldrin says in remarks before the Human2Mars Summit in Washington this week. Aldrin’s remarks accompany the publication of his latest book, Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/08/no-buzz-aldrin-trashes-obama-asteroid-mission

A. From U. S. News & World Report: President Obama’s 2030s timetable for human Mars exploration will take too long, says Dennis Tito, who also participated in the Washington Human2Mars Summit. The Los Angeles businessman’s Inspiration Mars initiative would send two people around Mars in 2018. The round trip would span 501 days.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/08/dennis-tito-its-time-to-take-the-first-step-toward-colonizing-mars

B. From Spacepolitics.com: “Bringing an asteroid back to Earth? What does that have to do with exploration?” Buzz Aldrin asked rhetorically in remarks before the Human 2 Mars Summit this week. “Not very much, in my way of thinking.” U. S. astronauts should explore asteroids and comets as they prepare for Mars, said Aldrin.

http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/05/09/buzz-aldrin-wants-nasa-to-go-to-mars-not-grab-an-asteroid/

6. Three states rally support for commercial space ports:

A. From the Las Cruces Sun-News, of New Mexico: In an editorial, the newspaper credits limited liability legislation for the state’s successes in drawing SpaceX and Virgin Galactic to Spaceport America.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-opinion/ci_23198832/our-view-positive-step-spacex-moves-spaceport

B. From The San Antonio News-Express: A bill to permit the closing of a South Texas beach during prospective SpaceX launch operations heads for the Texas Senate and presumably to Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his signature. SpaceX is eyeing Brownsville, Tex., for a commercial launch complex. Florida and Alabama are among SpaceX’s suitors as well.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2013/05/spacex-bill-poised-for-full-senate/

C. From the Birmingham News, of Alabama: A bill to create an Alabama Spaceport Authority as well as a spaceport advances in the state House as the legislative session nears a conclusion. Financing questions remain.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/05/bill_would_create_alabama_spac.html

7. From Discovery.com: The Hubble Space Telescope spots the rocky remains of planetary materials circling a pair of white dwarf stars. The find is a rare indication of planets in a star cluster.

http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/hubble-discovers-planet-graveyard-130509.htm

8. From Space.com: A solar eclipse graces the South Pacific late Thursday.

http://www.space.com/21043-solar-eclipse-science-ring-fire.html

A. From Space.com: Eclipse photos

http://www.space.com/20981-annular-solar-eclipse-photos-may-2013.html

CSExtra – Thursday, May 9, 2013

admin — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:21:36 +0000

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Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest news and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. The three-day Human 2 Mars Summit in Washington draws to a close, with discussions of growing food and controlling clutter on the long expedition. What’s next for Curiosity. Europe to assess the link between the world’s forests and atmospheric carbon. A tribute for Sally Ride, the first U. S. female astronaut. Scholars from the U. S. and Mexico prepare an observing campaign for a new telescope. Minnesota high school space enthusiast earns a trip to Kazakhstan to witness a Soyuz launching. Imagining the Earth without the moon. Entertainer Skrillex visits NASA.

1. From The Washington Post: The exploration of Mars is likely to entail a long journey, which raises the challenge of growing food on the red planet. To grow plants on Mars, you have to first think about light, air pressure, carbon dioxide, water, and a host of other environmental factors.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/nasa-will-turn-astronauts-into-farmers-for-long-term-mars-missions/2013/05/08/8c44e5ca-b823-11e2-b568-6917f6ac6d9d_story.html

A. From The Washington Post: On Mars, clutter and dust could be major issues for explorers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/achenblog/wp/2013/05/08/real-and-imaginary-human-spaceflight/

2. From Space.com: On Mars, NASA’s Curiosity rover prepares to examine a new rock that could hold clues about whether Mars was once suitable for microbial life, then it’s off to the base of Mt. Sharp, which juts more than three miles from Gale Crater. Curiosity landed in Gale last August and just emerged from an anticipated black out period.

http://www.space.com/21014-mars-rover-curiosity-drill-drive.html

3. From Spaceflightnow.com: The European Space Agency moves forward with a mission to assess the effects of the world’s forests on the recycling of atmospheric carbon and climate change.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1305/08biomass/#.UYsGDaLQq6p

4. From Collectspace.com: The JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington will celebrate the life of Sally Ride, the first U S. female astronaut, on May 20.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050813a.html

5. From Space News: The U. S. is prepared to protect U. S. space assets, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter tells a National Press Club gathering. The Pentagon’s 2014 budget includes $28.7 million for a Space Protection Program, which is intended to provide resilience for military and intelligence gathering space systems.

http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/35227pentagon-stepping-up-space-protection-efforts#.UYsIL6LQq6p

6. From The Science Insider: An academic collaboration between the United States and Mexico leads to an inaugural observation campaign using Mexico’s Large Millimeter Telescope in the state of Puebla

http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2013/05/binational-telescope-begins-obse.html?ref=hp

7. From NBC News and Cosmiclog.com: In Minnesota, space enthusiast Abigale Harrison uses social media to spread the word about the importance of space exploration. The high school sophomore is headed to Kazakhstan this month to observe the launch of new crew members headed to the International Space Station. Harrison is drawing encouragement from European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/08/18126802-15-year-old-astronaut-abby-fuels-her-outreach-mission-with-social-media?lite

8. From Discovery.com: Contemplating the Earth without the moon. Not a pretty picture.

http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/why-would-aliens-obliterate-our-moon-130508.htm

9. From Space.com: Skrillex encounters NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the training facilities that prepare astronauts for life in space.

http://www.space.com/21031-skrillex-nasa-johnson-space-center.html

CSExtra – Wednesday, May 8, 2013

admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:03:50 +0000

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Wednesday’s CSExtra offers the latest news and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Public interest in the human exploration of Mars is on the rise, say participants in the Human2Mars Summit in Washington. The success of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is crucial to U.S. Mars exploration plans, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden tells Summit goers. Wipe away the negative, provide our youth with a dream, advises veteran astronaut Leroy Chiao. Virgin Galactic hires a retired top NASA astronaut as a new pilot. SpaceX signs on with Spaceport America in New Mexico for Grasshopper tests. Why is NASA’s planetary sciences budget on the decline?

1. From Space.com: “Interest in sending humans to space…has never been higher,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden tells the Human2Mars Summit currently underway in Washington. The challenges, however, are technical, economic, political and scientific.

http://www.space.com/20999-nasa-manned-mars-missions.html

A. From Space.com: Mars One, a Dutch initiative, touches a nerve with its nonprofit campaign to colonize Mars. Within two weeks of its start, a drive to enlist volunteers for a one way journey draws nearly 80,000 responses. Mars One proposes to begin the settlement with the launch of four explorers in 2023.

http://www.space.com/21005-mars-one-colony-applications.html

B. From Discovery.com: NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spots strange looking patterns on Mars that suggest possible erosion by water or ice.

http://news.discovery.com/space/mystery-geology-mars-hirise-mro-130507.htm

C. From Collectspace.com: Apollo astronaut and author Buzz Aldrin releases his eighth book. In Mission to Mars, Aldrin explains his vision for human missions to the red planet.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050713a.html

2. From Spacepolitics.com: The formula for reaching Mars with U. S. explorers begins with a successful execution of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden tells the Human2Mars Summit, which is wrapping up a three day program in Washington to explore the challenges and opportunities for reaching the red planet.

http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/05/07/bolden-the-path-to-mars-requires-commercial-crew-and-sls-but-not-the-moon/

3. From Discovery.com: In an op-ed, former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao ponders the rise of the negative and sensational on the national news front, often at the expense of the significant. “Let’s not let our future dreams be hijacked,” advises Chiao. “We owe our children and grandchildren a better legacy than that.”

http://news.discovery.com/space/history-of-space/astronaut-leroy-chiao-space-dreams-media-130507.htm

4. From Discovery.com: Retired NASA deputy chief astronaut Frederick C. J. Sturckow signs on as a pilot with Virgin Galactic, the emerging suborbital space passenger launch services company. As a four time shuttle commander and pilot, the retired U. S. Marine Corps aviator and test pilot was instrumental in the assembly of the International Space Station.

http://news.discovery.com/space/private-spaceflight/former-nasa-shuttle-pilot-joins-virgin-galactic-130507.htm

5. From Flightglobal.com: SpaceX agrees to a three year lease with Spaceport America in New Mexico to continue testing of the Grasshopper, the prototype for a reusable rocket. Early testing unfolded at SpaceX’s proving ground in McGregor, TX.

lhttp://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/spacex-grasshopper-moves-to-new-mexico-385575/

A. From The Brownsville Herald, of Texas: Hundreds attend a public hearing on the environmental impact of a possible SpaceX commercial launch complex in South Texas. Environmental impacts appear minimal, prospects for new jobs high.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_58a99d36-b789-11e2-99f4-0019bb30f31a.html

6. From Space.com: In an op-ed, the Planetary Society questions planned reductions in funding for robotic NASA planetary missions.

http://www.space.com/21007-how-to-save-planetary-exploration-op-ed.html

CSExtra – Tuesday, May 7, 2013

admin — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:04:21 +0000

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Tuesday’s CSExtra offer the latest news and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. In Washington, the three-day Human2Mars Summit opens with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden among the speakers. NASA needs time to develop the capabilities for the challenging journey, Bolden tells the summit. NASA legislative supporters split over exploration and commercial space transportation priorities. Merits of corralling an asteroid. Orbital Sciences Corp. looks to August/September for its next Antares test mission to permit a rocket engine exchange. Space observatories spot a record stellar blast. Arianespace’s second Vega launch unfolds successfully. Kepler mission scientists William Borucki earns recognition for his innovation. NASA’s Morpheus prototype planetary lander on the comeback trail. The test shuttle orbiter Enterprise gets a July opening date. Red Bull daredevil Felix Baumgartner’s capsule and pressure suit go on display. Entertainer Sarah Brightman looks toward orbital flight.

1. From The Washington Post: Mars may be an inspirational destination for the U. S. human space program, but NASA’s program to reach the red planet is far from mature. That’s because the technologies are yet to be developed along with the formulation of a budget. That’s why the U. S. is not ready to go all out on Mars, explains NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the opening day of the Human2Mars Summit at George Washington University. In the near term, the U. S. needs a commercial capability to deliver astronauts to low Earth orbit destinations, including the International Space Station, says Bolden.

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/achenblog/wp/2013/05/06/our-future-in-space/

A. From U. S. News & World Report: As a stepping stone to Mars, NASA can corral an asteroid, perhaps demonstrating capabilities that will be necessary to deflect a potentially catastrophic collision, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden informs the opening session of the three day Human2Mars Summit.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/06/nasas-asteroid-mission-hopes-to-prevent-large-scale-destruction

2. From The Space Review: In “Drawing the lines for NASA’s FY 2014 budget,” TSR editor Jeff Foust finds legislative allies on the value of human space exploration at odds over funding for the cornerstones of NASA’s future human space exploration plans, the Space Launch System and Orion, and the Commercial Crew Program.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2291/1

3. From SpaceNews.com: Space exploration occupies an essential part of the nation’s future, writes U. S. Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, in an op-ed. Part of NASA’s mission should address the asteroid deflection issue raised with the explosion of a small near Earth object over Russia earlier this year, Smith notes.

http://www.spacenews.com/article/opinion/35186a-critical-investment#.UYhgkaLQq6o

A. From Space News: NASA must demonstrate its proposed asteroid capture mission is serious and more than a place holder for better defined objectives, the trade publication writes in an editorial.

http://www.spacenews.com/article/opinion/35185editorial-caveat-emptor#.UYhimqLQq6o

4. From Spacepolicyonline.com: Orbital Sciences Corp., will push back its next test flight of the emerging Antares/Cygnus cargo delivery service for the International Space Station from late June/July The new target, August/September, will permit an engine swap prior to the seminal test of Orbital Sciences’ ability to rendezvous with the ISS and berthing of the Cygnus supply ship. The flight will set the stage for regular ISS cargo deliveries by the Dulles, Va., based company.

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/orbital-sets-august-september-for-antares-test-flight-to-iss

5. From Space.com: NASA’s Swift and Fermi space telescopes spot a record stellar explosion 3.6 billion light years from Earth. The powerful gamma ray burst lasted several hours — long enough to alert ground based telescopes to join the observing campaign.

http://www.space.com/20990-most-powerful-star-explosion-discovery.html

6. From Spaceflightnow.com: Arianespace successfully launches the company’s second Vega rocket from French Guiana late Monday. The four stage Vega placed satellites from the European Space Agency, Vietnam and Estonia into orbit for Earth observing missions.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/vega/vv02/130507launch/#.UYjEsqLQq6o

A. From The Associated Press via The Houston Chronicle: Landsat 8, launched in February for the U. S. Geological Survey, is working well early in its Earth observation missions.

http://www.chron.com/default/article/New-satellite-appears-to-be-working-flawlessly-4493044.php

7. From The Partnership for Public Service via The Washington Post: William Borucki, project scientist for NASA’s Kepler space telescope mission, receives recognition for his innovative approach to the search for alien planets that resemble the Earth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/looking-for-signs-of-life-in-the-universe/2013/05/06/f6008072-b662-11e2-aa9e-a02b765ff0ea_story.html

8. From The Examiner.com: NASA rebounds from the loss of its Morpheus prototype planetary lander in August 2012 in a crash at the Kennedy Space Center. After a series of static tests at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the ungraded replacement could soon be ready for another trial at Kennedy.

http://www.examiner.com/article/nasa-test-rebuilds-morpheus-landing-vehicle-readies-more-flight-tests

9. From Collectspace.com: July 10 will mark the opening for the public display of the shuttle test orbiter Enterprise aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City. The new venue will replace a temporary display.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050613b.html

A. From Collectspace.com: The capsule and pressure suit that made Felix Baumgartner’s record parachute leap possible last year is now on public display at Space Center Houston.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050613a.html

10. From The Associated Press via The Houston Chronicle: British entertainer Sarah Brightman has not lost her passion for a trip to the International Space Station as a space flight participant aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Her flight may come within the next two years, according to Brightman.

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Sarah-Brightman-plans-on-upcoming-space-journey-4491316.php