Monday’s CSExtra finds a new call for an extension of NASA’s space shuttle program, plus a report that Orion’s future as a space station life boat could be in doubt. Also, communities across the country compete for a retired space shuttle orbiter.

1. From the Houston Chronicle: An editorial calling on President Obama for an extension of shuttle missions until a replacement is operating. 
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7028527.html

A. From Launchspace.com: An op-ed from George Jeffs, a former president of Rockwell International space and energy operations, who makes a case for the shuttle’s extension.

http://www.launchspace.com/editorials.html

2. From Space News: NASA is “quietly” considering an alternative to further development of the Orion capsule as a life boat for the International Space Station. Orion, part of the Constellation back to the moon program that is facing cancellation, was resurrected as a station life boat by President Obama in April 15 remarks at the Kennedy Space Center. However, the cost, estimated from $4.5 to $7 billion, would have to come from other areas of NASA’s budget. NASA is weighing a competition for the life boat as an alternative to Orion.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/100528-nasa-competition-crew-lifeboat.html

3. From the New York Times: The World Science Festival opens Tuesday with the unveiling of a NASA replica of the James Webb Space Telescope. The new observatory, scheduled for launching in 2014, will take up where the Hubble Space Telescope leaves off in studies of the distant universe.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/arts/31science.html?scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cse

4. From Florida Today: The newspaper examines the competition under way to obtain one of NASA’s three space shuttle orbiters as they are retired. Discovery will go to the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum, but where will Atlantis and Endeavour go. Enthusiasts from New York to Houston and the West Coast would like to place one of the spacecraft on display. The report questions whether those in the Cape Canaveral area have an effective campaign.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100530/BUSINESS/5300320/1006/NEWS01/Wanted++Retired+space+shuttles

5. From the AP via the Washington Post: The German SOFIA observatory makes its first observations on May 26. The telescope mission, collaboration with NASA, began after the airborne observatory took to the air aboard a Boeing 747 from Palmdale, Calif. for a six hour flight. Jupiter was among the first targets for the infrared telescope.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052804781.html

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