Saturday’s CSExtra contains news about discussions on the cancellation of Constellation, the SpaceX launch of Falcon 9 and other stories.
1. From Space News: NASA is now weighing a competition for the development of a life boat for the International Space Station. On April 15, President Obama said Orion, a piece of the cancelled Constellation back-to-the-moon program, would be re-assigned to carry out the potential rescue role. Space News reports, however; that cost estimates, ranging from $4.5 to $7 billion for an Orion-lite, have NASA considering a new competition.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/100528-nasa-competition-crew-lifeboat.html
2. From Florida Today: Plans by SpaceX for an inaugural launching of the Falcon 9 may happen as soon as Friday, June. 4. The rocket and its Dragon capsule are commercial candidates to deliver cargo and perhaps astronauts to the International Space Station.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100529/NEWS02/5290312/Falcon+9+launch++Friday
A. From Space News: The pace of SpaceX test flights for the delivery of cargo to the International Space Station will be longer than once planned, the company informs NASA
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/100528-expect-longer-wait-between-spacex-demo.html
3. The Government Accountability Office or GAO, in a report, urges the White House to establish an inter-agency authority to ensure there are sufficient numbers of satellites to monitor the Earth and sun.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=927:gao-urges-white-house-to-develop-and-implement-interagency-earth-observation-strategy&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
4. From Spacepolicyonline.com: A summary of the Congressional response to NASA’s reassignment last week of Jeff Hanley, the Constellation Program manager.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=928:hanley-qreassignmentq-prompts-calls-for-ig-investigation&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
A. The New York Times reports on the issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/science/space/29nasa.html?scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cse
5. From the AP via the Washington Post: A joint U.S. and German collaboration on an airborne infrared observatory celebrates “first light.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/28/AR2010052804781.html
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