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Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting on space related events from around the world. In Washington, a receptive House subcommittee listens as experts urge NASA to shape a stable policy for human space exploration backed by adequate funding. Endeavour’s astronauts train at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for an April 19 lift off on a two week mission to the International Space Station. A hail storm pelts the launch pad on Wednesday. In French Guiana, an Ariane 5 rocket with a pair of communications satellites ignites then shuts down before lift off. Amateur sky watchers track a U. S. Air Force unmanned space plane on a secret mission.
1. From Spacepolicyonline.com: NASA needs a stable policy shaping the agency’s work on a future human space exploration program, experts tell the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, a NASA oversight panel. Members of the subcommittee blame the administration for dragging its feet on the development of a new heavy lift rocket and crew capsule for deep space exploration.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1507:policy-instability-biggest-obstacle-to-nasas-exploration-program&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
A. From Florida Today: Space policy experts question the Obama Administration’s commitment to the heavy lift rocket favored by Congress for the future human exploration of deep space.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110331/NEWS02/103310316/Delays-NASA-heavy-lift-rocket-plan-stir-skeptics?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
B. From The Coalition for Space Exploration: NASA expects to have an exploration strategy responsive to the 2010 NASA Authorization Act by late June, a space agency official tells the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. The report will address how the agency intends to develop a new heavy lift rocket and multi-purpose crew capsule by leveraging investments in the shuttle and Constellation programs. Lawmakers have directed NASA to have the rocket and capsule operational by the end of 2016.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/uncategorized/nasa-closing-on-heavy-lift-crew-capsule-strategy
2. From Spacepolicyonline.com: The websites reports early signs of a possible agreement on a 2011 budget. The current budget Continuing Resolution expires April 8. A series of CR’s since Oct. 1 have locked most federal spending at the 2010 level. NASA, one of the agencies affected, is required to continue spending on the all but cancelled Constellation program, under the CR restrictions.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1508:a-ray-of-hope-in-the-budget-saga&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
3. From Florida Today: The astronauts assigned to shuttle Endeavour’s final mission train for launch pad emergencies at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
http://space.flatoday.net/2011/03/astronauts-train-for-launch-pad_30.html
A. From CNN.com: Technicians will check for hail damage, following a Wednesday evening thunderstorm with hail at Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Shuttle Endeavour is undergoing preparations for an April 19 lift off at the pad.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/31/nasa.storm/
4. From Spaceflightnow.com: An Ariane 5 rocket shuts down on the launch pad moments before lift off from French Guiana. The payload includes a pair of communications satellites.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ariane/va201/110330abort/
5. From Wired.com: Amateur sky watchers track the U. S. Air Force X-37 B on its secret mission.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/03/secret-space-plane-cant-hide-from-amateur-sleuths/
A. From Space.com: Saturn returns to the night sky, visible when the sun sets.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11262-saturn-skywatching-tips-evening-sky.html
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