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Friday’s CSExtra offers updates on brewing space policy developments in Washington. Scientists find more evidence of liquid water and volcanic interactions on Mars. Irrigation across the western United States may be affecting the weather. China’s second lunar orbiter remains on track for a launching by the end of this year. Also, Russia’s 39 Progress cargo capsule lifts off on a weather-delayed mission to the International Space Station early today, http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
1. From Spacepolitics.com: The Space Transportation Association sponsored a Washington forum on Thursday to discuss the “ideal” 2010 NASA Authorization bill. Currently, there are two versions, one awaiting consideration by the full House, and a version passed by the Senate. Mike Griffin, the former NASA Administrator; George Washington University policy expert Scott Pace; Gary Payton, the retired under secretary of the U.S. Air Force; and Robert Dickman, the AIAA director, offered differing views. Some back the House version, which includes a NASA developed space transportation system for use by astronauts. But a commercial system favored by the White House also received backing. It appears each bill has appealing features.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2010/09/10/crafting-an-ideal-for-some-authorization-bill/
A. From the Huntsville Times: Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, now a professor at the University of Alabama, urges Congress to protect the agency’s Constellation back-to-the-moon program from cancellation. Griffin points to bi-partisan Congressional support for the lunar initiative. President Obama’s vision for exploration is “muddled,” according to remarks delivered to the Space Transportation Association, according to the Huntsville paper.
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/09/ex-nasa_chief_mike_griffin_cri.html
2. From MSNBC: Space Adventures, the Virginia based company that has brokered spaceflights to the International Space Station for wealthy private citizens, and the Boeing Co. plan a Washington announcement on Wednesday. While it’s not clear what the two companies are prepared to announce, Boeing has been working on a commercially launched spacecraft that could take astronauts and others to the space station or other orbital destinations, MSNBC’s Alan Boyle. http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/09/5081319-boeing-teams-up-with-space-tour-firm
3. From Space.com and Science Magazine: NASA scientists find evidence of long running surface/water interaction on Mars. The data comes from the 2008 Mars Phoenix Lander mission that touched down on the Red Planet’s North Pole to study the soil and the thin carbon dioxide rich atmosphere.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/scienceastronomy/nasa-phoenix-lander-finds-evidence-mars-water-history-100909.html
4. From the Houston Chronicle: The Labor Department will make up to $5.4 million in federal funds available to the Houston area to assist up to 600 workers facing layoffs as the shuttle program is retired., The aid will come in the form of career counseling and other services to assist with the search for new employment. United Space Alliance and its subcontractors are among those expected to benefit. Only $2.2 million will be available initially.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/7193996.html
5. From the Los Angeles Times: SpaceX and EADS Astrium team to market the Falcon 1 rocket in Europe for the launching of small orbital payloads. The deal involving the Hawthorne, CA based SpaceX extends through 2015.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/09/spacex-eads-astrium-nasa.html
6. From the New York Times: Widespread irrigation in the American West is altering weather patters and possibly masking evidence of climate change, say researchers, including one from NASA.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/the-irrigation-juggernaut/?scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cse
7. From Florida Today: Shuttle Discovery rolls from its processing hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center early Thursday. The move was delayed one day by a water main break. Discovery is allowed to linger as it rolls so that dozens of people who have worked on the orbiter can take pictures. Discovery is headed to the launch pad for its final mission, tentatively slated for a Nov. 1 lift off.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100910/NEWS02/9100316/NASA-offers-rare-rollover-photo-op
8. From Reuters: China’s second lunar orbiter mission, Chang’e-2, is progressing toward a launch at the end of 2010. It would follow China’s Chang’e-1 mission of Oct. 2007. The pace of activity supports the landing of an unmanned Chinese lunar craft on the moon around 2013.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6890CF20100910
9. From Space News: Hollywood looks to space for a new thriller, Gravity, about a female astronaut stranded alone after the space station she is aboard is struck by debris that takes the lives of her companions. The cast would include Natalie Portman and Robert Downey Jr.
http://www.spacenews.com/commentaries/coming-attractions-sat-debris-strike-strands-astronaut-space-station.html
10. From Space.com: On Mars, the NASA rover Opportunity has covered half the 12 miles trek to the Endeavour crater. Opportunity, which landed on Mars in January 2004, began the journey in August 2008. Opportunity has far exceeded its original 90-day mission. Endeavour represents the largest crater explored so far.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/scienceastronomy/mars-rover-halfway-endeavour-crater-100908.html
11. From the London Daily Telegraph: Recent solar activity is responsible for spectacular display of Northern Lights.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7992463/Spectacular-Northern-Lights-display-pictured-after-violent-space-storm.html
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