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Friday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activity from across the globe. NASA prepares to advance the agency’s Commercial Crew Program — if funding emerges. Surprise explosion over Russia in February linked to asteroid cluster. Tracing the finger print of cosmic inflation. Greenland logs record high temp. Japanese space freighter set for launch on Saturday to deliver next round of satellite serving mission hardware to the International Space Station. Orbital Sciences to embrace distinctive Orion solar arrays. More on New Horizons mission to Pluto. NASA to study space experience on astronaut twins.
1. From Space Politics.com: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program prepares for the next step, including a push away from Space Act Agreement managed development to traditional federal acquisition contracts. This week, officials involved in the initiative to establish a commercial crew space transportation capability cautioned against moving too quickly to eliminate competition among private sector developers.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/08/01/debating-schedule-versus-competition-for-commercial-crew/
A. From Parabolicarc.com: In a recent exchange with the news media, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver underscores need for Congress to fully fund NASA’s commercial crew initiative.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/08/01/garver-we-need-full-funding-on-commercial-crew/
B. From Florida Today: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program outlines plans for Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contracts, agreements intended to start the launchings of astronauts to the International Space Station aboard U.S. spacecraft by the end of 2017. The space agency and its commercial partners, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corp. and SpaceX, are aiming for late 2017. The space agency’s development plan includes an emphasis on safety, including the ability to interrupt any phase of flight in response to a major issue and return crews safely to the ground.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130802/SPACE/308020024/NASA-private-space-teams-compare-notes
2. From New Scientist: Spanish researchers track source of asteroid cluster believed responsible or surprise Feb. 15 meteor explosion over Chelyabinsk in Russia. Further surprise impacts are possible, they caution.
3. From Sky & Telescope Magazine: Astronomers close in on a “finger print” for inflation — a force that seemingly guided the early expansion of the universe following the big bang.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/Seeking-the-Cosmic-Dawn-217764581.html
4. From The Washington Post: Late July brings record high temperature to Greenland, according to Danish researchers.
5. From Aviation Week & Space Technology: Japan’s HTV-4 re-supply mission to the International Space Station aims for a Saturday lift off with the next set of robotic satellite servicing hardware. Refueling demonstrations are aimed at initiating a new commercial enterprise that could keep Earth orbiting satellites in service.
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_07_29_2013_p38-599823.xml
6. From Space News: Orbital Sciences Corp. looks to distinctive solar arrays from NASA’s Orion development effort to power downstream Cygnus cargo missions to the International Space Station.
7. From The Coalition for Space Exploration: Scientists involved in NASA’s New Horizons mission conferred on the spacecraft’s objectives in Baltimore in late July. Meeting presentations offer an in depth look at plans to carry out the first flyby of distant Pluto in mid-2015.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/scientists-probe-exploration-of-pluto
8. From Florida Today: NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is preparing for a yearlong mission aboard the International Space Station with a Russian colleague. The lengthy stay is to study the effects of long duration spaceflight on human health. Kelly’s twin, Mark, a retired NASA shuttle astronaut, has agreed to be a subject in a study that will compare the twin experience.
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