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Here’s your chance to tell your friends and family why space matters to our future! The Coalition for Space Exploration, in partnership with the NASA Visitor Centers Consortium has launched the “Why Space Matters to the Future” video contest encouraging U.S. residents to visualize what life will be like in 10, 25, or 50 years if the boundaries of space continue to expand. From March 1- Apr. 7, entrants can submit a short video capturing their vision of why exploring space matters and how it will benefit future generations. Three winners will receive a VIP trip to one of three NASA’s visitor centers: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Alabama or Space Center Houston in Texas. Winning videos will be shared with the public and national leaders. Get more details here.
Friday’s CSExtra presents the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. NASA’s Radiation Storm Belt Probes detect a temporary third radiation belt encircling the Earth. Representatives from the White House, NASA and the Air Force are scheduled to appear before Congress next week on the asteroid and comet impact threat to Earth. Even a lull in solar activity will not erase the threat of global warming, claim scientists. A look status of the U. S. budget sequestration. Beijing looks to a summer launch for three Chinese astronauts. A new Antarctic meteor find. SpaceX prepares to launch its second supply mission to the International Space Station under a $1.6 billion NASA contract.
1. From Space.com: NASA’s twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes make a surprise discovery, a third radiation belt wrapping the Earth. However, its existence is not permanent. The Earth’s two permanent radiation belts, named for American physicist James Van Allen, were discovered in 1958.The probes were launched last summer.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/20004-earth-radiation-belt-discovery.html
2. From Spacepolicyonline.com: Next week, the White House science adviser, NASA administrator and a top U. S. Air Force general head for Capitol Hill for testimony on threats to Earth posed by asteroids and comets. The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will host.
A. From CNN: On Feb. 15, a small asteroid exploded over Chelyabinsk in Russia. A look at how the experts used sound waves to calculate the mass and explosive force of the object.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/27/world/europe/russia-meteor/index.html
3. From The Washington Post: Scientists who follow the sun’s 11-year activity cycle say even diminished solar activity in the coming decades will not be enough to head off a global warming trend.
4. From Politico: Friday marks the start of a U. S. budget sequester. Politico takes an across the board look at the impacts and an estimated timetable. Loss of services, furloughs and layoffs loom. It may all change as the White House and Congress are schedule to meet Friday.
5. From The Associated Press via The Washington Post: Three Chinese astronauts will launch for China’s human tended space station between June and August, according to a Chinese space program statement.
6. From Space.com: Antarctic meteorite hunters un-Earth a 40 pound specimen.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/20012-big-meteorite-found-antarctica.html
7. From Florida Today: Favorable weather awaits as SpaceX prepares to send a second commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. The Lift off is set for 10:10 a.m., EST. If successful, the Dragon 9 re-supply craft will rendezvous with the station and its six member crew Saturday morning.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130228/SPACE/130228006/Falcon-9-set-launch-early-Friday
A. From Spaceflightnow.com: The website is providing updates in the countdown and launch of the SpaceX/NASA Commercial Resupply Services 2 mission launch to the International Space Station.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/status.html
B. From CBS News: The CRS-2 SpaceX Dragon mission will deliver more than 2,300 pounds of cargo to the space station, much of its U. S., European and Japanese science gear. About 3,000 pounds of scientific equipment, samples and spare hardware will return to Earth aboard the Dragon on March 25.
C. From The Huffington Post: A new recorded song heads for a debut aboard the International Space Station. Up in the Air will fly aboard the SpaceX Dragon set for launching on Friday.
Brought to you by the Coalition for Space Exploration, CSExtra is a daily compilation of space industry news selected from hundreds of online media resources. The Coalition is not the author or reporter of any of the stories appearing in CSExtra and does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtra contains links to other websites and domains which are wholly independent of the Coalition, and the Coalition makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in any such site or domain and does not pre-screen or approve any content. The Coalition does not endorse or receive any type of compensation from the included media outlets and is not responsible or liable in any way for any content of CSExtra or for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of any content appearing in CSExtra. For information on the Coalition, visit www.space.com or contact us via e-mail at Info@space.com.
