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Wednesday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA readies Florida launch pad for new Space Launch System, the new U. S. rocket for human deep space missions. Annual underground European space exploration exercise adds realism to future human planetary exploration. China’s Long March 9 rocket plans could spur U. S. back to the moon. Commercial space company to discuss human lunar mission plans. U. S. government shutdown brings early end to NASA conference on future human asteroid exploration strategy. Canada looks for role in future international human moon, Mars exploration plans. U. S. Government shutdown slows preps for MAVEN, next U. S. Mars mission. Google hangout to entertain questions about Mars. International Space Station astronauts work through U. S. government shutdown. U. S. and China discuss cooperation on small space projects. Competition over commercial use of NASA’s Launch Complex 39A continues beyond planned award date. Scientists offer new theory on Earth’s atmosphere.
1. From NASAspaceflight.com: NASA readies Florida launch platform for future Space Launch System, the large U. S. rocket intended to start humans on missions of deep space exploration.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/mobile-launcher-modifications-for-sls/
2. From the European Space Agency: ESA’s CAVES analog space mission training offers multi-national astronauts opportunities to experience deep space exploration. “This is like an alien landscape,” exclaims NASA astronaut Mike Barratt. “From the standpoint of exploration this must be like a spacewalk on the surface of a planet, like Mars, where you are really not sure what you are going to find.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tcH3udQPug&list=PL82620719A0574519
3. From Aviation Week & Space Technology: Might China’s recently announced lunar exploration plans spur a U. S. return to the moon? China’s plans include the Long March 9, a rocket more powerful than NASA’s Saturn V moon rocket.
4. From Space News: Canada looks to robotics and surface drilling technologies to cement a place on future international lunar and Mars exploration missions.
5. From the European Space Agency: Google hang out on Friday will focus on Mars. Expert from Europe’s Mars Express mission and the U. S. Planetary Society will discuss new findings about the red planet.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Mars_Google_Hangout
6. From Space News: U. S. government shutdown brings early end to NASA’s three day Asteroid Retrieval Mission workshop. The Asteroid Initiative Idea Synthesis workshop was to refine plans to identify, robotically capture and maneuver a small asteroid into lunar orbit, where U. S. astronauts launched on the new Orion/ Space Launch System capsule and rocket could rendezvous as soon as 2021. The three day conference opened Monday.
7. From Spaceflightnow.com: Launch preps for NASA’s next Mars mission grind to a stop in response to U. S. government shutdown. The launch window opens Nov. 8, closes Dec. 7. Following a 10 month journey, the orbital MAVEN spacecraft is to study the Martian atmosphere.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av038/131001shutdown/#.UkuQDNIwkQM
A. From Space.com: NASA’s asteroid warning activities continue in spite of U. S. government shutdown.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/23035-government-shutdown-dangerous-asteroids-search.html
B. From CNN.com: Before signing off in response to the U. S. government shutdown, NASA’s Near Earth Object office and Voyager 2 mission offices advise they will not be communicating by social media. “Farewell, humans,” Voyager 2 said in a final Twitter advisory. “Sort it out for yourselves.”
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/01/tech/social-media/nasa-government-shutdown/index.html?iref=allsearch
C. From the New York Times: Astronauts aboard the International Space Station work in spite of the U. S. federal government shutdown. However, NASA TV and the agency’s social media communications stop.
8. From the South China Post: U. S. and China look for opportunities to cooperate on small space projects, the newspaper reports following a recent visit to the country by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Earth observations is one such area, according to the publication.
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1321102/us-and-china-partner-small-scale-space-projects
9. From the Houston Chronicle: Top Golden Spike officials to speak Thursday in Houston on commercial human moon venture. CEO Alan Stern and Gerald Griffin, the former Johnson Space Center director, will discuss plans to begin launching two passenger commercial moon missions in 2020.
10. From Reuters: Competition for the commercial lease of NASA’s Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center continues past the space agency’s planned Oct. 1 selection date. SpaceX and Blue Origin are vying for a multi-year lease of the former shuttle launch pad. A legal challenge has slowed the cost saving award.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/02/us-space-launchpad-idUSBRE9901HE20131002
A. From NBCNews.com: SpaceX heads off speculation about second stage issue following Sunday’s launch of an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/spacex-knocks-down-claim-falcon-9-rocket-exploded-orbit-8C11310947
11. From Space.com: Early solar system impact sent Earth’s atmosphere packing, according to Harvard researcher.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/23031-moon-origin-impact-earth-atmosphere.html
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