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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. The U.S. House avoids a federal government shutdown, passes 2015 budget agreement with NASA increase, pending Senate approval. Top NASA officials to decide Asteroid Redirect Mission option next week. Exploration Flight Test-1 Orion capsule departs San Diego for the Kennedy Space Center. Deep space exploration: a global undertaking, according to NASA’s chief scientist. British astrophysicist and rocker Brian May joins those concerned about asteroid threat to Earth. Binary planets may be hospitable. Astronomers capture signature of dark matter. Ancient Mars needed more than water for life, notes Mars Curiosity rover science team member. Meteorites a possible source of lunar water. Astrobiotic Technologies Inc. plans personal lunar mail service. India lines up unpiloted test flight of future crew module. NASA, SpaceX delay by three days next cargo mission to the International Space Station; Dec. 19 lift off possible.
NASA’s 2015 Budget
House narrowly passes FY2015 funding bill and two-day CR
Spacepolicyonline.com (12/12): The U.S. House and Senate avoided a midnight shutdown of federal agencies on Thursday with passage of a two-day budget continuing resolution. The House also narrowly passed a 2015 omnibus appropriations measure that would provide NASA with $18 billion for the 2015 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. That amounts to a $549 million increase for NASA over 2014. The longer term measure is now before the U.S. Senate.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA to weigh several factors in decision on asteroid mission option
Space News (12/11): NASA plans a key Dec. 16 decision on the direction of its proposed Asteroid Redirect Mission. Option A would have the robotic mission capture a small near Earth asteroid, then maneuver it into a stable lunar orbit. Option B would capture a boulder from a larger asteroid, then transfer it to lunar orbit. Robert Lightfoot, the agency’s associate administrator, said the decision will turn on which strategy best supports the future human exploration of Mars, including private sector participation. Top administrators for human exploration, science and space technology will assist in the decision making, whose outcome could be announced Dec. 16-17.
Tested, tempered, triumphant — Orion begins the long journey home
Spaceflight Insider (12/12): A week after a successful Exploration Flight Test-1 mission, the Orion capsule developed by NASA and Lockheed Martin begins it’s over the road journey from the U.S. Navy Base in San Diego, Calif., to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The unpiloted Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean 630 miles from San Diego, where it was recovered by the USS Anchorage.
NASA’s chief scientist: The future of space exploration is international partnerships
Slate.com (12/11): Many of the world’s nations aspire to participate in the exploration of Mars, says Ellen Stofan, NASA’s chief scientist. “When we go to explore, we do it as a globe,” Stofan said in an interview that appeared originally in New America’s Weekly Wonk. “People see space as a place where you go and cooperate.”
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
The New Yorker (12/11): British rocker Brian May, also an astrophysicist, outlines concerns for a devastating collision between the Earth and an asteroid. May joins those calling for an all-out effort to identify the many asteroid impact threats and develop strategies to divert them in advance.
Are habitable binary planets possible?
Space.com (12/11): Astronomers take a serious look at potential planetary configurations that are not like those of the solar system, including the possibility of habitable binary planets.
Cosmic mystery solved? Possible dark matter signal spotted
Space.com (12/11): Europe’s XMM Newton spacecraft may have detected a dark matter signature. Dark matter, though little understood, comprises most of the universe.
Could ancient Mars have supported life? Water isn’t the only key
Space.com (12/11): Mars would need more than flowing water in its past to support the emergence of life, writes astrobiologist Pamela Conrad in the journal Science. Her writings follow new findings from NASA’s Curiosity rover that water may have filled Gale Crater and other depressions on Mars.
Soggy space rocks brought water to young moon
New Scientist (12/11): Recent studies of lunar rocks collected by the Apollo astronauts suggest meteorites delivered water to the early moon.
MoonMail: Company launches program to land mementos on the moon
Collectspace.com (12/11): Astrobiotic Technology Inc, plans one way lunar trips for personal mementos. Charges start at $460.
Low Earth Orbit
Unmanned crew module to be tested
The Hindu, of India (12/11): India is targeting Dec. 18 for the unpiloted suborbital test flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III. The future crew capsule’s re-entry characteristics will be assessed post flight.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Launch of SpaceX’s CRS-5 mission to the ISS slips to no-earlier than Dec. 19
Spaceflightinsider.com (12/11): NASA announces a three day delay in the launch of the next commercial U.S. re-supply mission to the International Space Station to ensure SpaceX has adequate time to prepare.
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