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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. In Washington, NASA briefs progress on the Space Launch System, Orion and the ground systems required to start future U.S. explorers on missions of deep space exploration. China and U.S. unlikely to team up soon in space, says influential U.S. senator. Artist illustrates a NASA-envisioned faster than light spacecraft. Private group activates long silent NASA spacecraft. Hitchhiking on a comet. Terrestrial radar finds new asteroid discovery attractive. U.S. instruments aboard European comet hunter light up. NASA postpones novel spaceflight test from Pacific. NASA clears 3-D printer for International Space Station evaluation. Latest attempt to launch orbiting NASA carbon monitor set for July 1. Space station astronauts pay tribute to World Cup. Google poised to take financial stake in Virgin Galactic.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA emphasizes near-term exploration systems progress, but long-term questions remain
Spacepolitics.com (6/12): At a Space Transportation Forum, top NASA managers offer an optimistic appraisal of the Space Launch System, Orion and ground system development, the components intended to start U. S. explorers on future missions of deep space exploration. “Step one is coming up this fall, December 2014, EFT-1… be watching for that, watch us make the progress.” said NASA’s Dan Dumbacher. The unpiloted EFT-1 will introduce Orion to space and re-entry conditions similar to those of a spacecraft returning with astronauts from a deep space mission. The Space Transportation Forum attracted a standing room only audience.
To Mars with China? Not These Days, Says Nelson
Space News (6/12): It would be premature for the U.S. to consider an alliance with China in its human space flight program for the exploration of Mars, says U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, who has been influential in shaping space policy from Washington. Nelson spoke in response to a National Research Council report earlier this month that urged consideration of a partnership.
What an Enterprise! NASA physicist, artist unveil warp-speed craft design
CNN (6/12): A NASA artist illustrates Harold “Sonny” White’s vision of a spacecraft, the Warp Ship, that could exceed the speed of light with a theoretical warp drive.
All Aboard the 100-Year Starship
Scientific American (6/11): Physician and former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison tackles the challenges of interstellar space travel through the 100-Year Starship mission.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Private Team to Restart Engines on 36-Year-Old NASA Spacecraft
Space.com (6/12): NASA’s International Sun/Earth Explorer 3 spacecraft, launched in 1978, is coming back to life thanks to the efforts of a private group. The project’s ultimate goal is to make the spacecraft available for more science, although what ISEE-3 will do is still not known. ISEE-3 has been silent since 1997.
Submarines for Saturn, comet hitchhikers, asteroid wranglers and other space fantasies
Washington Post (6/12): NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program looks far into the future. Small grants from the agency are examining strategies to stabilize a tumbling asteroid, hitchhike on a comet, even place a submarine in the methane seas of Saturn’s moon Titan.
Radar Reveals Beautiful Face of an Asteroid ‘Beast’
Discovery.com (6/12): Recently discovered asteroid 2014 HQ124 passed close to the Earth on June 8. Terrestrial radar aimed at 2014 HQ 124 found little to justify the nickname “The Beast.”
NASA Instruments Aboard Rosetta Get Ready for Cometary Science
AmericaSpace (6/12): The European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft prepares to maneuver into orbit around the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in August.
Low Earth Orbit
Fickle Wind Scrubs NASA Mars Landing ‘Saucer’ Test
SEN (6/12): NASA will look to late June as a new option for the balloon launch of the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator, a mission developed to demonstrate technologies that would permit much heavier payloads to reach the surface of Mars. A half-dozen efforts to launch the complex mission since June 3 were thwarted by unseasonable winds at the test site in the Pacific on the island of Kauai.
3D Printer Cleared for August Launch to Space Station
Space.com (6/12): NASA clears U.S. 3-D printer for trip to the International Space Station in August.
Carbon Dioxide Watch: New Satellite Will Dramatically Increase Measurement | Video
Space.com (6/12): NASA aims for July 1 lift-off of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, which will bring new precision to the tracking of natural as well as man-made carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The first attempt to launch this mission in 2009 was dashed by a launch system failure.
Astronauts play soccer, send World Cup wishes from space
Associated Press via Las Vegas Review-Journal (6/12): Astronauts aboard the International Space Station pay tribute to the World Cup soccer play under way in Brazil.
Commercial to Orbit
U.S. Government Eases Restrictions on DigitalGlobe
Space News (6/11): U.S. government green lights efforts by DigitalGlobe to sell high resolution satellite imagery without restrictions.
Suborbital Space
Google in talks to take stake in Virgin Galactic
USA Today (6/12): Google looks for a financial stake in Virgin Galactic.
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