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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA’s budget for 2015 clears the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday at $17.9 billion, slightly more than the full House approved last week and $439 million more than requested by the White House. NASA’s Space Launch System heavy lift rocket and Orion crew vehicle are among initiatives that received a boost from the Senate. A Senate provision seeks new cost and pricing details from commercial cargo and crew providers that support the International Space Station. More on the National Research Council’s report this week on the future of U.S. human space exploration. Heat shielding is installed on the Orion capsule assigned to NASA’s first unpiloted test flight planned for later this year. New evidence from lunar rocks supports violent moon formation theory. Recently discovery asteroid to pass near Earth on Sunday. U.S., Russia look to make most of International Space Station research opportunities despite tensions over Ukraine. Russia, Europe observe strong space ties despite Ukraine. Solar power pioneer dies. United Launch Alliance ready to fly improved Centaur upper stage on Atlas V this year. Commercial South Texas spaceport receives newspaper endorsement.
NASA’s 2015 Budget
Senate Appropriators increase NASA budget, save SOFIA, transfer two programs from NOAA to NASA
Spacepolicyonline.com (6/5): The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday agrees to a $17.9 billion top line for NASA in 2015, a $439 million increase in the White House request and slightly more than the $17.896 billion approved by the full House last week. The full Senate may consider NASA’s budget for the coming year the week of June 16. The Senate version includes $1.7 billion for development of the Space Launch System heavy lift rocket, $1.2 billion for the Orion crew capsule. In each case, the totals reflect more than approved by the House and requested by the White House, the Washington website notes.
Space advocates concerned about NASA spending bill
USA Today (6/5): The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approves $17.9 billion budget for NASA in 2015, slightly more than the top line approved by the U.S. House last week. There are differences, however. Those include a Senate amendment that would require certified cost and pricing information from commercial crew and cargo service providers that support the International Space Station. The Senate bill, which includes $805 million for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, now heads to the full Senate and will eventually be reconciled with the House version. The House approved $785 million for Commercial Crew, which would re-establish U.S. human launch capabilities lost with the shuttle’s 2011 retirement. The White House sought $848 million to foster multiple commercial human launch services, with at least one flying by the end of 2017. Russia is the current sole crew launch service provider.
Human Deep Space Exploration
SpaceCoalition.com (6/5): The Coalition for Space Exploration applauds the efforts of the National Research Council (NRC) in the generation and findings of the report, “Pathways to Exploration – Rationales and Approaches for a U.S. Program of Human Space Exploration.”
Space: A new hope or an old dream?
Scientific American (6/5): Reactions to a National Research Council report on future U.S. human space exploration planning raises a question: Are we up for it?
NASA’s 1st Orion spaceship gets world’s largest heat shield (Photos)
Space.com (6/5): NASA and its contractor Lockheed Martin complete the installation of the heat shield on the Orion capsule designated for Exploration Flight Test-1, a two orbit inaugural unpiloted test flight targeted for December.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
How the Moon formed: Lunar rocks support giant impact theory
Space.com (6/5): New studies of lunar rocks offer evidence the moon formed when a large planetary object grazed the Earth early in the solar system’s history.
Bits of Earth-shattering impactor found on the Moon
Discovery.com (6/5): Chemical finger print for Mars-sized collider found in lunar soil. Findings support theory that a planetary body grazed the Earth, cleaving off material that formed the moon early in the solar system’s history.
Asteroid ‘beast’ to fly by Earth on Sunday
Discovery.com (6/5): Asteroid 2014 HQ 124, as large as a football stadium and discovered in late April, will sail past the Earth on Sunday without posing a collision threat.
Low Earth Orbit
Russia and U.S. boost Space Station cooperation, despite Earthly disputes
Moscow Times (6/5) U.S., Russia work to make most of International Space Station research opportunities. Talks of an extension of space station operations beyond 2020 continue despite tensions over Ukraine.
ESA Chief says ties with Roscosmos remain strong
Space News (6/5): Space ties between Europe and Russia remain strong despite tensions over Moscow’s intervention in the Ukraine. Like the U.S., Europe relies on Russia to launch its astronauts to the International Space Station.
Peter Glaser, who envisioned space solar power, dies at 90
The New York Times (6/5): Glaser envisioned the harnessing of limitless power from the sun. A constellation of satellites, some of them always in sunlight, would microwave their solar energy to a ground-based transmission network.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
ULA’s common upper stage engine to fly this year
Spaceflightnow.com (6/5): United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launch in December will feature the debut of a new version of the Centaur upper stage.
Houston Chronicle (6/5): Editorial endorses prospects for a South Texas commercial launch complex in light of favorable environmental impact report.
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