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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Experts speculate on first human counter with alien life. Astronomers find evidence for an abundance of water in the planet forming processes around the sun and other stars. Two new arrivals at Mars, the orbiting NASA probe Maven and India’s MOM spacecraft, transmit their first images to Earth. Three U.S. and Russian astronauts lift off, then dock with the International Space Station late Thursday despite difficulties with one of two solar arrays. Latest International Space Station crew members include Elena Serova, the first Russian woman to call the outpost home. One time U.S. college football player Butch Wilmore now at home on space station. FAA says its latest report on commercial human spaceflight includes guidelines that will strengthen the emerging industry. Texas editorial praises goals of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Sierra Nevada trims workforce, vows to continue efforts to develop its winged Dream Chaser human spacecraft. Russian president Vladimir Putin appoints commission to build open new domestic spaceport by 2015. SpaceShipTwo executive talks first flight and future plans.
Human Deep Space Exploration
To find alien life, expect the unexpected
Air and Space Museum Magazine (9/25): Experts from many walks of life gathered at the Library of Congress this month to address how humans might respond to the discovery of alien life. Might the encounter involve another life form, or robots? One expert suggested it may be like encountering a whale, dolphin or some intelligent non-human form of life on the Earth.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Half of Earth’s water formed before the sun was born
Science News (9/25): New studies suggest that half of the water in our solar system formed early in the planet forming process. The findings suggest water should be abundant throughout planetary systems, a boost for the search for extra-terrestrial life.
Maven and MOM orbiters send first pictures from Mars
NBC News (9/25): U.S. and Indian Mars orbiters transmit their first images back to Earth after maneuvering into orbit around the red planet late Tuesday and Sunday. Both missions will attempt to characterize the Martian atmosphere and identify factors that contributed to changes over time.
Low Earth Orbit
Despite solar array glitch, Soyuz crew arrives at station
CBS News, Spaceflightnow.com (9/25): A Russian Soyuz spacecraft launched and docked successfully to the International Space Station late Thursday despite the failure of one of two solar panels on the capsule to deploy correctly. The capsule delivered NASA’s Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Russia’s Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova to the station for more than five months of duty. Serova is the first Russian woman assigned to live and work on the space station.
One of Soyuz TMA-14M’s solar panels fails to unfold after rocket blasts off for ISS
Ria Novosti, of Russia (9/26): One of two electrical producing solar arrays on the Russian TMA-14M spacecraft launched late Thursday on a four orbit, six hour trip to the International Space Station, failed to deploy. Sufficient battery power and a single solar array were sufficient to assure a safe rendezvous, according to Russian space officials.
First Russian woman lifts off to International Space Station
Reuters (9/25): Cosmonaut Elena Serova becomes the first Russian woman to live and work aboard the International Space Station. Serova was also the first Russian female to reach Earth orbit in nearly two decades.
Russia’s first female ISS crew member launches into space
Moscow Times (9/25): Russia’s first female International Space Station resident deals with homegrown gender issues. “I feel a huge responsibility toward the people who trained us and I want to assure them: We won’t let you down,” she explains.
U.S. – Russian ISS crew includes ex-Tenn. athlete
USA Today (9/26): NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore was aboard the Russian Soyuz that docked with the International Space Station late Thursday. A U.S. Navy aviator, Wilmore was a football starter at Tennessee Tech.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
FAA says safety report doesn’t reflect plans to regulate human spaceflight
Space News (9/25): A top FAA officials says a recently released report on commercial spaceflight safety is intended to support the emerging U.S. industry. The 56 page report, released Aug. 27, touched on design, manufacturing and operations. The report “provides a framework that space vehicle developers and operators may find useful in preparing industry consensus standards,” according to George Nield, FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation.
Houston Chronicle (9/25): In an editorial, the Texas newspaper endorses NASA’s selection of Boeing and SpaceX to continue the development of U.S. crew transportation services under the Commercial Crew Program. The cost of the two contracts: $6.8 billion. “That investment in our future could be the most valuable spin off of all,” according to the Chronicle.
Sierra Nevada to continue Dream Chaser; may protest contract award
Aviation Week & Space Technology (9/25): Sierra Nevada, which lost out to Boeing and SpaceX in NASA’s latest round of Commercial Crew Program contracts, lays off workers involved in its Dream Chaser program. Nonetheless, Sierra Nevada makes plans to continue efforts to develop the winged lifting body based on agreements with other global space agencies and earlier rounds of NASA agreements. The company has not ruled out challenging NASA’s contract awards.
Putin creates commission on Vostochny Cosmodrome construction
Itar-Tass, or Russia (9/25): Russian president Vladimir Putin forms a commission to oversee construction of the new domestic Vostochny Cosmodrome. Top priorities are schedule and efficiency, says Putin. A 2015 opening is anticipated.
Suborbital
Air and Space Museum Magazine (9/25): Virgin Galactic’s George Whitesides, who oversee the development and operations of SpaceShipTwo, talks about the company’s preparations for its first flight and deliberations over future versions of the suborbital space passenger carrier.
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