To subscribe to CSExtra via RSS feed click here.
If you would prefer to receive CSExtra in e-mail format, e-mail us at Info@space.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Is the U.S. prepared to commit to the human exploration of Mars? NASA points to Dec. 6 for the launch of Orion on its first unpiloted test flight. Psychologist suggest Mars favors the reserved. Russia’s Energia prepares for lunar tourists. Help from citizen scientists sought for sun spot studies. Techno-archaeologists embrace challenging mission. How old is the Earth? Navy raises concerns for U.S. solid rocket industrial base. Expresso machine lined up for launch to the International Space Station. Russia launches its second navigation satellite of 2014. Aerojet finds opening for new rocket engine amid U.S./Russian tensions over Ukraine. NASA’s commercial crew companies may compete for cargo missions to the International Space Station as well. Commercial space advocates raise concerns over U.S. Senate’s NASA 2015 budget legislation. U.S. National Reconnaissance Office opens new competition for 2015 spacecraft launch. European aerospace interests merge to upgrade Ariane. NASA turns to partnerships with private sector, local governments to advance commercial space growth. A look at major space related activities planned for the week ahead.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Is NASA ready to make the leap to a manned mission to Mars?
Science Friday (6/13): Humans are best equipped to explore new frontiers, say experts gathered by NPR’s Science Friday to discuss a recent National Research Council report on the future of U.S. human space exploration. The report challenges NASA’s current approach featuring the Asteroid Redirect Mission as a capabilities demonstration for Orion and the Space Launch System heavy lift rocket. Jonathan Lunine, who co-chaired the committee that drafted the report, discusses what technologies, budget, and partners will be needed for a manned mission to Mars.
Kennedy Space Center director says Orion capsule will launch Dec. 6, defends NASA’s exploration plan
Alabama.com (6/13): NASA is targeting Dec. 6 for the first unpiloted test flight of the Orion crew capsule from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Kennedy Space Center director Robert Cabana tells a Huntsville audience. The two orbit test flight will be launched on a Delta IV heavy rocket.
Extroverts don’t belong on Mars
The Atlantic (6/13): DePaul University psychologist Suzanne Bell suggests that when selecting astronauts for a trip to Mars, quiet, resilient personalities trump extroverts, who may be perceived as “demanding of attention and intrusive,” and “their level of warmth may be undesirable in a confined setting.”
Russia eyes Soyuz upgrades for mission around the moon
Spaceflightnow.com (6/15): Russia’s Energia plans to modify the venerable three-person Soyuz space capsule to accommodate tourist missions around the moon. Each lunar flight would bring $300 million to the Russians, or $150 million for each tourist accompanying a spacecraft commander. Space Adventures, of Virginia, serves as travel agent.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Volunteers wanted! Sunspot research
Coalition for Space Exploration (6/14): Zooniverse’s Sunspotter project offers opportunities for citizen researchers to study sun spots.
Calling back a zombie ship from the graveyard of space
New York Times (6/14): “We call ourselves techno-archaeologists,” said Dennis Wingo, an engineer and entrepreneur who has a track record of extracting miracles from space antiques that NASA has given up on. Wingo and colleagues have established contact with NASA’s International Sun-Earth Explorer-3, launched in 1978 and until last communicated with in 1997. Their operating base is a former McDonald’s at a California Navy base.
We got the Earth’s birthday wrong by 60 million years
USA Today (6/14): French scientists reach their conclusions based on studies of gases trapped in quartz mineral from Australian and South Africa.
Low Earth Orbit
Solid-fuel rocket engine industrial base in danger, Navy official says.
National Defense (6/13): A weak industrial base threatens to drive up costs of a Trident missile extension program, according to Vice Adm. Terry Benedict, director of the Navy’s strategic systems programs.
Lavazza has built a coffee machine for the ISS
Huffington Post (6/13): An expresso machine is destined for the International Space Station. The coffee brewer will accompany Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti – Italy’s first woman to travel into space — as she launches in November. Brewed coffee is among astronauts’ top desires, according to the report.
Glonass navigation satellite launched by Soyuz rocket
Spaceflightnow.com (6/14): Russia launched its second GLONASS global navigation satellite of 2014 on Saturday.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Political turmoil could give California rocket firm edge over Russians
Los Angeles Times (6/13): Tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Crimea have set the stage for Aerojet Rocketdyne, of Canoga Park, to design a new liquid-fuel rocket engine that would directly compete against Russia’s RD-180. Russia has threatened to stop the export of the RD-180, which is used to power the Atlas V on a range of U.S. missions. Aerojet’s AR-1 could power the SpaceX Falcon 9, Orbital Sciences’ Antares as well as the Atlas V.
ISS cargo shippers face competition from space taxis
Space News (6/13): Boeing and Sierra Nevada, who are partnered with NASA under the Commercial Crew Program to develop astronaut transportation services to the International Space Station, say they plan to offer cargo options that could bring competition to SpaceX and Orbital Sciences.
Commercial space advocates rally against Senate report language
Spacepolitics.com (6/14): U.S. Senate action on NASA’s 2015 budget is anticipated this week. Language pertaining to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program has raised concerns among commercial space advocates. The wording would require “certified cost and pricing data” from companies that provide crew and cargo services supporting the International Space Station.
NRO mission opens door for SpaceX/ULA duel
Aviation Week & Space Technology (6/12): U.S. National Reconnaissance Office opens competition for 2015 national security mission launch. A request for proposals opens the door for SpaceX to compete with United Launch Alliance for the mission.
Airbus, Safran to merge space launcher businesses
Associated Press via Tampa Tribune (6/16): Airbus Group and Safran, the French engineering company, will merge to carry out future work on the Ariane launch system to help European launch services remain globally competitive.
NASA is changing the way it does business, new GC says
Washington Post (3/15): The space agency is altering course in its use of traditional contracts to increase partnerships with the private sector and local governments to boost the commercial space sector, NASA’s new chief attorney tells a recent Washington legal gathering.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of June 16-20, 2014
Spacepolicyonline.com (6/15): The U.S. Senate plans to address NASA’s appropriations bill for 2015 this week in a bundle with other U.S. civil space activities — earlier in the year than previous annual budget deliberations. The third International Space Station Research and Development Conference convenes in Chicago this week as well.
Brought to you by the Coalition for Space Exploration, CSExtra is a daily compilation of space industry news selected from hundreds of online media resources. The Coalition is not the author or reporter of any of the stories appearing in CSExtra and does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtra contains links to other websites and domains which are wholly independent of the Coalition, and the Coalition makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in any such site or domain and does not pre-screen or approve any content. The Coalition does not endorse or receive any type of compensation from the included media outlets and is not responsible or liable in any way for any content of CSExtra or for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of any content appearing in CSExtra. For information on the Coalition, visit www.space.com or contact us via e-mail at Info@space.com.
