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. NASA eyes human deep space exploration rather than an International Space Station successor. Mars explorers could “sleep” during long voyage. Russia plans second attempt to gather and return samples of the Martian moon Phobos in 2023. Russia’s moon, Mars mission planning includes lunar slip from 2016 to 2018. Europe narrows to four the candidate landing sites for Exo-Mars 2018 rover mission. Wednesday brings colorful pre-dawn lunar eclipse. Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko erupts. More than 300 alien worlds await a name. Historic Sputnik anniversary on Saturday. Smile! Earth. Endeavour inspires short film. FCC vows to streamline broadcast satellite regulations. Canada’s Urthecast looks to International Space Station expansion. Europe looks to mid-November for key re-entry demonstration. Ansari X-Prize marks 10th anniversary. A look at major space activities planned for the week ahead.
Human Deep Space Exploration
IAC2014 day four opens with diverse views on the post-ISS future
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/2): It’s time to explore space with humans, not build a successor to the International Space Station, William Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations, tells a panel on post-station plans at the 2014 International Astronautical Conference in Toronto. Gerstenmaier envisions further hand off of low Earth orbit operations to the private sector.
NASA eyes crew deep sleep option for Mars mission
Discovery.com (10/3): NASA considers “therapeutic turpor” for astronauts assigned to future Mars exploration missions. The voyage to Mars would take at least 180 days with current technologies. Crew sleep could reduce spacecraft mass and volume requirements, according to a study conducted for the space agency by SpaceWorks Enterprises of Atlanta. The approach was outlined before the 2014 International Astronautical Congress in Toronto last week.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Russia may send repeat mission to Martian moon Phobos in 2023
Ria Novosti, of Russia (10/3): Europe may partner with Russian for a redo of the Phobos-Grunt mission that was launched on November 9, 2011. The probe circled the Earth, then re-entered the atmosphere over the Pacific. The mission was a bid to obtain a sample of the Martian moon Phobos and return it to Earth.
Russia postpones automatic lunar exploration program until 2018
Itar Tass, of Russia (10/3): Russia intends to make moon-Mars exploration a priority between 2015 and 2025. Russia is partnered with Europe for Exo-Mars, orbiter and rover missions set for 2016 and 2018. Russia plans a lunar rover mission in 2019 and a possible re-flight of Phobos-Grunt to gather samples of the Martian moon Phobos.
Four potential Mars landing sites revealed for Europe’s ExoMars rover
Space.com (10/3): The European Space Agency narrows to four the number of candidate landing sites for its Exo-Mars robotic lander scheduled for a 2018 launching. The joint effort with Russia will attempt to determine whether the red planet was once suitable for life in multiple locations.
Total lunar eclipse next week will turn the Moon blood red (video)
Space.com (10/2): Wednesday will bring an eerie lunar eclipse just before sunrise across North America — where skies are clear. The moon should have a red and perhaps a blue tinge.
Rosetta sees jets blast from comet’s ‘neck’
Discovery.com (10/3): The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission captures eruptions from the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The Rosetta spacecraft rendezvoused with the comet in early August for a trip around the sun.
Name exo-worlds contest: details released
Coalition for Space Exploration (10/3): The International Astronomical Union explains rules for public assistance in naming recently discovered exo-planets and their stars. More than 300 distant worlds need a name.
Low Earth Orbit
Our spaceflight heritage: Sputnik 1 launches the space age
Spaceflightinsider.com (10/4): Saturday marked the 57th anniversary of Sputnik 1, the history making first artificial satellite launch by the former Soviet Union. The launching ignited a space race with the United States.
15 mind-blowing images of planet Earth
Washington Post (10/3): Cameras in orbit never tire of the Earth.
Luke Wilson: How I made my award-winning short film Satellite Beach
Time (10/2): Actor Luke Wilson encountered the shuttle orbiter Endeavour as it made its way through the streets of Los Angeles to its museum home at the California Science Center. It inspired a film.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
FCC drafting rules to streamline satellite registrations
Space News (10/3): U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s plans to revise regulations with goal of maintaining U.S. & U.N. supervision of broadcast satellites.
UrtheCast says it will be largest commercial ISS user
Spaceflightnow.com (10/3): The Canadian company revealed plans last week to become the International Space Station’s biggest commercial user. They plan for the installation of new cameras and an imaging radar on the outside of NASA’s Tranquility module in 2017.
European re-entry demonstrator ready for November test flight
Space News (10/3): A wedge-shaped European atmospheric re-entry technology demonstrator could pave a way for re-usable spacecraft. Nov. 18 is the planned launch date from French Guiana.
Suborbital
How the Ansari X Prize altered the trajectory of human spaceflight
Scientific American (10/4): Two closely timed launches of the piloted SpaceShipOne in early October 2004 are helping to change the future of human spaceflight. Writer Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides looks back at the major participants in the commercial initiative.
Sweet memories: M&M’s candies flew with SpaceShipOne 10 years ago
Collectspace.com (10/4): In June 2004, SpaceShipOne pilot Mike Melville took the rocket ship to the edge of space. How to prove he was weightless? Toss some M&Ms.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of October 6-10, 2014
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/5): World Space Week began last Saturday. Activities this week include a NASA sponsored spacewalk outside the International Space Station by Reid Wiseman, of NASA, and Alexander Gerst, of the European Space Agency. Tuesday’s spacewalk is the first for both men.
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.