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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA/Lockheed Martin prep Orion for its first unpiloted space flight, Exploration Flight Test-1, and a chance to inspire a discussion over future exploration destinations. Weather is a factor in EFT-1 launch plans. Space mementos and memorabilia will fly aboard Orion. NASA close to a decision on a destination for its Asteroid Retrieval Mission. Op-ed says U.S. space policy moving beyond need for bold White House vision. Japan’s Hayabusa 2 mission set for late Tuesday lift off. European Planck mission underlies refinements in cosmic evolution. Russia ponders an observatory for asteroid defenses. Arctic auroras and Geminid fireballs. European ministers to address participation in the International Space Station beyond 2015. Russia confronts worsening economy, launches global navigation satellite.
Human Deep Space Exploration
The Space Review (12/1): Exploration Flight Test-1, the first unpiloted opportunity for the new U.S. Orion capsule to weather the space environment, is set for Thursday, weather permitting. It was more than eight years ago that NASA chose Lockheed Martin to develop a new spacecraft that could start humans on future missions of deep space exploration. Initial plans to fly humans aboard Orion this year have slipped by several years. A follow on exploration of the moon has been cancelled. Nonetheless, NASA believes Thursday’s lift off, scheduled for 7:05 a.m., EST, represents a major milestone.
Isolated showers, gusty winds expected for Thursday’s Delta 4 launch
Spaceflightnow.com (12/1): Forecasters offered a 60 percent chance of favorable weather for Thursday’s planned lift off of the NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion test flight at 7:05 a.m., EST. Gusty winds and scattered rain are among possible factors that could cause a delay. Monday’s U.S. Air Force forecast is unchanged for a 24 hour launch delay.
Orion, EFT-1 and the future of U.S. Human Spaceflight
Spaceflight Insider (12/1): Why did NASA’s space shuttle gave way to a capsule named Orion? “The answers are as fascinating as the spacecraft’s future missions,” according to Spaceflight Insider’s report.
NASA Langley readies for historic Orion space mission
Hampton Roads Daily Press (12/2): NASA’s Langley Research Center, key contributors to the development of Orion, acknowledge the risks of human spaceflight and offer a strategy to reduce them — the capsule’s powerful Launch Abort System.
Star Trek, Marvel and Apollo mementos set to launch on NASA’s Orion test flight
Collectspace.com (12/1): Following tradition, the NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion EFT-1 capsule will carry mementos on its unpiloted two orbit flight. They include action figures from Star Trek, characters from Sesame Street, a dinosaur fossil and a piece of an Apollo space suit.
NASA homing in on mission design for Asteroid Relocation Excursion
Space News (12/1): NASA is nearing key mid-December decisions for its proposed Asteroid Retrieval Mission, one that would either attempt to corral a small asteroid or a piece of a larger asteroid and steer it into lunar orbit as a potential destination for Orion astronauts.
The enigma of presidential “space” politics
The Space Review (12/1): Strong JFK style pronouncements of U.S. space policy appear to be giving way to a new formula, one that includes private sector and international participation, writes Chris Carberry, executive director of the nonprofit Explore Mars. “We must be our own Kennedys, set the path ourselves, and do what it takes to make it happen,” notes one interested observer.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Live coverage: Japanese asteroid mission set for launch
Spaceflightnow.com (12/2): Japan’s weather delayed Hayabusa-2 asteroid sample return mission is scheduled to lift off Tuesday at 11:22 p.m., EST. The robotic spacecraft’s destination is asteroid 1999JU3 in mid-2018. Sample collection and a return to Earth are planned for late 2020.
New images refine view of infant universe
New York Times (12/1): The European Space Agency’s Planck mission offers a new view of the early universe based on the shadowy remnants of the microwave radiation left from the big bang. Most of the portrait is comprised of dark matter and dark energy. Popular candidates for sources of dark matter are greatly reduced by the 13.8 billion year old portrait.
Russian space researchers plan to create space observatory to prevent asteroid threat
ITAR TASS, or Russia (12/1): The Astronomy Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Kometa Corporation propose a ground-based observatory to spot small asteroids on a collision course with the Earth. Early detection could deal with small asteroids of the type that exploded over Chelyabinsk Russia in February 2013.
SpaceWeather.com (12/2): Arctic auroras are possible through Wednesday in response to high speed solar winds. The annual Geminid meteor shower, which normally peaks Dec. 13-14, is already producing fire balls over the U.S.
Low Earth Orbit
Editorial | ISS looms large for ESA ministerial
Space News (12/1): Top level ministers of the European Space Agency will meet in Luxembourg late this week to address key issues that include participation in the International Space Station beyond 2015, development of a successor to the Ariane 5 launcher and a joint Mars exploration effort with Russia.
Plummeting rouble hits Russia’s space programme
Newsweek (12/1): Economic sanctions and falling oil prices are stressing Russia’s economy and ability to import space components like those needed for military Gonets communications and surveillance satellites.
Russia launches new-generation navigation satellite Glonass-K into orbit
Spaceflight Insider (12/1): Russia launches a Glonass navigation satellite.
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