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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. A NASA authorization bill, the first for the agency since 2010, passes the U.S. House Monday on a bipartisan footing; it calls for a long term road map for human exploration. Mars as a destination for human explorers requires adequate funding and sustained political support — both difficult to find. NASA’s Curiosity rover faces significant wheel wear. Germany bows out of a major radio telescope initiative. Solar power filled with promise but costly to start. Pluto may share dual planet status. U.S. astronauts discuss life aboard the International Space Station. China wrestles with leading a future Earth orbiting international space station. Orbital Sciences looks to July 1 for International Space Station re-supply mission, following May rocket test failure. House appropriators favor $220 million investment in U.S. alternative to Russian rocket engine. Russian cargo vessel departs International Space Station. Europe embraces orbital debris experiments on news supply mission to the space station. U.S. Senate NASA budget measure could slow NASA’s Commercial Crew Program initiative. Boeing showcases CST-100 Commercial Crew spacecraft in Florida.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA authorization bill easily passes the House
Spacepolicyonline.com (6/9): The first NASA authorization bill since 2010 passed the U.S. House on Monday 401-2. The measure, which directs NASA to create a long term road map for human exploration, spurred debate, some of which was critical of NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission plans, the website reports. The measure did not embrace a funding recommendation beyond 2014. Now it’s up to the U.S. Senate.
House passes NASA reauthorization
The Hill (6/9): The U.S. House on Monday passed its version of a NASA authorization bill backing $17.6 billion in NASA spending for 2015. The policy setting legislation notes that it unacceptable for the United States to rely on Russia to transport astronauts to the International Space Station.
The Space Review (6/9): TSR editor Jeff Foust sizes up last week’s National Research Council report on the future of U.S. human space exploration. He points to two long running obstacles in the report’s recommendation that Mars be the long term destination: adequate funding and sustained U.S. leadership. The NRC suggested the horizon goal of reaching Mars with humans is not possible without increased budgets.
Seeing obstacle-filled path to Mars
New York Times (6/9): Mars may be a compelling destination for human space explorers, but the U.S. has so far failed to step up to the financial and policy making commitment necessary to achieve the goal, according to a Congressionally mandated assessment, the Times reports. The report from the National Research Council was released last week.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Too bad there’s no AAA on Mars as the Curiosity rover faces equipment trouble
Washington Post (6/10): The wheels on NASA’s Curiosity rover are experiencing more wear than anticipated as the mobile science lab nears its second anniversary on Mars. The wear is blamed on “sharp and pointy rocks” embedded in the ground at Gale Crater on which the rover is rolling to reach its destination, Mount Sharp. “Only recently has the wheel problem been deemed manageable, though with a significant change in how the traverse and the upcoming climb of Mount Sharp would proceed,” the Post reports.
Germany pulls back from international mega-telescope project
Nature News (6/9): Germany withdraws from an international radio telescope project in South Africa and Australia. Costs expected to exceed $2 billion.
New concepts for solar power from space collectors
Aviation Week & Space Technology (6/9): While the promise of solar power as a terrestrial power source grows, so do the costs of the orbital and ground based infrastructure.
Pluto and the moon Charon may share same atmosphere
Space.com (6/9): Pluto and the moon Charon perhaps are a binary planet in the solar system’s distant realm, say astronomers.
Low Earth Orbit
Astronauts tell Scott Pelley what he’s missing
CBS News (6/10): U.S. astronauts Reid Wiseman and Steve Swanson discuss life aboard the International Space Station with CBS News anchor Scott Pelley.
Watch: Astronaut sends the first Vine from space
USA Today (6/9): U.S. astronaut Reid Wiseman posts first Vine video from space. The video tracks the sun as the International Space Station makes one circuit around the Earth.
A new look at cooperation on the Chinese Space Station
Space News (6/9): Internal documents reveal China is wrestling with how to structure its ambitions for an International Space Station. The issues include cost sharing, while striking a balance with partners over ownership, intellectual property and utilization rights, according to the report.
Test-stand failure further delays Antares launch
Space News (6/9): Orbital Sciences looks to further delay in the launching of its next cargo mission to the International Space Station. Anticipated for early June, the mission encountered the setback when a rocket engine failed during a May 18 ground test. The failed rocket engine was assigned to an early 2015 space station re-supply mission.
House appropriators recommend $220 million for rocket engine
Space News (6/9): House appropriators urge a $220 million Defense investment in a domestic alternative to Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. The engine is key to the first stage propulsion of the United Space Alliance Atlas V rocket.
Russia’s Progress M-21M freighter undocks from ISS
Itar-Tass, of Russia (6/9): Departure clears docking port for European Space Agency’s final ATV cargo mission.
New experiments to fly on Europe’s last ATV cargo ship
Spaceflightnow.com (6/9): Slated for launch in late July, the European Space Agency’s final cargo mission to the International Space Station will also test space rendezvous technologies for achieving satellite repairs and avoiding orbital debris.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Why Shelby’s latest crusade is self-defeating
The Space Review (6/9): U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, seeks certified cost and pricing data in the Commercial Crew Program line of NASA’s 2015 budget. The agency is nearing the August/September award of fixed price contracts to at least one U.S. company for the transportation of U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station. Essayist San Dinkins says new cost reporting requirements would add expense to agreements already considered “fixed price.”
Boeing showcases capsule that could become ‘taxi’ to space station
Orlando Sentinel (6/9): At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Boeing previews the CST-100, a large capsule that could deliver seven astronauts to the International Space Station on a commercial basis.
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