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. Russia looks to China, Europe for space partnerships beyond the International Space Station. Moon, or Mars Flyby as next human mission destination? Bring patience to search for alien life. NASA’s New Horizons’ mission races towards Pluto for first flyby. Budget leaves fate of NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope uncertain. Vote for best image of the moon from NASA’s long running Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. Ohio man believes meteor struck his car. Russia prepares to launch U.S., European and Russian astronauts to the International Space Station. Russia launches military satellites with decommissioned missile. Japan launches advanced radar Earth observation spacecraft. NASA prepares Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 for June launching. In the U.S., support grows for U.S. alternative to Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser crew transportation vehicle reaches new milestone. Sea Launch returns with European telecommunications satellite launching. Virgin Galactic to fly SpaceShipTwo with higher performing fuel. Leonardo DiCaprio’s SpaceShipTwo flight filling up with charity minded. The week head: U.S. House to consider NASA’s 2015 budget.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Russia develops manned space program to replace ISS
Xinhuanet, of China (5/22): Russia turns to China, Europe for potential partnerships in space exploration beyond the International Space Station, Roscosmos Deputy Chief Sergei Savelyev informs news media gathered at the 18th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, in Russia, last week.
China & Russia sign pact, but what will it produce
Parabolic.arc (5/24): The two countries meet to discuss post International Space Station collaboration in response to U.S. economic sanctions against Russia for interventions in Ukraine.
Opinion: Why a Mars flyby mission?
Spaceflight Insider (5/25): The next step in space for the U.S. is the moon, according to an argument based on current capabilities and risk assessments.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Want to find alien life? It will take a lot of luck
Space.com (5/26): “We don’t know how many planets we’re going to have to examine before we find life, and not finding it on 10 or 100 doesn’t mean it’s not there,” John Grunsfeld, NASA’s associate administrator for the science mission directorate, told a National Space Symposium audience in Colorado Springs last week. “This may be very tricky.”
New Horizons: On to Pluto! [updated]
Washington Post (5/23): New Horizon’s spacecraft on course for first encounter with Pluto in July 2015 and likely to reveal new information about the solar system’s earliest days, principal investigator Alan Stern tells audience at the National Space Symposium
Cash-starved NASA may have to nix 1 space telescope to save others
Scientific American (5/23): Funding limits appear likely to end mission of NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, a powerful infrared observatory launched in 2003.
Your vote wanted! Moon art collection
Coalition for Space Exploration (5/23): NASA requests a vote on the best photos taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. Electronic ballots are due June 6. Select from five candidates.
Kettering man: Meteorite broke my Buick
Dayton Daily News (5/26): Ohio man believes object from recent meteor shower, or perhaps orbital debris, struck his moving automobile on Sunday. Authorities investigate.
Low Earth Orbit
Astronaut taxi arrives on the launch pad
Spaceflightnow.com (5/26): Soyuz spacecraft rolls to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to transport U.S., European and Russian astronauts Reid Wiseman, Alexander Gerst and Maxim Suraev to the International Space Station. Lift off is set for Wednesday at 3:57 p.m., EDT.
Three satellites rocket into orbit to link Russian forces
Spaceflightnow.com (5/24): Decommissioned Rockot missile places three Russian military communications satellites into orbit on Saturday.
H-2A rocket launched, puts Earth-observation satellite in orbit
Asahi Shinbum, of Japan (5/24): Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches new Earth observation satellite. Advanced radar sensors will look for natural resources, assist in disaster response.
This summer, NASA will begin keeping an eye on your garden
Washington Post (5/26): NASA plans launch of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 in June. The spacecraft was developed to identify sources of atmospheric carbon.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Support grows for new U.S. rocket engine
Aviation Week & Space Technology (5/26): In the U.S., support grows for domestic alternative to purchases of Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. In mid-May, Russia threatened to stop exports for use in the first stage of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket in retaliation for U.S. economic sanctions. The sanctions were levied in response to Russian interference in Ukraine.
Dream Chaser completes another critical CCiCap milestone with latest series of wind tunnel tests
America Space (5/24): Sierra Nevada, with latest wind tunnel milestone, is on track to complete its Commercial Crew Integrated Capabilities agreement with NASA by the end of 2014. The company plans to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Sea Launch returns to flight with Eutelsat satellite
Spaceflightnow.com (5/26): Ukrainian built Zenit rocket places European Eutelsat telecommunications satellite into orbit on Monday. The mission marked the first for Sea Launch since a February 2013 rocket loss with an Intelsat communications spacecraft.
Suborbital
New fuel to boost SpaceShipTwo
Aviation Week & Space Technology (5/24): Virgin Galactic selects new solid fuel to boost SpaceShipTwo performance for suborbital passenger missions.
Trip to space with Leonardo DiCaprio sells for $1 million
Space.com (5/26): The noted actor plans to fly aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo in 2015. Seats on the same flight are beginning to sell. One purchase for nearly $1 million will benefit an AIDS charity.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of May 26-30, 2014
Spacepolicyonline.com (5/25): Events this week include the launch Wednesday of U.S., European and Russian astronauts aboard a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station and House debate on NASA’s proposed $17.9 billion budget for 2015.
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.
