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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Explore or Pioneer: one advocate chooses exploration, leaving the surface exploration of planetary bodies to the private sector. India braces for the arrival of Mars Orbiter Mission at the red planet Tuesday night. NASA, Library of Congress convene symposium on implications of discovering extraterrestrial life. Not so fast with claims of gravity wave discovery. Pluto is a planet, according to public opinion. In Europe, upgrades to Ariane 5 trump extension of International Space Station operations. Solar power solution must factor in threat from orbital debris. U.S. right to reject overtures of space weapons ban from China, Russia, according to op-ed. It’s officially fall. SpaceX Dragon successfully reaches the International Space Station with just under 5,000 pounds of supplies.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Space News (9/22): What if NASA embraced exploring rather than pioneering — landing on and assessing the surfaces of solar system destinations? The nation may be better served by moving deeper into space to explore, rather than getting bogged down in expensive surface activities that could be left to the private sector, writes Dan Adamo, an aerodynamics consultant.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
India’s first mission to Mars set to arrive at Red Planet
Space.com (9/22): India’s first Mars mission, an orbital probe, is on course to maneuver around Mars late Tuesday, with a braking maneuver at 10:11 p.m., EDT. It will be Wednesday in India, as the spacecraft, Mangalyaan, arrives to study the Martian atmosphere and terrain.
India eyes to beat China in race to reach Mars
India TV (9/22): On Earth, India looks at Mars Orbiter Mission as a one up on China.
Will ET be here soon? NASA brings scientists, theologians together to prepare
Huffington Post (9/22): In Washington, the Library of Congress joined with NASA for a recent two day symposium, Preparing for Discovery, to discuss how the world will greet news that life exists elsewhere in the universe. The participants included scientists, historians, philosophers and theologians from around the world
Criticism of study detecting ripples from Big Bang continues to expand
New York Times (9/22): Scientists turn to the European Space Agency’s Planck space observatory to cast doubt on claims from earlier this year that gravity waves from the Big Bang were detected.
Is Pluto a planet? Popular (but unofficial) vote says yes
Space.com (9/22): Pluto should be considered a planet, according to popular opinion. Pluto was demoted by dwarf planet status in 2006.
Low Earth Orbit
ISS expected to take back seat to next-gen Ariane as space ministers meet in Zurich
Space News (9/22): As space ministers from France, Germany and Italy meet in Zurich this week, they are likely to focus their discussions on upgrades to the Ariane 5 launcher ahead of a U.S. backed extension of International Space Station operations from 2020 to 2024. Wider, further European discussions are planned for December.
Are solar power satellites sitting ducks for orbital debris?
The Space Review (9/22): An essay contends that support for solar power as an important part of a renewable energy strategy may not have considered the threat from orbital debris to large solar arrays in orbit around the Earth.
Editorial | Actions speak louder than words
Space News (9/22): U.S. was right to reject overtures from Russia and China on a space weapons ban, according to editorial. Evidence suggests that China continues to test anti-satellite weaponry.
The 2014 autumnal equinox arrives
Sky and Telescope (9/22): It’s fall, no longer summer in the northern hemisphere. Change came Monday at 10:29 p.m., EDT.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Spaceflightnow.com (9/23): SpaceX’s Dragon resupply capsule rendezvoused with the International Space Station early Tuesday. European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst grappled the cargo capsule with the Space Station’s robot arm at 6:52 a.m. EDT. On board is 5,000 pounds of crew supplies and science research gear. Dragon is schedule to be berthed to the Station using the robot arm later this morning. The website is providing updates.
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