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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin calls for Mars exploration as the 45th anniversary of the historic mission’s launch and moon landing unfold this week and next. NASA starts Europa mission science instrument development. Aging solar observatory rescue team retrieved forgotten lunar images first. Curiosity rover finds large iron meteorite on Mars. U.S. Department of Energy and National Science Foundation team for dark energy study. Wednesday marked 39th anniversary of historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project launching. International Space Station crew grapples Orbital Sciences cargo vessel. U.S. Senate panel undercuts House efforts to develop domestic alternative to Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. SpaceX unravels Falcon 9 first stage splashdown outcome. DARPA calls on three companies to develop concepts for a reusable airborne launch system. World View previews high altitude passenger flight plans with video. Virgin Galactic exec outlines spaceliner challenges.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Buzz Aldrin: It’s time to put a man on Mars
Time (7/15): In his own words, Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin expresses concerns about the direction of the U.S. human space exploration program. It should be Mars, he writes. “The nation is understandably focused on many other pressing challenges at the moment. However, if we don’t make some important decisions about the future of our space program very soon, I’m afraid the program will be lost to the ages,” says Aldrin. Aldrin joined Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong to become the first humans to touch down on the moon 45 years ago this Sunday.
Buzz Aldrin: After moon, next stop Mars
CNN (7/16): Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin recalls the launch and landing of the historic NASA moon mission 45 years ago this week and next. “It was, truly, one small step,” Aldrin notes of the landing on July 20, 1969 and his moonwalk with Neil Armstrong. “But more steps are needed to fuel and assure America’s leadership role in deep space exploration.” A Mars base fills that requirement, he says.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
NASA to fund studies of science instruments for Europa probe
Space News (7/15): NASA initiates studies of an instrument suite for a proposed Europa mission. The process would lead to a collection of science instruments by 2021. Proposals are due NASA by Oct. 17, with further studies to follow. Europa is an ice covered moon of Jupiter that some scientists believe has conditions favorable for life.
Would-be rescuers of wayward spacecraft previously solved a NASA mystery
New York Times (7/15): In recent weeks, Dennis Wingo and Keith Cowing have shared a space community spotlight as they strived to re-establish communications with a three decade old NASA solar observing satellite, ISEE-3. The effort is ongoing despite a recent setback. The two men and others learned the art of reviving aging space hardware by recovering pictures of the moon taken by a series of NASA lunar orbiters in 1966-67. “We just like getting old stuff and giving it a new purpose,” explains Cowing.
Curiosity finds large iron meteorite on Mars
Discovery.com (7/15): Scientists study large iron meteorite discovered on the Martian surface by NASA’s Curiosity rover. The discovery was logged in late May.
Dark-matter searches get U.S. government approval
Physics World (7/15): U.S. Department of Energy and National Science Foundation fund two approaches to the direct detection of dark energy. They will be positioned in Ontario in Canada and South Dakota in the U.S.
Low Earth Orbit
Our spaceflight heritage: The first international space partnership
Spaceflight Insider (7/15): Wednesday marked another important anniversary in space history. On July 15, 1975, three NASA astronauts lifted off on the Apollo Soyuz Test Project that brought two Cold War rivals, the U.S. and former Soviet Union, together in space for the first time. The Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft with three astronauts and two cosmonauts docked on July 17 and remained linked for two days of joint experiments. ASTP marked the final Apollo mission. The U.S. would not launch humans again for six years.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Orbital Sciences cargo craft arrives at space station
Spaceflightnow.com (7/13): Launched Sunday from Virginia’s eastern short, Orbital Sciences Orb-2 Cygnus capsule arrives at the six person International Space Station early Wednesday. U.S. and European astronauts posted inside the station to grapple Cygnus with a Canadian built robot arm at 6:36 a.m. EDT, with berthing to follow. NASA’s Steve Swanson, the space station commander, nabs the capsule. Check website for mission updates.
Senate defense appropriations subcommittee adds small amount for RD-180 replacement
Spacepolicyonline.com (7/15): The U.S. Senate appropriations panel approved $25 million in 2015 budget funds on Wednesday to initiate development of a domestic alternative to Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. Russia has threatened to end exports of the rocket engine used by the Atlas V to place national security and other U.S. payloads into space. The U.S. House approved $220 million to start the development of a domestic alternative. The White House termed the House measure as premature.
SpaceX reusable rocket test returns booster to Earth, then ‘kaboom’
Space.com (7/15): SpaceX’s attempt at a “soft” first stage Atlantic splashdown after Monday’s Falcon 9 communications satellite launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., resulted in extensive damage. The company is attempting to develop a reusable Falcon 9 first stage that could return to its launch site and touchdown on land.
Suborbital
Three teams to develop space plane concepts for DARPA
Space News (7/15): The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency selects three U.S. aerospace teams, Northrop Grumman/Virgin Galactic; Boeing/Blue Origin; Masden Space Systems/XCOR, to develop concepts for an unpiloted experimental space plane capable of conducting 10 flights in as many days for payload deployments. DARPA plans to select a single XS-1 space plane concept by late 2015. First orbital launch envisioned for 2018.
Amazing world view balloon flight video reveals stunning look at Earth (exclusive)
Space.com (7/15): Arizona based World View plans very high altitude balloon passenger missions that will feature plush surroundings and a world class view. A new video describes the experience.
Seeing the future of space clearly
The Huffington Post (7/15): In an op-ed, Virgin Galactic VP William Pomerantz explains the challenges of developing the space version of a commercial airliner. While careful not to make predictions, Pomerantz says Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo could launch with company founder Richard Branson by year’s end.
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