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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Can we do more to stir youthful interest in space exploration? Russian experiment suggests human space radiation exposures less than estimated. NASA’s Mars 2020 mission team turns to Aerojet Rocketdyne for propulsion. India’s new Mars orbiter takes dramatic imagery of Martian volcano, canyon. The latest on Thursday’s partial solar eclipse. Thirty-seven-year old space signal still puzzles. Italy’s first female astronaut prepares for Nov. 23 launching. U.S. Court of Federal Appeals rejects Sierra Nevada’s bid to halt NASA’s Commercial Crew Program development during contract appeal. U.S. Defense official says nation will replace Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. Kennedy Space Center to open grounds to new private development. Russian Proton rocket carries domestic communications satellite to orbit.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Huffington Post (10/21): Focus on STEM, create opportunities for the world’s youth to explore space, writes Jan Millsaps, cosmologist and Mars One candidate.
Doses of radiation contracted by cosmonauts aboard spaceships overstated
TASS, of Russia (10/21): Russian experiment aboard the International Space Station finds human radiation exposures less than estimated. The findings could influence future long running human space activities, according to a researcher from the Moscow-based Institute of Medical-Biological Problems.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Aerojet Rocketdyne selected to provide power systems and thrusters for 2020 Mars rover
Spaceflight Insider (10/21): NASA turns to Aerojet Rocketdyne to furnish propulsion for the Mars 2020 rover mission. The agreement continues a long running collaboration between NASA and the Aerojet Rocketdyne on Mars missions.
Universe Today (10/21): India’s Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft snaps images of the red planet, showing the solar system’s largest known volcano and canyon in detail.
Partial solar eclipse to dazzle U.S. on Thursday
Space.com (10/22): More on Thursday’s partial solar eclipse, which will be visible across much of North America, where skies are clear.
Were we contacted by aliens in 1977?
BBC (10/22): What are the odds radio astronomers detected something significant? Physicist Brian Cox examines the issue.
Low Earth Orbit
Italy’s first female astronaut prepares for launch to the ISS
Spaceflight Insider (10/22): European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, an Italian Air Force officer and pilot, is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station from Russia on Nov. 23 with NASA astronaut Terry Virts and Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov. They’ve trained for 5 1/2 months of life aboard the orbiting science laboratory.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Court declines SNC’s motion to overrule NASA on CCtCAP authorization to proceed
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/21): U.S. Court of Federal Appeals in Washington rules that Sierra Nevada cannot stop NASA’s Commercial Crew Program from proceeding with development activities by Boeing and SpaceX. Sierra Nevada asked the court to stop development activities while the U.S. General Accountability Office considers the company’s appeal. In September, NASA awarded a new round of development contracts to Boeing and SpaceX. Sierra Nevada’s activities were not extended.
Court says space taxi work can go on as Sierra Nevada disputes contract
Denver Post (10/21): Sierra Nevada expresses disappointment at U.S. Court of Federal Appeals decision to allow NASA’s Commercial Crew Program development activities with Boeing and SpaceX to continue. Work will proceed while the General Accountability Office considers an appeal from Sierra Nevada over contract awards.
Top U.S. defense official says Pentagon will wean itself from RD-180 engine
Space News (10/21): U.S. Department of Defense Deputy Secretary Bob Work tells California lawmakers the U.S. is ready to separate itself from Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. Imports of the RD-180 have powered the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 with national security payloads. Questions of continued RD-180 imports arose after Russia’s interference in Ukraine.
KSC to offer undeveloped center property for commercial users
Space News (10/21): NASA’s Kennedy Space Center will soon solicit proposals from companies that want to develop new facilities at the Central Florida launch complex, including new launch sites.
Proton rocket blasts off with Russian telecom satellite
Spaceflightnow.com (10/21): Russian Progress rocket launches a domestic communications satellite.
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