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.
Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe, plus a roundup of weekend events. NASA is poised to invest $38 billion over the next decade in the Orion/Multipurpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System for future human missions beyond low Earth orbit. NASA’s Jupiter-bound Juno probe successfully lifts off on its five-year journey. The August contractor job loss from the retirement of NASA’s shuttle program will reach 1,000. NASA’s Mars exploration rover Opportunity nears the edge of Endeavour crater after a three-year trek. During the first half century of space exploration, Americans leave a surprising number of calling cards throughout the solar system and beyond. An Ariane V lifts off with two communications satellites. The Lockheed Martin/United Launch Alliance Atlas V is becoming the launcher of choice for prospective commercial crew space transportation services. NASA looks to space-based refueling stations to extend the reach of human as well as robotic missions. A look at major space activities scheduled for the week ahead.
1. From the Orlando Sentinel, Aug. 5: The newspaper secured internal NASA documents that place projected expenditures on the Space Launch System and the Orion/Multipurpose Crew Vehicle at from $29 billion to $38 billion over the next decade. The SLS and the MPCV are the heavy lift rocket and four person crew capsule for deep space missions outlined in the 2010 NASA Authorization Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama. Though the Sentinel headline refers to the combination as a moon rocket, the SLS and MPCV are part of a flex path strategy that includes missions to an asteroid and eventually Mars. The moon could serve as test mission destinations. The Sentinel report predicts the price tag will infuriate supporters in Congress who want NASA to have the two spacecraft ready to fly in late 2016 — a goal NASA has said it cannot meet.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-nasa-next-moonshot-20110805,0,4257663.story
A. From Space Politics.com, Aug. 5: Does $29 to 38 billion sound like sticker shock? According to the political web site’s assessment, the spending projections are in line with 2011 NASA appropriations. The web site notes, however, that development projects rarely work with flat budgets and that mounting political support for fiscal austerity could be factors in plans for the Orion/Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/08/05/report-estimates-slsmpcv-cost-at-up-to-38-billion-through-2021/
B. From Spacepolicyonline.com, Aug. 6: NASA has held off on presenting cost estimates to Congress, while the administration seeks independent appraisals of the work. The SLS heavy lift rocket will apparently rely on propulsion elements from the shuttle as well as the Ares 1 and Ares 5 rockets that were part of NASA’s cancelled Constellation Program.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1774:orlando-sentinel-new-crew-system-will-cost-38-billion&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
2. From Spaceflightnow.com, Aug. 5: NASA successfully launches the Jupiter bound Juno probe on a five year voyage to the solar system’s largest planet. Once it reaches its destination, Juno will spend a year circling Jupiter for observations that could reveal new details on how the solar system started and evolved.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av029/
A. From Florida Today, Aug. 6: A surprisingly large crowd of visitors gathers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch of the Juno probe. The enthusiasm eases some concerns about post-shuttle interest in NASA’s space exploration programs.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110806/NEWS02/108060323/Juno-s-Jupiter-journey-hauls-space-hype?odyssey=mod_sectionstories
3. From Space News, Aug. 5: The latest tally reflects more than 1,000 contractor job losses from the retirement of NASA’s shuttle program in August. Most losses will come from United Space Alliance. More are coming from Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110805-shuttle-workers-lose-jobs.html
4. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post, Aug. 8: NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover should reach the edge of Endeavour crater on Tuesday. One of two rovers that landed on Mars in January 2004, Opportunity has been making its way slowly to Endeavour since 2008. The companion Spirit rover became inactive earlier this year.
5. From the Boston Globe, Aug. 7: During the last half century of space exploration, the space agencies and astronauts have left mementos of all kinds, including flags, human figurines, CD’s with recordings and other trinkets in the belief someone would find them one day and realize the Earth was a cradle of civilization.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2011/08/07/traces_of_humanity/?page=1
A. From Discovery.com, Aug. 5: If we detect a signal from another civilization, should we respond? Who speaks for the Earth? These are issues that have yet to be hashed out. Some experts believe it’s only a matter of time before evidence of an extraterrestrial intelligence surfaces.
http://news.discovery.com/space/should-we-respond-to-an-interstellar-greeting-110805.html
6. From Spaceflight.now.com, Aug 6: An Ariane V launches form Guiana with European and Japanese direct television communications satellites.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ariane/va203/
7. From Florida Today: Columnist John Kelly notes that the Lockheed Martin developed Atlas V rocket, now operated by United Launch Alliance, is the launcher of choice by emerging commercial crew vehicles under development at Boeing, Sierra Nevada and Blue Origin. Boeing made the choice last week.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110807/COLUMNISTS0405/108070317/John-Kelly-Atlas-V-rising-occasion?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Space%20News
8. From Space.com, Aug. 5: NASA looks to fuel stations in space to extend the reach of future missions of exploration.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12560-nasa-space-gas-station-contracts.html
9. From Spacepolicyonline.com, Aug. 7: A listing of space policy-related events scheduled for the week ahead. Most in Congress are out of Washington and in their home districts until after Labor Day.
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 CSExtraand does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtracontains 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, visitwww.space.com or contact us via e-mail at Info@space.com.