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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting on space related events from around the world, including a look back at weekend activities. NASA merges the agency’s space operations and exploration directorates. The annual Perseid Meteor Shower provides a global photo op. NASA’s Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle undergoes acoustic testing at a Lockheed Martin facility. Updates on NASA’s Dawn and Mars Science Laboratory missions. A note of cooperation in the forecasting of potential satellite collisions with orbital space debris. Encouraging words from NASA’s final shuttle crew. NASA and social media. A look at space activities scheduled for the week ahead.
1. From Space News, Aug. 12: In Washington, NASA combines the Space Operations and Exploration divisions into a single new organization. The Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate will oversee the International Space Station, development of the Multipurpose Crew Exploration Vehicle (Orion), Space Launch System and emerging commercial services for transportation of supplies and astronauts to the space station. Orion and the SLS comprise the capsule and heavy lift rocket NASA is preparing for future deep space missions. Bill Gerstenmaier, a NASA veteran, will lead the new directorate. http://www.spacenews.com/civil/nasa-consolidates-human-spaceflight-office.html
A. From Spacepolitics.com, Aug. 13: John Holdren, President Obama’s science advisor, was among those who addressed the NASA Advisory Council during a meeting at the AmesResearchCenterin Californialast week. Holdren hinted at a future speech by the President on space policy after expressing frustration at the skepticism over the future of human space exploration. The pillars of the administration’s policy are extended International Space Station operations, commercial crew transportation services and investments in advanced technology, Holdren said.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/08/13/holdren-white-house-still-supports-nasa-policy-another-presidential-speech-coming/
2. From Space.com, Aug. 12: The annual Perseid Meteor Shower peaked this weekend. The website offers a selection of photos. http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12630-photos-perseid-meteor-shower-2011.html
A. From Discovery.com, Aug. 13: International Space Station astronaut Ron Garan captures a Perseid photo as well.
http://news.discovery.com/space/astronaut-photographs-perseid-meteor-from-space-110814.html
3. From the Denver Post, Aug. 13: Lockheed Martin initiates acoustic testing of NASA’s Multipurpose Crew Vehicle, also known as Orion, which is under development for future missions to destinations beyond low Earth orbit with astronauts.
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_18673384
4. From the Huffington Post, United Kingdom, Aug. 13: A look at NASA’s Dawn mission to the large asteroid Vesta. The article examines Vesta’s history and the prospects for new discovery.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-david-whitehouse/a-new-world-is-uncovered_b_923088.html
5. From the Coalition for Space Exploration, Aug. 14: the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity offers new images of Endeavour crater. Opportunityrolled to the edge of the crater last week, following a three-year trek.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/mars-rover-at-endeavour-crater-new-rim-shots?doing_wp_cron
A. From Space.com, Aug. 13: At NASA’s Kennedy space Center, preparations are under way for the launching of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity. A Nov. 12 launching is planned. Curiosity should reach the Red Planet in August 2012. MSL will study Gale Crater for signs of past or present habitable environments.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12627-mars-rover-curiosity-ready-launch.html
6. From the Council on Foreign Relations, Aug. 11: With so many independent states relying on space for security, science and commerce, addressing the issue of space debris has become a dilemma. No one nation can exercise overall control. In the U. S., the Department of Defense, which monitors thousands of objects in orbit around the Earth is now warning Chinaof potential collisions with debris left by a Chinese anti-satellite test.
http://blogs.cfr.org/patrick/2011/08/11/guest-post-new-space-faring-nations-and-u-s-space-policy/
7. From the Huntsville Times, Aug. 12: The four member crew of NASA’s final shuttle visits NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Acknowledging the difficulties surrounding the shuttle’s July retirement, Chris Ferguson and his crew urge Marshallworkers, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/08/shuttle_astronauts_dont_cry_be.html
A. From Florida Today, Aug. 13: In Central Florida, former NASA shuttle program workers head back to school for the training to seek new careers.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110814/NEWS01/108140315/Former-space-workers-head-back-school?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
B. From the Houston Chronicle, Aug. 15: Most of the seven National Weather Service forecasters assigned to NASA in Houstonto predict shuttle program landing conditions are being reassigned. In Fort Worth, they will forecast for federal, state and local agencies faced with weather emergencies and industrial accidents.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/7697314.html
8. From the Nextweb.com, Aug. 13: NASA embraces social media to convey the agency’s vision.
http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/08/13/the-history-and-future-of-nasas-social-media-strategy/
9. From Spacepolicyonline.com: Space policy related events scheduled for the week ahead.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1786:events-of-interest-week-of-august-15-19-2011&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
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