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Friday’s CSExtra offers a collection of the latest reporting on space-related activities from around the world. The European Space Agency reaches out to Russia to preserve the financially challenged EuroMars missions planned for 2016-18. The Mars orbiter-rover initiative already includes NASA as a participant, but U.S. financing is an issue. NASA signals a need to purchase Russian space hardware beyond 2016. NASA examines options for test flights of the Orion/Multipurpose Crew Vehicle in 2013 through 2016. Virgin Galactic announces a suborbital flight agreement with NASA for up to three research missions. U. S. and Canadian companies examine the commercial potential for orbital satellite servicing. Texas lawmakers rally efforts to wrest a retired shuttle orbiter from New York for Houston display. The New York Museum of Natural History prepares a grand space exhibit.
1. From Space News: The European Space Agency reaches out to Russia as a prospective partner in the two flight EuroMars mission planned for 2016/18. NASA is already a partner in the effort but facing financial obstacles that could limit plans for a telecommunications satellite and a rover. Russia would provide instruments as well as a Proton launcher.
http://bit.ly/nsZBxc
2. From Spacepolitics.com: In a Congressional appearance this week, a NASA official says the agency will need an extension of a waiver from the Iran, North Korea, Syria Non Proliferation Act in order to purchase space hardware from Russia. The current extension, which permits NASA to purchase astronaut transportation on Soyuz rockets to the International Space Station, expires in 2016. However, space agency officials believe they will need an extension of INKSNA in place by 2013. NASA is hoping U. S. commercial space transportation companies will be able to take on the astronaut launch role around 2015-16. But even if domestic transportation services emerge, NASA will need the extension to purchase other equipment from Russia.
http://bit.ly/oj8YSv
3. From Florida Today: NASA looks to 2013-14 and 2015-16 for a pair of crucial test flights of the Orion/Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the four person capsule under development for human missions to deep space destinations. One of the unmanned missions would test the capsule’s ability to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere at high velocity. The other would exercise the capsule’s abort system under high aerodynamic stresses. Top agency officials are considering which of the test flights to conduct first. Human flights in the spacecraft could begin in 2021.
http://bit.ly/ooLeau
4. From the Las Cruces Sun-News of New Mexico: NASA books a suborbital research mission with Virgin Galactic, the commercial space transportation company. The agreement, worth up to $4.5 million, includes an option for two more flights from Spaceport America.
http://bit.ly/nW7Wkr
5. From Space.com: Two companies, Canada’s MacDonald Dettweiler and Associates and Vivasat, a joint venture between two U. S. firms, examine the business potential for the commercial re-fueling and servicing of orbiting satellites in order to extend operations.
http://bit.ly/n1aTmX
6. From the Houston Chronicle: In Texas, frustrated members of Congress press NASA to reverse an April decision that sends the retired shuttle test orbiter Enterprise to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum of New York. Enterprise should be displayed in Houston, according to the movement’s leader, U. S. Rep. Pete Olson of the Houston area.
http://bit.ly/qj5tog
7. From Spacepolicyonline.com: At the New York Museum of Natural History a new exhibit, Beyond the Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration is about to open.
http://bit.ly/nIa8s5
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