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Tuesday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. In Washington, House Democrats prepare to differ with Republicans by offering a competing version of a NASA authorization measure that would point the U. S. toward a human Mars landing in 2030. On Mars, the Curiosity rover resumes its trek to Mount Sharp. NASA is making strides in recruiting research to the International Space Station, but it must do better to justify investments, according to the agency’s Inspector General. SpaceX surpasses the 1,000 foot milestone with a flying prototype in its bid to develop a reusable first stage rocket. Assembling the James Webb Space Telescope. The NASA test orbiter Enterprise re-opens for public display in New York City this week. Monday marked the second anniversary of the retirement of NASA’s long running shuttle program. A photo tribute.
1. From Space News: In the U. S. House, Democrats on the Space Subcommittee intend to offer their own NASA Authorization bill for 2014. Though not an appropriations measure, the Democratic version of the policy road map calls for $18 billion in NASA spending for the 2014 fiscal year, the most afforded the space agency since 2011.Planetary sciences and Commercial Crew Program development are among the beneficiaries. Whether the Republican majority, which rejected a White House plan to corral a small asteroid into lunar orbit as a new NASA mission, will permit consideration of the measure remains to be seen. The space panel, a subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, meets Wednesday on the matter.
A. From Spacepolicyonline.com: A Democratic House NASA authorization measure would commit NASA to reaching Mars with U. S. explorers by 2030 and spelling out interim destinations in a roadmap. The Orion capsule and Space Launch System become the space agency’s highest priorities in reaching that goal. Authorization for NASA to spend $18.1 billion in fiscal 2014, compares with the White House request of $17.7 billion and $16.9 billion outlined in the Republican version.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/democratic-2013-nasa-authorization-bill-calls-for-18-1-billion
B. From Florida Today: Republican authorization measure assumes the 2013 budget sequester remains in place. The Senate must act as well.
2. From The Associated Press via The Houston Chronicle: On Mars, NASA’s Curiosity rover heads for Mount Sharp, which rises from the mission’s Gale Crater landing site. The trek to the mountain’s base begins after a seven month science investigation that provided a hint of past environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.
http://www.chron.com/default/article/NASA-Mars-rover-Curiosity-begins-delayed-road-trip-4652893.php
3. From The Huntsville Times, of Alabama: NASA’s Inspector General Paul K. Martin finds the U. S. space agency striving to make full use of the International Space Station. But the IG’s July 8 audit suggests NASA and its non-profit partner, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), can do better.
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/07/report_nasa_has_made_progress.html
4. From Space.com: SpaceX’s Grasshopper, prototype for a reusable first stage rocket, soars more than 1,000 feet during a June test flight and lands softly at the company’s McGregor, Tex., proving grounds. The June 14 flight test also evaluated new navigation technology.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/21881-spacex-grasshopper-rocket-highest-test-flight.html
A. From The Los Angeles Times: SpaceX uses footage from a drone to document its successful Grasshopper test flight.
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-spacex-grasshopper-rocket-20130708,0,2135151.story
5. From The Baltimore Sun: Working with the James Webb Space Telescope. Assembly of the observatory selected to replace the Hubble Space Telescope requires an extra-ordinary commitment to cleanliness at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The $18 billion JWST mission is headed for a 2018 launch.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-nasa-webb-clean-room-20130707,0,2789350.story
6. From Collectspace.com: New York City’s Enterprise exhibit aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum re-opens to the public on Wednesday. The exhibit of the NASA flight test orbiter was damaged by Superstorm Sandy last fall.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-070813a.html
A. From Spaceflightnow.com: NASA’s space shuttle program lifted off for the final time two years ago Monday. SFN commemorates the lift off in photos.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts135/launch/
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