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. Long range NASA planning focused on Mars as a human destination supported by multiple Space Launch System heavy lift options. U.S. government budget constraints and shutdown slow NASA exploration planning. NASA and nonprofit B612 Foundation take on asteroid threat. India says NASA ready to work around U.S. government shutdown to support Mars mission nearing Oct. 28 lift off. Independence emerges as winning entry in Space Center Houston name the orbiter contest. Pentagon recalls civilian workers sidelined by U.S. government shutdown, greatly reducing numbers still furloughed; many U.S. space activities remain impacted. What it takes to become a U.S. astronaut. Private venture outlines lunar mission strategy, science themes. Space drama Gravity opens to record October film audiences. A look at major space related activities scheduled for the week ahead.
1. From NASAspaceflight.com, Oct 6: NASA’s forward looking Space Launch System concept of operations looks to Mars as the future destination for human explorers, with options on dates, heavy lift strategies and stepping stones that might include a mission to the moon Phobos prior to a landing on Mars.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/nasa-con-ops-baseline-slsorion-mission-mars/
2. From Aviation Week & Space Technology, Oct. 7: Budget constraints, U.S. Government shutdown take their toll on pace of U.S. human deep space exploration planning. NASA planners look to alternative hardware. Efforts to forge cost saving partnerships with private sector slowed by asteroid workshop suspension.
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_10_07_2013_p28-622757.xml
A. From Space.com, Oct. 5: U.S. government shutdown slows pace of U.S. human space exploration, may increase taxpayer expense, according to former NASA astronaut.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/23089-government-shutdown-nasa-setback-astronaut.html
3. From CBS News and 60 Minutes: Are we playing “cosmic roulette” with asteroids that cross the Earth’s orbit. The television news magazine talks with experts from NASA and the nonprofit B612 Foundation to size up the risks of not searching for asteroids, small and large, that pose a collision threat.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57606242/a-dangerous-game-of-cosmic-roulette/
A. From USA Today, Oct 6: NASA and the nonprofit B612 Foundation take on the asteroid collision threat. Though pursuing separate courses, the two pathways could converge on a path to detect threats and demonstrate technologies to divert a potential impactor. The article is part of a larger reporting effort addressing NASA’s Future in Space.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/10/06/hunt-for-dangerous-asteroids/2924333/
4. From Universe Today: NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer executes successful orbital maneuver early Sunday in the midst of U.S. government shutdown. As LADEE was launched Sept. 6, the U.S. lunar mission put on a show for much of the U.S. East Coast.
A. From Spaceflightnow.com: LADEE mission spacecraft maneuvers into desired lunar orbit early Sunday.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ladee/131006loi/#.UlHk0NIwkQM
5. From Outlook India, Oct. 6: NASA reaffirms communications and navigation support for India’s Mars Orbiter Mission in midst of U.S. Government shutdown. The mission, scheduled for launching on Oct. 28, will rely on U.S. deep space assets to reach its destination.
http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=812654
A. From the Times of India, Oct. 5: U.S. Government shutdown threatens India’s Mars mission plans. The Mars Orbiter Mission is scheduled for an Oct. 28 lift off and relying on NASA communications and navigation support to make its way to the red planet. Though India’s launch window closes Nov. 19, it could be extended some. Ultimately, India would face a two year mission delay.
6. From Collectspace.com, Oct. 5: Space Center Houston selects “Independence” as the winning entry in its name the space shuttle mock up contest. The official visitors center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center plans to mount “Independence” atop a NASA Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to establish a one of a kind educational experience that pays tribute to the long running shuttle program.
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-100513a.html
7. From the Washington Post, Oct. 5: Pentagon to recall most furloughed civilians, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announces Saturday. About 90 percent of 350,000 will return to their jobs. The action dramatically reduces the total number of all federal worker affected by the Oct. 1 shutdown.
A. From Spacepolitics.com, Oct. 6: U.S. Naval Academy hosts a symposium, Past, Present and Future of Human Space Flight, though some invitees are unable to participate because of the U.S. government shutdown. Full funding for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is essential to operational missions by 2017, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden tells the Oct. 3 gathering.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2013/10/06/shutdown-scenes-from-a-spaceflight-symposium/
B. From the Aerospace Industry Association, Oct 4: AIA calls on White House and Congress to end U.S. government shutdown and reach agreement on U.S. debt ceiling. A sustained shutdown threatens military aviation production, FAA air traffic control and U.S. weather satellite development among other activities, according to Association President and CEO Marion C. Blakey.
C. From National Public Radio, Oct.4: Many of the world’s largest radio telescopes, operated with funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, stop or prepare to suspend operations in response to the U.S. government shutdown.
D. From Science News, Oct. 4: A year’s worth of work to map the Milky Way galaxy with Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, part of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., could be lost as the result of the U.S. Government shutdown, according to astronomer Mark Reid.
E. From the Huntsville Times, Oct. 4: Union leader calls on U.S. Congress and White House to resolve budget issues and lift the government shutdown. The Marshall Engineers & Scientists Association represents 1,500 professionals.
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/10/huntsville_nasa_union_leader_a.html
8. From USA Today, Oct. 5: The national newspaper looks at what it takes to become a NASA astronaut.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/10/05/what-does-it-take-to-become-an-astronaut/2924145/
9. From the Examiner.com: Private venture Golden Spike outlines lunar exploration plans during Houston workshop last week. The Boulder, Colo., based company looks to foreign governments, U.S. industry, possibly even NASA, as clients for two person, science oriented missions starting in 2020 and using largely existing space hardware.
http://www.examiner.com/article/gerry-griffin-proposes-a-giant-leap-for-all-humankind
10. From the Los Angeles Times, Oct.6: Space drama Gravity sets box office record for October opening — nearly $56 million in sales.
A. From Space.com: How filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron established “microgravity” for his popular film.
11. From Spacepolicyonline.com, Oct. 6: A look at space related activities scheduled for the week ahead. Many may be influenced by the U.S. government shutdown.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/space-policy-events-for-the-week-of-october-6-11-2013
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 CSExtra and does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtra contains 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, visit www.space.com or contact us via e-mail at Info@space.com.
