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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. When it comes to the Space Launch System, only superlatives will do. NASA embraces science fiction in new effort to tell its story. Would more emphasis on science galvanize U.S. support for space exploration? Success in exploration means finding more value than expense along the way, writes a space entrepreneur who points to a paradigm shift in outlook. NASA’s Morpheus prototype planetary lander rises higher, flies further at the Kennedy Space Center. NASA Mars orbiters spot possible signs of present day water on the red planet. NASA, France sign cooperative agreement for NASA’s 2016 InSight Mars lander mission. China’s listens for lunar lander, troubled rover to reveal their fate. Google subsidiary selected to manage Moffett Field at NASA’s Ames Research Center. Coca Cola turns to the Olympics for memories of space soft drink experiments. Congressional panel kicks off string of Central Florida hearings on proposed commercial launch complex. A prolonged debate over U.S. commercial space passenger travel regulation could leave the enterprise vulnerable to tragedy and over regulation, according to some close to the discussion. Houston takes commercial space vision to South Africa.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA Langley helps build world’s biggest rocket
Hampton Roads Daily Press, of Virginia (2/10): NASA reaches for superlatives when it comes to discussions of the Space Launch System heavy lift rocket under development to start future human explorers on missions of deep space exploration. The SLS will be the biggest, heaviest, most powerful booster in the world. It’ll leave even the massive Saturn V moon rocket in the dust, the newspaper reports.
NASA tries to rewrite the book on science fiction
Wall Street Journal (2/10): A collaboration between NASA and the science fiction publisher Tor produces its first NASA inspired work of fiction. “Pillar to the Sky.” Absent evil robots, aliens and time travel, the action turns to a new threat to humanity, tightfisted bureaucrats who have slashed NASA’s budget, the WSJ reports. Shaping science fiction by pairing writers with engineers and scientists may prove an innovative way to reach the public, according to NASA.
A decadal survey for human scientific exploration of space: a focus on discovery
The Space Review (1/10): An absence of strategic science objectives has become an obstacle to establishing a national consensus on human exploration goals, writes Matt Greenhouse, project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope science instrument payload in an essay. “With near-term Congressional action, implementation of a decadal survey for human spaceflight can be achieved in time to yield a high consensus mission selection by the end of this decade, when the Space Launch System and Crew Exploration Vehicle will be ready,” he writes.
What NASA is for — now shut up and listen
The Huffington Post (2/10): In an op-ed, Rick Tumlinson finds a compelling justification for human space exploration and NASA, though the founder of multiple space enterprises is less than flattering in his assessment of current trends. “The ultimate and clear sign of the success of our space program will be when the places we are going in space, be they for science or life, are generating more value than they cost,” according to Tumlinson’s assessment.
Project Morpheus successfully conducts free flight 7
NASAspaceflight.com (2/10): The prototype planetary lander develop by NASA’s Johnson Space Center rises to an altitude of 465 feet and covers 630 feet during its latest flight test at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
NASA Mars orbiters see clues to possible water flows
NASA (2/10): New observations from Martian orbit point to the current presence of liquid water on the red planet, say scientists involved with instrumentation aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey missions. They are linked to the appearance of dark finger like markings on down slopes that would be linked to a briny liquid.
NASA and French space agency sign agreement for Mars mission
NASA (2/10): The heads of the U.S. and French space agencies sign agreements Monday to cooperate on the U.S. launched Insight Mars lander mission planned for 2016. The stationary lander will be equipped for studies of the Martian interior. France is allied with Germany, the U.K. and Swiss as well as NASA in the development of the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure instrument.
Awaiting Yutu’s phone home on lunar day 3
Universe Today (2/10): The fate of China’s Jade Rabbit rover and Chang’e-3 lunar lander should we clear soon. Two weeks ago, Chinese experts detected signs of trouble as darkness fell across the landing zone. With a return of daylight it’s time for the lander and rover to report their fate.
Low Earth Orbit
Google subsidiary to run nearby federal airfield
Associated Press via ABC News (2/11): The Google subsidiary Planetary Ventures LLC will take over operations at Moffett Field at Ames under an agreement reached with NASA and the General Services Administration.
‘Star Trek’-style medical gear to be made in Houston with NASA
The Houston Chronicle (2/10): Houston-based GRok Technologies will use NASA licensed patents to develop three dimensional tissue models to test medications and cosmetics as well as noninvasive treatments for muscle ailments.
Coca-Cola returns soda to outer space in new Olympics ad
Collectspace.com (1/10): Space Coca Cola returns in Olympic Games themed television adds that recall efforts from the 1980s to contain soft drink bubbles in soft drink dispensers aboard U.S. space shuttles.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Congressional panel reviews Shiloh launch pad issues
Florida Today (2/10): A Congressional panel raises prospects for accommodating a new state operated commercial spaceport in Central Florida without encroaching on the environmentally sensitive Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The House Subcommittee on Government Operations raises the prospect of placing commercial activities on surplus property at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. More hearings on the Shiloh spaceport proposal are scheduled for this week.
Balancing safety and cost in commercial human spaceflight
The Space Review (2/10): The debate over the right “safety/cost” balance for the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry seems to be increasing as the prospect for suborbital passenger missions nears and NASA looks to the final rounds of development with three partners under its Commercial Crew Program initiative. Some have cautioned that it’s time to lift a moratorium on regulations because a failure to do so could lead to severe restrictions in response to a commercial passenger tragedy.
Suborbital
Houston tries to sell itself as space port on South African trade mission
Houston Business Journal (2/10): Houston dignitaries spotlight Houston’s future as a space port during a trade mission to South Africa. “Houston will play a lead role in commercial space operations in the 21st century,” Mayor Annise Parker commented on the city’s efforts to earn an FAA space port designation for Ellington Airport.
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