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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA looks to Dec. 4 for first test launch of its Orion crew capsule after a series of capsule recovery operations this week near San Diego. New Russian sanctions steer clear of space cooperation. Hawaii’s major space observatories brace for rare hurricane. Astronomers ponder the growth rate of black holes. Coming Sunday: a large full moon. Sleeping pills–don’t launch without them. Sierra Nevada clears Dream Chaser for new flight tests as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Aerojet Rocketdyne completes service module, propulsion work on Boeing’s CST-100, another Commercial Crew Program effort to develop astronaut transportation services in support of the International Space Station.
Human Deep Space Exploration
EFT-1 Orion targets morning launch on December 4
NASAspaceflight.com (8/7): NASA picks a date for the first unpiloted orbital test launch of Orion. Orion and NASA’s Space Launch System heavy lift rocket form a nucleus of plans to resume the human exploration of deep space that stopped in 1972 with the final Apollo moon landing.
The U.S. Navy just fished NASA’s Orion spaceship out of the Pacific (photos)
Space.com (8/7): NASA and the U.S. complete recovery operation trials for the Orion capsule near San Diego. The recovery activities, as shown in the photos, will play a key role in Exploration Flight Test-1, an unpiloted test flight that will take the capsule around the Earth twice in December.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Russian sanctions against U.S. and EU steer clear of space cooperation
Spacepolicyonline.com (8/7): At least for now, Russia’s response to the latest round of sanctions from the West do not appear to influence joint space activities. The sanctioning and responses were triggered by Russian interference in Ukraine.
Hawaii’s telescopes brace for Hurricane Iselle impact
Discovery.com (8/7): Two Pacific hurricanes take aim at Hawaii, following a significant Earthquake early Thursday. Meanwhile, the island chain’s major observatories brace for damage.
How did supermassive black holes get so big so fast?
Space.com (8/7): Observations suggest black holes appeared and grew rapidly in the early universe. The population includes the supper massive variety of black hole found at the center of most star systems. Astronomers are just beginning to understand how the “super” massive black hole emerged so rapidly.
Sky and Telescope (8/7): Sunday’s “super Moon” is perhaps not so super. The magazine offers the specs on what will nevertheless be a full moon well worth a glance.
Low Earth Orbit
Sleeping pills in space: Astronauts are regular users
USA Today (8/7): Study finds that most U.S. astronaut take Ambien to sleep while in space. Sleep deficits noted in the study could be a safety concern, say researchers.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Sierra Nevada on track for restart of lifting body flight tests
Aviation Week & Space Technology (8/7): Sierra Nevada says the company is ready to resume flight tests this fall with the Dream Chaser, the winged space plane. Sierra is one of three companies vying funds to complete the final development phase of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The effort is leading to the start of U.S. commercial space transportation services for astronauts traveling to and from the International Space Station. Sierra envisions an orbital flight test ion November 2016.
Aerojet Rocketdyne completes CST-100 work for Commercial Crew integrated capability contract
Wall Street Journal (8/7): Aerojet Rocketdyne completes service module and launch abort propulsion system work for Boeing’s CST-100 commercial crew capsule. Boeing is one of three U.S. companies working under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to develop transportation services that can launch astronauts to the International Space Station.
Khrunichev joins Energia in getting new leadership
Spacepolicyonline.com (8/7): Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center announced a new president on Thursday, the latest evidence of reforms throughout the country in response to rocket failures and allegations of mismanagement. Khrunichev builds the Proton commercial launcher and Breeze M upper stage.
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