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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Country singer Brad Paisley urges Americans on in space from the Florida launch pad that launched the Apollo moon missions. NASA’s Mars Insight lander, headed for a 2016 lift off, will delve deep into the Martian interior. Life, if on Mars, could answer some major questions. Life on Earth appears to have faced an early asteroid impact threat longer than once believed. A chill in U.S., Russian relations could reverberate through asteroid defenses. Black hole shines in unexpected ways. New space medicine device looks promising for treatment of back pain. Space station astronauts photograph Cygnus re-entry. Aging Terrestrial Rainfall Measurement Mission satellite on gradual path to re-entry. NASA nears major decision on Commercial Crew Program contractors, expects to maintain development ties with each competitor. XCOR moves toward West Texas move. A look at major space related activities scheduled for the week ahead.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Brad Paisley launches song about ‘Flag on the Moon’ from historic NASA pad
Collectspace.com (8/16): Country singer Brad Paisley introduces new song from the Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad 39B. American Flag on the Moon, Paisley’s new song urges Americans to dream large, believe in the impossible.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
NASA’s next Mars lander will peer deep into Red Planet’s history: Here’s how
Space.com (8/15): NASA’s Mars Insight lander, in development at Lockheed Martin for a 2016 lift off, will make a powered descent like the U.S. Phoenix lander. U.S. and German instruments will probe the planet’s inner working, while tracking local weather at the landing site.
Finding Mars life could answer some big questions
Aviation Week (8/15): The space advocacy group ExploreMars.org intends to place life detection hardware below the Martian surface. ExoLance is bringing the organization together with Aerojet Rocketdyne, the U.S. aerospace company, ExploreMars has held discussions as well with NASA over flying along as part of the U.S. Mars 2020 rover mission now in development.
Earth’s early life endured long asteroid bombardment
New Scientist (8/15): The Earth was likely pummeled by asteroids in its youth longer than previously believed, according to a Stanford University scientist. The gradual tail off of strikes may have ended about 3 billion years ago.
Asteroid defense — casualty in chilled U.S. Russian relations — expert
Ria Novosti of Russia (8/15): Despite chilled relations between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine, Russia could find commercial partners in the U.S. to mount asteroid defenses.
NASA sees weird blurred light near giant black hole
Space.com (8/15): NASA’s NuStar space telescope mission observes X-ray light near a black hole that helps to explain the workings of the massive stellar objects.
Low Earth Orbit
Back in space! Astronaut ultrasound technology for the spine
Coalition for Space Exploration (8/15): A grant from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute leads to an ultrasound device to address back pain on Earth as well as in space. Astronauts experience the pain as their spines stretch as much as two inches during spaceflight.
Expedition 40 crew captures stunning images of Cygnus re-entry
Spaceflightinsider.com (8/17): Astronauts aboard the International Space Station snapped images as the Orbital Sciences’ Cygnus cargo carrier began a destructive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. Sunday’s re-entry unfolded two days after the Orbital freighter ended a 30-day stay at the station. The capsule was filled with trash following its cargo delivery.
Rainfall research satellite begins descent from orbit
Spaceflightnow.com (8/15): NASA’s long lived Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission satellite faces a 2016 deorbit. Launched in 1997 as a joint U.S./Japanese Earth observing mission, TRMM already has a replacement mission in orbit.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
NASA nears multi-billion dollar decision on Commercial space taxis
NBC News.com (8/17): NASA expected to decide soon among rivals for Commercial Crew Program contracts. A decision is expected within weeks. Boeing’s CST-100, the Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser and SpaceX Dragon are among the rivals.
CCtCap: NASA won’t abandon Commercial Crew loser
NASAspaceflight.com (8/17): Three companies, Boeing, Sierra Nevada and SpaceX, are vying for the final development contracts in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. With funding tight, NASA hopes to maintain a working relationship with the losing company (companies) as the winner(s) move toward an initial launch of astronauts to the space station by late 2017.
Suborbital
XCOR, city break wall, start new chapter
Midland Reporter-Telegram (8/15): California-based XCOR takes its next steps in plans to establish a commercial spaceport at Midland International Airport in West Texas.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of August 18-29, 2014
Spacepolicyonline.com (8/17): The U.S. House and Senate remain in recess through Sept. 8.The work week begins with a Russian spacewalk from the International Space Station.
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