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.
Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Russia and the European Space Agency look to cooperate on future lunar exploration. Boeing prepares to lay off a “small percentage” of Space Launch System workers in Huntsville, Ala. The Earth’s moon hangs on as a future human destination. Russia, China discuss space research cooperation. Europe’s Rosetta mission orbiter carries on as the Philae lander slumbers on Comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Super massive black hole hijacked from nearby dwarf galaxy. NASA sprints through development of new CubeSat capability for solar studies. China launches a remote sensing satellite. Virginia’s governor seeks federal help with repairs to Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, following Oct. 28 rocket mishap. British singer Sarah Brightman due medical checks before International Space Station flight. NASA schedules next space station commercial re-supply mission launching for no earlier than Dec. 16. NASA selects Orbital Sciences to operate high altitude balloon research program.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Russia preparing joint Moon exploration agreement with EU: Scientist
Sputnik News (11/19): Russian and the European Space Agency will build off an agreement to cooperate on the future Exo-Mars mission to cooperate on lunar exploration, Lev Zelyony, director of the Space Research Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced Wednesday. Previously, Russia disclosed plans land humans on the moon in 2030 and establish a base.
Boeing to issue layoff notices for Huntsville employees, number of cuts not yet known
Alabama.com (11/19): Boeing to lay off some workers involved in NASA’s Space Launch System development in Huntsville. Ala., a company spokeswoman confirms. Boeing was selected by NASA this year to develop cores stages for the heavy lift rocket designated by NASA to start human explorers on future missions of deep space exploration. The first unpiloted test flight is planned for 2018.
Boston Globe (11/14): The Earth’s nearest neighbor remains an object of intrigue and potential exploration by the U.S. commercial sector as well as Russia, China, India and possibly others. The U.S., which carried out the first human visits in the late 1960s, early 1970s, is focused on new destinations deeper into space.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Russia, China to agree on space exploration program in early 2015
Itar Tass, of Russia: Russia and China are prepared to agree on a space research program in January, according to Lev Zelyony, director of Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Space Research.
Rosetta comet orbiter poised to deliver as dark lander sleeps
Bloomberg News (11/19): While the European Space Agency’s Philae lander is shrouded in darkness on Comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Rosetta spacecraft orbits nearby ready to carry on with its unprecedented journey around the sun with a comet.
Never mind Philae’s topsy-turvy touchdown, its brief mission advances comet science
Scientific American (11/19): The European Space Agency’s Philae lander made it to the surface of distant Comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko on Nov. 12. In spite of an abrupt halt to science operations after the dramatic landing, Europe’s ground breaking mission raised the bar for comet science.
Possible orphan black hole lies just 90 million light-years from Earth
Science Magazine (11/19): Recently discovered, this super massive black hole may be have been abandoned in a long ago merger between two galaxies, according to a study published by the Royal Astronomical Society.
Low Earth Orbit
NASA Skunkworks team set to deliver newfangled 6U Cubesat
Physics.org (11/19): Engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center close in on their goal of developing a low cost six unit CubeSat by year’s end. The design, known as Dellingr, will deploy from the International Space Station for studies of the sun.
China launches Yaogan-24 remote sensing satellite
Xinhuanet, of China (11/20): China launched a remote sensing satellite, Yaogan-24, on Thursday.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
McAuliffe wants risks shared for future rocket launches at Wallops Island
Richmond Times Dispatch, of Virginia (11/18): Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will seek federal assistance for repairs to the state operated Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, which was damaged Oct. 28 when an Orbital Sciences Antares rocket erupted shortly after liftoff on an aborted re-supply mission to the International Space Station. Repairs are estimated at $13 million to $20 million. The state will seek new risk sharing agreements with Orbital and NASA on future launches as well, according to the report.
Sarah Brightman may soon start medical tests for tourist space flight
ITAR TASS, of Russia (11/19): British singer Sarah Brightman will soon undergo medical checks for a possible 2015 spaceflight to the International Space Station. The tests are an essential part of further training for a visit of several days next September, according to an official with Russia’s Institute of Medical and Biological Problems
Next SpaceX launch of ISS cargo set for Dec. 16
Florida Today (11/19): NASA schedules the launching of its next re-supply mission to the International Space Station for no earlier than Dec. 16. The flight will be the fifth for a SpaceX Dragon under a $1.6 billion, 12 flight NASA contract. The mission will be launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Suborbital
Orbital + NASA how many balloons will $185M buy? Science balloons, that is
SatNews Daily (11/18): NASA has selected Orbital Sciences Corp. for a $185 million, five year contract to operate the agency’s high altitude balloon science program from Wallops Island, Va., Most of the balloons launched in the long running program rise from Palestine, Texas.
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.