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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Exploration Flight Test-1, a much anticipated unpiloted test flight of the new NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion capsule, may be a “first step” toward the human exploration of Mars. However, much work and investment remains. The weather outlook for Orion’s Florida liftoff on Thursday at 7:05 a.m., EST, remains slightly favorable. Japan launches Hayabusa-2 on an ambitious asteroid encounter mission. Mars One, the Dutch nonprofit, looks to public support for 2018 Mars science and engineering mission. An invisible shield around Earth is blunting an assault by harmful energetic deep space electrons. The Earth clears October sunspot threat. The European Space Agency moves ahead with Ariane 6 development, funds International Space Station activities through 2017. U.S. House/Senate panel favors ban on Russian RD-180 rocket engine imports, approves U.S. replacement. Are prospective space tourists prepared for the rigors of spaceflight?
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA sees capsule test as a step toward Mars
New York Times (12/2): Larger than NASA’s Apollo capsule that supported human expeditions to the moon nearly a half century ago, the space agency’s new Orion crew exploration capsule is set to embark on its first encounter with the space environment on Thursday. An unpiloted 4 1/2 hour test flight could set the stage for human missions well beyond the moon. The NASA/Lockheed Martin Exploration Flight Test-1 is set to liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Fla., at 7:05 a.m. EST.
NASA prepares to test the spaceship that could take us to Mars
Washington Post (12/2): William Hill, a top NASA official, recently told reporters that Exploration Flight Test-1, the first test flight of the new Orion capsule, is “absolutely the biggest thing that this agency is going to do this year.”
After Orion launch, big steps await for Mars trip, NASA says
Orlando Sentinel (12/2): Thursday’s NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion mission launch may jump start the human exploration of deep space. However, many more complex systems will be required for life support and transportation to and from the red planet, NASA experts explain Tuesday.
The flight of Orion: A new spacecraft takes flight, but to where?
Air & Space (12/2): Orion, limited by volume, represents only a small piece of a human Mars mission, notes planetary scientist Paul Spudis. “The main problem with Orion is not the spacecraft or its specific design, but its mission,” he notes. “It doesn’t have one. We will need multiple pieces of technology and knowledge in order to conduct a Mars mission, in addition to several hundreds of billions of dollars, none of which are on tap now or are likely to be in the near future.”
Weather looks good for NASA’s Orion spacecraft test flight Thursday
Space.com (12/12): U.S. Air Force forecasters offer a 60 percent chance of favorable weather conditions on Thursday for the scheduled 7:05 a.m., EST, liftoff of Exploration Flight Test-1, a 4 1/2 hour unpiloted test flight of the NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion capsule.
How NASA’s landmark Orion spacecraft test flight will work
Space.com (12/2): Though unpiloted, Exploration Flight Test-1 carries risks as it attempts to demonstrate the suitability of the NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion crew exploration capsule for human deep space missions.
Where are the best places to watch ULA’s Delta IV power Orion to orbit
Spaceflight Insider (12/2): The NASA/Lockheed Martin Exploration Flight Test-1 is set for liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Thursday at 7:05 a.m., EST. The Kennedy Visitor Center Complex and Playlinda Beach rise high on the list of public viewing spots.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Weather clears to allow Hayabusa 2 asteroid probe launch on third try
Asahi Shimbun, of Japan (12/3): Japan’s Hayabusa-2 mission to the asteroid 1999Ju3 began successfully with a liftoff from the Tanegashima Space Center on Wednesday, local time. The spacecraft is designed to rendezvous and study the asteroid, obtain a sample and return to Earth in late 2020. The material, scientists hope, will help to explain how the Earth and life evolved.
Hayabusa 2 launches on audacious asteroid adventure
Spaceflightnow.com (12/3): Japan’s Hayabusa-2 mission lifts off on Tuesday at 11:22 p.m., EST. Plans to launch the asteroid explorer on Nov. 30 were delayed by weather concerns.
Private Mars colony project wants help choosing 2018 lander experiments
Space.com (12/2): Mars One, the Dutch nonprofit that plans to settle Mars with humans in 2025, is looking to the public for assistance in selecting from among 10 science projects for launching to the red planet aboard a 2018 precursor mission.
“Invisible Shield” discovered over Earth
Coalition for Space Exploration (12/1): Though not to be seen, a boundary above the Earth is blocking dangerous energetic electrons from posing a serious health risk to orbiting astronauts as well as a threat to satellites. The elusive “shield” was characterized by NASA’s twin Van Allen Belt Probes, launched in 2012. The findings were first published in the journal Nature.
How we dodged a solar doomsday
Cosmos (12/1): A lack of disruption to Earthly communications from the recent massive sunspot AR12192 came as a surprise, according to scientists.
Low Earth Orbit
ESA members agree to build Ariane 6, fund Station through 2017
Space News (12/2): Meeting in Luxembourg, European Space Agency ministers agreed to develop the new Ariane 6 launcher to remain competitive in the global commercial launch market, fund the agency’s share of International Space Station operations through 2017 and continue with development of a surface rover as part of a joint Russian Mars mission, Exo-Mars, set for launching in 2018. ESA’s station work includes development of the service module for a second unpiloted test flight of NASA’s Orion capsule in 2018.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
House-Senate conference measure to end Pentagon use of RD-180
Space News (12/2): A U.S. House/Senate consensus would ban future imports of Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. The National Defense Authorization Act would also specify a U.S. replacement by 2019. The RD-180 is in use by United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 for missions boosting U.S. national security payloads. A U.S. House vote is expected this week.
Suborbital
Are you fit for space tourism?
Reuters via Las Vegas Review Journal (12/2): Health experts caution they still know little of how tourists will fare in response to the physical and psychological challenges of spaceflight.
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.