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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center hosts a memorial for the astronauts who died in the 1967 Apollo 1 launch pad fire as well as the shuttle Challenger and Columbia tragedies of 1986 and 2003. Astronomers find a distant planet with ring system larger than Saturn’s. NASA’s plans for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite may revolutionize the search for planets beyond the solar system. The discovery of alien life: How would it change the world? The launching of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite slips to Saturday at the earliest. NASA, Department of Education select Virginia as one of 10 states participating in engineering design challenge for middle school students. European satellites depend on key components from the U.S. China assembles new rocket for 2016 flight test. Russia ponders the International Space Station’s age in decision to extend activities beyond 2020. New Mexico lawmaker proposes sale of Spaceport America.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA astronaut memorial stirs memories for shuttle veteran
Associated Press via Orlando Sentinel (1/29): NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center participated in memorials this week to the 17 astronauts who lost their lives in the 1967 Apollo 1 launch pad fire and the shuttle Challenger and Columbia in flight tragedies of 1986 and 2003. “You think about the contributions that those people made, and all the wonderful things they did and all the wonderful things that they were going to do in the future,” said retired NASA astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson, who was a participant in the Marshall memorial.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Massive alien ring system is much larger than Saturn’s – and may contain exomoons
AmericaSpace.com (1/30): Astronomer identify a large planet with a ring system more expansive that Saturn’s in a solar system 430 might years away. “You could think of it as kind of a super Saturn,” said a U.S. astronomer involved in the discovery.
Will NASA’s TESS spacecraft revolutionize exoplanet hunting?
Spaceflight Insider (1/29) NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, scheduled for a 2017 lift off, will take the place of the Kepler space telescope. Since its launching in 2009, Kepler has rushed to the forefront of alien planet identification.
How would the world change if we found extraterrestrial life
Astrobiology Magazine (1/29): Even if the discovery was microbial, the revelation would be profound, according to Steven Dick, astronomer and historian.
Low Earth Orbit
Why Russia is abandoning the International Space Station
Kommarsant (1/29): Russia’s hesitance to remain a partner in the U.S. led, 15 nation space station program beyond 2020 was supported on Jan. 14, when what turned out to be a false alarm alerted astronauts in the U.S. segment of an ammonia leak. Future warnings, authentic or false, are destined to increase as the orbiting science laboratory ages, say Russian experts.
Launch of SMAP slips to no earlier than Jan. 31
SpaceflightInsider.com (1/30): Originally set for Thursday, the launching of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite has been scrubbed until Saturday at the earliest by high altitude winds and needed repairs to the Delta 2 launch vehicle. The lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., is reset for Saturday at 9:20 a.m., EST.
Va. middle school students participating in NASA challenge
Associated Press via Houston Chronicle (1/30): Virginia is one of 10 states chosen by NASA and the Department of Education to participate in a middle school Engineering Design Challenge.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
European satellites still heavily dependent on U.S. parts
Space News (1/29): European satellites: one third of the components come from elsewhere and most of that elsewhere is the United States. That equation has not changed in a decade.
Next generation of Chinese space vehicles begins its long march (by standing up)
Popular Science (1/29): The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. assembles its newest rocket on a launch pad at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center for pre-flight testing. The multi-use launch vehicle will likely fly in 2016, according to the report.
Suborbital
Lawmaker launches idea of selling spaceport
KRQE News 13, of Albuquerque (1/29): One New Mexico legislator proposes the sale of Spaceport America, the state’s entre into the suborbital space passenger market. The port’s main tenant, Virgin Galactic, has been delayed in offering flights by a fatal 2014 flight test accident. The Spaceport Authority is struggling to stay financially afloat.
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