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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Asteroid destinations within human reach leap in number. You are leaving for Mars? The NASA, NOAA U.S. Air Force DSCOVR solar sentry blasts off. Private sector looks to Jupiter’s moon Europa as a potential destination. NASA’s Mars Opportunity rover close to rolling an Olympic marathon. The European Space Agency’s Intermediate Experimental Vehicle scores a successful unpiloted suborbital test flight early Wednesday. NASA’s independent Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel welcomes new Commercial Crew Program transparency. Boeing revamps space and defense unit responsible for NASA Space Launch System, Commercial Crew Program development.
Human Deep Space Exploration
The number of asteroids we could visit and explore has just doubled
Universe Today (2/11): The prospects for identifying an asteroid suitable for a visit by human explorers has doubled, according to a tally compiled by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Near-Earth Program Office.
Would you leave your family behind to be the first human to set foot on Mars?
Washington Post (2/11): Mars One, the Dutch nonprofit, seeks to establish a human colony on Mars in the mid-2020s. Prospective settlers must plan to make Mars their permanent home, raising the issue of what they tell those closest to them.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Falcon 9 launches DSCOVR on third attempt
Space News (2/11): The joint NASA, NOAA and U.S. Air Force DSCOVR solar sentry mission lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida late Tuesday. DSCOVR will provide the Earth with advance warnings of disruptive solar activity and measure the Earth’s energy budget.
After plenty of starts and stops, satellite DSCOVR starts its million-mile journey
National Public Radio (2/11): After lifting off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., the joint NASA, NOAA, U.S. Air Force DSCOVR mission heads for a sun/Earth observation destination a million miles from Earth.
Let’s send a private mission to Europa, expert says
Spaceflight Insider (2/11): A future robotic mission to Europa, the ice and ocean covered moon of Jupiter, has captured the support of NASA and the European Space Agency. But the venture may be worthy of commercial participation as well, according to University of Arizona astrobiologist Christopher Impey.
Opportunity rover on Mars to hit marathon milestone soon
Space.com (2/11): After settling onto the Martian terrain in January 2004, NASA’s Mars Opportunity rover has rolled nearly 26.2 miles, or the distance covered by Olympic marathon runners. The mission was initially to last just 90 days.
Low Earth Orbit
European space plane test a success
Air and Space Museum (2/11): The European Space Agency carried out a successful suborbital test flight of its re-entry demonstrator, the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle, on Wednesday. The IEV lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a little over 100 minutes of flight.
Europe’s prototype space plane nails test flight
Discovery.com (2/11): Europe’s experimental Intermediate Experimental Vehicle “nails” first test flight.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
NASA panel: Commercial Crew Program more open
Florida Today (2/11): Members of NASA’s independent Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel said the space agency’s Commercial Crew Program is exhibiting more transparency after the panel issued an annual report earlier this year expressing concerns over the flow of information. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is fostering the final development of transportation services by Boeing and SpaceX that will take astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The panel’s latest comments came during a meeting at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, headquarters for the commercial crew initiative.
Boeing revamps defense, space unit to tighten programs
Reuters (2/11): Boeing announces a reorganization of its defense and space business. The division is contracted with NASA for development of the Space Launch System heavy lift rocket and a NASA commercial crew launch service.
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