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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. The successful NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion test flight on Dec. 5 is furnishing data for spacecraft improvements. Colonize space, counsels Stephen Hawking. NASA’s Maven mission takes its first dip into the Martian atmosphere. NASA’s Curiosity rover mission may be inadvertently masking evidence of organics, say British researchers. Europe’s Mars Express mission points to more buried ice. NASA ponders Europa Clipper launch dates, possible search for alien life. Cepheid variables showing Milky Way in new light. NASA’s Dawn mission will soon be first to reach a dwarf planet. Russia, France sign agreement to pursue further space cooperation. Space station space walkers start work on new docking ports for U.S. commercial crew vehicles. Data recorder aboard final European ATV resupply mission to the space station encounters breakup transmission difficulties. United Launch Alliance, Boeing break ground on astronaut access tower for commercial crew missions. Editorial urges New Mexico lawmakers to hold off on possible Spaceport America sale. World View achieves new heights in preparations for high altitude balloon passenger missions. Space related activities scheduled for the week ahead include Congressional hearings on U.S. human space exploration and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Engineers finding lessons in nearly flawless Orion test flight
Spaceflightnow.com (2/20): The Lockheed Martin managed orbital launch of NASA’s new Orion crew capsule on Dec. 5, Exploration Flight Test-1, was almost flawless. Data gathered and recorded during the 4 1/2 hour flight that peaked at an orbital altitude of 3,600 miles is providing a fertile source of information for improvements. A final report from Lockheed Martin on EFT-1 will be submitted to NASA in early March. Orion is a key part of NASA’s plans to resume human deep space exploration.
Stephen Hawking: Space travel will save mankind and we should colonize other planets
The Independent, of Great Britain (2/20): Humans should colonize the planets to ensure the future of the species, according to the acclaimed astrophysicist. “Sending humans to the moon changed the future of the human race in ways that we don’t yet understand,” said Hawking, while escorting an American contest winner through London’s Science Museum.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Spaceflight Insider (2/21): NASA’s Maven spacecraft recently carried out the first of five dips into the Martian atmosphere, taking air samples and relaying the analysis back to Earth.
The hills have ice… on Mars, that is
Discovery.com (2/21): The European Space Agency’s Mars Express, a Martian orbiter, finds evidence for buried ice in a region of the planet’s northern hemisphere called Phlegra Montes.
Curiosity may cause evidence of Mars life to self-destruct
NBC News (2/21): A British research team suggests NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover may be unintentionally eliminating organics in soil samples from the red planet with the test processes it uses to find evidence for their existence.
Europa Clipper team seeking earlier launch
Space News (2/20): NASA planners believe a robotic mission to Jupiter’s ice and ocean cover moon Europa could be ready to launch as soon as 2022, several years sooner than earlier projections. The assessment comes from a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory manager involved in Europa mission studies.
NASA Europa mission may search for signs of alien life
Space.com (2/20): NASA mission planners look for possible ways that a robotic mission to Jupiter’s ice and ocean covered moon Europa could look for evidence of life. Plans by NASA for a Europa Clipper mission could send an orbiter through plumes of geyser like eruptions spotted with the Hubble Space Telescope.
Cepheids map Milky Way and beyond
Sky and Telescope (2/20): Cepheid variable stars are helping astronomers uncover and map the secrets of the Milky Way galaxy. Studies of the aging stars in infrared wavelengths are piercing veils of dust and gas.
Planet you’ve probably never heard of
CNN (2/20): NASA’s Dawn mission is closing in on just such a target, Ceres, a large main belt asteroid. Dawn is on a course to maneuver into orbit for a long close look on Mar. 6.
Roscosmos invites French experts to join Russian space projects
TASS, of Russia (2/20): The Russian and French space agencies have discussed plans for future cooperation in space research. A meeting between representatives on Friday produced a declaration of intent for future cooperation.
Low Earth Orbit
Spacewalkers install cable for new docking adapters
CBS News (2/21): Last Saturday’s near seven hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station went well for NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Terry Virts. The two men installed power, data and thermal control cables for the first of two new docking ports on the station for use by U.S. commercial crew vehicles. More spacewalks are planned for Wednesday and this coming Sunday.
Spacewalking astronauts turn cable guys in 1st of 3 jobs
Associated Press via ABC News (2/21): The International Space Station spacewalk cable extension tasks underway this week are considered among the most difficult in the history of the orbiting science laboratory.
ATV break-up camera misses cargo tug’s final fiery plunge
Space News (2/20): The European Space Agency’s final ATV re-supply mission to the International Space Station was unable to relay information about the capsule’s breakup as it plunged into the Earth’s atmosphere on Feb. 15. An investigation into the interruption of the data flow that included photos is underway. Engineers were hopeful the breakup perspective from inside the ATV-5 would help them plan for the future breakup of the much heavier space station.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Video: Groundbreaking for commercial crew assess tower
Spaceflightnow.com (2/22): On Friday, workers broke ground at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on the astronaut access tower for future Boeing CST-100 commercial crew capsules launched atop United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rockets. When flying missions under contract to NASA, Boeing’s CST-100 will transport astronauts to the International Space Station and back.
Suborbital
Editorial: Hold the countdown on sale of Spaceport
Albuquerque Journal (2/21): The New Mexico newspaper urges state legislators to refrain from forcing the sale of Spaceport America. The spaceport is to support suborbital passenger missions launched aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo. However, the start has been delayed, most recently by a test flight crash that claimed the life of a pilot. “…attempting to sell would send the wrong message to the entire space industry that New Mexico isn’t open for space business,” according to the Journal.
Space tourism start up World View’s parafoil flies to record altitude of 102,000 feet
Venture Beat (2/21): World View’s parafoil ascent and descent on Friday will help to prepare the company for high altitude luxury passenger travel in 2016. The old record for parafoil flight was 50,000 feet.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of February 23-27, 2015
Spacepolicyonline.com (2/23): Activities this week include Congressional hearings on U.S. human and commercial spaceflight as well as spacewalks outside the International Space Station.
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