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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. The chair of the U.S. House appropriations panel with jurisdiction over NASA vows to continue a ban on U.S., China space cooperation. This week’s U.S. Senate hearing on NASA’s human and commercial space plans, the first for the new Congress, starts on bi-partisan note. Americans take pride in U.S. space achievements. Neighboring Mars may once have been the victim of an enormous asteroid collision. Super asteroid Ceres’ bright spots may be volcanic in origin – if not a sign of ice. Astronomer suggests that Ceres and Pluto deserve planet status. Scientists describe monster of a black hole — the largest ever. U.S. astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Terry Virts prepare the International Space Station for new docking ports to accommodate U.S. commercial crew transport vehicles. Virts ends his seven hour spacewalk with a small amount of water in his space suit helmet. Russia to remain an International Space Station partner until 2024. U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James cautions that development of domestic replacement for Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine could take years.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA spending panel chairman keeps focus on China
Space News (2/25): U.S. Rep. John Culberson, chair of the House appropriations panel with jurisdiction over NASA, vows to continue a ban on bilateral cooperation in space between the U.S. and China. China remains the security threat characterized by his predecessor, the retired Virginia congressman Frank Wolf, Culberson says.
First Cruz space hearing inquisitive, not confrontational
Spacepolicyonline.com (2/25): U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, chairman of the Space, Science and Competitiveness Subcommittee, hosts the panel’s first space policy hearing on a nonpartisan note. The panel looked into NASA’s deep space exploration objectives as well as its commercial space launch strategies for Earth orbit activities.
U.S. Senate hearing: Video, testimony on human exploration goals, commercial space
Coalition for Space Exploration (2/25): Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness heard testimony from policy experts and former astronauts on the nation’s exploration and commercial space goals. Some favor Mars as a destination, others a return to the moon.
Fly me to the moon: The public and NASA
The Huffington Post (2/25): America’s support for space exploration rises and falls over the years. However, Americans are quick to celebrate and take pride in the successes.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Giant asteroid collision may have radically transformed Mars
Scientific American (2/25): A new study suggests Mars was once struck by a large asteroid that delivered enough heat to melt half the planet.
Ceres: Bright spot on dwarf planet is a twofer, NASA spacecraft finds
Los Angeles Times (2/25): Some scientists believe mysterious bright spots on the large asteroid Ceres may be volcanic in origin. Others point to ice. However, NASA’s Dawn mission probe is closing in on Ceres and is on course to maneuver into orbit around the dwarf planet for a long stay in early March.
It’s time to restore Pluto’s good name (op-ed)
Space.com (2/25): As 2015 unfolds, both distant Pluto and the large main belt asteroid Ceres could be re designated as planets, predicts Vanderbilt University astronomer David A. Weintraub in an op-ed. NASA’s Dawn probe is nearing Ceres for a long look from orbit in March, and NASA’s New Horizon’s probe is on course for the first ever flyby of Pluto in July, he notes. Pluto lost is planet designation in 2006.
Monster black hole lurks in the early universe
Science News (2/25): Astronomers characterize a black hole with a mass estimated at 12 billion times that of the sun. It may be the largest object of its kind. How it grew so large in a relatively short amount of time is a mystery.
Low Earth Orbit
Successful spacewalk ends with water leak
CBS News via Spaceflightnow.com (2/25): U.S. space walkers Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Terry Virts connect power, data and heater cables outside the International Space Station in a near seven hour spacewalk on Wednesday. The work is laying the groundwork for two docking ports for future U.S. commercial spacecraft transporting astronauts to and from the station. At the spacewalk’s conclusion, Virts reported the troubling presence of a small amount of water in his space suit helmet.
Astronaut reports minor water leak in spacesuit helmet after spacewalk
Space.com (2/25): U.S. astronaut Terry Virts ended a near seven hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Wednesday with water in the helmet of his space suit. NASA will investigate, and it’s not clear whether the finding will influence a third spacewalk by Virts and Barry Wilmore on Sunday. The spacewalks are preparing the station for the installation of two docking ports for U.S. commercial crew vehicles.
Spacewalking astronaut safe after water leaks into helmet
Associated Press via ABC News (2/25): NASA astronaut Terry Virts is fine after his near seven hour spacewalk ends Wednesday with a small amount of water in his helmet.
Russia and its modules to part ways with ISS in 2024
Space News (2/25): Russia announces it will remain active in International Space Station operations through 2024, an objective sought by President Obama early last year. However, then Russians intends to depart with its newest modules to establish an independent human presence in Earth orbit.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
AF Secretary James not sure 2019 is doable for RD-180 replacement
Spacepolicyonline.com (2/25): The U.S. is seven to 10 years from introducing a replacement for Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine, U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told a U.S. Senate appropriations panel on Wednesday. The U.S. would like to end its reliance on the Russian rocket engine used by the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 to place national security payloads in orbit. Her time estimate includes development and integration.
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