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Sunday’s CSExtra features the last reports on a grueling spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Saturday. Two astronauts were stalled in their bid to replace a cooling system pump, and NASA managers scramble again to restore the orbiting laboratory’s cooling system to full function. Also, new commentary on NASA’s future — whether there is enough money to achieve ambitious goals formulated by the White House and Congress.
1. From Spaceflightnow.com: Two spacewalking U.S. astronauts are thwarted Saturday in efforts to repair the external cooling system aboard the International Space Station. During a record eight hour spacewalk, they encounter a worrisome ammonia leak and balky disconnect mechanisms in their bid to replace a failed circulation pump. Saturday’s spacewalk was the first of several that will be necessary.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp24/100807eva/index4.html
A. From space.com: A third spacewalk will be necessary to address the problems, says NASA’s space station program manager. The second outing is not expected before Aug. 11.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/missionlaunches/international-space-station-third-repair-spacewalk-100807.html
2. From the Washington Post: An editorial finds the White House and Congress still unwilling to fund the ambitious human spaceflight goals they are assigning to NASA. The Post writes that investments in commercial space transportation make the most sense at the moment, not missions to asteroids and Mars that threaten to overwhelm resources.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/07/AR2010080702494.html
A. From the Orlando Sentinel: Cost overruns and schedule delays plague NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Designated as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb promises to look back at the dawn of the universe — if it can reach the launching pad. Latest launch date 2014.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-webb-telescope-problems-20100809,0,6146702.story
B. From Florida Today: In an op-ed, columnist John Kelly writes that NASA’s broad mission may place too little emphasis on science and the underpinning research needed for more ambitious missions. He cites a recent National Research Council study that suggests more research is needed in three areas if humans are to venture into deep space, basic biology, human behavior and human physical responses to the stresses of weightlessness.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100808/COLUMNISTS0405/8080336/1086/John+Kelly++Science+put+on+the+back+burner
3. From Florida Today: NASA’s fate looms as a major issue in political races throughout Central Florida. The region is facing major job losses as NASA’s shuttle program retires.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100808/NEWS05/8080358/1006/NEWS01/Space+program+an+issue+politically
4. From the Coalition for Space Exploration: NASA pursues the purchase of lunar data from commercial companies with plans to develop landers. One competitor intends to reach the Apollo 11 landing site by the end of 2012.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/nasa-looks-to-innovative-lunar-demos-for-data-purchase
5. From Spaceweather.com: The latest on viewing of the Perseid meteor shower and solar activities firing up the aurora. A new solar coronal mass ejection will slide by the Earth on Monday or Tuesday.
http://spaceweather.com/
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.