To subscribe to CSExtra via RSS feed click here.
If you would prefer to receive CSExtra in e-mail format, e-mail us at Info@space.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Friday’s CSExtra features the latest reporting and commentary on space activities from around the world: Today marks the start of a week long ISS Wave campaign in which observers can show their support for space station crews. In Washington, NASA tells workers to prepare for an encore mission of shuttle Atlantis to the station in mid-2011. Nonetheless, the space agency is facing budget uncertainty following the passage this week of a temporary appropriations measure that holds most government spending to 2010 levels through March. In Europe, discussions over an extension of space station operations stall. More debate over future human missions to the moon and Mars. Virgin Galactic poised for new president.
1. From Florida Today: Christmas Eve marks the start of ISS Wave, an international effort to recognize the men and woman who fly the International Space Station and support the orbiting laboratory from the ground. The timing in terms of holidays may be special to many, but it also coincides with the station’s passage over major population centers. ISS Wave has a website, www.isswave.org, that further explains the campaign to gather comments from space station observers.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101224/NEWS02/12240323/Space+station+gesture+goes+global+tonight
2. From NASA Watch.com: In a memo to staff, Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA chief of space operations, instructs workers to prepare for STS-135, the encore mission of shuttle Atlantis in the late June 2011 time frame. This supply mission to the International Space Station is part of NASA’s 2010 Authorization bill. However, NASA has not received a 2011 appropriation for the flight. The funds, though, are available under a budget Continuing Resolution, which funds the federal government through March 4. The direction means NASA will fly three rather than two more shuttle missions.
http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/12/nasa-presses-ah.html
A. From Aviation Week & Space Technology: The budget Continuing Resolution signed by President Obama this week has returned NASA to much the same policy status it held in February, when the 2010 budget was released with a surprise plan to cancel the Constellation Program in favor of a new commercial space transportation initiative.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2010/12/23/01.xml&headline=Funding%20Puts%20NASA%20At%20Square%20One%20Again
3. From Space News: The European Space Agency balks at supporting a U.S.-proposed extension of International Space Station operations from 2015 to 2020. The matter may be resolved at a meeting of member states in March. The difficulty centers on an unrelated issue, financial support for Arianespace commercial launch services.
http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/12/nasa-presses-ah.html
4. From Forbes.com: An op-ed from Loren Thompson, who outlines four goals the U.S. could pursue to strengthen its economy as well as its global standing. One of those is space exploration, and Thompson, the chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute, believes the U.S. human space exploration program should be focused on Mars. New policies involving trade, industry and the environment could also help to re-claim American greatness, he writes.
http://blogs.forbes.com/beltway/2010/12/21/four-inexpensive-ways-to-restore-americas-future/
A. From Space News.com: A guest op-ed from Robert Zubrin, president of the Mars Society. In this Dec. 13 writing, Zubrin contends the SpaceX flight of the Falcon 9/Dragon rocket and capsule can bring the cost of a heavy lift rocket down enough to enable missions to the moon, asteroids and Mars.
http://www.spacenews.com/commentaries/101213-blog-new-sputnik.html
5. From the Los Angeles Times: Will Whitehorn will retire as president of Virgin Galactic. He will be replaced in January by George Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff. Whitehorn led Virgin through its investment and design phases.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/12/virgin-galactic-will-whitehorn-retirement.html
A. From New Scientist: What’s ahead for commercial spaceflight in 2011? SpaceX plans demonstration flights of the Falcon 9 that could take the Dragon capsule all the way to a berthing with the International Space Station. Virgin Galactic plans test flights of SpaceShipTwo, and possibly a late 2011 passenger mission.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827924.100-2011-preview-private-space-flight-takes-off.html
6. From Space.com: A crafting website and a panel of judges are prepared early to select the best examples of space inspired art, including paintings and sculpture.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/news/nasa-etsy-space-craft-contest-101223.html
7. From Space.com: The comets in this solar system may have originated from other stars, a new study suggests.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/scienceastronomy/sun-stolen-comets-oort-cloud-101223.html
8. From Space.com: Video from NASA’s Mars Rover Opportunity shows the sun from Mars.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/scienceastronomy/mars-rover-opportunity-sunset-movie-101223.html
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.