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Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting on space related activities from around the world: A new NASA report that explains why the agency cannot meet a late 2016 deadline for the production of a new heavy lift rocket and human spacecraft receives a bi-partisan cold shoulder from Congress. 2010 ties 2005 for the warmest year on record, NASA and NOAA conclude. Russia and the U.S. space travel agency, Space Adventures Ltd, plan to resume space tourist missions to the International Space Station in 2013. SpaceX earns as it meets NASA’s milestones for a commercial rocket to take cargo to the space station. NASA auditors find waste with a small business technology initiative. Scientists find a nearby black hole is much more massive than thought. The moon stars in the night sky. Policy makers rally to a Washington conference that will examine how the space station can help pave the way to Mars.
1. From Spacepolitics.com: The Senate Commerce Committee sounded a bi-partisan note of displeasure on Wednesday in response to NASA’s report this week on how it might develop a new heavy lift rocket and an Orion-like multi-purpose crew vehicle. In the 2010 NASA Authorization Act, the space agency is to have both the rocket and capsule flying by late 2016. In its report, NASA says it could rely on shuttle and Ares rocket heritage, but that it could not meet the 2016 deadline or accomplish the work with the anticipated funding. The Commerce Committee issued a statement informing the agency it is legally required to do both. NASA is pursuing alternate architectures. http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/01/12/senate-pushes-back-on-nasa-hlv-report/
A. From the Orlando Sentinel: The NASA report is a setback not only for the supporters of a renewed exploration initiative, but for the Kennedy Space Center, which lacks a major follow on to the retiring shuttle program, the Sentinel reports.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-nasa-cant-afford-rocket-20110112,0,317377.story
B. From the Houston Chronicle: The report suggests NASA has not moved out of the tough financial dilemma it was facing when the Committee led by Norm Augustine reviewed NASA’s options for the White House in 2009. NASA’s reference heavy lift rocket design relies in part on the use of recycled space shuttle main engines and extended solid rocket boosters.
http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2011/01/nasa_the_congressional_budget_doesnt_provide_enoug.html
C. From Florida Today: Republican as well as Democrats on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee respond to NASA’s report with firm instructions that it find a way to achieve the development goals. “We believe it can be done affordably and efficiently — and it must be a priority,” the NASA oversight panel says in a statement.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110113/NEWS02/101130314/NASA+balks+at+plan+to+build+big+rocket
2. From the New York Times: 2010 ties 2005 as the warmest year on record, according to an analysis by NASA that matches one by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Nine of the 10 warmest years have been measured since 2000. The 2010 number for the global average surface temperature was 1.12 degrees F over the average temperature for the 20th Century.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/a-photo-finish-for-warmest-year-on-record/?scp=4&sq=NASA&st=cse
A. From the Washington Post: The warmer temperatures are evident in the retreat of Arctic snow ice, say experts. NASA’s analysis comes from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/12/AR2011011204692.html
3. From the Coalition for Space Exploration: Russia and the U.S. space travel agency, Space Adventures Ltd, announce plans to resume tourist missions aboard Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station in 2013. The flights, suspended in 2009, will resume as Russia steps up the production of Soyuz spacecraft to haul NASA astronauts and those from other space agencies to the station. The increased production is in response to the retirement of NASA’s shuttle.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/soyuz-seats-for-space-tourists
A. From Bloomberg.com: Three Soyuz seats will be available to tourists annually.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-12/space-adventures-russia-to-expand-tourist-trips-in-13-aboard-soyuz-craft.html
4. From the Los Angeles Times: SpaceX, the commercial space transportation company, has received $25 million from NASA as it meets milestones for the development of a spacecraft that can take supplies to the International Space Station. SpaceX is one of two companies working with NASA on commercial spacecraft that could one day transport astronauts to the station as well.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-20110113,0,725224.story
5. From Florida Today: NASA’s Inspector General issues a report unfavorable to the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research program, a technology initiative. The IG finds that 25 percent of the money NASA provided went for ineligible or undocumented expenses.
http://space.flatoday.net/2011/01/audit-nasa-wastes-millions-in-small.html
6. From MSNBC and the Cosmic Log: After new rounds of calculation, astronomers determine the black hole at the center of galaxy M87 equals 6.6 billion solar masses. M87 is relatively close, 50 million light years away.
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/12/5826388-scientists-size-up-monster-black-hole
7. From USA Today: Dwarf planet Pluto has a twin, Eris, and many companions in the solar system’s distant comet belt. NASA’s New Horizons mission is on the way to give astronomers their first close-up. The spacecraft should reach Pluto in 2015
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2011-01-12-dwarfplanets12_CV_N.htm
8. From Space.com: The moon offers great viewing this week, as sunlight falls across the lunar landscape at favorable angles.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/10610-moon-craters-skywatching-tips.html
9. From Space Travel and Tourism: George Washington University will host April conferences that will examine uses of the International Space Station to advance future human exploration to Mars. The two-day conference will include many from NASA.
http://www.spacetravel.com/reports/International_Space_Station_and_Mars_Conference_at_George_Washington_University_999.html
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