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 offers the latest reporting and commentary on NASA’s Day of Remembrance, an annual tribute to the 17 men and women who died in the Apollo 1 fire and the shuttle Challenger and Columbia tragedies. The respective anniversaries, which fall on Jan. 27, Jan. 28 and Feb. 1, are raising questions about the future of human exploration in the face of the nation’s economic difficulties and the imminent retirement of NASA’s shuttle fleet. In other news, Washington lawmakers are still reacting to President Obama’s State of the Union Address. An unmanned Japanese cargo capsule reaches the International Space Station and another supply transport from Russia launches on a two-day journey to the orbiting science laboratory. Discovery’s troubleshooting ends as the shuttle returns to the launch pad next week. Astronomers solve a Jovian mystery.
1. From Spacepolicyonline.com: Thursday marked NASA’s Day of Remembrance, an annual tribute to the 17 men and women who lost their lives in the Apollo 1 fire and the shuttle’s Challenger and Columbia. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden visits the Arlington National Cemetery as part of the memorial and issues a statement as does President Obama .Bolden’s remarks emphasize the importance of safety in NASA’s mission. Obama’s emphasizes education and a vibrant, secure future.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1376:update-2-bolden-lays-wreath-in-honor-of-fallen-crews&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
A. From USA Today: Though President Reagan vowed not to let the Challenger tragedy lessen the nation’s resolve in space, some experts believe the tragedy instead became a catalyst for a diminished effort.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20110126/1achallenger26_cv.art.htm
B. From the Houston Chronicle: In a report marking the 25th anniversary of the shuttle Challenger tragedy, the Chronicle ponders whether NASA could survive another equally tragic event.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/7401768.html
C. From the Orlando Sentinel: In an op-ed, Richard Cook, a former NASA budget analyst who warned higher ups of the technical problems that triggered Challenger’s loss, assesses the space agency’s’ future. “One thing is certain: A new vision of the place of mankind in the immensity of space is sorely needed,” Cook concludes.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-shuttle-whistleblower-012811-20110127,0,2444199.story
D. From the Associated Press via the Los Angeles Times: The news service recounts the Challenger tragedy, noting it was the first high tech disaster to unfold on live television, a painful memory for many.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-us-sci-challengers-25th,0,7769256.story
E. From the Associated Press via The Los Angeles Times: President Reagan addressed the nation quickly in the aftermath of Challenger’s loss. The “journey continues,” Reagan assured a grieving nation.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-us-sci-challenger-reagans-speech,0,1891744.story
F. From CNN’s AC 360: In a blog, correspondent Tom Foreman pens a mock letter to President Obama in which he asks for a clarification of the president’s mention of Sputnik and the Cold War moon race in Tuesday night’s State of the Union Address. What is the goal the nation is to rally behind with Apollo zeal, Foreman asks.
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/27/letters-to-the-president-738-reaching-for-the-moon/
G. From CBS radio: Challenger’s mission is probably best remembered for New Hampshire classroom school teacher Christa McAuliffe. However, each of McAuliffe’s crew mates shared her passion for the nation’s youth and the importance of education, says June Scobee Rogers, the widow of Challenger commander Dick Scobee. Scobee Rogers and the families of Challenger’s crew united in the months following the tragedy to start the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/27/national/main20029843.shtml
2. From Spacepolicyonline.com: U.S. Rep Ralph Hall, of Texas, chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, responds to President Obama’s State of the Union address. In a statement, Hall says the address failed to outline a vision for NASA. The chairman suggests that vision should be that America “keeps winning” in space.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1377:rep-hall-wants-us-to-keep-winning-in-space-exploration&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
B. From the Huntsville Times: In an op-ed, the newspaper states NASA can help the nation meet the goals outlined by President Obama in his State of the Union Address: a stronger more competitive nation that excels at innovation.
http://blog.al.com/times-views/2011/01/editorial_nasa_is_key_to_presi.html
3. From Spacepolitics.com: U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, of Texas, will again serve as the ranking Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has oversight responsibilities for NASA.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/01/27/senate-space-subcommittee-will-get-new-ranking-member/
4. From Spaceflightnow.com: The International Station crew successfully captures and berths Japan’s Kounotori unmanned cargo capsule early Thursday. The spacecraft launched last Saturday and was nabbed by two astronauts using the station’s Canadian robot arm. Kounotori is delivering 5.3 tons of research gear, spare parts and other supplies.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2b/htv2/110127arrival/
A. From Itar-Tass: A Russian Progress cargo capsule with more than 5,000 pounds of fuel, food, clothing and other supplies launches for the International Space Station late Thursday.
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15899327&PageNum=0
5. From Florida Today: Shuttle Discovery should be ready to return to its Kennedy Space Center launch pad on Monday. The shuttle program has spent weeks troubleshooting cracks in the shuttle external fuel tank. Discovery’s final flight, an 11-day assembly mission to the International Space Station is tentatively set for a Feb. 24th lift off.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110128/NEWS02/101280320/Discovery+repairs+coming+to+a+close
6. From Space.com: Giant Jupiter was scarred in 2009 when it was struck by an asteroid the size of the ill-fated Titanic, scientists conclude in new studies.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/10703-jupiter-scar-asteroid-smash.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.