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Wednesday’s space news scan offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the globe. In Earth orbit, astronauts aboard the International Space Station carry out the final spacewalk of NASA’s shuttle era. In Washington, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden appears before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee to address questions about the Space Launch System, a new heavy lift rocket to power the start of future human exploration missions. The White House plans to unveil plans later this year, later than some lawmakers would prefer. SpaceX invests in launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. China launches a data relay satellite. The Hubble Space Telescope takes commemorative photos of Neptune. An unusual quilt pays tribute to the long running shuttle program. Remembering Laika, the Soviet era K-9 space traveler.
1. From Spaceflightnow.com: Astronauts aboard the International Space Station conduct the final shuttle-era spacewalk on Tuesday. They place a failed station cooling system circulation pump aboard the shuttle Atlantis for the trip back to Earth. They install a robotic satellite servicing experiment delivered by the shuttle onto the space station. Atlantis, in the midst of a 13-day mission, has been parked at the station since Sunday. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts135/110712fd5/index2.html
A. From the Houston Chronicle: A behind the scenes look at NASA Mission Management Team chairman LeRoy Cain as the final space shuttle mission unfolds. Everyone involved in the shuttle program wants to finish strong, says Cain. http://blog.chron.com/finalmission/2011/07/mission-chairman-how-were-going-to-leverage-the-success-of-atlantis/
2. From the Orlando Sentinel: In testimony Tuesday before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden says the agency and the Obama Administration are not yet prepared to provide details of their strategy for a new heavy lift rocket. The Space Launch System is a cornerstone of future plans to send explorers on missions beyond Earth orbit. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-nasa-decision-delay-20110712,0,431249.story
A. From Space.com: The House panel anticipated NASA would provide plans for the Space Launch System in January. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden tells lawmakers the agency is still refining cost estimates. http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12252-congress-nasa-chief-space-launch-system-designs.html
B. From the Huntsville Times: Meanwhile, NASA is facing a steep funding reduction in 2012 from House appropriations, one that would increase the gap between the shuttle’s final flight and a human space flight successor, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden informs the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. http://blog.al.com/space-news/2011/07/bolden_tells_congress_looming.html
C. From the Washington Post: NASA’s transition to the post-space shuttle era will require more transparency among the agency’s leadership. The one issue they must confront is the national economy and the cost of the new missions, writes Gail S. Williams, a former NASA leadership program director. Can the leadership make the case that the cost and the risk are worth the investment, Williams writes in an op-ed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/end-of-space-shuttle-program-launches-major-challenges-for-nasa/2011/07/12/gIQAWICiAI_story.html
3. From the Los Angeles Times: SpaceX invests $30 million in launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for the Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful rocket. SpaceX will compete for the launching of military satellites with United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV and Atlas V rockets.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-vandenberg-launchsite-20110713,0,798014.story
4. From Space News: China launches a communications satellite to support future human endeavors in Earth orbit. Much like a NASA tracking and data relay satellite, the spacecraft will support future manned Shenzhou missions and China’s planned space station.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110712-china-launches-data-relay-satellite-support-upcoming-manned-missions.html
5. From Space.com: Giant Neptune completes its first circuit around the sun since the planet’s discovery in 1846. In honor of the milestone, astronomers feature glowing Neptune in a series of Hubble Space Telescope images. http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12254-neptune-photos-hubble-telescope-discovery-anniversary.htmll
6. From Florida Today: Shuttle worker Vicky Turner commemorates NASA’s long running shuttle program with a quilt.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110711/NEWS01/107110308/Quilt-made-mission-patches-holds-3-decades-memories-shuttle-launches
7. From Discovery.com: The varied fictional fates of Laika, the stray dog launched into space by the former Soviet Union aboard Sputnik 2 in November 1957. http://news.discovery.com/space/laike-the-russian-space-dog-finally-gets-a-happy-ending-110712.html
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