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Friday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting on space related activities from around the world. In Washington, tight budgeting prompts NASA to temporarily reverse course on its strategy to foster competing commercial space transportation companies. Companies able to carry astronauts to the space station as an alternative to Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft may not be available until 2017. NASA receives a favorable report from Congressional auditors on plans to ensure critical spare parts for the International Space Station. A space solar observatory watches as comet Lovejoy collides with the sun.
1. From Space News: NASA says it will stick with flexible Space Act Agreements to pursue further development of commercial space transportation services rather than switch to more restrictive traditional contract approaches. The decision, favored by commercial participants, was driven by funding uncertainties. Congress cut a 2012 White House request for the initiative from $850 million to just over $400 million.
http://bit.ly/sW2gAS
A. From Spacepolitics.com: Thursday’s announcement came days before NASA was expected to call for industry proposals for a round of competition leading to traditional development contracts. The change in plans will likely push the availability of a U. S. commercial alternative to Russian Soyuz crew transportation to the International Space Station to 2017.
http://bit.ly/vawC7e
B. From Spaceflightnow.com: NASA plans to open a new round of Space Act competition in January.
http://bit.ly/vaMDAh
C. From the Wall Street Journal: NASA may be unable to ensure the emergence of competing space transportation services under lower than expected funding and unable to impose safety standards under more flexible Space Act development guidelines, according to the chairman of a key House NASA oversight panel.
http://on.wsj.com/s1vwbh
2. From Spacepolicyonline.com: The General Accounting Office issues a report on NASA’s plans to produce the spare parts needed to keep the International Space Station operating through 2020. NASA receives a pat on the back, but the Congressional auditors suggest NASA continue to re-assess its sparing strategy.
http://bit.ly/vWCBUY
3. From Space.com: Comet Lovejoy dives into the sun on Thursday. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captures the imagery.
http://bit.ly/vo8qI5
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