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Friday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities. As it has for much of July, there is a heavy focus and discussion on NASA’s final space shuttle mission and what the program’s retirement means for the future. Atlantis landed safely on Thursday, signaling a triumphant end to the 30-year program. Today, though thousands of shuttle workers face layoffs, as NASA heads in a new direction that to many is not all that clear. New commentaries suggest the United States is falling behind, as other nations ramp up their interest in space exploration and technology development. Is there a bright side for life without the shuttle for NASA? A new direction at NASA, means overcoming new obstacles. Preparing Atlantis for public display in retirement. Questions arise over how much control NASA should exercise in the final phase of new commercial space transportation services. In Europe, space sales grow thanks to government customers. Plus 10 places to visit for a post shuttle “space fix.” There is a venue within reach of most parts of the USA.
1. From CBS News: At the Kennedy Space Center, shuttle Atlantis makes a triumphant return to Earth. There’s joy followed by mourning and frustration as hundreds of shuttle workers face jobs losses today.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7374091n&tag=contentMain;contentBody
A. From Florida Today: More than 1,500 Kennedy Space Center shuttle workers face layoffs Friday, as NASA’s shuttle program draws to a close with the safe return of Atlantis.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110722/NEWS01/107220316/Shuttle-contract-workers-head-out?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
B. From the Orlando Sentinel: The end of NASA’s final shuttle mission brings mixed feelings — accomplishment and uncertainty for thousands of shuttle program workers.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-shuttle-atlantis-landing-20110721,0,1694862.story
C. From the New York Times: NASA will place a marker on the runway at Kennedy to note the stopping point of the final shuttle flight.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/science/space/22space-shuttle-atlantis.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cse#
D. From the Huntsville Times: International Space Station astronaut Mike Fossum captures a striking photograph of the shuttle Atlantis as the spacecraft begins its descent through the Earth’s atmosphere.
http://blog.al.com/space-news/2011/07/nasas_image_of_the_day_atlanti.html
E. From Collectspace.com: A retrospective on the shuttle program’s last day in space.
http://www.collectspace.com/flightdayjournal/sts-135/14.html#0721110457
2. From the Los Angeles Times: As the U.S. appears to take a step back from space exploration with the shuttle’s retirement, China, India and even Iran are among those nations laying the ground work for a more ambitious stake in the pursuit. The interest signals foreign strides in technology and engineering know-how, according to the Times report.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0722-space-race-20110722,0,20513.story
A. From the Wall Street Journal: NASA’s post shuttle plans are generating little public excitement or congressional backing. The slide goes back three presidential administrations, the Journal reports.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903554904576460203278610600.html?KEYWORDS=NASA
B. From Florida Today: Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, Florida Today and a columnist, finds the United States slipping behind Russia, possibly even China with what he describes as only vague plans for a successor to the space shuttle program.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110722/COLUMNISTS0201/110721022/Al-Neuharth-Behind-curve-July-22–
C. From the Washington Times: In an editorial, the newspaper suggests the shuttle program’s end is just another symbol of the U. S. “throwing in the towel” in world leadership on a range of fronts. The awareness is more pronounced among the older generations, according to the editorial.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/21/sun-sets-on-lunar-glory/
3. From the Houston Chronicle: Navigating life without the space shuttle. In an interview, NASA shuttle program manager John Shannon concludes the loss may prompt policy makers to choose and commit to a replacement. Commitment has been difficult when a continuation of the shuttle was always an option, Shannon suggests.
http://blog.chron.com/finalmission/2011/07/have-you-known-a-world-without-the-space-shuttle/
4. From the Washington Post: The newspaper sought opinions from a handful of experts on the challenges facing NASA as the shuttle program ends. They potential obstacles range from workforce losses to a contentious political climate.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/with-atlantis-landing-the-shuttle-program-ends–and-new-challenges-begin-for-nasa-leadership/2011/07/21/gIQAORyoRI_story.html
5. From Florida Today: The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex prepares to display the orbiter Atlantis in retirement. Atlantis will join Endeavour, Discovery and Enterprise as they make their way to museums and display venues in California, suburban Washington D. C. and New York City.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110722/NEWS02/107220318/Space-shuttle-legacy-behold
6. From Spacepolitics.com: NASA’s use of Space Act Agreements to pursue the development of commercial crew space transportation services could change in the final rounds of funding in order to give the space agency more control over safety standards. At a NASA forum for commercial participants, industry representatives said a switch to a traditional contracting approach would drive up the development costs and perhaps lead to project failure.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/07/21/could-a-contracting-change-jeopardize-commercial-crew/
7. From Space News: In Europe, space sector revenues and employment rise 2010 based on increased sales to government customers.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110721-govt-boosts-euro-space-sales.html
8. From USAToday: Need a post-space shuttle “space fix:” Here are 10 museums and display venues that might fill the bill. With help from former NASA astronaut Tom Jones.
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/10great/story/2011/07/10-great-space-related-sites/49193748/1
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