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Friday’s CSExtra features the latest reports on space-related activities. NASA’s Messenger spacecraft maneuvers into orbit around Mercury overnight. The European Space Agency commits to an extension of International Space Station activities through 2020. Another U S. budget Continuing Resolution awaits a presidential signature. Rain on Saturn’s moon Titan. Space suits undergo field test.
1. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post: NASA’s Messenger spacecraft, launched in 2004, maneuvers into orbit around Mercury late Thursday. Messenger is the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/tricky-maneuver-works-nasa-puts-first-spacecraft-ever-into-orbit-around-tiny-strange-mercury/2011/03/17/AB6oZWn_story.html
A. From the Economist: NASA’s Messenger probe will investigate the reasons for Mercury’s small size and the origins for its large iron core. The studies may reveal how and where the planet formed and whether it was once larger.
http://www.economist.com/node/18386131?story_id=18386131&fsrc=rss
B. From Space.com: More about NASA’s Messenger spacecraft and its challenging journey since launching in August 2004.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11147-nasa-mercury-spacecraft-surprising-facts-messenger.html
2. From Space News: The European Space Agency’s 18-nation ruling council votes Thursday to support International Space Station operations through 2020.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/arianespace-subsidies-space-station-extension-win-esa-backing.html
3. From Spacepolicyonline.com: The House and Senate agree on a three week budget Continuing Resolution that President Obama is expected to sign before the current CR expires today (March 18). The latest CR continues to hold federal spending at 2010 levels. NASA spending will be cut by $63 million — eliminating some Congressional earmarks.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1490:government-funding-extended-three-more-weeks&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
A. From Space News: Republican Congressman from Texas and Florida urge House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan to spare NASA’s human spaceflight program in the 2012 budget. They urge that Ryan look to the space agency’s climate monitoring programs for savings instead. President Obama asked Congress for $18.72 billion in NASA spending for 2012.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110317gop-lawmakers-appeal-for-manned-exploration-funds.html
4. From National Geographic News: NASA’s Cassini spacecraft discovers methane showers on Saturn’s moon Titan.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704360404576206730658722632.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
5. From the Coalition for Space Exploration: Engineers head to an Antarctic military base to test space suits developed for exploring planetary surfaces.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/well-suited-for-planetary-exploration
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