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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space-related events from across the country, including a round up of weekend activities. In Houston, NASA’s space shuttle prime contractor announces plans to reduce personnel as the long running program’s end draws near. Debunking myths about the U. S. space program. NASA’s WISE mission offers a scientific windfall. NASA’s Juno spacecraft reaches its Florida launch site. Space activities scheduled for the week ahead. Space and taxes. A sand sculpture tribute to the shuttle.
1. From Spaceflightnow.com, April 15: United Space Alliance, NASA’s shuttle prime contractor, announces lay off plans as the shuttle program nears retirement. Two missions remain, Endeavour’s slated for an April 29 lift off, and the final voyage of Atlantis, scheduled for a June 28 departure. On April 15, USA announced it will lay off half its remaining work force, or up to 2,800 personnel as the final missions launch and land.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110415layoff/
A. From the Houston Chronicle, April 16: While Washington policymakers struggle to define NASA’s future, the uncertainty is taking its toll on those who work for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Chronicle reports. The future appears to be sustained operations of the International Space Station and development of the Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle, a four person capsule that could take explorers out of low Earth orbit, as well as to the space station. However, the NASA 2011 budget dips below 2010 spending, and the trend for future funding plans is unclear.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/7524309.html
B. From Florida Today, April 15: For Central Florida, the United Space Alliance job cuts will mark the single largest employment loss since the end of NASA’s Apollo program four decades ago, the newspaper reports. USA says it will shed nearly 2000 jobs, or 60 percent of its Florida workforce. The company will seek voluntary departures before implementing the lay off in the mid-May time frame. Severance packages and job search assistance will be provided.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110416/NEWS01/104160329/Shuttle-contractor-USA-spells-out-layoff-specifics?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
2. From the Smithsonian.com, April 15: Some of the long running myths about the U. S. space program, including tales of UFOs and fake moon landings, are debunked. One of the most stubborn myths: the U. S. devotes 24 percent of the budget to NASA. In reality, the amount is less than half of 1 percent.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Ten-Enduring-Myths-About-the-US-Space-Program.html?c=y&page=1
3. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post, April 15: NASA makes public data form the Wide Field Survey Explorer, or WISE, an infrared spacecraft launched in December 2009. The findings include more than 30,000 new asteroids that circle the sun between Mars and Jupiter.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/scientists-public-can-pore-through-data-galore-from-nasas-sky-mapping-mission/2011/04/15/AFDccXjD_story.html
4. From Universe Today, April 17: NASA’s Juno spacecraft, the next major mission to Jupiter, arrives at the Kennedy Space Center to undergo launch preparations. Lift off is slated for August.
http://www.universetoday.com/84914/solar-powered-jupiter-bound-juno-lands-at-kennedy-space-center-for-blastoff/#more-84914
5. From spacepolicyonline.com, April 17: Space related events scheduled for the week ahead:
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1529:events-of-interest-week-of-april-18-22-2011&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
6. From Space.com, April 15: Living in space is no excuse for not meeting the federal tax filing deadline.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11410-taxes-space-station-astronauts.html
7. From Florida Today, April 17: NASA retiring space shuttle program receives a tribute: a sand sculpture.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110418/NEWS01/104180310/Sand-sculpture-created-honor-space-shuttles?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
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