To subscribe to CSExtra via RSS feed click here.
If you would prefer to receive CSExtra in e-mail format, e-mail us at Info@space.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space-related events from around the world, including a round up of weekend activities. NASA selects Gail Crater as the destination for the Mars Science Laboratory lander, also know as Curiosity. How would a NASA-led mission to an asteroid unfold? That’s where President Obama has asked NASA to focus on the eventual destination of Mars. NASA’s final shuttle mission remained a popular topic in commentary through the weekend. Recent polls find support among Americans for space exploration, but not for investing more money. Plus a sampling of commentary from parts of the U.S. not specifically linked to space exploration suggest America is missing something without the means of launching its own astronauts.
1. From the Spacecoalition.com, July 22: NASA selects Gale Crater as the landing spot for the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as Curiosity. A depression 96 miles wide, Gale exposes soil strata that could reveal changing environmental conditions on the Red Planet dating back millions of years. The rover will look for conditions that suggest Mars was once habitable. The Curiosity launch window stretches from Nov. 25 to Dec. 18. The probe should reach mars in August 2012.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/next-mars-rover-to-land-at-gale-crater
A. Spaceflightnow.com, July 22: In all, NASA considered 60 candidate landing sites for Curiosity, four of them finalists.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1107/22mslgale/
B. From Space.com, July 23: A video tour of Gale Crater illustrating the scientific interest in the landing site.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12395-mars-science-rover-landing-site-birds-eye-view.html
2. From the Associated Press, July 23: NASA’s next mission, according to White House policy makers, is an asteroid, a destination the president has assigned the space agency to reach within 15 years. Challenges abound, and not the least of them is the small size of most asteroids and the absence of gravity. More knowledge of asteroids could help to fend off a future collision with the Earth.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hnN4y3aS-C7w15dB_witS1S3sEjA?docId=6f12e1bbb8804d11920f59f7d5d83a84
A. From Spaceflightnow.com, July 24: At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the shuttle programs two launch pads will become that starting point for future missions. Launch Pad 39A will be mothballed for the time being and eventually tailored for the launching of human missions to asteroids, perhaps Mars. Launch Pad 39 B is being dismantled. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1107/24complex39/index.html
B. From Discovery.com, July 24: In Hong Kong, physicists demonstrate through experiments that time travel is not possible. http://news.discovery.com/space/time-travel-impossible-photon-110724.html.
3. From Spacepolitics.com, July 24: NASA’s final shuttle flight prompted a series of public opinion polls on the shuttle program and American support for space exploration. Spacepolitics.com spots a trend in the surveying by CNN, Rasmussen and Investors Business Daily: Americans are generally supportive of exploration and not eager to see the shuttle program end. However, there is little eagerness to spend more in the current economic climate.
A. From the Orlando Sentinel, July 24: In an op-ed NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. The U. S. space agency will stand on the shoulders of the Apollo explorers and shuttle-era astronauts to achieve new missions of exploration, Bolden writes. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-07-24/news/os-ed-charles-bolden-space-072411-20110722_1_human-space-flight-space-exploration-nasa
B. From the New York Times, July 21: Among the space community, the question is whether the nation can summon the will to launch bold new missions of human exploration in the wake of the shuttle’s retirement, the Times writes in an editorial. The shuttle’s retirement was long overdue, according to the Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/opinion/22fri1.html?src=rechp
C. From the Houston Chronicle, July 21: In an op-ed U. S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas laments the loss of perspective that accompanies the retirement of NASA’s shuttle program. Russia now becomes the gateway for Americans into space, he writes.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7664202.html
D. From Discovery.com, July 22: The future of U.S. human spaceflight is murky. However, the politics surrounding the issue is alive and well.
http://news.discovery.com/space/the-shuttle-is-dead-long-live-the-politics-110722.html
E. From POLITICO.com, July 22: In an op-ed Walt Cunningham, the retired NASA Apollo astronaut, and U. S. Rep. Pete Olson, whose House district includes NASA’s Johnson Space Center, calls for an American re-commitment to human space flight.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59647.html
F. From Florida Today, July 23: In an op-ed, columnist John Kelly attempts to separate myth and reality over the future of the U. S. in space. Kelly finds energy and promise behind new commercial space initiatives as well as NASA’s bid to develop the spacecraft and propulsion for future human journeys to new worlds.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107240314
G. From the Huntsville Times, July 24: All is not lost for American in space, according to this hopeful editorial/op-ed from the Huntsville Times. Dream, plan, wait out the economic turmoil and press ahead.
http://blog.al.com/press-register-commentary/2011/07/we_can_dare_to_dream_of_space.html
H. From Florida Today, July 22: In an editorial, Florida Today takes a critical look at the future of the nation’s human space flight program There are tough times ahead, but they are navigable if Congress and the Administration set policy and schedule, Florida Today writes.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110724/OPINION/110722027/Our-views-Unity-purpose-July-24-?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p
4. From the Galveston Daily News of Texas, July 23: The Atlantis astronauts receive a boisterous Houston welcome the day after they conclude NASA’s final shuttle program with a landing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Several hundred brave the heat and rush hour traffic for a chance to see the four astronauts, and perhaps get an autograph.
http://galvestondailynews.com/story/245950
5. From Space News, July 22: The European Space Agency protests a decision by the European Commission to cut satellites that monitor the environment from the commission’s multi-year funding profile. Concerns of cost overruns may explain the decision.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110722-esa-protests-gmes-removal-budget.html
6. A sampling of recent editorial views on NASA and human space exploration as compiled by Spacetoday.net from parts of the United States not directly associated with the space program.
A. From the Portland Press Herald of Maine, July 24: The challenges and strides of the U. S. space program’s early days provided inspiration and important investments in science and engineering, according to an op-ed from a Maine biochemist.
http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/space-exploration-inspires-the-young_2011-07-24.html
B. From the San Angelo Times-Standard of West Texas, July 23: Despite assurances to the contrary, it seems the United States is turning its back on human space exploration. http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/jul/23/nation-needs-to-be-inspired-to-reach-for-the/
C. The Daily Iberian of Louisiana, July 24: America is loosing interest in space exploration and appears content to release its leadership position.
http://www.iberianet.com/opinion/editorials/race-to-space-winner-up-and-quits/article_f140f4f2-b5a8-11e0-ad99-001cc4c002e0.html
D. From the Las Vegas Review-Journal of Nevada: Cost has never been the defining issue in America’s reach into space. Why now? Where is the hope America’s leaders once hoped to instill? http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/to-boldly-go-126078983.html?ref=983
E. From the Independent of Minnesota: There is much to look forward to in human space flight. Pioneers like Richard Branson and Burt Rutan and showing the way with the pursuit of commercial human spaceflight.
http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/blogs.detail/display/1536/The-Space-Age-is-not-over.html
F. From the Daily Texan of the University of Texas: Commercial space transportation has a bright future. http://www.dailytexanonline.com/opinion/2011/07/24/theres-still-space
7. From Spacepolicyonline.com, July 23: Space policy related events scheduled for the week ahead. The Congressional agenda is focused primarily on deficit reduction. http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1732:events-of-interest-week-of-july-25-30-2011&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
Brought to you by the Coalition for Space Exploration, CSExtra is a daily compilation of space industry news selected from hundreds of online media resources. The Coalition is not the author or reporter of any of the stories appearing in CSExtraand does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtracontains links to other websites and domains which are wholly independent of the Coalition, and the Coalition makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in any such site or domain and does not pre-screen or approve any content. The Coalition does not endorse or receive any type of compensation from the included media outlets and is not responsible or liable in any way for any content of CSExtra or for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of any content appearing in CSExtra. For information on the Coalition, visitwww.space.com or contact us via e-mail at Info@space.com.