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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space-related activities from around the world — plus a roundup of weekend events. In orbit, the Endeavour astronauts carried out the second of their four mission spacewalks outside the International Space Station on Sunday, then spoke with students at a Tucson, Arizona elementary school. Tonight, three of the station’s crew descend to Earth aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, ending a 159-day flight. Shortly after departing the station, the Soyuz crew will snap a commemorative “portrait” of Endeavour docked to the station. In Huntsville, Ala., experts ponder the current obstacles to reaching a new space policy consensus on human spaceflight. NASA’s Mission Management Team concludes Endeavour’s heat shield is in good shape. Pope Benedict XVI speaks with the Endeavour and space station astronauts. NASA sets July 8 for the launching of the final space shuttle mission. New communications satellites launch aboard Russian and French rockets. A law enforcement sting stops a moon rock sale. Who really sees the astronauts off as they leave the Earth? Space policy events scheduled for this week.
1. From Space.com, May 22: Endeavour astronauts Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke tackle a difficult spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Sunday. They extend the life of critical thermal control and electrical systems by topping off a coolant loop and lubricating a mechanism that turns outstretched solar arrays. Fincke is surprised as bolts from a cover plate work loose and attempt to float away.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11745-loose-bolts-space-station-spacewalkers-trouble.html
A. From CBS News, May 20: Mission managers for the International Space Station and NASA’s shuttle program agree to a photo session in which the Russian, U.S. and Italian crew departing the International Space Station for Earth in a Soyuz spacecraft will pause briefly during their Monday night departure to photograph the shuttle Endeavour, while the orbiter is docked to the orbital outpost. Dmitry Kondratyev, Paolo Nespoli and Catherine Coleman will end their 159 day mission with a landing in Kazakhstan.
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/home/spacenews/files/6f5467fa9038001ade0246ec554fa1e8-251.html
B. From the Arizona Daily Star of Tucson, May 22: Late Sunday, Endeavour commander Mark Kelly and mission specialist Mike Fincke visit with students from the Mesa Verde Elementary School, urging them to study hard and pursue their dreams. Christina Taylor Green, one of the school’s students, was among those slain Jan. 8 during a shooting spree at a Tucson political rally for Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords, who was gravely wounded, is Kelly’s wife.
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/education/precollegiate/article_669d00ae-fdf3-5faf-9c26-6eb9224f3822.html
C. From WFAA.com of Dallas, May 22: The Shelton family of North Texas is responsible for a long NASA tradition. The Shelton’s send roses to NASA’s Mission Control following the launch of each space shuttle mission. There is one flower for each astronaut. The Dallas area family began the tradition after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986.
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Longtime-NASA-tradition-tied-to-North-Texas-122372289.html
2. From Spacepolitics.com, May 20: One topic at the International Space Development Conference under way in Huntsville, Ala., last week was space policy and how it develops. The processes are not working well, according to John Logsdon, the well known space historian and one of the participants in a panel on the topic. The circle of influential Washington players is small and difficult to penetrate. The prospect for a cabinet-level advocate is unlikely because it would take turf from others. One proposal would initiate decadal studies on human space objectives carried out by the National Academies of Science.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/05/20/the-big-picture-of-how-space-policy-gets-done-or-doesnt-get-done/
A. From the Huntsville Times, May 22: Alabama community leaders head for Washington this week to make the case for NASA and military space programs that provide jobs to thousands of workers in the region.
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/05/huntsville_lobbying_team_heads.html
B. From the Orlando Sentinel: A 2010 presidential pledge of $40 million to help create new business and jobs in Central Florida as NASA’s shuttle program draws fell through. Nonetheless, NASA workers look for state and local agencies for help with their transition to new jobs.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-kassab-space-jobs-20110522,0,7944878.column
3. From Spaceflightnow.com, May 21: Mission photography revealed some minor debris impact damage to the heat shielding under the right wing of the shuttle Endeavour. On Saturday, mission managers determined the damage would not require a repair by the astronauts after an additional inspection.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110521fd6/index3.html
4. From Florida Today, May 20: NASA sets July 8 at 11:40 a.m., EDT, for the launching of the final shuttle mission. The 12-day mission of the shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station will mark the 135th and final flight. Atlantis will roll from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A on May 31.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110521/NEWS02/105210313/Atlantis-last-launch-set-July-8
5. From the Houston Chronicle, May 21: Pope Benedict commends the Endeavour and space station astronauts for their bravery and commitment. Astronauts commonly carry religious objects with them on mission. One astronaut says he prayed for success on his flight.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7575599.html
A. From Discovery.com: A transcript of Pope Benedict’s 20 minute conversation with U. S. Russian and Italian astronauts.
http://news.discovery.com/space/pope-speaks-with-shuttle-station-crews-110521.html
B. From the Catholic News Agency, May 20: Pope Benedict XVI’s call to the International Space Station is intended to show the “human” side of space exploration, according to the Vatican.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/popes-speech-to-space-station-shows-human-side-of-space-exploration/
6. From Spaceflightnow.com, May 20: recent satellite launches.
A. A Russian Progress rocket launches a Canadian communications satellite for video and Internet services
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/proton/telstar14r/launch/index.html
B. A French Ariane 5 launches communications satellites for users in Asia, the Middle East and India.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ariane/va202/launch/index.html
7. From National Public Radio, May 21: Aboard the International Space Station, the beauty of the Earth dominates the view, members of the station and shuttle Endeavour crew explain. The beauty though belies the strife on the surface.
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/21/136509205/aboard-the-space-station-its-a-beautiful-world
8. From the Los Angeles Times, May 21: A NASA sting stops the sale of a moon rock.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-moon-rock-20110521,0,1168008.story
9. From Florida Today and columnist John Kelly: Who are the last people to see NASA’s astronauts before they lift off? They are the close out crew.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110522/COLUMNISTS0405/105220312/John-Kelly-Shuttle-closeout-crew-ensures-astronauts-safety?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Space%20News
10. From Spacepolicyonline.com: Space policy events and activities planned for the week ahead.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1576:events-of-interest-week-of-may-23-27-2011&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
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