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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the globe, plus a roundup of weekend activities. Shuttle Endeavour’s final flight moves to no earlier than May 16. The U. S. and China launch missile warning and “space environment” monitoring satellites. Might Americans be ready to move beyond their current idealism to reach for the stars? Congress ponders funding for the FAA’s office of commercial space transportation. Contractors rebel at the Spaceport America construction site. Shuttle era astronauts receive honors over the weekend. NASA’s Messenger mission reveals Mercury. A look at major space policy activities scheduled for the week ahead.
1. From Spaceflightnow.com, May 6: Shuttle Endeavour receives a new launch date, May 16. The shuttle’s final mission has been grounded since April 29 by a failed hydraulic system fuel line heater. NASA mission managers intend to re-assess the latest target date again today.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110506newdate/index2.html
2. From Spaceflightnow.com: May 7: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 lifts off Saturday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the first in a new generation of missile warning satellites for the U. S. Air Force.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/
A. From Xinhaunet.com, May 7: China launches an spacecraft to monitor the space environment.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-05/07/c_13863911.htm
3. From the Los Angeles Times, May 9: It’s time for Americans to move beyond their current utilitarianism and unleash their imaginations — to think of exploring space, writes Greg Rodriguez in an op-ed. Rodriguez, who writes on cultural engagement, is the founding director of the Center for Social Cohesion at Arizona State University.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rodriguez-space-20110509,0,6319203.column
A. From the Philadelphia Inquirer, May 6: Penny Glackman’s third grade class at the Merion Elementary School hears regularly of her passion for math, science and aerospace, in particular. Her enthusiasm placed Glackman among the 85 recipients of the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/121372149.html
B. From the Houston Chronicle, May 7: April 12 marked the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight, also the 150th anniversary of the start of the U. S. Civil War. Which carries the most significance? University of Texas historian Alberto Martinez takes a stab at the question — at the Chronicle’s request.
http://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2011/05/is-the-civil-war-or-first-human-spaceflight-more-significant-an-historian-weighs-in/
4. From Space News, May 6: In testimony before a House oversight committee, the General Accountability Office questions the need for a budget increase for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation. The future of the enterprise seems too uncertain to justify the increase, say the auditors.
http://www.spacenews.com/policy/110506-gao-questions-funding-hike-faa.html
A. From the Las Cruces Sun News of New Mexico, May 7: At Spaceport America, the future base for Virgin Galactic, contractors contend with cost overruns and late payments. One major subcontractor contractor walks off the job. http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_18019339
B. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 9: Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is poised for growth as NASA’s shuttle program winds down. MARS will host Orbital Sciences Corp. launched cargo missions to the International Space Station. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/may/09/TDMAIN01-virginia-spaceport-poised-to-grow-after-s-ar-1025375/
5. From Florida Today, May 6: The U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inducts NASA shuttle era astronauts Karol J. “Bo” Bobko and U. S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Susan Helms in ceremonies at the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110507/NEWS02/105070324/Hall-fame-induct-2-astronauts?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Space%20News
A. From the Coalition for Space Exploration, May 8: Three shuttle-era astronauts win honors in weekend ceremonies at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and in Houston, Texas.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/nasa/weekend-brings-honors-to-three-shuttle-era-astronauts-at-ceremonies-near-cape-canaveral-and-in-houston
B. From Florida Today, May 7: Cocoa Beach, Fla., celebrates an 86th birthday with an astronaut parade and other festivities.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110507/NEWS03/110507006/Parade-brings-space-history-memories-Cocoa-Beach-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
C. From Space.com, May 6: International Space Station astronaut Catherine Coleman spends Mother’s Day in space, but connects with her husband and 10-year-old son by phone to celebrate.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11588-mothers-day-space-station-astronaut-coleman.html
D. From Space.com, May 6: The space suit worn by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov during the historic Apollo Soyuz mission of 1975 brings $242,000 during a New York auction of space memorabilia from the first half-century of human spaceflight.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11600-russian-spacesuit-auction-human-spaceflight-50th-anniversary.html
6. From the Coalition for Space Exploration, May 8: The NASA-sponsored MESSENGER mission has chalked up many exploratory milestones since maneuvering into orbit around Mercury on March 17. The first spacecraft to orbit the planet nearest the sun, MESSENGER is mapping the surface and recording interactions between the small world and the sun.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/nasa-orbiter-chalks-up-mercury-insights
A. From Discovery.com, May 9: NASA’s planet hunting Kepler space telescope mission could help to reveal the prevalence of ringed planets.
http://news.discovery.com/space/kepler-may-uncover-worlds-110508.html
7. From Spacepolicyonline.com, May 8: A list of major space policy related events scheduled for the week ahead.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1559:events-of-interest-week-of-may-9-13-2011&catid=67:news&Itemid=27
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