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Monday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe, plus a roundup of reporting from the weekend. Russia’s launch of a Soyuz rocket with the Progress 45 cargo capsule, signals a recovery from a late August Soyuz crash. Boeing, Space Florida and NASA will host a major commercial space announcement Monday at the Kennedy Space Center. China prepares for its first orbital docking demonstration. Budget constraints have NASA prepared to terminate some on going science missions. The long running Mars500 analog mission to the Red Planet will draw to a close on Nov. 4. SpaceX reaches a critical milestone in the development of its commercial Dragon capsule. Planet Uranus displays unusual markings. Republican presidential contender Herman Cain endorses an aggressive space policy. A look at major space activities slated for the week ahead.
1. From Spaceflightnow.com, Oct. 30: A Russian Soyuz rocket lifts off Sunday, easing concerns among the U. S. led International Space Station partnership of a temporary de-staffing of the orbiting science lab in mid-November. The rocketed lofted a Progress supply capsule that was on course to dock Wednesday. The Aug. 24 crash of the Progress 44 mission prompted a suspension of Soyuz crew missions to the station. Sunday’s was the second of a two-launch recovery plan implemented by Russia and agreed to by NASA.
A. From Itar-Tass of Russia, Oct. 30: One Progress payload is a small satellite for studies of thunderstorm phenomena.
http://bit.ly/uY1SlU
2. From the Associated Press via the Houston Chronicle, Washington Post and others, Oct. 30: At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Boeing is expected to announce an agreement with Space Florida and NASA for use of an Orbiter Processing Facility for the assembly of the company’s CST-100 commercial crew transportation vehicle. The seven person capsule will launch astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station. The move is expected to create 550 jobs by 2015, according to the prepared remarks of Florida Governor Rick Scott and obtained by the AP.
http://bit.ly/u9JF8o
A. From Florida Today, Oct. 31: Both NASA and the Boeing Co. have signaled their intent to make a major announcement Monday regarding the future of the Kennedy Space Center and commercial space activities.
http://bit.ly/sqDjfV
B. From Florida Today, Oct. 30: In an op-ed, columnist John Kelly elevates concerns raised by Florida state officials and economic development groups of a possible duplication of Kennedy Space Center launch infrastructure at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Kelly’s notes Kennedy launch facilities are under utilized since the retirement of NASA’s shuttle earlier this year.
http://on.flatoday.com/sooCLq
3. From Spacepolicyonline.com, Oct. 30: China’s launching of the unpiloted Shenzhou 8 appears imminent. The capsule will participate in China’s first orbital docking demonstration. The target is Tiangong-1, the recently launch space lab prototype.
4. From Space News. Oct. 28: With budget constraints in force, NASA’s planetary missions face difficulty winning extensions. Even a flagship like NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturday will face scrutiny. At least eight other missions already under way face the same challenge, Space News reports.
5. From the Coalition for Space Exploration, Oct. 30: The long running, Moscow based Mars 500 analog mission to the Red Planet will conclude on Nov. 4, when the European, Russian and Chinese crew of six emerges from isolation. The realistic simulation featured delayed communications as well as isolation for a crew that simulated a round trip to Mars, including surface operations.
http://bit.ly/tMId9B
6. From Space.com, Oct. 28: Space Exploration Technologies achieves a major safety milestone in the company’s bid to develop a commercial space transportation service, as NASA approves the preliminary design review for the company’s Dragon capsule abort system.
http://bit.ly/s6N80x
7. From Discovery.com: Oct. 28: Astronomers note markings on the distant planet Uranus that could be eruptions of methane ice in the upper atmosphere.
http://bit.ly/tXOqpk
8. From The National Journal, Oct. 28. In an Alabama campaign appearance, Herman Cain blames President Obama for cuts to the nation’s space program. Cain vows to reinvigorate the U. S. space program.
http://bit.ly/tfGbdJ
9. From Spacepolicyonline.com, Oct. 30: A look at major legislative and other space policy related events scheduled for the work week ahead.
http://bit.ly/vhYmHg
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