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Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. In Kazakhstan, a commercially launched Soyuz rocket delivers six U. S. Globalstar communications satellites to orbit. NASA’s Grail mission spacecraft approach weekend maneuvers to place them in orbit around the moon. Republican presidential contenders appear more supportive than not of NASA’s transition to commercial human spaceflight. A look at the rise of solar activity in 2011 and where it’s headed. In Danbury, Conn., retirees reflect back on a once secret Cold War spy satellite program. The first meteor shower of 2012 peaks soon after the New Year. Scientists await the opportunity to measure gravity waves from black hole collisions.
1. Spaceflightnow.com: A Russian Soyuz rocket achieves a successful launch of six U. S. Globalstar voice and date communications satellites. The mission appears to mark a rebound for the Soyuz rocket family, which recorded a Dec. 23 launch failure while carrying a Meridian military communications satellite.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/soyuz/st24/111228launch/
2. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post and others: NASA’s twin Grail probes close in on the moon. The two probes are on course to maneuver into orbit over the New Year’s weekend. Their measurements of subtle differences in the lunar gravity are expected to enable experts to better determine the moon’s subsurface composition.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/new-years-countdown-twin-nasa-probes-prepare-to-slip-into-orbit-around-the-moon/2011/12/28/gIQAFzQtMP_story.html
3. From Florida Today: A look at statements from Republican contenders in the 2012 presidential campaign suggests they support NASA’s transition to commercial human space transportation, the newspaper reports.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111229/NEWS02/312290028/Will-presidential-race-end-shift-space-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
4. From Space.com: 2011 marked an unusually active year for the sun. The frequent flares and eruptions suggest the sun’s 11 year cycle of activity is headed toward a peak in 2013.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/14060-2011-restless-sun-solar-activity-review.html
5. From the Associated Press via the Canadian Press and others: After a long silence, dozens of Danbury, Conn., professionals are free to discuss their work during the Cold War on the once secret U. S. Hexagon satellite program. Their efforts produced the “Big Bird” spy satellites that contributed to the nation’s security.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/63501–decades-later-a-cold-war-secret-is-revealed
6. From Space.com: The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Jan. 4 and represents the first significant shower of 2012, with as many as 120 events per hour.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/14067-2012-quadrantid-meteor-shower-skywatching.html
A. From Space.com: A list of prominent meteor showers anticipated in 2012.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/14068-2012-meteor-shower-skywatching-schedule.html
7. From Discovery.com: Astronomers await the opportunity to witness the merger of two massive black holes as galaxies collide. A joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency may provide the opportunity.
http://news.discovery.com/space/feeling-the-ripples-of-black-hole-collisions-111228.html
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