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Thursday’s CSExtra features the latest reporting on space-related activities from around the world. Shuttle Discovery’s landing on Wednesday captures national attention, while renewing speculation over the future of the U. S. civil space program as well as a public venue for the storied orbiter. Orbiters Endeavour and Atlantis are to follow Discovery into retirement in April and late June. In Washington, one aerospace company president warns that without a NASA road map, his industry will suffer economically with national consequences. The Senate is unable to agree on a 2011 spending plan. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snaps a photo of the Opportunity rover.
1. From the New York Times: With Discovery’s last mission at a successful conclusion, the question is open as to what will replace NASA’s shuttles.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/science/space/10shuttle.html?scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cse
A. From Spaceflightnow.com: Shuttle Discovery’s landing marks the beginning of the end for NASA’s space shuttle program. The landing brings a 27 year legacy to a close. Discovery flew 39 missions.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts133/110309fd14/index2.html
B. From Florida Today: Discovery becomes the first shuttle orbiter to take a bow. The 27-year-old spacecraft returns in terrific shape. With the proper care, the shuttle fleet could fly many more missions, agency officials say. Managers expect Discovery can be de-serviced and prepared for transport to a museum by January.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110310/NEWS02/103100308/Discovery-becomes-first-orbiter-take-bow?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
C. Florida Today: Ties to Discovery run deep for astronaut Nicole Stott, one of only three astronauts to come from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. There, she served as Orbiter Project Engineer for Columbia, Flow Director for Endeavour.
http://space.flatoday.net/2011/03/astronaut-tied-emotionally-to-shuttles.html
D. From the Wall Street Journal: The Shuttle Discovery’s new career, museum piece.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576190583633455982.html?KEYWORDS=NASA
E. From the Orlando Sentinel: Discovery’s return to Earth marks an emotional end of an era.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/2011/03/discoverys-landing-marks-the-end-of-an-era.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fspace%2Fspace_blog+%28Space+Blog+The+Write+Stuff%29
F. From RIA Novisti of Russia: Discovery ends final flight.
http://en.rian.ru/science/20110309/162929038.html
G. From The Hill: Museums to compete for Discovery and NASA’s two remaining orbiters.
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/aviation/148375-space-shuttle-discovery-lands-for-the-final-time
H. From the New York Times: Dealing NASA orbiters. Museums across the nation compete for one of the three vintage spacecraft.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/science/space/09shuttle.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cse
I. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post: Discovery’s flying career ends. Next stop, a museum, most likely the National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/09/AR2011030900324.html
J. From the Huntsville Times: School students swarm to U. S. Space Camp in Huntsville for Discovery’s landing. Some need convincing on merits of becoming an astronaut.
http://blog.al.com/space-news/2011/03/shuttle_landing_viewed_by_500.html
K. From the Orlando Sentinel: Discovery pilot Eric Boe calls his 93 year-old grandmother, a resident of St. Lucie Florida, before leaving the International Space Station.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/fl-call-from-space-20110303,0,1311844.story
2. From Spacepolitics.com: Without an affordable strategy for NASA, the nation’s aerospace industry faces hard times, the President of rocket engine maker Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne warns.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/03/09/the-fierce-industry-of-now-for-american-space-industry/
3. From spacepolicyonline.com: The Senate on Wednesday rejects both Republican and Democratic endorsed budget strategies that would fill the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year, or through Sept. 30. The Republican version matched H. R. 1, the House passed version of a spending plan. NASA is among the agencies without a clear spending plan. Story includes link to a fact sheet outlining the differences.
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1476:update-senate-votes-on-republican-democratic-budget-proposals-today&catid=67:news&Itemi
4. From Space.com: NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snaps a photo of the Opportunity rover perched on the rim of Santa Maria crater, a 295 foot Martian depression.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11085-mars-rover-opportunity-crater-photo.html
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