To subscribe to CSExtra via RSS feed click here.
If you would prefer to receive CSExtra in e-mail format, e-mail us at Info@space.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Coming soon! The Coalition for Space Exploration will launch a new Think Outside the Circle PSA.
Click here for a promo poster, free downloads and a chance to win prizes.
Thursday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space-related activities from around the globe. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first U. S. human spaceflight. Mercury astronaut Alan B. Shepard’s 15 minute suborbital hop on May 5, 1961, quickly became the catalyst for a race to the moon with the former Soviet Union. At the Kennedy Space Center, efforts to troubleshoot shuttle Endeavour’s electrical problems continue and could mean a second launch bid will unfold later than May 10, the most recent launch date target. In Washington, a House appropriations subcommittee hearing reveals tension with the White House over the prospect for U. S. and Chinese cooperation in space. A long running NASA experiment supports Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Scaled Composites achieves another flight test milestone with SpaceShipTwo. Russia launches a military communications satellite.
1. From the Orlando Sentinel: Fifty years ago today, Mercury astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. became the first American in space. His 15-minute suborbital flight provided President John Kennedy with the confidence to commit the nation to the Apollo moon landings. Shepard’s launch trailed the first human spaceflight, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s single orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-mercury-50th-anniversary-20110504,0,1927079.story
A. From USA Today: In an op-ed, Neal Thompson asks the question: Has Alan Shepard been overlooked as the iconic astronaut? Thompson, is the author of Light This Candle, The Life and Times of Alan Shepard, America’s First Spaceman. Historians tend to favor Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong and John Glenn, but in many ways Shepard had the swagger and drive most associated with the profession.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-05-05-Anniversary-of-Shepard-space-flight_n.htm
B. From the New York Times: A Brooklyn man is the artist behind new commemorative “forever” stamp honoring Mercury Freedom 7 astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/stamps-from-space-with-brooklyn-ties/?partner=rss&emc=rss
2. From Spaceflightnow.com: Shuttle Endeavour’s launching may be slipping later than May 10, the most recent no earlier than target date. Troubleshooting into last Friday’s launch scrub has revealed blown circuitry inside an electronics box. But the origin of the damage may reside outside rather than within the suspect Loads Control Assembly-2 box. The LCA-2 has been replaced. But more testing may be necessary to pinpoint the source. Endeavour’s window extends through May 29, but breaks for an Atlas 5 launch with a military missile warning satellite. The Atlas 5 mission is scheduled for Friday.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110504analysis/index.html
3. From Space News: The Obama administration considers China a potential partner in an internationally financed human mission to Mars, John Holdren, the White House director of Science and Technology Policy, tells the House Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee. Frank Wolf, the Virginia Congressman who chairs the panel, was not pleased. Wolf raised China’s record on human rights. Holdren countered with China’s rise as an economic power.
http://www.spacenews.com/policy/110504-china-partner-mars-exploration.html
A. From the Science Insider: The White House has a loop hole it can use – the constitutional authority of the President — to discuss scientific cooperation with China in spite of restrictions in the 2011 budget continuing resolution, White House Science Adviser John Holdren tells a House appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over NASA’s budget. Still, Holdren says the Office of Science and Technology Policy intends to observe the legislative restrictions as long as they don’t interfere with the President’s constitutional authority to conduct foreign policy.
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/05/holdrens-response-to-ban-on-china.html
4. From the Wall Street Journal: NASA unveils the results of a long running experiment on Wednesday that affirms part of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Using a series of satellite observations, scientists are able to demonstrate that the planet Earth causes a slight gravity twist in the space time fabric. The long running investigation was aided by private donations when space agency funding threatened to dry up. And other experimental techniques produced similar results.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703849204576303393134261736.html?ru=yahoo&mod=yahoo_hs
5. From the Los Angeles Times: Scaled Composite’s SpaceShipTwo completes its first flight test of the feathering system used to orient and slow the spacecraft as it descends into the Earth’s atmosphere. The 11 minute flight test on Wednesday was the seventh in a series of glide tests intended to eventually lead to commercial passenger flights. Virgin Galactic is the operator. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-virgin-galactic-20110505,0,7982758.story
6. From Ria Novosti: Russian successfully launches a military communications satellite. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20110505/163862104.html
Brought to you by the Coalition for Space Exploration, CSExtra is a daily compilation of space industry news selected from hundreds of online media resources. The Coalition is not the author or reporter of any of the stories appearing in CSExtra and does not control and is not responsible for the content of any of these stories. The content available through CSExtra contains links to other websites and domains which are wholly independent of the Coalition, and the Coalition makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in any such site or domain and does not pre-screen or approve any content. The Coalition does not endorse or receive any type of compensation from the included media outlets and is not responsible or liable in any way for any content of CSExtra or for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of any content appearing in CSExtra. For information on the Coalition, visit www.space.com or contact us via e-mail at Info@space.com.