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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Scientists offer details about 2008 EV5, the asteroid that may furnish a boulder for NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission and a future destination for U.S. astronauts. Costs force NASA to look to an asteroid boulder rather than the moon as a deep space destination for human explorers. A small Utah company prepares the crawler-transporter that will carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy lift rocket to the launch pad. Scientists combine X-ray studies with Apollo mission data to refine their understanding of the moon’s iron core. The Earth is in no jeopardy as an asteroid passes Friday. The best space telescopes shed light on dark matter. U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko are prepared to lift off Friday on the first one year mission to the International Space Station. United Launch Alliance adds Zeus and Vulcan to the short list of possible names for its new rocket.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Meet the leading space rock target for NASA’s asteroid capture mission
Space.com (3/26): Earlier this week, NASA made an important choice for the agency’s proposed Asteroid Redirect Mission. It will grab a boulder from the surface of a large asteroid with a robotic spacecraft, rather than capture an entire small asteroid. The space rock will be steered into orbit around the moon for a visit by U.S. astronauts around 2025. The potential target asteroid is 2008 EV5, a body about 1,400 feet across that has been observed with infrared telescopes and radar. The observations suggest 2008 EV5 has boulders on the surface.
How NASA got stuck with an uninspiring asteroid mission
Houston Chronicle (3/26): U.S. policy makers looked to the moon as a destination for future human explorers during the administration of President George W. Bush. President Obama, Bush’s successor, cancelled the Constellation moon program because of its cost and directed NASA to send astronauts to an asteroid by 2025 as a step in a longer term goal or exploring the Martian environs. Costs have prompted changes in Obama’s plans as well.
Gillette company does work for NASA
Deseret News (3/26): L & H Industrial, of Gillette, Utah, gets its first U.S. government contract, upgrading the rollers on the massive crawler transporter that will position NASA’s Space Launch System heavy lift rocket on a Kennedy Space Center launch pad. NASA is developing the big rocket to launch astronauts on future deep space missions.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Moon’s iron core may reveal solar system secrets with x-ray scan
Space.com (3/26): X-ray studies combined with lunar readings from NASA’s Apollo missions suggest the moon has a two phase iron core, one that is solid and an outer liquid core. Scientists believe the research will help to explain more about the origins and evolution of the moon as well as the solar system’s rocky planets.
No, the asteroid passing Earth on Friday is sot on a ‘near-collision course’
Huffington Post (3/26): Astronomers plan a close look at asteroid 2014-YB35 as it makes a pass by the Earth on Friday.
Dark matter just got darker (and weirder)
Discovery.com (3/26): Two space observatories, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, reveal new details about “dark matter,” which is believed to comprise an estimated 85 percent of the mass of the universe.
Low Earth Orbit
Off to space for a year, an American’s longest journey
New York Times (3/26): U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly is prepared for a yearlong trip to space. He will lift off with Russian colleague Mikhail Kornienko on the U.S. record setting voyage Friday afternoon from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Their efforts could remove barriers for the human exploration of Mars.
On Friday, half a pair of twins leaves for a year in space: Here’s why that’s awesome
Washington Post (3/26): New NASA scientific research rigor promises to make the first year long trip to the International Space Station by U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko a precedent for future human deep space missions. Scientists believe we don’t know much about missions lasting longer than half a year.
Kelly, Kornienko braced for marathon mission
Spaceflightnow.com (3/26): At first reluctant to the notion of spending a year in space, NASA’s Scott Kelly has embraced the challenge. He believes it could pave the way for missions lasting long enough to deliver human explorers to Mars. Kelly and his one year travel mate, Mikhail Kornienko of Russia, are prepared to lift off Friday at 3:42 a.m., EST, for their long stay aboard the International Space Station.
One year in space: A history of ultra-long missions off planet Earth
Space.com (3/26): On Friday, U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly will join with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko for a one year mission to the International Space Station. The voyage will address health issues faced by astronauts launched on missions to a distant asteroid or Mars. They are not the first to leave the Earth for so long, but they are first to be studied so thoroughly for their physical and psychological responses. Kelly and Kornienko are set to lift off Friday at 3:42 p.m., EDT.
NASA gets good PR liftoff from Kelly twins and unique mission
Huntsville Times (3/26): NASA astronaut Scott Kelly’s one year mission to the International Space Station promises to ignite news interest in U.S. space exploration, according to the report. Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko are set to lift off Friday afternoon on the first one year mission aboard the International Space Station. Both men are hopeful their long mission will foster future human deep space exploration.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Two more options added to ULA’s rocket naming poll
Spaceflightnow.com (3/26): United Launch Alliance adds Zeus and Vulcan to the short list of names the company would like enthusiasts to vote on for a new rocket. The newcomers join Eagle, Freedom and Galaxy One as candidates.
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