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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA astronaut in training Jessica Meir merges biology with space. If NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover could speak, what would the machine say? Out of fuel, NASA’s Messenger spacecraft can look back at a productive mission in orbit around Mercury. Russian flight controllers were unsuccessful overnight in their efforts to gain control over the Progress 59 cargo capsule launched Tuesday to the International Space Station. Maryland lawmaker Donna Edwards vows to contest a proposed spending reduction for Earth sciences as part of a new NASA authorization measure. The U.S. Air Force plans to test Hall thruster propulsion technology on the next mission of the X-37B space plane. The outspoken Pete Warden quietly departs his post as director of NASA’s Ames Research Center. British singer and space tourist Sarah Brightman remains booked for a September International Space Station visit.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Journey to Mars: Meet NASA astronaut candidate Jessica Meir
Washington Post (4/29): Meir, 37 is a biologist, selected by NASA in 2013 as one of seven people for astronaut training. The training is preparing Meir for future flights aboard the new Orion spacecraft under development to start astronauts on future missions to deep space, and ultimately to Mars. “…knowing that her work will help get astronauts to Mars motivates her every day,” according to the report. “As a biologist, she’s particularly interested in what conditions on Mars can teach us about life on Earth.”
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Science News (4/28): In its own words, NASA’s Curiosity rover discusses the high points of 2 1/2 years on Mars.
Five of Messenger’s discoveries about Mercury
New York Times (4/28): After four years in orbit around tiny Mercury, NASA’s Messenger mission has learned a lot, much of it a surprise to scientists. Thursday, Messenger — out of fuel — is forecast to crash into the modest planet’s far side.
Low Earth Orbit
Launch of Soyuz with new ISS crew on board may be delayed because of Progress emergency
TASS, of Russia (4/29): Problems with the Russian Progress 59 resupply mission to the International Space Station may lead to a delay in the planned May 26 launching of the Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft to the International Space Station with U.S., Japanese and Russian astronauts. The Progress and Soyuz spacecraft have similarities, and there may have been an issue with the Soyuz rocket that launched the Progress re-supply capsule to the station early Tuesday, according to the report.
Progress cargo vessel docking with Space Station canceled
Sputnik News, of Russia (4/29): The Russian Progress 59 re-supply capsule launched to the International Space Station early Tuesday will likely tumble until if falls into the Earth’s atmosphere and burns up, according to the report. Continuing efforts by Russian ground controllers to gain control overnight were unsuccessful.
Progress cargo ship spins out of control after launch
CBS News (4/28): Russia’s Progress 59 cargo mission to the six person International Space Station, launched early Tuesday, stopped communicating with Mission Control Moscow, prompting a scramble by ground control teams to re-establish contact and perhaps develop a strategy to continue on with the delivery of 6,100 pounds of supplies.
Progress anomaly strains Space Station supply lines
Space News (4/28): The loss of an erratic Russian Progress cargo mission bound for the International Space Station could strain efforts to keep the six person crew supplied with essentials. The supply line was already weakened in late 2014 by a U.S. commercial rocket launch mishap. A series of European Space Agency re-supply missions have come to an end as well.
Edwards: “I will not stand by quietly”
Spacepolicyonline.com (4/28): U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards vows to contest provisions of a U.S. House 2016 NASA authorization measure that proposes cuts in Earth science spending. The House Science, Space and Technology Committee, of which Edwards is a member, plans to markup a measure that includes a shift in the funds to exploration activities on Thursday.
Air Force to test futuristic ‘hall thruster’ on X-37B space plane
NBC News (4/28): The secretive and reusable U.S. Air Force X-37 B space plane will boost a new propulsion technology using Hall thrusters during a mission scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in late May.
Ames director Pete Worden took center to new heights
Space News (4/28): Pete Worden departed NASA as director of the Ames Research Center at the end of March, after 10 years in the post. His departure with little notice countered Worden’s usual outspokenness, according to the editorial.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Russian space official denies media rumors on Brightman’s replacement for ISS journey
TASS, of Russia (4/28): Russian space officials say they have no intentions of replacing British performer Sarah Brightman with a Japanese businessman as a tourist on a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station. Some reports say businessman Satoshi Takamatsu is better trained for the September flight.
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