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Tuesday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA makes $3 million in awards to 30 groups for advanced technology development. Scientists determine that components of DNA found in meteorites are not terrestrial contamination, raising the prospect that space rocks delivered the building blocks for life to Earth. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center workforce faces nearly 300 layoffs, effective Oct. 1. Could life have flourished on Earth without the moon? Experts close in on the source of the orange goo that lapped part of Alaska’s shoreline last week.
1. From MSNBC: NASA rejuvenates the agency’s investments in advanced technology and innovation with a collection of 30 one-year contracts awards, each valued at $100,000. They cover advanced space suit, protection from space radiation, blue prints for a lunar colony among other areas. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program is competitive and the best innovations will be eligible for future rounds of funding.
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/08/08/7306644-out-of-this-world-ideas-funded
2. From The Washington Post: Scientists have confirmed the components of DNA inherent in meteorites. The confirmation suggests the chemical building blocks of life were distributed widely by the small space rocks. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, are based on studies of a dozen meteorites recovered from Antarctica and elsewhere.
A. From Space.com: August features the Perseid Meteor Shower, a favorite among sky watchers. The best viewing this year is in the period before sunrise on Aug. 9, 10, and 11. The shower peaks this year on Aug. 12-13, which coincides with a full moon. The moon’s illumination will make viewing difficult in much of the northern hemisphere.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12570-perseid-meteor-shower-skywatching-tips-2011.html
B. From AFP and Yahoo.com: An exploding meteorite startles residents of Niue in the South Pacific Island last week. The rock exploded a dozen miles over the island. No injuries were reported.
http://news.yahoo.com/exploding-meteor-wakes-pacific-island-nation-060214967.html;_ylt=AsLcWbC7FJcK1Nv3Y6na4ACHgsgF;_ylu=X3oDMTM1Y2tvYm9pBHBrZwM2ZjhiNzFjZC04NWVmLTNjNGEtYWIwYi00ODNkZGI5NTdmNmMEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDODg1ZjBmOTAtYzE4NC0xMWUwLWJlZm
3. From the Huntsville Times: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will absorb more post shuttle job losses. Jacobs Engineering, the center’s support contractor for engineering, science and tech services, notified nearly 300 workers last week to expect an Oct. 1 lay off.
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/08/nearly_300_more_aerospace_jobs.html
A. From the Huntsville Times: In an editorial, the newspaper finds future inspiration in the launch of NASA’s Jupiter bound Juno probe last Friday.
http://blog.al.com/times-views/2011/08/jupiter_mission_taps_americas.html
4. From Discovery.com: Last week, scientists presented evidence for an Earth that once had two moons. Recent computer modeling suggests the Earth may not have needed the moon’s gravitational influence to assist in the genesis of life. The influences of a planetary companion are considered a factor by many experts in whether extraterrestrial planets develop conditions suitable for life.
http://news.discovery.com/space/earth-moon-life-tilt-110808.html
5. From USA Today: The strange orange material that blanketed a stretch of Alaska shoreline last week has been identified as microscopic eggs. However, the species that produced them has not been identified.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/08/identified-orange-goo-that-blanketed-alaska-beach/1
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