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Wednesday’s CSExtra features the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from around the world. In Washington, a new House sponsored budget Continuing Resolution would trim nearly $140 million from NASA’s budget. The measure, if approved, would last a week and replace the current CR, which expires on Friday. Also in the capitol, SpaceX proposes a powerful new commercial rocket, the Falcon Heavy, that would be rated for human spaceflight. Pieces of orbital debris from a Chinese anti satellite weapons test temporarily threaten the International Space Station. A study by the National Research Council concludes NASA needs a stronger life and physical sciences research program to underpin its human exploration aspirations.
1. From Space News: The most recent federal budget Continuing Resolution expires at midnight on April 8. A week long House sponsored CR would cut $139 billion from NASA’s current 2010 spending levels. The majority, $100 million, could come from NASA’s shuttle program. The remainder would come from NASA’s construction and environmental compliance account. The House measure proposes $12 billion in overall federal reductions.
http://www.spacenews.com/policy/110405-bill-trim-nasa.html
2. From the Atlantic: SpaceX founder Elon Musk announces near term plans for the Falcon Heavy, a versatile, low cost heavy lift rocket that he says could start humans on deep space explorations missions as well as launch robotic planetary explorers, commercial satellites or military payloads.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/04/with-the-launch-of-falcon-heavy-space-is-exciting-again/236854/
A. From Florida Today: SpaceX vows it will hold the line of the cost of launching its Falcon Heavy, which would become the most powerful U. S. launcher since NASA’s Saturn V moon rocket. The company will aim for an initial flight in 2013 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110406/NEWS02/104060341/With-Falcon-Heavy-SpaceX-vows-sweet-ride-an-even-sweeter-price?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
B. From the Houston Chronicle: The Falcon Heavy could transform space transportation with its lower costs and heavy lift. However, the rocket is unproven.
http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2011/04/spacex_makes_big_promises_if_they_deliver_it_will_1.html
3. From Florida Today: Debris from China’s 2007 Anti-satellite Weapons Test temporarily poses a collision threat to the International Space Station on Tuesday. NASA’s Mission Control sounds all -clear at mid-afternoon.
http://space.flatoday.net/2011/04/station-crew-safe-after-debris-alert.html
A. From Space.com: The space debris threat will grow.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/11305-space-junk-astronauts-bigger-threat.html
4. From Physics World: NASA’s ability to carry out life and physical sciences research that could provide an under pinning for future human deep space exploration has been jeopardized by shifting agency priorities and reduced funding, according to a report prepared by the National Research Council.
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/45623
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