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Wednesday’s CSExtra offers a collection of the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA releases portions of an independent cost study for three future programs, the Space Launch System, Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and major upgrades to the Kennedy Space Center. A look at the merits and challenges of dispatching astronauts on a mission to a near-Earth asteroid by 2025. NASA’s New Horizons mission is sure to deliver surprises as it nears the dwarf planet Pluto. Hurricane Irene flexes her muscles for the camera toting astronauts aboard the International Space Station. A letter from Alan Shepard, America’s first astronaut, goes to auction. NASA final shuttle crew visits California, after a week of appearances in New York City.
1. From Spacepolitics.com: NASA releases the executive summary of an independent cost study of future NASA programs — the Space Launch System, Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and the 21st Century Ground Systems Program. Together, the heavy lift rocket, crew capsule and launch site improvements form a basis for the agency’s future human exploration plans. Though the summary from Booz Allen Hamilton offers no cost figures, it concludes NASA’s estimates will be adequate for only the first three to five years of development, Spacepolitics.com reports. http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/08/23/an-independent-cost-assessment-without-costs/
A. From Spaceflightnow.com: NASA assumes large future cost efficiencies for the SLS, MPCV and Century Ground Systems Programs that appear to be unsubstantiated, Booz Allen Hamilton concludes in its assessment, according to Spaceflightnow.com.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1108/23explorationcost/
2. From Universe Today: President Obama has set a goal of reaching a near Earth asteroid with human explorers by 2025. Former astronauts Rusty Schweickart and Tom Jones discuss the plans, the merits and the timing of the mission.
http://www.universetoday.com/88384/human-mission-to-an-asteroid-why-should-nasa-go/
3. From Space.com: Pluto may a dwarf planet, but the distant planetary body will hold big surprises for NASA’s New Horizon’s probe. New Horizon’s is speeding toward a mid-2015 encounter with Pluto, Pluto’s moons and other Kuiper Belt objects.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/12705-dwarf-planet-pluto-views-horizons-spacecraft.html
4. From The Coalition for Space Exploration: Atlantic Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the U. S. East Coast and gaining strength. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station capture images of the impressive storm.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/blog/space-station-view-of-menacing-hurricane-irene
A. From Florida Today: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center closely monitors the course of Hurricane Irene, which is expected to skirt the Kennedy Space Center on Friday. Nonetheless, several hours of high winds are possible.
http://space.flatoday.net/2011/08/hurricane-irene-expected-to-skirt-ksc.html
5. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post: America’s first space traveler, Alan B. Shepard penned a letter to his parents in 1959 that will be auctioned off in California next month. The astronaut discusses his transition from naval aviator to space pilot in the lengthy note.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ap-exclusive-shepard-letter-to-mother-and-daddy-about-space-pilot-job-being-auctioned/2011/08/23/gIQAFhS4YJ_story.html
6. From the San Jose Mercury News of California. Last week the crew of NASA’s final shuttle mission toured New York City. Earlier this week, they were in California reflecting on their 13-day mission, which came to an end on July 21.
http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_18736664?nclick_check=1
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.