To subscribe to CSExtra via RSS feed click here.
If you would prefer to receive CSExtra in e-mail format, e-mail us at Info@space.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Wednesday’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting on space related activities from around the world. NASA’s Kepler space telescope identifies the first Earth-sized planet around a single star — however, they orbit too close to their star to be habitable. Early Wednesday is expected to bring the launch of a Soyuz rocket with a U. S., Russian and European crew bound for the International Space Station. New Mexico’s Spaceport America shows signs of becoming a magnet for the testing of reusable spacecraft technologies. Is now the time for space based solar power? Assessing the Milky Way galaxy.
1. From Spaceflightnow.com: U. S., Russian and European astronauts were poised for lift off for the International Space Station from Kazakhstan early Wednesday. NASA’s Don Pettit, Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers and Oleg Kononenko of Russia will dock early Friday, restoring the station to sustained six person crew operations for the first time since a late August Soyuz rocket mishap. Launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is set for 8:16 a.m., EDT.
http://bit.ly/taLy8c
2. From the New York Times: NASA’s Kepler space telescope makes another breakthrough, identifying a pair of Earth-sized planets around another star. However, the pair, Kepler 20e and Kepler 20f, are not within the habitable zone, a region where water would be stable as a liquid on the surface of the two worlds. Temperatures reach 1,400 degrees and 800 degrees Fahrenheit on the planets. The two worlds are part of a five planet star system. Just a few weeks ago, Kepler scientists announced the confirmation of a planet within the habitable zone of another star — a world larger than the Earth.
http://nyti.ms/sIlZKL
A. From the Washington Post and Nature: The Earth sized planets orbit a star 950 light years distant.
http://wapo.st/u4Mfd4
B. From the Wall Street Journal: Though sized comparatively to the Earth, Kepler’s latest discoveries are hot and unlikely to be habitable. Biological activity is unlikely.
http://on.wsj.com/rtoSIy
C. From Space.com: A primer on how astronomers used Kepler to make their find.
http://bit.ly/vyx1cul
D. From Sky and Telescope: Launched in 2009, Kepler has scored more than 2,300 alien planet discoveries — an achievement that exceeded what technology would permit two decades ago. So, how do scientists using Kepler gather the evidence to confirm their discoveries?
http://bit.ly/uqWaNF
E. From the Washington Post: Maybe it’s time to give Kepler’s discoveries imaginative names rather than Kepler 20e and 20f.
http://wapo.st/sWRrnk
3. From Space.com: Propulsion companies migrate to Spaceport America to test new reusable spacecraft technologies. Small and established companies start the trend.
http://bit.ly/sUnYX7
4. From Discovery.com: Space solar power. Is now the time?
http://bit.ly/to0beC
5. From Universe Today: From all we know, it looks like the Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy. And by that we mean?
http://bit.ly/vTwyoi
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.