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 a roundup of reporting and commentary on space-related activities from around the world: From Washington, NASA may fund seven companies for continued commercial crew spacecraft development work, while it looks for a non profit organization to manage National Laboratory sponsored research aboard the International Space Station. In Florida, shuttle Discovery marches toward a lift off on Thursday at 4:50 p.m., EST, with favorable weather and large crowds expected. The Kennedy Space Center looks to a new assignment, host to NASA’s commercial crew development program. Congress will host its first hearing on NASA’s 2012 budget next week. The Earth science satellite Glory encounters a one day launch delay.
1. From Space News: Seven companies are in line to share $200 million in a second round of NASA Commercial Crew Development funding to be announced in March, the trade publication reports. They group include veterans like Boeing and United Launch Alliance as well as newcomers like Blue Origin.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110222-nasa-picks-ccdev2-proposals.html
2. From Space.com: As instructed by Congress, NASA looks to a non-profit management group to run National Laboratory science activities aboard the International Space Station. The space agency intends to select its choice by the end of May.
http://www.exploredeepspace.com/10919-nasa-space-station-science-nonprofit.html
3. From Spaceflightnow.com: Shuttle Discovery’s countdown continues toward a lift off on Thursday at 4:50 p.m., EST. The shuttle has a small reaction control system leak, but engineers say it is too small to be of concern. The forecast continues to reflect an 80 percent chance of favorable weather conditions.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts133/110222count/index.html
A. From Florida Today: Thursday’s favorable weather outlook means large crowds will gather to watch Discovery’s lift-off.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110223/NEWS02/102230347/1007/news02/Nice-weather-big-crowds-expected-Discovery-s-last-launch-Thursday
4. From Florida Today: Discovery’s launching marks more than a bittersweet moment for NASA’s soon-to-retire space shuttle program. It means a turning point for the Kennedy Space Center, which will soon be selected to host the agency’s commercial crew program office, the newspaper notes in an editorial.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110223/OPINION/110222025/-1/news0207/Our-Views-Changing-guard-Feb-23-?odyssey=nav|head
A. From the San Jose Mercury News: NASA’s Ames Research Center will play a role working with commercial space transportation interests.
http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_17456083?nclick_check=1
5. From Spacepolitics.com: The House Science, Space and Technology Committee hosts a hearing on NASA’s proposed 2012 budget on March 2. In the Senate, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida becomes chairman of the Science and Space Subcommittee, a position he held previously.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/02/22/briefs-assigning-members-and-blame/
6. From Spaceflightnow.com: Plans to launch NASA’s Glory climate research satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Wednesday are delayed for 24 hours by a technical problem.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/taurus/glory/status.html
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.