CSExtra includes reports on space policy developments and new scientific discoveries about the Earth’s climate, the moon and the universe using NASA spacecraft. In an interview, NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station say the outpost has returned to normal after a cooling system problem. A former NASA astronaut faces a discharge from the Navy.
1. From Spacepolitics.com: The Planetary Society has written key members of the House and Senate with concerns about pending legislation affecting NASA’s future. The Society finds legislative planning for NASA incomplete on several fronts. Concerns include a lack of specific exploratory goals and endorsement of a heavy lift rocket without prior investments in new technology.
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2010/08/19/the-planetary-societys-concerns-about-nasa-legislation/2. From the AP via the Washington Post: Accelerated plant growth attributed to global warming from 1982 through 1999 has reversed over the past decade. However, global temperatures continue to rise. Scientists who make the finding using NASA satellites say drought-like conditions are to blame. The outcome may affect the production of food and bio fuels.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/19/AR2010081904984.html3. From the New York Times: The moon has shrunk over the last one billion years, according to scientists associated with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. However, its by a small amount and the moon will not shrink from view.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/science/space/20nasa.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=NASA&st=cseA. From Space.com: The evidence for lunar shrinking is evident in photos exposing previously unnoticed fault lines.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/shrinking-moon-new-lunar-photos-100819.html4. From Spaceflightnow.com: In interviews on Thursday, the three U.S. astronauts aboard the International Space Station say the outpost has returned to normal operations following three spacewalks and other measures to deal with a malfunction of the external cooling system.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/station/exp24/100819cbs/A. From the Salem News of Massachusetts: As part of the summer of innovation, students in Massachusetts program spherical robots aboard the International Space Station for a race conducted by astronaut Shannon Walker. MIT sponsored the student involvement.
http://www.salemnews.com/local/x332266689/GOING-OUT-OF-THIS-WORLDB. From CNN.com: NASA Astronaut Leland Melvin teams with singer Mary J. Blige to encourage young women to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The association is part of NASA’s Summer of Innovation.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/18/nasa.women.science/index.html?iref=allsearch5. From NBC and MSNBC: In Jacksonville, Fla., a board of inquiry recommends that former NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak be discharged from the Navy for her part in a stalking incident involving a fellow astronaut and a female romantic rival in 2007.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38779396/ns/technology_and_science-space/6. From Sky & Telescope Magazine: Astronomers use the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories to characterize gravitational lensing, a phenomenon in which the gravity of massive objects can bend light. The goal of the study was to refine estimates of the energy density of the universe.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/101095989.html7. From the Wall Street Journal: Twenty one museums from around the country are scrambling to obtain one of NASA’s three space shuttle orbiters as they retire. No one can recall as much enthusiasm for the display of an aircraft since the supersonic Concorde airliner was retired.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703321004575426803336067316.html
