Space Budgets, Policy, Missions, Benefits, International Updates

  • Stay the Course on Exploration: Op-ed | Stay the Course: Continue America’s Progress in Space Current U.S. space policy, in which government investments are committed to human and planetary science deep space exploration objectives, serves a range of national interests, from national security to scientific discovery and a stronger economy. Commercial sector advances into Low Earth Orbit are equally significant, serving a range of stakeholders — from taxpayers to innovation minded entrepreneurs and investors, writes Mary Lynne Dittmar, executive director of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration.
  • Mars Exploration: NASA getting closer to “Boots on Mars” with Colorado companies’ help A key to the human exploration of Mars is reducing our dependence on the Earth, explains Dava Newman, NASA’s deputy administrator, during her participation in the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs last week. Research aboard the International Space Station is helping, Newman noted. She also praised the efforts of Colorado companies, including Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sierra Nevada and Ball Aerospace in reaching the goal. (See also: Inside the Grand Plan to Send Humans to Mars)
  • Russia-China Space Collaboration: Russia and China successfully cooperate in space exploration Chinese deputy minister Igor Komarov, CEO of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency and corporation, will mark China’s upcoming National Space Day in the host country. The two nations are cooperating in “several dozen” areas of space exploration, according to a high ranking official from China’s industry and information technology ministry.
  • Chinese Rocket Testing: China testing own reusable rocket technologies China will join a global race to develop reusable rockets, the Chinese news agency Xinhuanet reports.
  • Chinese Space Station: China to launch ‘core module’ for space station around 2018 China plans to launch the core stage for a new space station around 2018. Assembly of the permanently staffed orbital outpost should be complete in 2022, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency
  • Solar Electric Propulsion: An engine for Mars: Aerojet wins $67 million NASA contract for solar electric propulsion Under a $67 million NASA contract announced Tuesday, Aerojet Rocketdyne will pursue the development of a solar electric propulsion system. SEP is NASA’s choice for the Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission to collect a boulder from an asteroid and maneuver it into orbit around the moon for a visit by U.S. astronauts. SEP is also a strong propulsion candidate for missions in the 2030s that would transport U.S. astronauts to the Martian environs.

Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group Citizens Space Explorateion_logo(http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens distributes “Space Exploration Update” to Congressional offices on a weekly basis. The intent is to provide an easy, quick way to stay abreast of key human space exploration program and policy developments.