Space policy roundup – Dec.6.13

Today’s selection of space policy/politics related links:

 

China’s Chang’e 3 enters lunar orbit

The Chinese Chang’e 3 lunar lander and rover spacecraft has gone into orbit around the Moon. It is expected to land on December 14th.

This animation shows how the rover leaves the lander and explores the lunar surface:

Photo of Atlas V rocket launch

Below is a photo provided by Anthony Galván of the launch last night of a spysat on a ULA Atlas V 501 rocket from Vandenberg AFB in California: Atlas Launch Report | Government spy satellite rockets into space on Atlas 5 – Spaceflight Now

Atlas5NROL-3912072013

 © Anthony Galván III. Photo taken from Goleta, CA. 104 second time exposure
shows the rocket heading down range in a southwest direction.

Copenhagen Suborbitals: Update on TDS80 space capsule construction

Kristian von Bengtson of Copenhagen Suborbitals describes progress on building the TDS80 capsule that they plan to launch next summer ona HEAT2X rocket: Visual Guide – the Making of DIY Space Capsule TDS80 – Wired Science

The article includes lots of diagrams and pictures, e.g.

Space policy roundup – Dec.5.13

Today’s selection of space policy/politics related links:

Here’s a video of yesterday’s House hearing on astrobiology:

Caption:

On December 4, 2013, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing titled, “Astrobiology: Search for Biosignatures in our Solar System and Beyond.”

Invited witnesses were:

Dr. Mary Voytek
Senior Scientist for Astrobiology, Planetary Science Division
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dr. Sara Seager
Class of 1941 Professor of Physics and Planetary Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Steven Dick
Baruch S. Blumberg Chair of Astrobiology, John W. Kluge Center
Library of Congress

The event was webcast live and is in the public domain.

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