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News Round-up

May 2013

Summary Discussion

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From the pipes today!

● Expedition 36 reaches station!

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ISS now runs on Linux

● 140 laptops for 6 astronauts – 80 run at any time● R2 Robonaut runs on Linux, too● All laptops migrated to Debian 6

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NASA Loses Kepler

● Four year design life till 2012 surpassed● Two reaction wheels failed

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OHB gets EDRS-C contract

● Finally, European TDRSS equivalent● Volume: M€157● Uses laser terminal for space● Ka-band for ground● EDRS-A: on Eutelsat 9B

(Eurostar 3000)● EDRS-B: ? (Thales...?)

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Rocket news!

● Texus grounded● Second Vega success

● Epsilon 1 to fly in August

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Russia launches Zoo into space

● Launched April 19, retrieved May 19● Built with spy satellite parts● Experiments: radiation, microgravity, plant

growth etc...

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UK gets new ESA centre

● “European Centre for Space Applications and Telecoms” at Harwell

● ESA contribution increased 25% last ministerial● ESTEC loses communications directorate!

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MarsOne reaches 78,000 sign-ups

● Figure for first two weeks● Now > 150,000? ~ M$ 5.7 raised →● Bas: “Most desired job in history”

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Herschel finds mega-merger

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First topographic map of Titan!

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Asteroid collides with Moon

● 300 impacts since LRO● 40 kg rock, left 20 m crater

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UK astronaut assigned to mission

● Team Peake: first Astronaut in over 20 years● 6 month mission in November 2015

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Asteroid retrieval being discussed

CongresswomanDonna Edwards (Rep.)

House Space Committee

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