Portugal to integrate two scientific space exploration programs: media

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Portugal's Minister of Education and Science Nuno Crato said Wednesday that Portugal will integrate two scientific space exploration programs including the International Space Station, according to Portuguese Lusa News Agency.

"There is a lot of good news or Portugal, which will continue collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA) ... and will now incorporate the program for International Space Station and the program for Lunar Exploration," Nuno Crato told Lusa, after participating at a meeting at the ESA in Luxembourg.

Ministers of the ESA met Tuesday in Luxembourg, and agreed to develop new launchers, as well as approving investment in the international space station and space exploration programs.

Crato said that Portugal benefited through its participation with ESA "on various levels," like Portuguese scientists getting involved with the space agency's work and enabling the country to use more sophisticated technology.

"Being part of the International Space Station is very important for us ... The program for lunar exploration is a new program and we will join it from the start. So our software development companies will participate in this effort and will be able to make orders from these programs," Crato added.

The next ESA meeting will take place in Switzerland in 2016.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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China plans to put rover on Mars by 2020: Space scientist

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BEIJING: A leading Chinese space scientist said today that the country could land a rover on Mars by 2020, build a manned space station by 2022 and test a heavy carrier rocket by 2030, as Beijing expands its space programme in a race with India to explore the red planet.

A feasibility study on China's first Mars mission is completed and the goal is now to send an orbiter and rover to Mars, Lei Fanpei, chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told state-run Xinhua news agency.

There has been no official announcement about a Mars probe yet, but Lei expects a Long March-5 carrier, still at the development stage, to take the orbiter into a Martian orbit by 2020 from a new launch site on south China's Hainan province.

The communist giant made an unsuccessful attempt to reach Mars in 2011 aboard a Russian rocket, but failed to complete the mission because of an accident during orbital transfer, Xinhua report said.

China unveiled its Mars rover, being developed to scurry the floor of the red planet for signs of water and life, at an air show last month.

It plans to test the new machine in the rugged terrain of Tibet as India's Mars Orbiter Mission Mangalyaan is orbiting Mars since 24 September after being launched on 5 November last year by the Indian Space Research Organisation. New US spacecraft Orion, which tested successfully, plans to carry astronauts beyond earth's orbit perhaps to Mars and return.

China plans to deploy a robot similar to the one it sent to Moon and reportedly plans to test in Tibet.

Lei said China's manned space station program is progressing steadily. Various modules, vehicles and ground facilities are nearing readiness.

The lab hopes to replace Mir, the Russian space station which was expected to retire by that time.

Development and manufacture of major space products are at key stages, including the second space lab Tiangong-2, the Tianzhou-1 cargo ship, Long March-7 rockets and Shenzhou-11 spacecraft.

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Next giant leap for mankind should be to moon, not Mars, says Chris Hadfield

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Astronaut Chris Hadfield plays his guitar in the International Space Station. Photograph: Nasa/Rex

The next giant leap for mankind should be back on the moon not Mars, the astronaut Chris Hadfield has said.

Famous for sporting a military moustache, tweeting spacewalk selfies and strumming David Bowie songs on board the International Space Station (his hugely popular cover of Space Oddity has recently been reposted on YouTube with Bowies consent), Hadfield was the first Canadian to walk in space and became the first Canadian commander of the ISS when he took the reins last year on his final space mission.

Speaking at a Guardian Live event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Sunday, Hadfield criticised the current scramble to put an astronaut on the red planet. If we started going to Mars any time soon everybody would die, he said. We dont know what we are doing yet. We have to have a bunch of inventions between now and Mars.

He believes our level of unpreparedness is even worse than that of the 1845 expedition to chart the Northwest Passage, an attempt which ended in tragedy with the death of the entire party including its leader, Sir John Franklin, who was a founder of the Royal Geographical Society. We are previous to Franklin in our ability to go to Mars right now, said Hadfield.

Hadfields speech to a packed auditorium about his experiences in space was set against a backdrop of breathtaking images from his latest book, You are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes.

The title of the book a collection of astonishing photographs taken by Hadfield from the ISS refers to the time it takes the space station to orbit Earth.

But, while praising the engineers who built the Orion spacecraft that was launched last week in Nasas first step towards a new series of manned space missions, Hadfield stressed the next big step should be to construct a permanent lunar base.

That is a great vehicle, he said of Orion. But where we are going to go next is the moon. Thats where we are going to go because it just makes sense. It is only three days away and we can invent so many things.

Hadfields comments come just days after he denounced the privately funded Mars One mission in the online magazine Matter, claiming the ambitious project is technologically unprepared. Theres a great, I dont know, self-defeating optimism in the way that this project has been set up, he warned.

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Next giant leap for mankind should be to moon, not Mars, says Chris Hadfield

Nobody escapes U.S. taxes – even astronauts

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Astronauts still have to file their taxes on April 15 every year -- even if they're floating in outer space.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

Yes, that's right. Astronauts are on the hook to file taxes by April 15, even if they're orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth on a long-term mission.

The IRS -- the much-feared enforcer of the U.S. tax code -- makes no exceptions. Experts say astronauts don't get special treatment, no matter how far away they are from the planet.

NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao -- commander of the tenth expedition to the International Space Station -- was in orbit when tax day rolled around in 2005. Chiao had no choice but to manage his taxes from space.

But how exactly did that happen?

"Get someone to help you out on the ground," Chiao said. The mission commander's sister is an accountant, and she was able to file papers on his behalf to extend his tax return deadline.

"He certainly had a good, valid reason [for the extension]," said his sister, Judy Chiao Smith.

Related: This job has the world's worst tax return

After eight months living on the International Space Station, Chiao returned to earth on April 24, 2005 -- just nine days after tax day -- and got busy working on his tax return.

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Nobody escapes U.S. taxes - even astronauts

To Reach the International Space Station, Lockheed Martin Orders a Rocket From Amazon.com

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Two days ago, America sent a spaceship soaring to the stars -- and we didn't need a Russian rocket to do it.

At 7:05 a.m. EST,Friday, Dec. 5, United Launch Alliance (working on contract to NASA), began the EFT-1 mission, sending anOrion spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin into space atop a Delta IV Heavy rocket built by Boeing . (Together, Lockheed and Boeing make up two halves of the NASA contractor United Launch Alliance, aka ULA.)

NASA promo shot of EFT-1 launch; YouTube still

The EFT-1 mission was scheduled to last just under four-and-a-half hours, and aimed to test the workings of America's first spaceship, capable of manned interplanetary flight. It also marked NASA's first step in a 20-year plan to put American astronauts on Mars sometime after 2030.

I won't keep you in suspense: The test was a success. After an initial one-day postponement from the Thursday target window, the rockets worked flawlessly in Friday's exercise. EFT-1 went up, orbited the Earth, then blasted higher, turned around, reentered Earth's atmosphere, and splashed down in the Atlantic right on schedule.

NASA promo shot of EFT-1 splashdown; YouTube still

So ... does this mean that America's reliance upon Russian rockets to put astronauts into orbit (and beyond) is finally at an end?

Not yet, but soon As you may recall, earlier this year a series of unfortunate events in Europe culminated in America imposing economic sanctions on Russia -- and Russia retaliating with a mortal threat to the U.S. space program. Unless America lifted its sanctions, Russia would cut off the supply of RD-180 rocket engines essential to ULA's ability to lift satellites into space. Simultaneously, Russia vowed to deny U.S. astronauts access to its Soyuz spacecraft -- currently the only craft capable of sending U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station.

Responding to these threats, Lockheed Martin promised to team up with an American rocket-tech company to develop a "next-generation liquid oxygen/hydrocarbon first stage" rocket engine capable of replacing the RD-180 on its Atlas V rockets. " Multiple " design contracts were signed in June, with the aim of getting a design approved this year -- and launching a prototype in 2019.

Then, in September, Lockheed announced that it has made a selection: Blue Origin, the privately held space-tech start-up owned by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, will develop a new liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas (LO/LNG) "BE-4" rocket engine jointly with ULA.

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To Reach the International Space Station, Lockheed Martin Orders a Rocket From Amazon.com

NASA successfully launches unmanned deep space capsule orion to mars – Video

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NASA successfully launches unmanned deep space capsule orion to mars
Nasa has successfully launched its new Orion spacecraft on a mission that the US agency hopes foreshadows the first human expedition to Mars. At 7.05am (12:05 GMT) on Friday a dense bloom...

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NASA successfully launches unmanned deep space capsule orion to mars - Video

NASA Launches First Orion Deep-Space Capsule in Historic …

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Update for 2 pm ET: NASA's first Orion test flight has been a stunning success. Read our mission wrap story here:Splashdown! NASA's Orion Spaceship Survives Epic Test Flight as New Era Begins

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. It's the test flight NASA has been waiting for. After a scrapped launch attempt Thursday (Dec. 4), NASA's new Orion capsule, designed to help deliver humans to deep space destinations like Mars someday, has just launched on its rigorous first test flight.

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket (the most powerful rocket currently flying from Earth) roared to life, launching the unmanned Orion space capsule from a pad here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:05 a.m. EST (1205 GMT) today (Dec. 5). The prototype spacecraft is now embarking on a series of tests in orbit before its planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at about 11:30 a.m. EST (1630 GMT), 4.5 hours after leaving the planet. You can continue watching live coverage of the Orion test on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV.

"We're actually excited about this particular step on our journey to the Red Planet, to Mars," NASA administrator Charles Bolden told members of the press Wednesday (Dec. 3), before launch. "It is a journey. I don't want people to get focused on the destination. This is a journey." [NASA's Orion Test Flight: Full Coverage]

This morning's launch was originally scheduled for 24 hours earlier, but several issues including a boat downrange of Cape Canaveral, strong ground-level winds and the failure of several "fill and drain" valves on the Delta 4 Heavy to close all the way pushed things back a day.

Today's flight, called Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), marks the first time a spacecraft built for humans will travel out of low-Earth orbit in more than 40 years, and the excitement about the history-making flight is palpable at Kennedy Space Center, which is next door to Cape Canaveral.

About 27,000 spectators were expected to watch the launch Thursday from the NASA center's grounds, with thousands more expected to observe from the beaches and other viewing sites along Florida's Space Coast here, NASA officials said. Officials aren't yet sure how many viewers came back for the launch Friday.

"The launch itself was just a blast to see how well the rocket did," Mark Geyer, NASA's Orion program manager, said after launch. "It was exciting to see it as it went up into space. Being here at launch, being near a rocket that big, you just kind of feel it."

Orion built for NASA by Lockheed Martin, which is overseeing today's flight looks somewhat like the capsules flown during NASA's Apollo moon landing program, which took humans to the moon for the first time. The feeling on the ground is also somewhat reminiscent of launches during the space agency's shuttle era, the last time humans flew to space from U.S. soil.

"In the sense that we are beginning a new mission, it is, I think, consistent with the beginning of [the space] shuttle [program], the beginning of Apollo," Geyer said during a news conference before launch. "It's a new mission for us starting in the region of the moon and beyond. I think it's in that same category. Certainly the team is excited at that level. We're going to learn a lot on this flight."

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NASA Launches First Orion Deep-Space Capsule in Historic ...

Orion test sets stage for ESA service module

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Today's flight and splashdown of NASA's first Orion spacecraft paves the way for future human exploration beyond low orbit powered by ESA's European Service Module.

Orion is NASA's new spacecraft built to carry humans and designed for journeys to destinations never before visited by astronauts, including an asteroid and Mars.

Liftoff on a Delta IV Heavy rocket took place at 12:05 GMT from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA, and splashdown in the Pacific about 966 km off the coast of Baja California occurred two orbits and some 4.5 hours later.

Liftoff came after the original launch planned for 4 December was postponed due to wind and technical problems with the booster.

During today's Exploration Flight Test-1, Orion tested systems critical for crew safety, such as the parachutes, avionics and attitude control, and demonstrated major events such as jettisoning the launch abort system and separating the service module fairing.

ESA to provide critical components Future Orion spacecraft will be equipped with a European Service Module, the first time that Europe has provided a system-critical element for a US crewed vehicle.

For today's flight, Orion used only an engineering structural model - ESA's full service module is scheduled for the next uncrewed test.

"Today's successful flight of Orion is a significant step towards future human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and eventually Mars," said Thomas Reiter, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations.

"ESA congratulates NASA for this outstanding achievement and we are proud to participate in this exploration endeavour through the development of a critical element of the Orion vehicle."

The service module will be the powerhouse that fuels and propels the Orion spacecraft in space. It will provide essential functions such as propulsion, power, thermal control and life-support consumables storage and distribution.

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Orion test sets stage for ESA service module

NASA space vehicle has successful test flight

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) NASAs newest space vehicle, Orion, accomplished its first test flight with precision and pizazz Friday, shooting more than 3,600 miles out from Earth for a hyperfast, hot return not seen since the Apollo moon shots.

For a space agency still feeling the loss of its shuttles, the four-hour voyage opened a new era of human space exploration, with Mars as the plum. It even brought some rocket engineers to tears.

Theres your new spacecraft, America, Mission Controls Rob Navias said as the unmanned Orion capsule came in for a Pacific splashdown after two orbits of Earth.

NASA is counting on future Orions to carry astronauts out into the solar system, to Mars and beyond.

The next Orion flight, also unmanned, is four years off, and crewed flights at least seven years away given present budget constraints. But the Orion team spread across the country and out in the ocean, is hoping Fridays triumphant splashdown will pick up the momentum.

We challenged our best and brightest to continue to lead in space, lead flight director Mike Sarafin said with emotion as he signed off from Mission Control in Houston. While this was an unmanned mission, we were all on board Orion.

W. Michael Hawes, a former NASA official who now leads the Orion program for prime contractor Lockheed Martin Corp., choked up as he recalled the pre-shuttle days.

We started with all the Apollo guys still there. So weve kind of now finally done something for the first time for our generation, he said, pausing for composure. Its a good thing.

Orion splashed down 270 miles off Mexicos Baja peninsula, just a mile from the projected spot a bulls-eye according to NASA. Navy ships quickly moved in to transport the crew module 600 miles to San Diego, where it was expected Monday. From there, it will be loaded onto a truck and returned to Cape Canaveral just in time for Christmas.

Preliminary test reports were encouraging: Not only did the capsule arrive intact, all eight parachutes deployed and onboard computers withstood the intense radiation of the Van Allen belts surrounding Earth. Whats more, everything meant to jettison away did so as Orion soared into space.

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NASA space vehicle has successful test flight

Pearson: Konchesky red card a one-sided decision

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Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has questioned the one-sided decision to send off Paul Konchesky during the Foxes 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The former Liverpool full-back was dismissed following an altercation with Villas Alan Hutton, as the pair clashed heads after Koncheskys late tackle on the Scotland defender.

Pearson has called for more equality and clarity regarding the decision, claiming the 33-year-old was not the instigator in the incident.

Initially we were under the impression it [red card] was for the challenge, if it was I would question that - I dont think it was a straight red.

If it was for the coming together of heads, then I dont feel he [Konchesky] was the instigator of that.

I dont want players to get sent off but I do feel there needs to be equality and clarity as to what actually happened and why the decision was essentially one-sided.

And Pearson bemoaned his teams defending in the build-up to the Villains equaliser when Ciaran Clark headed past Kasper Schmeichel unopposed inside the Leicester area.

We did pretty well in the first half to cause them problems in terms of how we were disciplined in how we defended and we counter attacked very well, added Pearson. They had their moments but we felt we were doing pretty well in the game.

He continued: It was poor defending [for Clarks goal]. We cant allow players to get free contact in the box from a set play. Giving away a set play in that area in the first place is something we need to avoid.

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Pearson: Konchesky red card a one-sided decision

Leicester boss Pearson: Konchesky red card a one-sided decision

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Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has questioned the one-sided decision to send off Paul Konchesky during the Foxes 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The former Liverpool full-back was dismissed following an altercation with Villas Alan Hutton, as the pair clashed heads after Koncheskys late tackle on the Scotland defender.

Pearson has called for more equality and clarity regarding the decision, claiming the 33-year-old was not the instigator in the incident.

Initially we were under the impression it [red card] was for the challenge, if it was I would question that - I dont think it was a straight red.

If it was for the coming together of heads, then I dont feel he [Konchesky] was the instigator of that.

I dont want players to get sent off but I do feel there needs to be equality and clarity as to what actually happened and why the decision was essentially one-sided.

And Pearson bemoaned his teams defending in the build-up to the Villains equaliser when Ciaran Clark headed past Kasper Schmeichel unopposed inside the Leicester area.

We did pretty well in the first half to cause them problems in terms of how we were disciplined in how we defended and we counter attacked very well, added Pearson. They had their moments but we felt we were doing pretty well in the game.

He continued: It was poor defending [for Clarks goal]. We cant allow players to get free contact in the box from a set play. Giving away a set play in that area in the first place is something we need to avoid.

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Leicester boss Pearson: Konchesky red card a one-sided decision

Erde aus ca. 5000km Entfernung ORION 1 – Earth From NASA Orion1 Spacecraft – Video

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Erde aus ca. 5000km Entfernung ORION 1 - Earth From NASA Orion1 Spacecraft
Die Orion Testkapsel hat eine Hhe von etwa 5800 Km erreicht.-(zum Vergleich: ISS kreist in etwa 400 Kilometer- 15.43 Uhr: Kritischer Meilenstein: Orion 1 hat den kritischen Punkt von...

By: Stefan Meyer

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Erde aus ca. 5000km Entfernung ORION 1 - Earth From NASA Orion1 Spacecraft - Video