Apr 21 2010
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 10-155
NASA AND INTERNATIONAL SPACE AGENCIES MEET TO DISCUSS HUMAN AND ROBOTIC SPACE EXPLORATION
WASHINGTON -- NASA senior managers met with their counterparts representing other space agencies at the National Harbor, Md., on June 23, to discuss globally-coordinated human and robotic space exploration. The meeting participants agreed that significant progress has been made since the joint release of The Global Exploration Strategy (GES) in May 2007. They agreed steps should be taken to coordinate a long-term space exploration vision that is sustainable and affordable. The meeting included representatives from the Italian Space Agency, the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, China National Space Administration, Canadian Space Agency, German Aerospace Center, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, NASA, National Space Agency of Ukraine, Russian Federal Space Agency and the U.K. Space Agency. The agencies' senior managers welcomed the development of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group's (ISECG) first reference architecture, which is focused on human lunar exploration. They agreed to expand their work to all key exploration destinations and the critical building blocks required to reach those destinations. This ?global exploration roadmap? is a key part of an evolving international architecture effort. Senior managers discussed the importance of an early dialogue focused on near-term opportunities for cooperation, such as robotic precursor missions and using the International Space Station as an exploration test bed. There was agreement to hold further strategic discussions at the senior management level to review the progress of ISECG. The ISECG was established in response to the GES, which stated a shared vision of coordinated human and robotic space exploration focused on solar system destinations where humans may one day live and work. Among the GES findings was the need to establish a voluntary, non-binding international coordination mechanism through which partner agencies could exchange information regarding interests, plans and activities in space exploration. Another goal is to work together on strengthening both individual exploration programs and collective efforts.
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-042
NASA TV PROVIDES COVERAGE OF ONE SPACE STATION CREW'S RETURN TO EARTH AND ANOTHER'S JOURNEY THERE
HOUSTON -- NASA Television will cover the landing of two current International Space Station crew members and the launch of three upcoming station residents later in March and April. Coverage begins with a broadcast of crew farewells and hatch closure aboard the station March 17, and continues with the arrival, docking and hatch opening of the new Expedition 23 crew members on April 4. Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams and Soyuz Commander Max Suraev are scheduled to land in the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft March 18 in Kazakhstan, completing almost a half-year aboard the station. Expedition 23 and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov, and Flight Engineers Mikhail Kornienko of Russia and Tracy Caldwell Dyson of NASA will launch April 2 on the Soyuz TMA-18 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They will dock to the station April 4, joining Expedition 23 Commander Oleg Kotov, and Flight Engineers T.J. Creamer of NASA and Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who have been in orbit aboard the orbiting laboratory since December 2009. Upcoming NASA TV broadcasts of these events and surrounding activities include (all times CDT): 17-Mar 7:45 a.m. - Expedition 22/23 change of command ceremony 11:30 p.m. - Expedition 22 farewells and hatch closure, scheduled for 12:02 a.m. March 18 18-Mar 2:45 a.m. - Coverage of Expedition 22 undocking from station, scheduled for 3:03 a.m. 5:15 a.m. - Coverage begins of the deorbit burn, scheduled for 5:34 a.m., and landing, scheduled for 6:24 a.m. in Kazakhstan 7 p.m. - Video file of landing and post-landing activities, including a post-landing interview with Williams. 22-Mar 11 a.m. - Expedition 23 video file of departure in Star City, Russia, for Baikonur, Kazakhstan 31-Mar 11 a.m. - Video file of crew activities in Baikonur, including Soyuz rocket mating and rollout 1-Apr 11 a.m. - Video file feed from Baikonur of the prelaunch news conference and Russian State Commission meeting 9:30 p.m. - Video file from Baikonur of prelaunch activities and arrival at launch pad 10:15 p.m. - Coverage of launch from Baikonur, scheduled for 11:04 p.m., and replays 2-Apr 1:30 a.m. - Prelaunch activities, launch and post launch interviews from Baikonur 4-Apr 12 a.m. - Coverage of Soyuz docking to station, scheduled at 12:28 a.m., and post-docking news conference from Korolev, Russia 3 a.m. - Hatch opening, scheduled at 3:30 a.m., and welcoming ceremony 5:30 a.m. - Video file of the docking to the station and hatch opening For NASA Television streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
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