NASA NEWS

NASA NEWS:

Article No.1

Canada, NASA in space rover talks

The Canadian Space Agency says it's in talks with NASA to launch a rover beyond Earth orbit aboard NASA's huge new deep space rocket. Canada recently unveiled seven rover prototypes, some of which have been field-tested and have impressed NASA officials, and impressed officials with the U.S. space agency, Gilles Leclerc of the Canadian Space Agency said.

NASA is considering including a rover on an early mission of its space launch system rocket set to become operational in the early 2020s, Leclerc said, noting the discussions between the two agencies are only preliminary given uncertainty about future NASA funding which could impact mission plans.

"I don't want to speak for NASA -- it is touchy -- but there are opportunities for missions around the moon or on the moon," Leclerc, the CSA's director-general of space exploration, said. "You can certainly envisage automatic robotic missions to the moon."NASA has not discussed any possible SLS missions beyond the first two, a flight in 2017 to send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft into lunar orbit and another potential flight in 2021 to take a crew beyond the moon.

"NASA does not have plans for either [mission] to land on a foreign surface," NASA spokeswoman Rachel Kraft said.

"As we continue to define future mission requirements, NASA anticipates that we will continue to engage in co-operative activities with CSA involving Canadian rovers and associated technologies," Kraft said in a statement.

For further information visit: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Canada_NASA_in_space_rover_talks_999.html

Article No.2

NASA Television Airs Space Shuttle Atlantis' Final Move 

 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Television will provide live coverage of events surrounding space shuttle Atlantis' move to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida for permanent public display.

At 2 p.m. EDT Thursday, Nov. 1, NASA TV's media channel will air a news briefing about the transformation of Kennedy Space Center to a multiuser spaceport. The briefing participants are:

-- Lisa Colloredo, associate manager, Commercial Crew Program

-- Scott Colloredo, chief architect, Ground Systems Development and Operations Program

-- Bruce Reid, Kennedy Space Center mission manager for Landsat Data Continuity Mission

-- Jody Singer, deputy manager, Space Launch System Program

At 3:30 p.m., NASA TV's media channel will air a briefing about the future of human spaceflight. The participants are:

-- Robert Cabana, director, Kennedy Space Center

-- Bill Hill, assistant deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development

-- Ed Mango, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program

On Friday, Nov. 2, NASA TV will begin coverage at 7 a.m. as Atlantis departs Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The shuttle will make the 10-mile journey from the VAB to the visitor complex atop a 76-wheel flatbed vehicle called the Orbiter Transportation System, stopping along the route for a retirement ceremony at about 10 a.m. Ceremony participants include:

-- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

-- Robert Cabana, NASA Kennedy Space Center director

-- Current and former astronauts of Atlantis' final mission, STS-135

-- Bill Moore, chief operating officer, Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Following the ceremony, Atlantis will travel to Space Florida's Exploration Park for a presentation and viewing opportunity for visitor complex guests before departing for its new home.

NASA TV coverage of the move will conclude when Atlantis reaches the visitor complex at about 6 p.m. NASA retains the title to Atlantis and is providing it to the visitor complex for the public to view. Engineers have been preparing the shuttle for public display as part of NASA's transition and retirement processing of the shuttle fleet. A grand opening of Atlantis' new home at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is planned for July 2013.

For further information visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/oct/HQ_M12-210_Atlantis_coverage.html