In Today’s Deep Space Extra… More than 6,300 participants are to gather Monday in Washington D.C. for the week long International Astronautical Conference (IAC). NASA leads a celebration of the first all-female spacewalk. Further action on NASA’s 2020 budget is expected from the U.S. Senate.
Human Space Exploration
Congress shouldn’t rush to tax and regulate space exploration (Op ed)
The Hill (10/19): The 70th International Astronautical Conference (IAC) gets underway in Washington on Monday. As experts and aspirants gather to discuss the future of exploration, they will confront the boundaries of engineering, finance and law. This op-ed urges support for addressing the challenges of the moment in moving ahead, rather than moving too quickly on the regulation front.
NASA astronauts complete the first all-female spacewalk
New York Times (10/18): NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir successfully replaced a power controller outside the International Space Station (ISS), one of 24 bulky controllers on the Station’s long solar power truss, during a more than seven hour spacewalk on Friday. The activity marked the first time two women had teamed for a spacewalk, an occurrence likely to become frequent as NASA presses deeper into space with a more diversified workforce, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Meir became the 15th woman to walk in space. The space walkers received a call from President Trump as they worked. Koch and Meir had been slated to spacewalk on Monday to continue a five spacewalk effort to upgrade power storage batteries on the Station. However, after the second spacewalk in the series, ground controllers discovered a difficulty with the power controller. Koch and Meir’s spacewalk was moved up to address the problem.
Why NASA’s first all-women spacewalk made history
New York Times (10/19): There is quite a story behind Friday’s spacewalk by NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir. Two familiar with the challenges, the Times’ gender editor, Jessica Bennett, and Mary Robinette Kowal, author of the “Lady Astronaut” book series, offer perspective.
Space Science
NASA’s Planetary Protection review addresses changing reality of space exploration
NASA (10/19): The context for planetary protection, policies intended to protect life on Earth from contaminating other planetary bodies and vice versa, is changing as commercial space companies make plans to explore beyond the Earth. NASA’s Planetary Protection Independent Review Board is assessing the impact raised in response to such issues by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and NASA’s Advisory Council. “We want to be prepared in this new environment with thoughtful and practical policies that enable scientific discoveries and preserve the integrity of our planet and the places we’re visiting,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science.
New NASA report addresses planetary protection concerns
Florida Today (10/18): As it prepares to explore planetary bodies, NASA should first identify regions that have a high likelihood of having biological activity at present or in the past and identify them as “high priority astrobiology zones,” according to recommendations emerging from an assessment of planetary protection needs by NASA’s Independent Planetary Protection Review Board. A “human exploration zone” designation would be for regions where human contamination would not be so significant.
The Orionids are coming!
Spaceweather.com (10/20): Early Tuesday, the annual meteor shower associated with Halley’s Comet peaks. The forecast is 20 meteors per hour streaking across the sky before local sunrise in the direction of the constellation Orion, which should be high in the sky.
Other News
Space debris removal a $2.7 billion industry: Ex-ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar
The New Indian Express (10/19): Globally thousands of rockets and satellites have been launched since the Soviet Sputnik was launched 62 years ago this month, all of which has created an orbiting junk yard and hazard to future activities. The market for removing current space debris and could represent a $2.7 billion opportunity, according to Kiran Kumar, former chair of the India Space Research Organization (ISRO).
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of October 20-26, 2019
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/20): The U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations measure that includes NASA spending for 2020 is up for action by the U.S. Senate this week. Also in Washington the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) gathers Monday in the U.S. for the first time since 2002. All of the world’s major space agencies will be represented and NASA is scheduled to broadcast and web stream some sessions.
International Astronautical Congress (IAC) brings space world, and political issues, to Washington
SpaceNews.com (10/20): More than 6,300 attendees have registered to attend this week’s International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Washington. Monday’s opening day activities features a head of agencies panel, with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and counterparts from Russia, Europe, Japan, Canada, China and India. Vice President Mike Pence, chair of the White House National Space Council is to speak at Monday’s opening ceremonies, which may draw political protest.