In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA intends to announce Exploration Mission-1 launch schedule plans in October. NASA-led International Space Station partnership in no rush to formalize a post 2024 strategy.
Human Space Exploration
NASA to update EM-1 schedule in October
Space News (9/24): Exploration Mission-1 is to fly NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion capsule together for the first time without a crew by sending the spacecraft around the moon for a return to Earth. The launch, previously set for late 2018, faces a delay, NASA announced earlier this year. A new target date is to be announced in October.
International partners in no rush regarding future of ISS
Space News (9/25): Representatives of NASA and its four major International Space Station partners informed the International Astronautical Conference meeting in Australia this week they’ve discussed what could happen after the Station’s currently planned 2024 end of operations date. But they have decided not to rush to a decision.
Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Orion engineers win a Silver Snoopy and other NASA accolades
Coalition Member in the News
Geekwire (9/21): Aerojet Rocketdyne engineer Erica Raine is the NASA Silver Snoopy award winner for an “above and beyond” effort to provide an Orion service module with eight auxiliary rocket engines. The uncrewed Orion spacecraft is a cornerstone of Exploration Mission -1, a key test launch that will send the spacecraft around the moon and back to Earth.
Space Science
NASA’s asteroid chaser swings by Earth on way to space rock
Associated Press via ABC News (9/22): NASA’s OSIRIS REx asteroid sample return mission spacecraft carried out a successful Earth flyby on Friday for a gravity assist that is guiding it toward a rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu late next year. Launched in September 2016, Bennu’s seven year round trip mission is to gather samples of the 1,600 wide asteroid and return the material to Earth in late September 2023.
Scientists urge Europe to stick with “armageddon” style asteroid mission
Universe Today (9/22): Scientists are urging the European Space Agency to continue a joint mission with NASA, the Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment, to determine whether an impact could divert an asteroid on a collision course with the Earth. Late last year, ESA ministers decided the mission was too costly. Europe’s role is to provide a satellite observatory to record the impact by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test vehicle.
Comet’s 2014 Mars flyby caused most intense meteor shower ever recorded
Space.com (9/21): NASA’s Maven Mars orbiter has provided data showing the red planet was the scene of an intense meteor shower as the comet Siding Spring passed close in October 2014. More than 100,000 meteors per hour blazed the Martian skies over a three hour period.
Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico’s famous telescope, is battered by Hurricane Maria
Washington Post (9/22): The Arecibo Observatory, famed in astronomy for its radar observations, took a direct hit last week as Hurricane Maria marched across Puerto Rico. Power and communications were among the causalities. However, the primary 1000 foot radar dish is intact.
Other News
Australian space agency to employ thousands and tap $420b industry
ABC News Australia (9/25): Most developed nations have a space agency, including New Zealand, and there are concerns Australia may be not be capitalizing on the growing industry. The Federal Government will detail the long-term plans at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide.
ULA Atlas V places NROL-42 classified payload into orbit
Spaceflightinsider.com (9/24): A classified U.S. National Reconnaissance Office payload reached orbit early Sunday after lifting off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
China’s cargo spacecraft leaves orbit
Xinhuanet (9/22): China’s Tianzhou-1 cargo mission test craft to Beijing’s orbiting human tended Tiangong-2 space lab was deorbited late Friday. Launched in April, the freighter participated in docking and refueling exercises, which are to help with the planned assembly of a permanently staffed Chinese space station.
Replacement satellite launched into Russia’s Glonass navigation fleet
Spaceflightnow.com (9/22): Russia successfully added a new Glonass satellite to its global satellite navigation system with a Soyuz-2.1b launch late Thursday from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
Beam me up! An astronaut’s take on ‘Star Trek’
Space.com (9/24): In his own words, former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao explains the enduring appeal of the late 1960’s era Star Trek television series. Chiao, who served in the astronaut corps from 1990 to 2005, is co-founder of OneOrbit LLC, a motivational training and educational company.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of September 25-29
Spacepolicyonline.com (9/24): Joint sessions of the International Astronautical Congress, International Astronautical Federation, International Academy of Astronautics and International Institute of Space Law are underway this week in Adelaide, Australia. Among the highlights, Lockheed Martin plans to provide an update on its concept for an orbiting Mars Base Camp on Friday.