Human Space Exploration
Scientists call for a treaty to protect famous space places
GeekWire.com (10/24): Two scientists call for a treaty modeled after the Antarctic accord to protect famous landmarks in space, among the NASA Apollo mission landing sites. It’s time to take measures protecting sites of high scientific, aesthetic, historical and cultural significant, they say.
Space Station crew takes a breather with lung tissue investigation
NASA Johnson Space Center (10/23): New studies aboard the International Space Station are focused on how microgravity affects human lung tissue long term and whether low gravity conditions might offer a way to regenerate lung tissue for transplant purposes on Earth.
Space Science
Former NASA Chief Charles Bolden earns Scripps prize for service in science
San Diego Union Tribune (10/18): Charles Bolden, NASA’s Administrator from mid-2009 through January of this year, is the recipient of the 2017 Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “We all know that to understand this planet better, we must understand what else is out there in our solar system and our universe,” Bolden told an award presentation.
Life advice from a Fort Collins astronaut
Coloradoan (10/22): Educator turned NASA astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenberger discussed Science, Technology, Engineering Math and Art with students as they kicked off a three day space camp in Colorado.
A new theory explains why the universe is three dimensional
Space.com (10/23): Scientists led by a Vanderbilt University researcher have a new theory explaining a three dimensional universe as well as its observed expansion.
Spaceweather.com (10/24): A large hole in the atmosphere of the side of the sun facing Earth has opened, unleashing new solar activity. As a result geomagnetic storms are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing impressive auroral activity.
India gears up for second Moon mission
Nature News (10/24): India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan 2, is set for launch next March. The mission includes plans for an orbiter, guided soft lander and the deployment of a rover, perhaps at the lunar south pole. It follows Chandrayaan-1 by a decade.
Other News
Astronaut Paul Weitz, helped save Skylab, commanded Challenger, dies at 85
Collectspace.com (10/23): Paul Weitz, a retired NASA Skylab astronaut and the first commander of the shuttle Challenger, has died in Flagstaff, Arizona. Weitz, who also served as a Deputy Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, died Monday of cancer.
The Space Review (10/23): Last week, Blue Origin announced the inaugural test firing of its BE-4, liquid methane/oxygen rocket engine. It came at a moment when a range of competitors, old and new, are bringing potential commercial propulsion options forward for human as well as unmanned missions. Military as well as civil federal agencies are looking for new capabilities from the competition.
Germany wants more space startups but entrepreneurs struggle for liftoff
Space News (10/24): Germany intends to introduce business incubators in order to nurture space startups. The company faces a lack of young people interested in starting their own businesses and a lack of high tech business, according to a member of the German space agency’s board of directors.
Vector to perform first orbital launches from Virginia
Space News (10/24): Arizona based startup Vector has reached an agreement with Virginia authorities for three launches from the state’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia, possibly starting as early as next summer. The pact includes options for additional MARS launches.