In Today’s Deep Space Extra… With arrival of the latest cargo, astronauts are able to enjoy pizza and ice cream onboard the ISS. An Apollo astronaut Omega timepiece recovered almost 30 years after disappearance. Advanced U.S. weather satellite launch re-scheduled for early Saturday.
Human Space Exploration
Space Delivery: Astronauts get ice cream, make-own pizzas
Houston Chronicle (11/15): Astronauts got a mouth-watering haul with Tuesday’s Earth-to-space delivery — pizza and ice cream. A commercial supply ship arrived at the International Space Station two days after launching from Virginia. Besides NASA equipment and experiments, the Orbital ATK capsule holds chocolate and vanilla ice cream for the six Station astronauts, as well as make-your-own flatbread pizzas.
His very own asteroid: Space rock named for Italian astronaut
Space.com (11/13): A European astronaut now has a permanent presence in space. Luca Parmitano — who flew on the ISS in 2013 — has an asteroid named after him, called “37627 Lucaparmitano.” The asteroid, formerly known just as 1993 TD, was discovered in 1993 by Italian astronomer Vincenzo Silvano Casulli, at the Osservatorio di Vallemare di Borbona in Italy’s Lazio region, northeast of Rome, according to a statement from the European Space Agency.
Apollo astronaut watch, stolen in Ecuador, recovered 30 years later
Space.com (11/16): An Omega Speedmaster watch worn by Apollo 7 astronaut Donn Eisele has been recovered by the Smithsonian Institution three decades after it disappeared from a museum in Ecuador. Eisele’s time piece was on loan when it disappeared.
Space Science
NASA launch of NOAA weather satellite rescheduled for November 18
NASA (11/16): After two launch scrubs earlier this week, the launching of the NASA/NOAA JPSS-1 advanced technology weather and environmental research satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, has been re-scheduled for Saturday at 4:47 a.m., EST.
Arecibo Observatory will keep scanning the skies
Astronomy Now (11/16): The National Science Foundation announces it will seek partners to keep the Aricebo Observatory, which was damaged by Hurricane Maria, operational. NASA is among users of the observatory to further its studies of near Earth objects, including asteroids that come close to the Earth.
Other news
SpaceX delays launch to study data from recent payload fairing test
Spaceflightnow.com (11/16): SpaceX announced a Falcon 9 launch delay to examine the launch vehicle fairing before the liftoff of a secretive payload that has been designated as “Zuma.” The launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is planned for no earlier than Friday at 8 p.m., EST.
Virgin Orbit wins first Defense Department launch contract
Space News (11/16): Virgin Orbit, of Long Beach, California, announced Thursday a contract to launch Department of Defense payloads using its Launcher One system. The payloads are to be announced later.
Spaceport America to seek additional funding to prepare for Virgin Galactic arrival
Las Cruces Sun-News of New Mexico (11/16): Spaceport America plans to seek additional funding from the New Mexico state legislature as Virgin Galactic prepares to begin long awaited passenger spaceflight operations. Additional funds would go for increased staffing and infrastructure, according to Spaceport America CEO Dan Hicks.
Space News (11/15): San Francisco’s Spire Global, operators of a small satellite constellation to monitor maritime activities, will establish a European headquarters in Luxembourg. In turn, the Luxembourg Future Fund plans an investment in the company.