In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA moves to keep an experimental Bigelow Aerospace habitation module aboard the International Space Station for three more years. NASA joins with Space Florida to support a future test of the Orion capsules launch abort system.
Human Space Exploration
Private inflatable habitat will stay at Space Station for at least 3 more years
Space.com (12/5): Launched in April 2016 to the International Space Station as a two year technology demonstration, Bigelow Aerospace’s Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) will remain at the Station and be used for the storage of cargo for another three years with the possibility of two one year extensions, NASA announced this week. NASA is evaluating the technology as a low volume launch prospect for human deep space habitats. Compressed for launch, a BEAM can be expanded to a larger volume.
Space Florida announces partnership with NASA for Orion testing
Space Florida (12/5): NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Space Florida announced an agreement this week supporting an ascent abort test of the Orion capsule that is to start astronauts on long journeys of deep space exploration. The pact covers use of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 46, which is leased to Space Florida and undergoing modifications. The Assent Abort-2 test will demonstrate the capsule’s ability to separate from the rocket with its crew of astronauts during the ascent phase in case of an emergency.
NASA seeks proposals for space resources technologies
Space News (12/6): NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships 2 initiative this week seeks new studies and proposals for the acquisition and use of space resources that can be used for life support and rocket fuel once extracted from the moon, Mars and asteroids. NASA is expected to make from one to three selections that could lead to studies lasting up to three years.
Study validates NanoRacks concept for commercial space station module
Space News (12/6): A NASA backed study conducted by Houston based NanoRacks concludes that it would be technically feasible to convert a spent rocket second stage into a habitat for astronauts. The company plans its own version of the concept called Ixion fashioned from the second stages of United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicles. The versatile Atlas V’s payloads include deep space probes as well as Earth orbiting national security satellites.
New ‘Take Me Home’ button could guide astronauts to safety during spacewalks
The Verge: (12/5): A NASA funded effort led by the Draper Laboratory, of Massachusetts, intends to lower risks to spacewalking astronauts by providing them with a button activated rescue system in the event of an emergency. A step up from the current SAFER system, Draper’s Take Me Home button would provide the software guidance to maneuver an astronaut back to safety should the spacewalker encounter an emergency.
Space Science
Preliminary observations on the management of space telescopes
U.S. General Accountability Office (12/6): The Congressional watchdog agency cautions of future delays in the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope because of remaining integration and ground testing. In September, NASA announced it was slipping the planned launch date from late 2018 to the spring of 2019. In a new assessment presented to the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee warned that additional delays are possible.
SpaceWeather.com (12/6): A rise in cosmic radiation levels within the Earth’s atmosphere has been observed with a new weather balloon. The increase is attributed to weakening of the sun’s magnetic field which shields radiation from deeper in space. The fluctuation in the magnetic field is due to the solar cycle, which is expected to weaken for another two to three years.
Warm and wet ancient Mars? Maybe not
Space.com (12/6): A new assessment of clay formations in the Martian soil suggests the mineral may not have formed in the presence of surface water, standing and flowing, that scientists have pointed to as evidence Mars had a warm, wet climate between 3.7 and 4.1 billion years ago. The new assessment was published in the journal Nature.
Two new super Earths discovered around a red dwarf star
Universe Today (12/5): Recently, astronomers using a ground based telescope have been able to expand on the two year old discovery of a Super Earth, K2-18b, orbiting a red dwarf star 111 light years from Earth. Scientists wanted to further characterize the discovery for its potential habitability since it orbits within the “habitable zone” of its parent star. What they found was a second large planet K-18c that appears to be too close to its star to be habitable. K2-18b, is likely to receive additional scrutiny from the James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled for launching in 2019.
Other News
Industry sees new opportunities for space manufacturing
Coalition Member in the News – Made In Space, Inc.
Space News (12/6): A significant effort to demonstrate the in space manufacturing of a valuable terrestrial product is expected soon by Made In Space, Inc., with the production of a high quality optical fiber called ZBLAN. The demonstration hardware is to be launched to the International Space Station by SpaceX this month. FOMS, Inc., plans a similar fiber optic production demonstration hardware delivery to the Space Station in mid to late 2018.