In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Canadian astronaut to begin NASA training. James Webb Space Telescope are on the move from NASA JSC to California. President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA faces Senate challenge.
Human Space Exploration
Quebec astronaut Saint-Jacques to begin NASA training in February
The Canadian Press (1/14): Canadian physician/astronaut David Saint-Jacques will initiate NASA mission training in February, ahead of his anticipated liftoff for the International Space Station in November with U.S. and Russian crewmates. He’ll be the first to fly for his homeland since Chris Hadfield was a station resident in 2013.
Space Science
The James Webb Space Telescope has emerged from the freezer
Coalition Member in the News: Northrop Grumman
Ars Technica (1/15): By early February, the James Webb Space Telescope’s science components are to travel from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to Northrop Grumman facilities in Redondo Beach, California, for a final round of pre-launch testing. Launch is currently planned between March and June of 2019. The science components recently completed a successful round of thermal vacuum chamber testing at Johnson.
How did the Milky Way get its bulge? Fast-moving stars may hold clues
Space.com (1/15): New findings may help to explain a bulge at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Stars comprised of the most massive chemical elements appear to move more rapidly than those made primarily of hydrogen and helium. The findings may help to explain whether faster moving stars or past collisions between galaxies contributed to the bulge.
Other News
GOP Representative bid to become NASA head stumbles
Wall Street Journal (1/16): Rep. James Bridenstine’s controversial nomination to head NASA faces mounting troubles, and the uncertainty threatens to further delay potentially major changes in agency programs favored by the White House. For the second time in three months, the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday is expected to narrowly approve the Oklahoma Republican on a party-line vote. His name never came up for floor action in 2017 because not a single Senate Democrat signaled support and Republican leaders were worried about rounding up the necessary votes on their side of the aisle.
Scotland in ‘strong position’ to host first U.K. spaceport
The Scotsman (1/15): The United Kingdom is eager for the commercial potential of its first spaceport, and the launch site could well be located in Scotland. Three Scottish sites are under consideration.
Puerto Rican astronaut reaches out to island’s schoolkids
Associated Press (1/15): In a recent exchange from the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, spoke with students from the island, which is still recovering from its assault from Hurricane Maria. The devastating September storm and a view from space of its impact was a popular student topic.