In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Apollo and early space shuttle astronauts Alan Bean and Don Peterson have died. Canada withdraws from NASA Wide Field Infrared Space Telescope (WFIRST) project. Russia, China announce new space agency leadership.
Human Space Exploration
Astronaut Alan Bean, Apollo moonwalker-turned-artist, dies at 86
Collectspace.com (5/26): Apollo 12 lunar module pilot Alan Bean, the 4th human to walk on the moon, died Saturday in Houston, his hometown, at Houston Methodist Hospital. Bean, who also commanded the second crew to occupy the Skylab space station, was also well known for his artistic skill as a painter who conveyed his experiences with paint, brush and canvas for many years after retiring from NASA and the U.S. Navy. Bean became ill suddenly two weeks ago while in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
NASA Administrator reflects on legacy record-breaking Skylab, Apollo astronaut
NASA (5/26): NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine offered a tribute to Alan Bean: “We will remember him fondly as the great explorer who reached out to embrace the universe.”
Astronaut Don Peterson, made first shuttle spacewalk, dies at 84
Collectspace.com (5/28): Retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force pilot Don Peterson died Sunday, according to the Association for Space Explorers. He was 84. Peterson flew on the sixth NASA space shuttle mission in April 1983 and participated in the first spacewalk conducted from the shuttle after deployment of NASA’s first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.
Richard Branson reveals his astronaut training as space visit looms
Air & Space (5/26): Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, is preparing his 67-year-old body to fly suborbital aboard SpaceShipTwo. “We’re talking about months not years – so it’s close,” he told BBC radio, of plans to begin passenger flights.
Space Science
Lack of funding forces Canada to abort mission on NASA telescope project
Globe and Mail of Canada (5/29): Canada has pulled its participation from the NASA Wide Field Infrared Space Telescope (WFIRST), a companion to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that is to further studies of dark energy and extra solar planets. The Trump administration proposed cancellation of WFIRST in its 2019 budget after the project exceeded a $3.2 billion cost cap. NASA is attempting to restructure WFIRST during the 2018 budget year. A mid-2020s launch was planned.
Chang’e-4: Lunar microsatellite may be lost, Queqiao continues toward Lagrange point beyond Moon
GB Times of Finland (5/28): On May 20 China launched a lunar communications relay satellite to support its plans to launch the first ever a lander/rover mission to the moon’s far side later this year. The Queqiao communications satellite was accompanied by two smaller satellites for astronomy and interferometry operations, one of which is not communicating. Queqiao, meanwhile, appears headed for its desired destination, the Earth/Moon L2 Lagrange point to support the lander/rover.
Other News
NASA to begin buying rides on commercial lunar landers by year’s end
Space News (5/24): NASA intends to contract for private sector transportation to the lunar surface for science instruments by the end of this year, James Reuter, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, told a Space Tech Expo presentation in Pasadena, California. Missions with 10 kg payloads are planned by the end of 2021.
Former NASA astronaut Greg “Box” Johnson becomes Space Nation’s chief space officer
Coalition Member in the News – Space Nation
Space News (5/27): Former NASA astronaut Greg Johnson is joining Space Nation, a Finnish startup that plans to offer astronaut training experiences. He’ll serve as chief space officer.
Paul Allen’s space plane prepares for its coming out party
Politico (5/25): Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and founder of Stratolaunch believes his air launch strategy for placing small satellites in orbit at a lower cost than ride sharing will be ready for flight this year. The Seattle area based company is conducting taxi tests of its giant aircraft.
Source: New Roscosmos head to operate piloted launch from Baikonur cosmodrome on June 6
TASS of Russia (5/28): Russia’s former deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has been appointed to head Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency. President Vladimir Putin made the appointment on May 24.
China appoints new space agency administrator
GB Times of Finland (5/25): On May 24, Zhang Kejian became head of the China National Space Administration, filling a vacancy from January, when Tang Dengjie moved on to become governor of the Fujian province.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of May 27 to June 8, 2018
Spacepolicyonline.com (5/27): The U.S. House and Senate are in recess this week. June 3 marks the start of a five day crew rotation for three International Space Station astronauts. NASA’s Scott Tingle, Russia’s Anton Schkaplerov and Japan’s Norishige Kanai return to Earth on June 3. Serena Auñón-Chancellor, of NASA, cosmonaut Sergei Propokev and the European Space Agency’s Alexander Gerst launch on June 6 to take their place. NASA’s Earth Science Advisory Committee meets this week. Europe is hosting conferences on space operations and small satellites in Marseille, Paris and Sorrento, Italy.