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Today’s Deep Space Extra

August 20th, 2018

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… India will prepare to join the circle of nations capable of launching its own astronauts by 2022. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program offers support for its countdown “load and go” fuel load procedures. Colorado earns an FAA commercial spaceport license.

Human Space Exploration

NASA approves “load-and-go” fueling for SpaceX commercial crew launches

SpaceNews.com (8/17) SpaceX has been cleared to load fuel in its Falcon 9 rocket with astronauts aboard the Dragon 2 capsule as part of its launch strategy for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program missions that are to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station The process called “load and go” allows the crew to be seated before liquid oxygen and kerosene are loaded in to the Falcon 9 first stage. Though used for its other missions, “load and go” was reviewed, following a September 2016 Falcon 9 launch pad explosion whose cause was traced to a failed pressure vessel in the second stage. NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory panel called for a second look at the practice. “Load and Go” keeps the temperature and volume of the rocket fuels down to improve performance. The Dragon 2 abort system is to launch a Falcon 2 crew to safety in response to last minute emergencies, such as an explosion.

India aims to send its first crewed mission to space by 2022

Spaceflightinsider.com (8/20): India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the goal of launching the nation’s first astronaut by 2020 during the nation’s 72nd Independence Day celebration in New Deli on August 15.

Robert Zubrin wants to establish a ‘new branch of human civilization’ on Mars

NBCnews.com (8/19): Robert Zubrin, aerospace engineer, co-founder of the two decade old Mars Society and an early proponent for a red planet settlement, explains his opposition to a human tended Lunar Gateway. The Lunar Gateway will slowly and add to the cost of reaching the Red Planet with humans whose skill will be a vital part of seeking evidence for extant life, he explains in an Q and A.

Russia is down to a single female cosmonaut, and she may never fly

Ars Technica (8/19): Respected for their accomplishments as well as their inspiration, the numbers of U.S. female astronauts has continued to climb following the launch of the nation’s first, Sally Ride, in 1983, and now stands at 51. Russia, however, which launched the first woman into space, Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963, has launched three more since. Russia’s most recent class of astronaut selectees included eight men. Efforts to explain the absence of woman from a lack of determination of the part of Russia’s women to be astronauts to a pervasive culture not supportive of women attaining high level careers — one that needs to change to reverse the trending, according to a consultant.

 

Other News

Lockheed Martin, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) launch new Astronaut Training Experience (ATX)

Coalition Member in the News – Lockheed Martin

Spaceflightinsider.com (8/17): Doors are open to a new tourist/educational experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center (KSCVC), the Astronaut Training Experience (ATX). NASA simulations offer a taste of what it would be like for a young astronaut so be training for a Mission to Mars. Lockheed Martin is a prime partner in the ATX as well as a major corporate participant in U.S. deep space exploration planning.

Russian space executive, 2 others charged with fraud

ABC News (8/19): Authorities are holding three from the Russian state controlled RKK Energiya corporation on attempted fraud changes. Energiya is a premier Russian aerospace company and makers of the Soyuz crew and Progress cargo capsules that launch astronauts as well as cosmonauts and cargo to the International Space Station. The Kremlin has reshuffled space operations in recent months in an attempt to address a range of issues affecting future as well as current space initiatives.

Spaceport Colorado lands license to launch tourists, scientists skyward from Front Range Airport

Associated Press via U.S. New and World Report (8/19): The FAA is granting the Denver suburban area Front Range Airport permission to operate as a horizontal spaceport. The airport is located in Waktins, east of Denver, and the license is held by Spaceport Colorado. The license is for runway launches and landings for both people and payloads. More details are to be announced this week, but it was just the 11th FAA spaceport license granted nationally.

 

Major Space Related Activities for the Week

Major space related activities for the week of August 19-26, 2018

Spacepolicyonline.com (8/20): The U.S. House remains in summer recess, while the Senate is seeing limited action in Washington. On Thursday, the Senate Commerce Committee will weigh the White House nominations of James Morhard to be Deputy Administrator of NASA and Kelvin Droegemeier to be Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Vice President Mike Pence is to address NASA workers at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) on Thursday.

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