In Today’s Deep Space Extra… A NASA safety advisory panel examines the risks and challenges of assigning astronauts to the agency’s previously unpiloted Exploration Mission-1, the first joint test flight of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule.

Human Deep Space Exploration

Panel urges caution as NASA studies flying crew on first SLS

Florida Today (2/23): NASA’s independent Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) is urging the agency to find a compelling reason for adding astronauts to the first joint test flight of the Space Launch System exploration rocket and the Orion crew capsule. Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) is currently planned for a late 2018 launch without a crew. Last week, Acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot directed the agency to assess the addition of astronauts to EM-1, acknowledging the challenge and possible changes to the time frame for a mission that would send astronauts around the moon and back to Earth. Previously, astronauts were to fly the same mission aboard Exploration Mission-2, which was planned between late 2021 and 2023. Patricia Sanders, the ASAP’s chair, said the panel was confident NASA would address the risks in its assessment.

ESA deal hinges on what Trump does with NASA’s human spaceflight plans

Space News (2/24): A recently announced NASA assessment of whether the agency could include astronauts on its first joint test launch of the Space Launch System exploration rocket and Orion crew vehicle could have an impact on a potential barter agreement with the European Space Agency to provide the U.S. with Orion service modules in exchange for International Space Station operating expenses. The two agencies are also discussing a similar exchange for a new service module rocket engine as well as life support technologies for a NASA chartered deep space habitat. Discussions to date assume no change by the Trump administration in his predecessor’s human exploration agenda. President Obama directed NASA to launch human explorers to the Martian realm in the 2030s.

‘Mission Control’ film about NASA’s Apollo unsung heroes is a ‘go’ for theaters

Collectspace.com (2/23): Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo, a documentary on NASA’s Mission Control operations during the Apollo lunar exploration era, will open in selected theaters and video on demand on April 14. The documentary features interviews with the personnel in Mission Control at key moments as well as astronauts involved in the dramatic missions.

Cis-lunar space: The next 30 years

Air & Space (2/22): A United Launch Alliance vision would have 1,000 people living and working in space in the next three decades helping to expand the global economic sphere. They would be mining resources from the moon and the asteroids, manufacturing products, repairing orbiting satellites, establishing solar power utilities and refueling rockets. They would live and work in commercial habitats in cis-lunar space and the surface of the moon. ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, presented its vision to a collection of experts gathered in Colorado earlier this month, writes Paul Spudis, a planetary scientist and participant.

Space Launch System engine test brings out a rainbow

Orlando Sentinel (2/23): NASA conducted its first 2017 ground test firing of an RS-25 rocket engine, which is like those that will power the first stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) exploration rocket. The 380 second test firing, closely monitored by propulsion engineers, took place at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Currently, the first test launch of the SLS is planned for late 2018. The SLS first stage includes four of the RS-25s, which were left over from NASA space shuttle fleet.

Space Science

Scientists turn to Chile’s Atacama Desert to study life on Mars

Reuters (2/23): Chile’s Atacama Desert is proving a useful analog on Earth to help scientists understand the challenges of life emerging and evolving on Mars. The Chilean desert is among the driest regions on the Earth.

Get ready for the first pictures of a black hole’s event horizon

Universe Today (2/22):  In April, an alliance of ground-based radio telescopes will attempt the first pictures of a black hole and its event horizon. The target is Sag A, the large black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. If the experiment works, the imagery will be available in 2018.

Low Earth Orbit

Russian Progress supply ship docks with Space Station

CBS (2/24): Launched two days ago, Russia’s unpiloted Progress MS-05/66P cargo capsule carried out an automated docking with the International Space Station on Friday at 3:30 a.m., EST. The freighter delivered 5,800 pounds of Space Station propellant, water, oxygen and other supplies. The docking followed the arrival of SpaceX’s tenth NASA contracted cargo mission to the Space Station a day earlier.

Suborbital

World View shows off its HQ and Stratollite platform for near-space balloon missions

Geekwire.com (2/23): World View Enterprises, which has developed a high altitude balloon launch capability for research as well as tourism, celebrated the opening of its new Tucson area headquarters on Thursday. Ball Aerospace recently helped the young company demonstrate the imagery gathering capabilities offered by the company’s Stratollite flights.

Work on southern road to spaceport may start this summer

Las Cruces Sun-News (2/22): The U.S. Bureau of Land Management backs efforts by officials of Sierra County in New Mexico to improve over the road access to Spaceport America from the south. Road improvements, based on the environmental assessments, could begin as soon as this summer to the state-established commercial launch site. Virgin Galactic plans to launch suborbital passenger missions from the installation.