In Today’s Deep Space Extra… U.S. and Russian cargo missions reached the International Space Station (ISS) early Monday and Sunday afternoon. Russia’s successful soyuz Progress cargo launch on Friday signals Russia’s readiness to resume soyuz crew launches to the Space Station on December 3, following the safe October 11 in flight abort of a soyuz with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin.
Human Space Exploration
National Space Council gets report on human spaceflight in low Earth orbit
NASA (11/16): NASA has joined with the U.S. State and Commerce departments to outline key objectives of future human low Earth orbit activities. The White House has proposed that NASA transition its human space exploration focus from low Earth orbit to deep space by 2025, while turning to partnerships with the private sector and other nations to sustain a human presence in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS) or a commercial alternative. In addition to continuing that human presence in low Earth orbit, the agencies agreed to establish a favorable commercial environment, advance space exploration technologies and expand commercial activities.
Russia’s successful rocket launch is a good sign for next month’s astronaut mission
Verge (11/16): A Russian Soyuz rocket lifted off Friday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with a Progress resupply capsule headed for the International Space Station (ISS), the first launch of a Soyuz rocket from the site since a similar launch vehicle aborted two minutes into flight on October 11 with Space Station bound NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin on board. The Soyuz capsule with the two men landed safely, but the incident threw into question whether and when the only current means of transporting astronauts to and from the station would resume. The success of the Progress launch is considered a positive factor in plans to resume crew launches on December 3. The abort was blamed on damage to a sensor on one of four Soyuz boosters that was damaged during pre-launch assembly at Baikonur.
Russian cargo craft docks to Station and delivers goods
NASA/Space Station (10/18): Launched Friday afternoon from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia’s MS-10 Progress re-supply capsule carried out a successful automated docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday at 2:28 p.m., EST. Aboard are nearly three tons of propellant, food, water and other crew supplies.
Antares rocket launches Cygnus cargo ship, doubling up Space Station deliveries
Coalition Member in the News – Northrop Grumman
GeekWire.com 11/17). Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems’ 10th NASA contracted Cygnus resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) lifted off early Saturday from NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility. The capsule, filled with 7,400 pounds of science experiments, technology demonstrations and crew supplies, was on course to reach the Station early Monday.
Live coverage: Commercial Cygnus cargo craft approaching Space Station
Coalition Member in the News – Northrop Grumman
Spaceflightnow.com (11/19): Launched early Saturday from NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility, Northrop Grumman Innovations Systems’ 10th NASA contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) successfully reached its destination on Monday. NASA astronaut Serena Aunon Chancellor grappled the cargo vessel and its 7,400 pound payload at 5:28 a.m., EST, with the Station’s Canadian robot arm. Operations to berth the capsule to the Station’s U.S. segment followed.
Space Science
Washington Post (11/16): NASA is close to selecting the most promising scientific landing site candidate for the Mars 2020 rover, which is to launch in mid-2020 and land in February 2021. While exploring, it will gather and cache samples of Martian soil and rock for return to Earth by a follow on mission. Each of the small field of candidate landing sites has challenging terrain as well as a history that could have been favorable for the evolution of life. NASA has scheduled a Mars 2020 landing site news briefing for Monday at noon, EST.
How NASA will know when InSight touches down
NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (11/16): NASA has more than one way of listening on November 26 when the Mars InSight lander reaches the Red Planet and attempts to descend through the atmosphere and touchdown. There’s a radio telescope that NASA will use to listen for radio signals and the first of a pair of small satellites that launched with InSight will be relaying signals to Earth. Once landed, InSight is equipped to monitor the surface and subsurface of Mars, a first that could furnish new clues about how the neighboring planet evolved.
Signal blip sparks false alarm for NASA’s Opportunity rover on Mars
Space.com (11/16): NASA’s long active Opportunity rover at Mars was silenced by a global dust storm in June. Mission managers have been hopeful of re-establishing contact as the long lasting storm began to clear. Last week, it seemed briefly that perhaps Opportunity was powered up and communicating, but it was not to be. Opportunity landed in January 2004 for what was to be a 90 day mission. Opportunity is parked at the rim of Endeavour crater on the Red Planet.
Other News
Florida recount: Full statements of Rick Scott and Bill Nelson as Scott takes Senate post
Orlando Sentinel (10/18): U.S. Senator Bill Nelson on Sunday conceded to his Midterm election opponent, Florida governor Rick Scott, following a close election and recounts. Nelson, a Democrat, was seeking a fourth term. A supporter of NASA and in favor of extending NASA oversight of the International Space Station (ISS) beyond a White House call to end direct oversight by 2025, Nelson launched aboard the shuttle Columbia in January 1986, while a Florida congressman.
Musk hints at further changes in BFR design
SpaceNews.com (11/17): SpaceX founder Elon Musk suggests the company no longer plans to pursue upgrades to the Falcon 9 rocket and will instead accelerate efforts to develop the Big Falcon Heavy (BFR), a reusable heavy lift rocket.
The world’s leading space company that’s been to the Moon
Politico (11/16): Draper Laboratory’s aerospace roots date well beyond the Apollo-era. Now, the Massachusetts nonprofit’s engineers and their expertise are under increased demand by commercial companies as well as government agencies. Draper developed the guidance and navigation for NASA’s first round of human lunar exploration.
How do astronauts spend Thanksgiving?
Florida Today (11/16): The International Space Station’s (ISS) current U.S., European and Russian crew will have the opportunity Thursday to share traditional Thanksgiving food and have some time off, like family and friends on Earth eager to share the American holiday.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of November 18-24, 2018
Spacepolicyonline.com (11/18): Major activities this week include Monday’s berthing of Northrop Grumman’s 10th NASA contracted Cygnus resupply mission to the International Space Station, plus briefings on the upcoming Mars InSight lander at Mars. InSight is to touchdown on Nov. 26. In Washington, the U.S. House and Senate are in recess.