In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Author urges a human return to the moon for economic development.

Human Deep Space Exploration

Whittington: Let’s shoot for the moon – yes, again

Houston Chronicle (4/22): A human return to the moon could exploit lunar resources, including platinum group metals and water ice, for economic development, reasons author Mark Whittington in an op-ed.

First look inside NASA’s new Australian deep space complex: ‘We will land the first humans on Mars’

News.com.au (4/22): Near Canberra, Australia, NASA has updated its Deep Space Network (DSN) ground station. Along with ground stations in Spain and California, the Australian DSN complex permits communications between NASA control centers and spacecraft far from Earth, including those supporting the future human deep space mission of Mars.

 

Space Science

3 planet-hunters make Time’s list of 100 most influential people

Space.com (4/23): Three scientists involved in the search for planets like Earth beyond the solar system are among Time’s annual list of the 100 most influential people. Natalie Batalha, Michael Gillon and Guillem Anglada-Escudé identified possible Earth-like planets around the star Trappist-1 and Proxima Centauri, the nearest star. “These scientists have transformed the world’s understanding of our place in the universe, and NASA congratulates them for their well-deserved recognition,” said Paul Hertz, head of NASA’s astrophysics division.

No aliens yet for $100 million E.T. hunt

Space.com (4/21): Privately sourced Breakthrough Listen surveyed nearly 700 stars in a search for signals from intelligent aliens using the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. The most interesting radio telescope observations likely came from Earthly signal interference. But it’s just the start. The ambitious project, financed largely by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, intends to search the one million stars closest to the sun, the 100 galaxies closest to the Milky Way, as well as the galactic plane for hints of intelligent extraterrestrial life.

Opportunity Mars rover leaves ‘Tribulation’ for ‘Perseverance’

SpaceFlightInsider.com (4/24): NASA’s Opportunity rover is on the move, leaving the rim of Endeavour Crater on Mars, its home since late 2014, for Perseverance Valley. Opportunity reached the Martian surface in January 2004 to begin what was to be a 90 day exploration.

New Saturn photo reminds us of the fragility of our tiny planet

Mashable (4/21): Cassini, the joint NASA and European mission spacecraft that has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, captured an image of the Earth through its ring band. The long-running Cassini mission is schedule to come to an end in September.

 

Low Earth Orbit

Long-distance call: Trump to speak with astronaut Peggy Whitson

USA Today (4/24): President Trump, joined by his daughter Ivanka, plans to call NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander Peggy Whitson Monday morning. Joined by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, the president will congratulate Whitson on setting a new record for time accumulated in space over a career, 534 days.

Supply ship named for John Glenn arrives at Space Station

AP via New York Times (4/22): Orbital ATK’s seventh NASA contracted resupply capsule reached the International Space Station early Saturday. Astronauts Thomas Pesquet and Peggy Whitson grappled the capsule named for the late Mercury astronaut John Glenn using Canada’s robot arm. The Orbital freighter delivered 7,600 pounds of crew supplies and scientific equipment.

China’s first unmanned space cargo ship docks with Chinese space station

Japan Times (4/23): An automated Chinese space cargo capsule, launched April 20, docked two days later on Saturday with the Tiangong 2 human tended space station. The mission demonstrates a capability to support Chinese plans for a permanently staffed space station, whose assembly is to begin next year.

Experts call for legislation and improved tracking to deal with orbital debris

Space News (4/21): Assembled in Europe, experts are calling for improved tracking of growing amounts of Earth orbital debris, as well as efforts to mitigate the satellite collision hazard.

President signs commercial satellite weather bill

Space News (4/21): President Trump has signed the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, giving NOAA permission to buy commercial weather satellite data. NOAA began a pilot program with the new approach in September.

French Guiana accord sets stage for Arianespace to resume launches

Space News (4/21): Launches from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana, South America have been slowed this year by labor disputes and local protests over living conditions surrounding the launch complex. Launch activity was suspended in mid-March. A new accord, however, was signed by French and French Guianese officials on April 21, setting the stage for a resumption.

 

Major Space Related Activities for the Week

 Major space related activities for the week of April 23-28, 2017

Spacepolicyonline.com (4/23): President Trump is scheduled to speak with International Space Station commander Peggy Whitson, of NASA, on Monday morning to recognize her career contributions to U.S. space exploration. In Washington, the current 2017 budget Continuing Resolution is set to expire on Friday at midnight. Without some sort of spending agreement for the remainder of the fiscal year ending September 30, most U.S. federal agencies face a government shutdown.