Today’s Deep Space Extra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin crusades for Mars. NASA prepares the James Webb Space Telescope’s big mirror for assembly ahead of late 2018 launching. Ground and space based observatories team to reveal a surprising number of large galaxies on the cosmic frontier. Modeling suggests water could pool in the thin Martian atmosphere. Identify and track asteroids, say scientists. Cassini’s long Saturn legacy. A future NASA satellite sensor will track the global wildfire threat. China launches a Laotian communications satellite. NASA orders a second commercial crew launch to the International Space Station. Russia places new Angara rocket launches on the global satellite market. A look at upcoming space related activities.

Human Deep Space Exploration

The Buzz about Mars
Cosmos (11/23): Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin’s enthusiasm for the human exploration of Mars has not dimmed since his first steps on the lunar terrain in 1969. “In my view, we must all strive for a continuously expanding human presence in space,” says Aldrin, who outlined his crusade in two recent books, one for children.

Unmanned Deep Space Exploration

James Webb team ready to install telescope’s 18 gold-coated primary mirror segments
America Space (11/20): At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, engineers and technicians are prepared to assemble the major components of the light gathering mirror for the James Webb Space Telescope, the designated successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. A late 2018 launch of the NASA, European and Canadian space agency observatory is planned. In all, 18 mirror segments will be installed.

Galactic monster mystery revealed in ancient universe
Discovery.com (11/19): In a surprise discovery, astronomers have found several hundred very large galaxies in the distant reaches of the universe, vast star systems that formed a billion years after the big bang. The discovery was made in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum using the European VISTA observatory in Chile and NASA’s Spitzer space telescope.

Could liquid lakes form on Mars today?
Space.com (11/20): Computer modeling suggests that significant amounts of water could pool on Mars today in spite of the cold temperatures and extremely thin atmosphere. “You could get it for a little while, potentially,” said Jules Goldspiel, of Florida’s Planetary Science Institute. Goldspiel presented his findings Nov. 12 at the 47th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences in National Harbor, Md.

Meanwhile, near Saturn
Wall Street Journal (11/20): Launched in 1997, the NASA led Cassini mission  to Saturn has been orbiting the second largest planet in the solar system since 2004, studying the famous rings and many moons..

The asteroid hunters
Popular Mechanics (11/11): The cautious believe asteroids are well worth identifying and tracking. Even if the risk of a collision with the Earth is small, history says it can happen.

Low Earth Orbit

This NASA technology will help fight wildfires from space
Time (11/20): A new NASA satellite technology, known as FireSat, will rely on infrared sensors to spot wildfires likely to spread quickly. The satellite sensors can provide a global image assessment every minute, according to a space agency announcement.

Chinese, Lao leaders mark successful launch of communication satellite
Xinhuanet, of China (11/21): China launched a communications satellite for Laos on Saturday, prompting a congratulatory exchange between leaders of the two Asian countries.

Commercial to Low Earth Orbit

SpaceX gets first Commercial Crew order
Space News (11/20): NASA ordered its first SpaceX led Commercial Crew Program launch on Friday. Boeing received a similar order in May. The two companies are under contract to NASA to begin transporting U.S. astronauts to and from the International Space Station in 2017.

Russia’s new Angara launch vehicle enters global market ILS president
Tass, of Russia (11/20): International Launch Services has begun to market Russia’s new Angara rocket globally, according to new ILS president Kirk Pysher. The Angara 1.2 launch vehicle is already being made available for launches from Plesetsk. Soon, ILS will offer the Angara 5 from the new Vostochny Cosmodrome, with launches beginning in 2025.

Major Space Related Activities for the Week

Major space related activities for the week of November 23-December 4, 2015
Spacepolicyonline.com (11/22): Policy activities slow as Thanksgiving approaches in the U.S. In Washington, the U.S. House and Senate are in recess this week. Two legislative measures regarding commercial space and defense await President Obama’s signature. A Dec. 11 deadline looms for legislative action on a budget for U.S. federal agencies.