In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA, like all federal agencies, will face scrutiny from the next president’s transition team. Imagery shows European Mars mission crash site. Orbital ATK cargo mission reaches the International Space Station.
Human Deep Space Exploration
The next president will take power with significant space decisions looming
Ars Technica (10/22): NASA and its programs, like all federal agencies, will face scrutiny from the next administration’s transition team. Items of interest are likely to include NASA’s range of missions: planetary science; the International Space Station and human exploration; Earth science; aeronautics; and tech development. The agency’s bureaucracy, how its mission fits into a strategic agenda and the role of the U.S. private sector are likely to be assessed as well, according to Ars Technica.
Donald Trump not visiting Kennedy Space Center
Florida Today (10/22): Presidential contender Donald Trump has canceled plans to visit NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this week and meet with representatives from the state’s aerospace industry. The candidate was unable to arrange space for a rally by supporters and will travel to the Orlando International Airport instead.
MIT claims they are programming humanoid robots to help explore Mars, but we all know its cylons
Universe Today (10/22): MIT experts and students are working to advance a NASA developed robot, R5, for duties as part of the future human exploration of Mars. The efforts will be a featured part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program. R5’s descendants could be involved in the selection of landing sites or assembling shelters in advance of a human landing on Mars.
Pool global resources for space exploration
South China Morning Post, of China (10/22): In an editorial, the publication notes China’s plans to establish a new space station in 2022 and ultimately tackle robotic and human missions to deep space destinations. The pursuits will be expensive and demanding, and should be open to cooperation and off-limits to politics, according to the newspaper.
SpaceX’s Elon Musk geeks out over Mars interplanetary transport plan on Reddit
Geekwire (10/24): In September before the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Musk outlined plans for a SpaceX backed strategy to colonize Mars. On Sunday, he told a Reddit social media session that about 1,000 spaceships will be required and filled in some details including concepts for habitats, propulsion and propellant production on the red planet.
Space Science
ESA confirms the ExoMars lander crashed, possibly exploded on impact
Washington Post (10/22): Imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter appears to show the parachute used by the European Space Agency’s Schiaparelli lander and possibly the crash site. Communications were lost with the lander as it descended to the Martian surface on Oct. 19 as part of the first phase of the joint ESA/Russian Exo Mars mission. ExoMars’ Trace Gas Orbiter entered Martian orbit successfully.
Why study Mars? To better understand the Earth
Huffington Post (10/24): The exploration of Mars, a planet with similarities to Earth and yet distinct differences, may improve the understanding of processes that influenced the formation of both and the forces that shaped their change.
Low Earth Orbit
Obama hosts twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly
AP via Virginia Pilot (10/21): On Friday, President Obama praised the retired NASA astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly for their contributions to the nation’s space program. Scott Kelly established new records for U.S. spaceflight when he returned to Earth on March 1 after 340 days aboard the International Space Station. Mark piloted or commanded four space shuttle missions assigned to the assembly and re-supply of the International Space Station between 2001 and 2011.
Accompanying satellite launched from Tiangong-2
Xinhuanet, of China (10/23): A small satellite that accompanied the Sept. 15 launch of China’s Tiangong-2 space station into orbit was deployed early Sunday. The small satellite will orbit close to the two-man Chinese spacelab at the end of October for a picture taking session.
Exclusive: White House makes a big bet on small satellites
Verge (10/21): The White House on Friday urged federal agencies, including NASA, to pursue wider uses of small satellites to accomplish their objectives, especially Earth sciences. NASA’s Ames Research Center will host a new Small Satellite Virtual Institute as part of the initiative. “This is a strong signal from the administration that it recognizes small satellites are driving a renaissance of commercial space,” said Tom Kalil, the deputy director for tech and innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
DOD uncertain that smallsats can handle big missions
Via Satellite (10/21): A high ranking Pentagon official said the jury is still out at the Department of Defense on whether the small satellite revolution can meet all of its mission requirements. U.S. Air Force Assistant Deputy Under-Secretary, David Hardy, discussed the matter before the Hosted Payload and Smallsat Summit in Washington, D.C.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Orbital ATK’s OA-5 Cygnus spacecraft arrives at the ISS
Spaceflight Insider (10/23): Orbital ATK’s sixth re-supply mission to the International Space Station carried out a successful rendezvous and docking with the six-person orbiting science lab early Sunday. Orbital’s Cygnus delivered 5,100 pounds of crew supplies, space station hardware, science experiments and technology demonstrations. It is to remain berthed until Nov. 18 before departing with about 3,000 pounds of trash for a fiery re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of October 24-29, 2016
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/23): A long list of space policy activities are planned for the week ahead. Among them, the American Astronautical Society will host the annual Von Braun Symposium in Huntsville, Ala. This year’s theme is “Exploring the Universe and Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Space.”