In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA has partnered with the private sector to develop habitats for astronauts on future deep space missions.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Six contractors have begun work on NASA’s gateway to deep space
Ars Technica (10/25): U.S. companies rally around NASA to develop an in-space habitat that would house future human explorers as they travel to Mars. An early version of the habitat would likely be tested in lunar orbit.
NASA’s popular, but that only goes so far in Washington
Alabama.com (10/26): After U.S. voters select a new president, the future of U.S. space policy will be formed around national security, foreign policy and economic concerns, Scott Pace, a former high-ranking NASA official and current director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, told a Huntsville, Alabama, audience gathered for the ninth Von Braun Space Symposium.
Space Science
Kepler’s ‘Alien Megastructure’ star to spill SETI secrets?
Seeker.com (10/26): Tabby’s star, or KIC 8462852, has been a focus of speculation for months about whether the star hosts a possible artificial structure — maybe a Dyson sphere assembled by an alien intelligent civilization to harvest solar energy. Now, Tabby’s star is undergoing new scrutiny from Breakthrough Listen, a recent initiative dedicated to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. KIC 8462852 lies about 1,500 light-years from Earth. Breakthrough Listen is turning to the Greenbank Telescope, a radio observatory in West Virginia, for the listening campaign.
Evidence continues to mount for ninth planet
Universe Today (10/26): A small tilt in the sun’s orbital orientation may be a consequence of Planet 9, a so far undiscovered outer solar system planet.
Supermoon November 2016: When, where & how to see it
Space.com (10/26): Sky watchers can plan on full “super” moon viewing in November and December. November 14 and December 14 will mark the larger-than-usual full moons. The super moon phenomenon is attributed to the moon’s slightly elliptical orbit, permitting the full phase to coincide with the close approach phase of its orbit around the Earth.
Low Earth Orbit
Astronauts’ back pain has surprising cause
Space.com (10/26): The results of a new study conducted with MRI in space attribute the back pain experienced by astronauts to a weakening of the muscles along the spine. Previous study findings pointed instead to a swelling of the tissues that act as shock absorbers between individual vertebrae. The new findings could lead to back strengthening exercises by astronauts while they are in space.
Russia plans to test elements of new nuclear engine on ISS
TASS, of Russia (10/27): Russia builds on plans to test a megawatt nuclear propulsion source in space. Components will be tested aboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station. The test components should be ready for launch by the end of 2018, according to the report.
Tiny satellite beams back photos of China’s Tiangong-2 Space Lab
Space.com (10/26): China’s Banxing-2 small satellite has captured early close up images of the Tiangong-2 orbiting space laboratory launched by Beijing in September. The small satellite was deployed from the Tiangong-2 on Sunday by Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
EU’s new space policy to invest in start-ups, boost private investment
Space News (10/26): The European Union has unveiled plans to invest public funds in commercial space start-ups. The EU includes 28 member nations with the goal to establish a sustainable space economy within Europe.