In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The human exploration of Mars will require a government-private sector partnership, say two veteran astronauts of different eras.
Human Deep Space Exploration
America still needs space travel: Mark Kelly
USA Today (9/28): Humanity must not let temporary setbacks, like the still unexplained Sept. 1 launch pad explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, reduce space exploration ambitions, writes former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly in an op-ed. Kelly believes the U.S. private sector is an important partner with NASA in the quest.
Apollo 11 moon walker Buzz Aldrin talks to Universe Today about “Destination Mars.”
Universe Today (9/28): Apollo 11 moon walker Buzz Aldrin calls for more commercial space activity, a force that he believes will enable future human missions to Mars.
Bill Nye Isn’t Buying Elon Musk’s Bold New Vision For Mars
Huffington Post (9/28): Bill Nye, CEO of the Planetary Society, questions the rationale behind the enthusiasm for the human colonization of Mars expressed earlier this week by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Musk outlined a strategy for using large, reusable and re-fuelable spacecraft to settle Mars with hundreds of people during a presentation before the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara on Tuesday. “I very much hope we conduct a thorough, careful search for life on Mars before we consider landing dozens of tons of people and cargo,” said Nye.
Congress Votes to Keep Government Open Through December 9
Spacepolicyonline.com (9/28): President Obama is expected to sign a 2017 budget Continuing Resolution that will prevent a U.S. federal government shutdown at midnight Friday, the end of the 2016 fiscal year. Congress has passed none of the 12 appropriations bills that comprise a budget for the 2017 fiscal year starting Oct. 1, including a spending plan for NASA. The budget CR will remain in effect through the November elections and until Dec. 9.
Space Science
Launch contract deadline looms for lunar lander teams
Space News (9/28): The Google Lunar X-Prize competition may be unraveling. The competition, opened in 2007, offers $20 million to a private competitor that can place a lander on the moon’s surface capable of transversing 500 meters and transmitting imagery back to Earth. Three teams out of 16 remain in competition with verified launch contracts.
What’s Going on Under the Ice of Europa?
Space.com (9/28): What’s going on with Europa, the ice-encrusted moon of Jupiter that appears to have a liquid global ocean. Jupiter’s strong gravity field could be the source of heat energy that’s behind a potentially habitable environment far from the Earth and the sun.
Comet may have struck Earth just 10 million years after dinosaur extinction
Science (9/28): Geochemists suggest the Earth was struck by a small comet 56 million years ago — and after a much larger impact that wiped out the dinosaurs and much of life on Earth. The latest work is based on studies of the Earth’s sediments that suggest temperatures rose precipitously for some species in response to carbon stirred into the atmosphere by the more recent impact. The premise was outlined in Denver at a meeting of the Geological Society of America.
Low Earth Orbit
Soyuz MS-02 launch now targeted for October 19
Spaceflightinsider.com (9/28): Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, is looking to Oct. 19 for the launching of a three-man, U.S. and Russian crew to the International Space Station. The launch was once set for Sept. 23, but delayed after pre-launch testing disclosed a problem with the Soyuz MS-02 launch vehicle. The launch and flight to the space station will be the second for the MS upgrade to the Soyuz crew transport. The new launch date, once rumored to be Nov. 1, was reported initially by TASS, of Russia. Neither Roscosmos nor NASA has posted a new launch date on their official websites.
U.S. national security experts warn of threats to military space systems
Space News (9/28): The national security threat to U.S. space assets has outpaced efforts to address them, experts in the field testified Wednesday before a U.S. House oversight panel. The experts included retired Navy Admiral James Ellis, a previous leader of the U.S. Space Command. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, said a clear line of authority as well as clear communications are needed.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Boeing’s Starliner crew trainers installed in historic NASA simulator facility
Collectspace.com (9/28): Boeing crew trainer equipment for astronauts preparing to launch aboard future Boeing CST-100 Starliner missions to the International Space Station has begun to arrive at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Personnel from NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate will use the trainers to prepare astronauts and flight controllers for the ascent, rendezvous and docking, and descent phases of flight in the Boeing spacecraft. NASA estimates missions under development by the agency’s Commercial Crew Program may begin by the end of 2018.