Today’s Deep Space Extra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Congressional leaders and the White House may have budget and debt limit deals. NASA Critical Design Review clears Orion capsule for production ahead of planned uncrewed 2018 test flight atop the Space Launch System exploration rocket. The Cassini mission spacecraft orbiting Saturn will attempt to sample water from an extraterrestrial ocean. Expert urges greater coordination of U.S. space weather pursuits. Proposed global space code of conduct stalls at U.N. forum. Space Station astronauts await new children’s books to resume a story time from space tradition. China launches an Earth observing satellite. The House takes steps to restore U.S. Export Import Bank charter. World View high altitude balloon test leads way to full scale testing ahead of plans for 2017 passenger flights.
2016 NASA Budget
Congress, White House near deal to avert budget crisis
USA Today (10/26): U.S. congressional leaders have closed in on a possible bi-partisan agreement with the White House on a two year budget deal. The measure would lift the debt limit and 2011 “sequester” spending restrictions. The 2016 fiscal year began Oct. 1 without a budget but with a budget Continuing Resolution that expires on Dec. 11, raising the spectra of a possible government shutdown. Most details of the agreement were yet to be released, according to the report that also outlines opposition.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA’s Orion moves on to full-scale assembly and testing
Spaceflight Insider (10/26): NASA’s Orion crew exploration capsule has cleared an important critical design review milestone that signals the start of hardware production for a late 2018 unpiloted test flight atop NASA’s Space Launch System exploration rocket. “The vast majority of Orion’s design is over, and now we will only change things when new requirements come into play,” Lockheed Martin’s Orion Vice President and Program Manager Michael Hawes stated Monday. “Considering the incredible complexity of this spacecraft, the team is very proud to have successfully completed the design review and is looking forward to seeing it fly.” Exploration Mission-1 will send Orion around the moon and back to Earth for a parachute descent, ocean splashdown and recovery.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Cassini preps to shower in Enceladus’ ocean
Science News (10/26): On Wednesday, the joint NASA, European and Italian space agency Cassini mission spacecraft will soar within 30 miles of the South Pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. The small moon appears to host a global ice covered ocean with an internal heat source and some level of organic chemistry. Cassini scientists will attempt to determine whether Europa’s ocean may be suitable for biological activity.
NASA probe to dive through Saturn moon’s icy plume Wednesday
Space.com (10/26): Cassini science team members express excitement over the spacecraft’s planned fly through of an icy plume rising from the ice covered ocean of Enceladus, the small active moon of Saturn. Cameras and instruments aboard Cassini will study the icy plume for heat and the chemical signatures of organics that could signal a habitable environment in the outer solar system. The fly through is scheduled for Wednesday.
Low Earth Orbit
Loosely defined space weather program has its costs, expert says
Space News (10/26): More organization is needed within the federal government to assess and distribute information on the consequences of space weather events, according to one expert, Scott Rayder, senior adviser for development and partnerships at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Co. Rayder expressed his concerns at an annual Space Weather Forum earlier this month.
The international code of conduct: Comments on changes in the latest draft and post-mortem thoughts
The Space Review (10/26): European and U.N. inspired efforts to establish a global conduct code stall on procedural and policy grounds. Russia and China object strongly, writes Michael Listner, founder of Space Law & Policy Solutions.
Story time from space: Astronauts getting new picture books
Associated Press via New York Times (10/26): In just over a month, a new bundle of books will head for the International Space Station, where astronauts will continue a tradition, recording as they read bed time stories. The tradition is intended to increase youthful interest in science and math. NASA astronaut Alvin Drew started the tradition.
China launches mapping satellite
Xinhuanet, of China (10/26): On Monday, a Long March 2D rocket successfully launched the Tianhui-1C satellite for mapping and land resource surveys, according to the report.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
House takes step to revive Export-Import Bank
Associated Press via Yahoo.com (10/26): A favorable vote in the U.S. House on Monday may have initiated a revival of the U.S. Export Import Bank, a mechanism for financing foreign purchases of U.S. goods and services, including aerospace products. The bank’s charter expired on June 30. Additional legislative activities are planned this week.
Suborbital
World View tests high altitude balloon for future commercial flights
Space News (10/26): A scaled version of the Arizona based company’s helium balloon passenger gondola reached an altitude of nearly 31,000 meters during an Oct. 24 test flight. The uncrewed gondola was released under a parasail that glided to a landing. The flight sets the stage for full scale system testing and potentially the start of passenger flights in 2017. World Views plans a luxury passenger experience with high altitude views of the Earth and the darkness of space.