Today’s Deep Space Extra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. A successful box office debut for The Martian, a drama about a clever U.S. astronaut stranded on Mars, continues to stir discussions about how soon humans will reach the red planet and how they will meet the challenges, including the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Mars is just one solar system body with possible conditions suitable for life, say experts. The U.S. and Russia discuss long term prospects for a Venus mission. Hurricane Joaquin loomed large in images from the International Space Station before the storm drenched portions of the U.S. East Coast. Japan considers electric propulsion for satellites. A look at major space related activities planned for the week ahead.

Human Deep Space Exploration

Box office: ‘The Martian‘ just shy of ‘Gravity’ with powerful $55M U.S. launch
The Hollywood Reporter (10/4): The Martian, a film drama about a future astronaut stranded on Mars makes a strong weekend box office opening in North America and in foreign markets, challenging Gravity‘s opening  in 2013. The Martian’s opening take was estimated at $55 million domestically, and more than $45 million in foreign markets.

Human missions to Mars will look completely different from ‘The Martian’
Scientific American (10/2): While The Martian realistically portrays a human mission to Mars in the mid-2030s, the strategies are likely to evolve. One concept gaining interest would place humans first on one of the Martian moons. There, astronauts could control robots on the surface of the nearby Mars, perhaps attempting to determine whether the red planet is or was home to life forms.

There could be life on Mars: Of course we should try to find it.
The Washington Post (10/2): Any Weir, whose scientifically grounded novel The Martian became the basis for the movie of the same name, urges an aggressive search for life on Mars. Concerns about planetary protection, exposing Mars to Earthly bacteria, should be put aside, Weir writes in an op-ed synced to the evidence of briny water flows on the red planet announced last week.

The Martian’ technologies are not far off from NASA
USA Today (10/2): NASA is at work on an advanced space suit for astronauts assigned to future deep space missions, a multi-mission rover for surface exploration, living quarters and a means of growing fresh food.

Here’s why I left ‘The Martian‘ with a terrible sinking feeling
Tech Insider (10/3): A fan of the film drama The Martian explains a sinking feeling as the credits rolled. NASA is struggling to achieve its popular human explorations goals with a modest budget and significant technical challenges.

How to prepare for Mars? NASA consults Navy sub force
Associated Press via ABC News (10/5): The U.S. Navy’s submarine force is providing NASA with expertise in dealing with isolation and confinement similar to the environments the astronauts will face as they journey into deep space. The research will involve an analogue NASA space habitation module.

Unmanned Deep Space Exploration

Where in the solar system is it possible for alien life?
Discovery.com (10/2): During a Congressional hearing last week, experts listed Mars, Jupiter’s moon Europa, Saturn’s moons Enceladus and Titan as having possible environments suitable for biological activity.

U.S. and Russia to resume talks on joint mission to Venus
Spaceflight Insider (10/5): NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, are discussing possible cooperation on a future Venus mission, Venera-D, that would study the planet’s surface, atmosphere and intense heat. The discussions are focused on a post 2025 exploration date and use of a Russian launch vehicle.

Low Earth Orbit

Hurricane Joaquin eyed from Space Station
Spaceflightnow.com (10/3): Hurricane Joaquin drenched portions of the U.S. East Coast over the weekend.  Astronauts aboard the International Space Station snapped photos of the powerful storm on Friday.

Commercial to Low Earth Orbit

Japan looking at electric propulsion for satellites
Japan News (10/5): The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency prepares to invest in fuel saving electric propulsion technologies for its satellites, a technology already in use in the U.S. and Europe. “Without this technology, we will not be able to compete in the market,” said Yasushi Hatooka, planning manager at JAXA’s Research Strategy Department.

Major Space Related Activities for the Week

Major space related activities for the week of October 5-9, 2015
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/4): The U.S. House and Senate are in session, with a House Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing planned for Friday and entitled, Deep Space Exploration: Examining the Impact of the President’s Budget. The House is scheduled to vote on a new speaker, a replacement for the retiring John Boehner, on Thursday. Lawmakers are in the early phases of a budget Continuing Resolution that extends spending for federal agencies at 2015 levels through Dec. 11.