Today’s Deep Space Extra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Modifications to the Mobile Launch Platform for NASA’s Space Launch System exploration rocket take shape at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center. NASA and Hollywood find common interest in The Martian, a feature film opening Oct. 2 that depicts the early human exploration of the red planet. NASA counters reports of a close asteroid approach in late September. NASA’s New Horizons mission helps to explain Pluto’s curious atmosphere. Lagrange Points offer a space exploration advantage. Japan’s latest resupply mission to the International Space Station lifted off early Wednesday for a Monday rendezvous. Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforretti prepares for a Star Trek role after her record setting mission to the International Space Station. Russia plans reusable winged first stage as part of new carrier rocket.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA unveils mobile launcher at KSC
WKMG-TV, of Orlando (8/19): Modifications to a massive Mobile Launch Platform under way at the Kennedy Space Center will serve as the springboard for NASA’s Space Launch System exploration rocket and Orion crew capsule for future missions to deep space destinations. The $350 million in modifications are preparing the MLP for use in September 2018.
Matt Damon joins NASA at least for his next movie
Christian Science Monitor (8/19): The feature film The Martian opens in theaters Oct. 2. Star actor Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott turned to NASA for the advice that makes the movie seem so realistic.
Why NASA helped Ridley Scott create The Martian film
Popular Science (8/19): The Martian director Ridley Scott and NASA had a common interest in the film production acclaimed even before it opens. Both wish to explain the challenges of exploring the red planet.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Viral false asteroid report leads to NASA denial
Orlando Sentinel (8/19): The Earth is not facing an asteroid impact threat, NASA assured Tuesday. The response came in response to Internet speculation of a collision between Sept. 15 and 28.
Something deep inside Pluto is replenishing its atmosphere
Wired.com (8/19): NASA’s New Horizons mission suggests distant Pluto and its atmosphere interact with solar radiation and internal geological process to create a thin veil over the surface of the small planetary body.
Lagrange Points: Parking places in space
Space.com (8/19): Lagrange Points are gravitationally neutral zones, points in space where spacecraft can reside with minimal expenditures of fuel to station. Those usually referred to by experts lie between the Earth and the moon and the Earth and the sun. They were first described by Joseph-Louis Lagrange, an 18th-century mathematician. He wrote of them in a 1772 paper as part of what Lagrange described as the “three body” problem.
Low Earth Orbit
Kounotori-5: Japan’s White Stork delivers cargo to the Station
Spaceflight Insider (8/19): A successful lift off Wednesday at 7:50 a.m. EDT, started Japan’s latest re-supply mission to the International Space Station. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kounotori cargo carrier is due at the six person orbiting science laboratory early Monday with nearly five tons of food, water, crew equipment and research gear. The supplies will support six person operations through the end of the year.
Japan launches vital supplies (and mice) toward International Space Station
Space.com (8/19): Japan’s latest resupply mission to the International Space Station is unmanned. But the cargo, due to reach the six person orbiting science laboratory early Monday, includes a dozen mice as subjects in physiology experiments.
‘Star Trek’ fan film recruits real-life astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti
Space.com (8/19): Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti returned to Earth on June 11 after 199 days aboard the International Space Station, the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Now, she will join an independent Star Trek production, Axanar, whose theme is unfolding. Filming will start next year.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Russian space agency mulls new, reusable carrier rocket
Sputnik News (8/20): Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, plans the development of a new launch vehicle with a winged reusable first stage as part of a strategy to lower launch costs. The project, budgeted at $180 million, is part of the agency’s 2016-25 program plans.