In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The re-established White House National Space Council will meet for the first time October 5 to hear from experts in the fields of civil, commercial and national security space.
Human Space Exploration
Vice President Mike Pence announces first meeting of the National Space Council
White House (9/26): The National Space Council which was re-established by President Trump on June 30 will meet for the first time on October 5 at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The meeting, entitled “Leading the Next Frontier: An Event with the National Space Council,” will feature testimonials from space industry experts from the Civil Space, Commercial Space, and National Security Space fields. The council includes cabinet members, NASA’s acting administrator and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Vice President Mike Pence to NASA: ‘It’s about to get exciting’
Huntsville Times (9/26): During a visit to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center earlier this week, Vice President Mike Pence urged space agency veterans to stay on, promising that the agency’s mission was about to “get exciting.”
Crewed Starliner test flight could slip to 2019
Space News (9/26): Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is being prepared for a series of flight tests in 2018 that will determine when the spacecraft launches with astronauts for the first time. Boeing is partnered under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program for the development of a commercial transportation system for astronauts headed to low Earth orbit destinations, including the ISS.
Elon Musk will give a big SpaceX talk about Mars this week
Mashable (9/26): On Friday, SpaceX founder Elon Musk is scheduled to update his bold strategy for colonizing Mars at the International Astronautical Congress meeting underway this week in Adelaide, Australia. Expect changes and new dates from those put forth by Musk a year ago at the same conference as its participants met in Mexico.
Space Science
Ancient lake on Mars was hospitable enough to support life
Space.com (9/26): Data gathered by NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover from rocks over three years suggests the presence of long ago warmer and wetter environmental conditions sufficient to support a lake and biological activity.
Pluto lander concept unveiled by Global Aerospace Corporation
Spaceflightinsider.com (9/27): Global Aerospace is proposing a lander mission follow on to the NASA funded New Horizons flyby mission that sailed close to distant Pluto in July 2015. The “Pluto Hop, Skip and Jump” mission could be underway in 12 years if approved for development under NASA’s New Frontiers mission series.
Scorching-hot Mercury has a surprisingly icy North Pole
Space.com (9/26): Findings from NASA’s now concluded Messenger mission to Mercury suggest the north pole of the planet closest to the sun has more water ice in crater recesses than previously estimated.
Other News
Blue Origin signs up third customer for New Glenn
Space news (9/26): Thailand’s Mu Space Corp. startup plans to launch its first satellite aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. The deal was announced Tuesday at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia. The company’s focus is satellite mobile communications.
Japan’s space, tech companies seek new business in Orlando
Orlando Sentinel (9/26): Representatives from 30 Japanese companies will gather in Orlando September 25, for presentations and tours to check out commercial space opportunities. Stops will include the University of Central Florida and Space Coast production facilities.