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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. The U.S. House Science, Space and Technology committee initiates NASA authorization legislation that supports Space Launch System and Orion development for Mars exploration. Another bipartisan effort is underway in the U.S. Congress to increase Space Launch System and Orion funding. Mars heritage scientists work on future missions. Upgrades to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center underway to support Space Launch System missions. NASA supports secondary science payloads for Space Launch System missions. 3-D Printing offering support for human deep space missions. Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 parts kit lands at the National Air and Space Museum. Mock Mars mission kicks off in Utah. China’s heavy lift rocket work suggests major space ambitions. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter reveals moon’s cratered far side. U.S., European Europa missions garnering space community support. Launching of Joint NASA, NOAA, U.S. Air Force DSCOVR mission reset for Monday. NASA announces plans to purchase six more Soyuz seats as a hedge against Commercial Crew Program development. NASA’s Scott Kelly talks about what he will miss during his one year aboard the International Space Station. U.S. Air Force prepares to invest in domestic replacement for Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. Aerojet Rocketdyne to deliver electric propulsion systems for future communications satellites. The week ahead.
Human Deep Space Exploration
House SS&T Committee announces bipartisan 2015 NASA authorization act
Spacepolicyonline.com (2/6): House Science, Space and Technology Committee leadership have outlined new NASA authorization act, legislation that will provide policy guidance through the appropriations process. Mars remains an overarching goal for the agency’s human space exploration efforts, using the Space Launch System and Orion capsule. The language also designates 2021 for the launching of a robotic Europa mission.
Lawmakers push to increase Obama’s spending on NASA space projects
Houston Chronicle (2/6): Bipartisan legislation would increase NASA’s current budget by $460 million to advance work on the Space Launch System heavy lift rocket and Orion crew exploration capsule in order to preserve a 2017 test launch date. Recently, the agency said the unpiloted test launch was more likely to unfold in 2018.
Elder scientists work to send humans to Mars
Boston Globe (2/8): Some of the most senior Americans involved in the early efforts to explore Mars are still at it. One of their contributions is expected to accompany NASA’s Mars 2020 rover to the red planet to generate oxygen. Among the veterans is Jeffrey Hoffman, 70, a five time space shuttle astronaut.
Pad 39B to gain new flame deflector and trench upgrade
NASAspaceflight.com (2/5): Construction will begin soon on modifications to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for the new Space Launch System heavy lift rocket. The changes include a new flame deflector and flame trench.
Insider exclusive: First flight of SLS to prep for moon/asteroid missions
Spaceflight Insider (2/6): When NASA’s Exploration Mission-1 launches in 2018 it will carry secondary science payloads. The flight is primarily a test of the 70 metric ton version of the Space Launch System heavy lift rocket and an unpiloted Orion capsule. But there is room for science, including NEAScout, a CubeSat configured to scout out potential destinations for NASA’s Asteroid Retrieval Mission.
Off-world 3-D printing is how humans will colonize space
Newsweek (2/6): The promise of 3-D printing may be a key to the human colonization of space. Already the aerospace industry is looking at or working with the technology to produce rocket engine and aircraft parts.
Photos: Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 flown-to-the-moon mementos
Collectspace.com (2/9): The late Neil Armstrong’s family has provided the National Air and Space Museum with a small stowage bag with small parts and equipment that accompanied the Apollo 11 commander and pilot Buzz Aldrin to the moon’s surface on Apollo 11. Armstrong died in 2012.
Mock Mars mission starts Saturday in Utah desert
Space.com (2/6): Seven Mars One aspirants entered the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah on Saturday for two weeks. Mars One, a Dutch nonprofit, plans to establish a human colony on Mars in the mid-2020s.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Beijing’s rocket plans reveal ambitious space program
Want China Times (2/5): China’s Long March rocket development activities support an independent Chinese space station and human lunar mission.
NASA shows far side of moon as never seen before
Wall Street Journal (2/6): Thanks to imagery from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA is providing video of the moon’s unseen far side — terrain marked by impact craters.
The Moon was a first step, Mars will test our capabilities, but Europa is the prize
The Conversation (2/6): Europe’s JUICE mission and a proposed NASA mission to Jupiter’s ice covered moon Europa, the Europa Clipper, are responsive to a long developing wave of enthusiasm among planetary scientists, according to the report. NASA’s Galileo mission of the 1990s found evidence of an ocean beneath Europe’s ice sheet, raising the prospect of a habitable environment.
Warning system for solar storms is kept on Earth for now
New York Times (2/8): The joint NASA, NOAA, U.S. Air Force DSCOVR mission will serve as a deep space sentry for disruptive solar activity while helping scientists assess the Earth’s energy budget, a factor in evaluating climate change, according to Al Gore, the former vice president and an advocate for the Earth science mission nearly two decades ago. Plans to launch DSCOVR Sunday night from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., were delayed 24 hours by a ground radar tracking system problem.
Low Earth Orbit
NASA issues sole source notice for six Soyuz seats
Space News (2/6): On Feb. 6, NASA issued a notice of intent to procure six more round trips to the International Space Station aboard Russian Soyuz rockets for U.S. segment crew members. Under its current agreement, the space agency is paying Russia about $76 million per seat for missions launched in 2017 and returning to Earth in 2018. NASA hopes to begin using U.S. launch services providers Boeing and SpaceX in that same role by late 2017 as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. In case of delays, the additional Russian procurements would ensure U.S. astronauts can travel to and from the station through 2018 and into 2019.
Astronaut Scott Kelly and girlfriend prepare for ultimate long-distance relationship
KHOU-TV, of Houston (3/6): As NASA astronaut Scott Kelly nears a late March lift off on his yearlong mission aboard the International Space Station, he points to the absence of his long term girlfriend as the most difficult part of his long trip.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
U.S. Air Force poised to award $200M in rocket studies
Space News (2/6): The U.S. Air Force is looking at just over $200 million in contract awards this month leading to the development of an alternative to the Russian RD-180 rocket engine currently imported for use by the Alas 5 rocket, the primary launch vehicle for U.S. national security payloads. More than $500 million will be invested in the effort over the next five years. The move comes in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Aerojet Rocketdyne contracted to provide XR-5 electric satellite for Orbital
Spaceflight Insider (2/7): Aerojet Rocketdyne will deliver electric propulsion systems for Orbital Sciences Corp. communications satellites. The systems use advanced Hall thrusters.
Suborbital
Virgin Galactic gears up for building third SpaceShipTwo
NBC News (2/8): The suborbital passenger company plans to initiate assembly of its third SpaceShipTwo by the end of this year, according to Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of February 9-13, 2015
Spacepolicyonline.com: The launching of the NASA, NOAA, U.S. Air Force DSCOVR mission, scrubbed Sunday by a ground radar tracking issue, has been re-scheduled for Monday evening. The U.S. House could take up a vote on a NASA authorization issue on Tuesday.
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