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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. Dividends from the NASA/Lockheed Martin unpiloted test flight of Orion capsule in December are opening doors for human exploration. NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission Option B choice stirs debate over contributions to future human Mars exploration. ET: Let’s talk, or not. NASA engineers look to June for second test flight of the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator Project. Scientists puzzled over scars on Mars from Curiosity landing. Messenger team attempts another month at Mercury. New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern eager to open the solar system’s Pluto headlining third realm. U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko begin one year mission on the International Space Station. NASA, Russia talk post International Space Station plans with some confusion. Europe launches navigation satellites. U.S. House bill opens door for commercial weather forecasting. China mulls orbital solar power station. Air and Space Museum remodels SpaceShipOne nook. A look at major space related activities planned for the week ahead.
Human Deep Space Exploration
What NASA learned from Orion space capsule’s 1st test flight
Space.com (3/29): Orion’s successful Dec. 5 unpiloted test flight is providing engineers at NASA and contractor Lockheed Martin with plenty of information. “Orion opens the moon up, opens asteroids up. It opens [Mars’ moons] Phobos [and] Deimos and eventually Mars,” said Mark Geyer, NASA’s Orion program manager. “And the human element is key.” NASA intends to launch Orion atop the Space Launch System heavy lift rocket to start human voyages to the lunar environs, the asteroids and Mars.
In praise of NASA’s ambitious asteroid grab
Discovery Magazine (3/27): Last week, NASA selected Option B for its Asteroid Redirect Mission, starting a new round of planning to grab a boulder from the surface of a large asteroid and maneuver it into lunar orbit for a visit by U.S. astronauts around 2025. Option B’s merits include an affordable intermediate human destination beyond low Earth orbit and the demonstration of a new propulsion technology that could take human explorers to Mars in the future, according to an op-ed.
NASA’s choice for Asteroid Redirect Mission may not sway skeptics
Space News (3/27): After its Option B choice for the Asteroid Redirect Mission last week, NASA can start to refine its mission strategy. However, skeptics claim the space agency has yet to make a compelling link between extracting a boulder from the surface of a large asteroid and launching humans to Mars.
Why so many people think NASA’s asteroid mission is a waste
USA Today (3/27): Not everyone in the space policy making and science circles supports NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission plans. Some believe the Moon is a more suitable destination. Some would rather NASA launches out to a deep space asteroid, rather than bringing a piece of an asteroid to lunar orbit.
Should we keep a low profile in space?
New York Times (3/27): SETI expert Seth Shostak examines the pros and cons of an active Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a discussion simmering in academic circles. Is there a risk to the Earth in broadcasting messages to potential intelligence civilizations? Some believe it could provoke an attack. Let’s talk, writes Shostak in an op-ed.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
NASA’S “flying saucer” prepares for another spin
Spaceflight Insider (3/28): NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator Project, an effort to develop planetary landing technologies for large payloads, is preparing for its second launch of the saucer-shaped, rocket powered test vehicle at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii, in June. The first test flight unfolded in late June 2014 and ended with parachute difficulties.
Mars Rover landing zone scars have curiously darkened
Discovery.com (3/28): Dark scars from the August 2012 landing of NASA’s Curiosity Rover in Gale Crater on the red planet remain. Once expected to disappear with wind erosion, the persistent scars may be revealing something new and interesting about the Martian environment.
NASA Mercury probe trying to survive for another month
Space.com (3/29): NASA’s Messenger mission to planet Mercury is running low on fuel and destined to crash. Last week, ground control teams raised the spacecraft’s orbit slightly in a bid to preserve the flight for up to another month.
Alan Stern on Pluto’s wonders, New Horizons’ lost twin, and that whole “dwarf planet” thing
Discover Magazine (3/29): New Horizons mission principal investigator Alan Stern discusses the first ever July 14 flyby of distant Pluto. New Horizons is opening a door to perhaps a third region of the solar system beyond the rocky inner planets and the gas and ice giants Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Low Earth Orbit
One-year crew begins epic trip on International Space Station
Space.com (3/28): U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko launched and docked with the International Space Station late Friday to start a one year stay that will be followed closely by medical researchers. Scientists expect to learn more about the physical and psychological challenges faced by astronauts selected for future deep space missions.
Astronaut twin Scott Kelly begins #YearInSpace: Why that long? (video)
Christian Science Monitor (3/29): Space enthusiasts and researchers in the field are hopeful a one year mission to the International Space Station by U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko will increase support for future human deep space exploration.
NASA Chief: 1-year Space Station mission advances NASA journey to Mars (op-ed)
Space.com (3/27): In an op-ed, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden explains why astronaut Scott Kelly’s long mission aboard the International Space Station is critical to the agency’s aspirations of reaching Mars with human explorers. “Kelly’s launch is one key aspect of NASA’s efforts to meet the president’s goal of a human mission to Mars,” writes Bolden. “Much work is underway throughout the agency to meet this vision.”
Mark Kelly: My twin brother Scott just blasted off for a year in space
MSNBC.com (3/27): Scott Kelly’s earthbound identical twin, retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, reflects on his brother’s long mission. The twins will participate in long running studies to determine if spaceflight is responsible for genetic changes. “So what’s my message to my brother Scott? “Thank you for your service, and be careful up there,'” writes Mark Kelly.
Russians and NASA discuss building a new Space Station
NBC News (3/28): U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko reached the International Space Station late Friday to begin a one year mission. At the same time, U.S. and Russia officials talked of plans for a multinational successor to the ISS after current use agreements expire in 2020-24, according to the report.
NASA says no plans for ISS replacement with Russia
Space News (3/28): In a statement, NASA said it welcomed Russia’s plans to extend operations aboard the International Space Station through 2024. However, the U.S. space agency did not speak of Russian comments about a new global space station beyond 2024 NASA’s policy has been to look toward the human exploration of Mars, while encouraging commercial activities in low Earth orbit.
Two new satellites join Europe’s fledgling navigation network
Spaceflightnow.com (3/28): Europe bolsters an emerging global navigation system with the launch Friday of two satellites from French Guiana.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
House SS&T approves legislation for commercial weather satellite pilot program
Spacepolicyonline.com (3/28): The U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee backs legislation, the Weather Research and Forecast Innovation Act. The bill encourages commercial interests to develop capabilities to provide weather data to NOAA.
Chinese scientists mull power station in space
Xinhuanet, of China (3/30): China considers assembling a massive solar power station in geosynchronous Earth orbit using technologies developed aboard the country’s forthcoming orbiting space station.
Suborbital
SpaceShipOne lowered to floor as Air and Space Museum renovates hall
Collectspace.com (3/30): The suspended suborbital test plane is lowered to the floor temporarily at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington. Parts of the museum are undergoing renovations. SpaceShipOne flew three piloted suborbital flights in 2004, two of them to win the $10 million Ansari X-Prize.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of March 30-April 3, 2015
Spacepolicyonline.com (3/29): Congress is in recess. But there are conferences and lectures.
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