In Today’s Deep Space Extra… New observations with the Hubble Space Telescope find the universe expanding faster than previous estimates.
Human Deep Space Exploration
The last man on the moon pauses for a special reunion
Canberra Times, of Australia (6/2): Gene Cernan, commander of NASA’s Apollo 17 mission and the last person to walk on the moon, visited the Deep Space Communications Complex in Tidbinbilla, Australia. Cernan’s visit coincided with a preview of his film autobiography, The Last Man on the Moon.
Space Science
The universe is expanding 5-9% faster than astronomers expected, Hubble team finds
GeekWire (6/2): Based on recent observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers believe the universe is expanding more rapidly than believed. It’s unclear as to why this is happening. NASA says it may be caused by dark energy pushing galaxies apart with greater or growing force.
Flash of light, loud boom over Phoenix skies likely a meteor
Associated Press via ABC News (6/2): Early Thursday, a meteor flashed across the darkened skies of Arizona with a loud boom.
Russia to create system of warning about dangerous space bodies
TASS, of Russia (6/2): Enhancements to Russia’s Automated Space Hazard Warning System will identify and assess the threat posed by large meteors and comets that pass close to the Earth. Russia anticipates cooperation among the world’s leading space agencies on the project.
MarCO! CubeSats set to support NASA InSight mission
Spaceflight Insider (6/2): NASA’s twin MarCO spacecraft are in line to become the first deep space CubeSats. They will accompany NASA’s Mars InSight lander to the red planet. InSight is currently scheduled to launch in May 2018, after a delay to correct a problem with a European science instrument. The MarCOs are to relay real time communications back to Earth during InSight’s entry, descent and landing at Mars.
Jupiter’s stormy weather no tempest in teapot
Science News (6/2): Astronomers using terrestrial radio telescopes peek at the ammonia turmoil swirling in the skies of giant Jupiter. Their findings, reported in the journal Science, offer a preview of what NASA’s Juno spacecraft will discover when it maneuvers into orbit around Jupiter on July 4 for a first person look.
Watch Saturn shine on Friday, no equipment required
New York Times (6/2): The ringed planet Saturn will offer some great nighttime viewing this June.
Low Earth Orbit
TASS takes half step back on Soyuz MS delay
Spacepolicyonline.com (6/3): After first reporting a delay of from June 24 to July 7 in the launching of three new crew members to the International Space Station, TASS, the Russian news agency, said the late June date may hold if Roscosmos can resolve a docking system issue with an upgraded version of the Soyuz crew transport. The new crew members include NASA’s Kate Rubins.
Suborbital
Blue Origin named to NASA contractor list
Orlando Sentinel (6/2): Blue Origin joins five other U.S. companies as eligible contractors under NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program. Eligible means qualified to fly experiments and personnel to carry out NASA sponsored research at suborbital altitudes.