In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Colorful NASA posters urge skilled Americans to find a place on the Journey to Mars.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Do you have what it takes to colonize Mars? NASA might need you
Christian Science Monitor (6/16): Colorful posters from NASA tug at those who have the desire to join the agency’s Journey to Mars. “Whether repairing an antenna in the extreme environment of Mars, or setting up an outpost on the moon Phobos, having the skills and desire to dare mighty things is all you need,” proclaims one of the colorful placards. “We need many things for our Journey To Mars, but one key piece is YOU!” proclaims another.
Mike Collins talks about the moon, Mars and handling Apollo hoaxers
Air and Space Museum Magazine (6/16): Apollo 11 astronaut Mike Collins joined Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos at the Air and Space Museum in Washington this week as part of a lecture series. Take some risk, aim for the human exploration of Mars, advised Collins. Collins treasures his early NASA space missions, but spends much of his retirement fishing, exercising and reflecting. Collins circled the moon in the Apollo 11 command module, while his crew mates Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon in July 1969.
NASA Saturn V moon rocket stage moving to Mississippi
Space.com and Collectspace.com (6/16): An aging NASA Saturn 5 rocket stage, once designated for the never launched Apollo 19 mission, is on the move. The giant moon rocket stage is moving from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana to the agency’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where it will go on display at the Infinity Science Center in Pearlington, Miss.
Space Science
Leading astronomer urges Europe to end human space missions
CNN (6/16): The astronomer is Martin Rees, who believes the European Space Agency should exchange its support for human space exploration for robotic missions that are “more cost productive” and scientifically enriching. Rees comments coincide with British astronaut Tim Peake’s return to Earth this weekend after six months aboard the International Space Station. Peake has urged the U.K. to become more involved in human space exploration throughout his voyage. ESA’s director general backs a future Moon Village, a human base at the lunar south pole.
Surprise! Newfound asteroid is ‘quasi-moon’ of Earth
Space.com (6/16): Surprise! The Earth has a small companion planetary object, 2016 HO3, an asteroid that has been orbiting the sun and looping around the Earth for perhaps a century. The relationship could last for centuries more, say scientists. Estimates are that 2016 HO3 is 130 to 330 feet wide. There’s no threat of a collision, say experts.
NASA probe is about to give the best ever views of Jupiter
National Geographic (6/16): NASA’s Jupiter bound Juno mission spacecraft is on course to reach its destination on July 4. The orbital maneuver will be risky. The scientific rewards include a better understanding of the solar system’s largest planet and the role it may have played in the formation and lineup of the solar system’s other planets.
See the first videos back from NASA’s spacecraft fire experiment
Popular Science (6/16): NASA presented videos from a novel space experiment carried out earlier this week aboard an unmanned Orbital ATK Cygnus re-supply capsule after it undocked from the International Space Station. Five hours after the departure Tuesday morning, commands from Earth ignited a sample of cotton fiberglass cloth in the unmanned capsule so that scientists on Earth can study how fire spreads in the absence of gravity. Engineer will study video of the burn and data from oxygen and carbon dioxide sensors to improve the safety of spacecraft developed for future human deep space exploration.
Low Earth Orbit
ESA enlists NASA chief in campaign for Space Station support
Space News (6/16): NASA Administrator Charles Bolden urges continued support from European nations for the International Space Station. Among the station’s five major partners, the European Space Agency, has yet to back an extension of activities aboard the six person orbiting science lab from 2020 to 2024. Bolden spoke to the ruling council of the European Space Agency earlier this week.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Antares return to flight likely to slip to August
Space News (6/16): Orbital ATK believes its next NASA contracted commercial re-supply mission to the International Space Station will move from a July to an August lift off. Orbital did not elaborate, according to the report. The mission will feature Orbital’s first launch of an Antares rocket from the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Va. since a launch mishap in late 2014. Orbital temporarily moved the launching of its NASA contracted International Space Station re-supply missions to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., until the Antares launch vehicle could be modified. The upgraded Antares underwent a test firing at MARS on May 31.