In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Many in the space community are concerned for projects in progress as Washington prepares for a transition in administrations.
Human Deep Space Exploration
The Importance of Space Through the Transition
Space Watch (10/3): Why is the U.S. space community concerned about the upcoming change in presidential administrations? Many hope for a transition that supports current initiatives important to the nation’s economy and U.S. leadership in space, writes Elliot Holokauahi Pulham, CEO of the Space Foundation.
The Space Review (10/3): A stir over SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s much-anticipated announcement of a strategy to colonize Mars presented before the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara last week, gave way to questions over the odds of success and sustained support in the days that followed.
Space Science
Curiosity Rover Might Just Explore Mars Forever at This Point
Inverse (10/3): NASA’s Curiosity rover began its latest extended mission in Gale Crater on Mars on Oct. 1. The rover’s latest assignment is a study of the sedimentary layers of Mount Sharp, an 18,000-foot high rise, for new clues about the planet’s more habitable past, including the role surface water may have played in biological activity. Curiosity descended to the surface of the red planet in August 2012.
Under Hawaii’s Starriest Skies, a Fight Over Sacred Ground
The New York Times (10/3): Later this month, proponents and opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea will meet in Hilo, Hawaii to consider the merits of the proposed observatory on what natives to the region consider sacred ground. If constructed, the telescope would outclass the Hubble Space Telescope to study planets orbiting other stars and distant galaxies. Hearings will determine whether there is a legal basis to proceed with construction.
Gravitational Waves Get New Focus From NASA
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/04): NASA intends to participate in a European Space Agency-led initiative for the detection and study of gravitational waves. ESA’s L-3 mission is planned for launching in 2033-34. NASA will invest between $300 million and $400 million. The “waves” are subtle ripples in the fabric of space-time caused by the collisions of massive objects like black holes.
Low Earth Orbit
Hurricane Matthew, Expected to Hit Haiti, Could Be ‘Catastrophic’
The New York Times (10/3): Gaining strength late Monday, Hurricane Matthew could follow a devastating course through the Caribbean toward Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba as the powerful storm moves north and possibly into southern Florida. Imagery from cameras aboard the International Space Station reveal Matthew’s might.
Why scheduling naps is one of NASA’s most important jobs
Washington Post (10/3): Adequate sleep is an important part of human performance in space. In 1997, a fatigued cosmonaut was at the controls of Russia’s former Mir space station as a supply capsule maneuvered close for a re-docking. The outcome was a collision that could have had devastating consequences.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Firefly Space Systems furloughs staff after investor backs out
Space News (10/3): Firefly Space Systems of Central Texas pauses activities after losing a key European investor. The developer of a small, two-stage launch vehicle called Alpha has been forced to furlough its workforce. “We’re trying to figure out the future of Firefly in the next four months,” said Thomas Markusic, Firefly chief executive.
Suborbital
Blue Origin Delays Rocket ‘Escape Test’ to Wednesday Due to Bad Weather
Space.com (10/3): Poor weather forecast for Blue Origin’s New Shepard launch facilities in West Texas has prompted a 24-hour delay in a planned test of the launch abort system. The test flight of the future suborbital passenger rocket has been rescheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday.
China plans world’s biggest space plane to carry 20 tourists
New Scientist (10/3): China is working on two versions of a reusable space plane with the ability to launch five or up to 20 passengers into suborbital space. Launched like a rocket, the winged spacecraft would land on a runway. According to the report, launches with payloads could begin in 2020 with humans to follow, once it is deemed safe.