In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The Earth’s moon figures prominently in China’s long term space exploration planning. The strategy could lead to a human lunar base, according to one long term analyst of Chinese space activities.
Human Deep Space Exploration
China aims for pole position in lunar exploration
GB Times, of Finland (10/14): China’s unfolding two-decade space strategy includes science missions to the moon’s two poles, including the first ever landing on the lunar far side, planetary science missions to Mars and possible human expeditions to the moon.
Space Science
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has a problem with its engine
Ars Technica (10/15): Plans to adjust the orbit of NASA’s Juno spacecraft around giant Jupiter have been delayed while mission managers troubleshoot a pair of helium check values. The valves play a crucial role in the planned firing of the spacecraft’s main engine for a maneuver that would shorten Juno’s orbital period from 53.4 days to 14 days. Launched in 2011, Juno reached Jupiter and maneuvered into its preliminary orbit on July 4. The next opportunity for the engine firing is Dec. 11.
Why did Hitomi end up as space junk?
Japan News (10/16): Earlier this year, Japan’s promising Hitomi X-ray observatory broke apart weeks after its February launch. A string of failures, including systems engineering and operations errors, was responsible, according to Naoki Okumura, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. “This is not a case of one single person bearing all the responsibility,” said Okumura in an interview.
Uranus might have two dark moons we’ve never seen before
New Scientist (10/14): Ice giant Uranus has 27 known moons. Now astronomers are saying there may be two more small moons that are so close to the planet they are difficult to detect. However, they appear to be making observable disturbances in two small dark rings.
Low Earth Orbit
China launches two crew members to Tiangong-2 Space Station
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/17): China’s Shenzhou-11 spacecraft lifted off Sunday at 7:30 p.m., U.S. EDT, carrying astronauts Jing Haipeng, a veteran of two previous spaceflights, and Chen Dong, a first time flier. They are to dock with the Tiangong-2 orbiting space lab in two days and remain aboard for about 30 days. Tiangong-2, the prototype for a larger Chinese space station, was launched in September.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Faulty cable delays Antares launch 24 hours
Spaceflightnow.com (10/16): Orbital ATK re-set the launching of its next NASA contracted re-supply mission to the International Space Station from Sunday to Monday night in order to replace a faulty launch pad cable at the NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility on Virginia’s eastern shore.
Fire in space and other experiments launch to space station Sunday
Space.com (10/14): Orbital ATK’s latest NASA contracted cargo mission to the International Space Station carries a range of science experiments, including a “fire in space” investigation that will be carried out when the uncrewed Cygnus capsule departs the six person orbiting science lab in November. Smaller experiments installed on the station and hosted by the private company NanoRacks will enable ground-based researchers more control of their research activities.
ULA unveils new configuration for Atlas V rocket to carry astronauts
Florida Politics (10/13): United Launch Alliance will adorn the Atlas 5 rocket with an “aeroskirt” to address stability requirements for future launches of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner on missions that transport astronauts to the International Space Station. The work is being carried out under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Orbital ATK books Proton rocket for first commercial satellite servicing mission
Spaceflightnow.com (10/14): Orbital ATK has contracted a Russian Proton rocket launch to start a robotic satellite servicing demonstration in 2018. After reaching geosynchronous orbit, Orbital’s Mission Extension Vehicle will be commanded to rendezvous with Intelsat communications satellites to refuel and in some cases reposition them to serve new regions of the Earth.
3 ways private companies are reducing spaceflight costs
Inverse (10/14): The efforts of private enterprise can open space to new generations by introducing space-based satellite repairs and the reuse of rocket second and first stages, according to participants in last week’s White House Frontiers Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
Suborbital
Blue Origin on track for human suborbital test flights in 2017
Space News (10/14): In remarks before last week’s International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight, Blue Origin’s president Rob Meyerson stated the company’s successful Oct. 5 crew capsule abort test in West Texas is paving the way for company piloted test flights in 2017 and commercial passenger launches for researchers and tourists in 2018.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of October 16-22, 2016
Spacepolicyonline.com (10/16): Lots of global space operations are planned this week. China’s Shenzhou-11, which launched Sunday evening U.S. time, is due Wednesday at Beijing’s recently launched Tiangong-2 orbital station with a pair of astronauts prepared for a 30-day stay. The launch of Orbital ATK’s sixth NASA contracted re-supply mission to the International Space Station from Wallops Island, Va., was postponed again on Sunday until Monday evening. A three man U.S. and Russian crew is scheduled to lift-off for the International Space Station aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-02 early Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They are due at the space station early Friday. It’s possible that Orbital ATK’s Cygnus will have to loiter in Earth orbit until after the MS-02 docks. Also on Sunday, the joint European/Russian Exo Mars mission neared the red planet, setting up the successful separation of two mated spacecraft, the Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli lander. Trace Gas is to maneuver into orbit around Mars on Wednesday. Schiaparelli is to descent to the surface. The U.S. House and Senate are in recess until Nov. 15.