In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The human exploration of Mars is well worth the risk, says retired NASA astronaut and astrophysicist John Grunsfeld. The former NASA associate administrator for science found his professional calling at the age of six.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Why Mars? An astronaut’s perspective
Huffington Post (11/1): With partial gravity and soil, and atmosphere that could harbor resources for human explorers, Mars is an attractive destination for astronauts, explains John Grunsfeld, NASA’s recently retired associate administrator for science. As an astronaut, Grunsfeld launched five times, three of them on missions to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope.
Space Science
NASA unveils a laser-based nose to sniff for signs of life on Mars
Washington Post (11/2): At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, engineers turn a radar-like military technology into a potential spacecraft tool for detecting organic chemistry — the building blocks of life — in planetary atmospheres.
NASA seeks small lunar lander payload ideas, Moon Express will help with funding
Spacepolicyonline.com (11/1): As encouragement to the U.S. private sector, NASA on Tuesday issued a Request for Information to commercial companies with the capability to land on the moon, gather samples and return them to Earth for analysis by experts.
Low Earth Orbit
Japan launches backup weather satellite Himawari-9
Kyodo News (11/2): Japan’s Himawari-9 weather satellite lifted off successfully on Wednesday bound for geosynchronous orbit.
This is how the lone American in space already voted in the presidential election
Mashable.com (11/1): What to do when you are in space and it’s time to vote? NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Kate Rubins have cast their votes for Tuesday’s presidential election. The rules could extend to Mars.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
NASA advisory committee questions SpaceX’s unorthodox fueling process
Los Angeles Times (11/2): Members of a NASA International Space Station advisory panel question the safety of an operational plan by SpaceX to fuel its Falcon 9 rocket while astronauts are on board. SpaceX is one of two companies working under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to transport astronauts to and from the space station by late 2018. On September 1, a Falcon 9 with an Israeli communications satellite detonated on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The launch vehicle was being prepared for a pre-launch engine firing. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.
Suborbital
Weightless tourism just 4 years away
China Daily (11/2): Han Qingping, president of the new ChinaRocket Co., LTD, of Beijing, says the company could be ready to launch paying passengers into suborbital space by 2020. The company’s reusable rockets could be ready for intercontinental commercial operations by 2030, he said.
Virgin Galactic calls off SpaceShipTwo’s glide test
Popular Science (11/2): Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo took to the air on Tuesday, though the suborbital passenger rocket remains secured to its WhiteKnightTwo mother ship. Plans for a gliding test flight in which the suborbital passenger rocket would be released from the mother ship’s grip were called off because of unfavorable winds. The company suspended test flights two years ago after a test flight fatality.