In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Apollo 11 moves from Washington D.C. to Virginia in preparation for a future exhibit.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Smithsonian moving Apollo 11 spacecraft “Columbia” for conservation
Collectspace (12/19): The temporary move of Columbia from the Air and Space Museum in Washington D. C. to nearby Virginia will prepare the capsule that transported Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on their historic July 1969 mission to the moon for a future exhibition.
Space Science
Japanese Google Lunar X Prize team finds new ride to the moon
Space News (12/20): Japan’s Team Hakuto, an X-Prize contender, announced Wednesday it has a backup way to the moon aboard the lander of another X-Prize contestant. India’s Team Indus will provide the transportation.
Bizarre antimatter emits same light as regular matter
Space.com (12/20): New research has determined that antimatter emits light similar to regular matter when energized with laser energy. Further study may help to determine why there seems to be less observable antimatter than ordinary matter in the universe.
Developer says project to save Earth from asteroids with nuclear blast to cost $5.6 bln
TASS, of Russia (12/20): The Russian Center for Planetary Protection on Tuesday outlined a plan to fend off an asteroid on a collision course with the Earth. First, observatories and surveillance satellites would assess the space rock’s mass and other characteristics. Another nuclear armed spacecraft would be available to destroy or attempt to change the course of the asteroid.
Low Earth Orbit
NOAA sees smallsats as good gap fillers for weather system
Space News (12/20): NOAA is looking to data acquisition from two NASA small satellite weather research constellations to fill any gaps from lapses in traditional large weather satellite operations, either due to aging systems or operational difficulties. “The idea is that for much less money and much less time, we will be able to get data that are good enough to help mitigate gaps,” said Margaret Caulfield, division chief in NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service’s office of projects, planning and analysis.
Research platform launched to brave Van Allen radiation belts
Spaceflightnow.com (12/20): Early Tuesday, Japan successfully launched a satellite radiation monitor. The ERG spacecraft is designed to pass through the Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts to sort out the origin and evolution of geomagnetic storms.
NASA releases top 16 photos from the International Space Station from 2016
Orlando Sentinel (12/20): The whole world stars in an all-star lineup of the 16 best photos snapped from the International Space Station in 2016. Auroras over Australia are pretty amazing.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Peter Thiel now leading the fight for commercial space in Trump’s NASA
Ars Technica (12/20): President-elect Trump’s NASA transition team may have changed its heading, perhaps assessing a larger role for the U.S. private sector in future exploration activities.
The runway at the edge of tomorrow
Popular Mechanics (12/19): NASA’s Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center has a historic past. Now operated by Space Florida, the 15,000 foot long concrete landing strip is being prepared for a history-making future in the commercial space field.