In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot to lead NASA as interim administrator on January 20 as President Obama’s administration leaves office. NASA awaits President-elect Trump’s nominees for administrator and deputy administrator.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Lightfoot to be acting NASA administrator, CFO Radzanowski to stay on
SpacepolicyOnline.com (1/13): President Obama and his administration, including NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Deputy Administrator Dava Newman, leave office on January 20. President-elect Trump has not designated successors, who will face U.S. Senate confirmation. During the interim, long-time NASA civil servant Robert Lightfoot, now the agency’s No. 3 official, will serve as acting administrator. David Radzanowski will continue on as chief financial officer, at least temporarily. Bolden and Newman have filled the agency’s top posts since July 2009 and April 2015 respectively.
Asteroid missions face delays and restructuring
Space News (1/12): Two U.S. and European robotic missions, intended to further efforts to detect and fend off an asteroid on a collision course with the Earth, face schedule development slips. In the case of NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), the failure by Congress to agree on a budget for 2017 is a major factor. NASA considers ARM an important part of preparing for the human exploration of Mars.
8 months on ‘Mars’! Mock space mission to launch in Hawaii
Space.com (1/12): In Hawaii, eight volunteer scientists and engineers are prepared to simulate an eight month journey to Mars. They are slated to initiate the eighth HI-SEAS simulation on the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii’s main island beginning January 19.
Space Science
Stars at the edge of our galaxy may have been stolen
Universe Today (1/12): Astronomers at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have identified a third source of the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. In addition to those born in the galaxy or from smaller galaxies that merged, some stars were hijacked from other star systems that moved too close.
Charon is Pluto’s first line of defense against solar wind onslaught
Space.com (1/12): Distant Pluto lacks an Earth-like magnetic field that can shield its surface from the effects of the solar wind. However, Pluto’s moon Charon is doing its best to provide a protective shield.
Low Earth Orbit
Watch live coverage: American and Frenchman to conduct spacewalk.
America Space (1/12): U.S. and European space-walkers Shane Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet were poised early Friday for the second in a pair of spacewalks outside the International Space Station. The purpose of these walks is to exchange six more efficient lithium ion power storage batteries for a dozen larger less efficient nickel hydrogen power cells. The joint robotic spacewalk exchange got under way New Year’s Eve. The second spacewalk in the series was to get underway on Friday at 7:05 a.m., EST.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Federal government tweaks space export control rules
Space News (1/12): Published in the Federal Register this week, changes in export rules approved by the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State will increase the ability of domestic manufacturers to export spacecraft and components. The previous export controls were published in May 2014.
Chao punts on whether commercial space should be restored to DOT secretary’s office
SpacepolicyOnline.com (1/12): During confirmation hearings this week, Department of Transportation Secretary designate Elaine Chao was non-committal on whether the U.S. Office of Commercial Space, now part of the department’s Federal Aviation Agency, should be returned to the secretary’s office. The office issues licenses for U.S. commercial launches, domestic space ports and other space related activities.
NASA safety advisory group raises concerns about SpaceX rocket fueling process
Los Angeles Times (1/12): In its annual safety report to Congress, the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel raises concerns about SpaceX’s fueling protocol for future agency contracted Commercial Crew Program launches of astronauts to low Earth orbit destinations, including the International Space Station. The issue arose after the September 1 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch pad fire and explosion.