In Today’s Deep Space Extra… A U.S. led global effort to reach Mars with human explorers could help restore humankind’s optimism in the future.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Why Mars? Because it will change our world for the better
Huffington Post (1/24): If we settle Mars with humans, the achievement will become an important symbol of what the world’s nations can achieve together. “The vision of humans on Mars, imagined for centuries, is now within our grasp,” writes Mary Lynne Dittmar, executive director of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, in an op-ed. “We owe it to ourselves, our country and our posterity to press forward toward this great vision of an optimistic future for humankind — one that, once realized, will forever change our world for the better.”
Cornyn files legislation aimed at NASA setting human spaceflight goals
WBAP Radio of Fort Worth (1/24): U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas has filed legislation, The MANIFEST for Human Spaceflight Act, setting a strategy for the U.S. to re-establish a human space launch capability. The legislation calls on NASA to chart a road map for reaching Mars with human explorers.
Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan, last man on the moon, mourned at funeral
Collectspace.com (1/24): Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan was remembered Tuesday during funeral services in Houston. A veteran of Apollo 10 and 17 missions to the moon, Cernan also became the second American to walk in space during the Gemini 9 mission. He died of lingering health issues on January 16. Former president George H. W. Bush called Cernan a “true hero” in a statement included in the St. Martin’s Episcopal Church program.
‘Hidden Figures’ nominated for 3 Oscars, including Best Picture
Hampton Roads Daily Press of Virginia (1/24): Hidden Figures, the film about three African American women based at NASA’s Langley Research Center whose math skills helped to launch the early U.S. astronauts into space, was nominated for three Oscars on Tuesday: best picture, supporting actress and adapted screen play.
Los Angeles Times (1/24): Screenwriter Allison Schroeder remembers NASA’s shuttle Challenger loss and her response. As a youngster, she recalls that her grandparents worked for NASA. Her screenplay contributions to Hidden Figures will complete in the Hollywood Oscars.
Space Science
NASA’s Opportunity Rover celebrates 13 amazing years on Mars
America Space (1/24): NASA’s Opportunity rover is marking its thirteenth year at Meridiani Planum on the red planet, far surpassing a mission plan that was expected to span no more than 90 days. After it landed in 2004, the mechanical geologist soon found mineral evidence that water was once a feature on the now desert-like terrain.
No urban legend: Our rooftops are collecting stardust
Ars Technica (1/24): Samples of debris collected from roofs in Oslo and Paris help support a long standing belief that bits of material from space fall to Earth and are preserved on roof tops. Norwegian artist and jazz guitarist Jon Larsen managed to convince scientists to explore the possibility with positive results, though the fragments are few and far between.
Space weather efforts find stability despite presidential transition
Space News (1/24): Space weather research appears to face little change in support under President Trump, say those in the field attending the American Meteorological Society conference in Seattle this week.
Here’s why Venus’ mysterious atmosphere is so weird
Seeker (1/24): A Japanese planetary science mission, Akatsuki, finds a strange ripple in the atmosphere of Venus. More than 6,000 miles long, the feature has been described as a gravity wave.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Boeing ships Starliner test article to California, simulator to Texas
Spaceflight Insider (1/24): Working under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Boeing has shipped a structural test article for its CST-100 Starliner to Huntington Beach facilities in California for evaluation. Meanwhile, a flight simulator has arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where it will become a training tool for astronauts. The Starliner is under development by Boeing for the commercial transport of astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Suborbital
World View to fly weather radar on stratospheric balloon
Space News (1/24): Later this year, Arizona-based World View, the commercial high altitude balloon start-up, will test operations of a weather radar aboard one of its balloon craft, or stratollites. “The company believes that its stratollites can offer advantages over satellites in terms of cost and the ability to stay over a particular region for weeks or months at a time,” according to the report from the American Meteorological Society conference in Seattle.