In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Representative Culberson praises NASA’s Space Launch System and Earth Science program during yesterday’s address to the Space Transportation Association detailing his recommendations to the Trump Administration.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Culberson praises NASA’s Space Launch System and Earth Science programs
SpacePolicyOnline.com (2/7): Representative John Culberson from Texas, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA and NOAA, praised NASA’s Space Launch System and Earth Science program yesterday when addressing the Space Transportation Association on Capitol Hill. Culberson is one of NASA’s most ardent supporters, calling the agency a “strategic national asset” that will assure America remains great for centuries to come.
Tornado closes NASA’s Michoud, but people and SLS are OK
Huntsville Times (2/7): NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) outside New Orleans was damaged Tuesday by a tornado. MAF is the production site for NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion crew exploration vehicles, cornerstones of plans by the agency to resume missions of human deep space exploration. There were no major injuries among the 3,500 member workforce and no damage to tooling and parts used in the production of SLS core stage and Orion, according to officials. However, the facility sustained damage and it was unclear how long it will be closed.
Bill introduced to redirect NASA to Moon, establish sustained presence
Spaceflight Insider (2/7): Legislation introduced February 3 in the U.S. House would direct NASA to return to the moon with human explorers to establish a sustained presence. The measure was referred to the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Space Science
Mars 2020 rover’s landing site will undergo hot debate this week
Seeker.com (2/7): This week, NASA hosts a workshop in Monrovia, California, to narrow from eight to three or four landing sites that will undergo extended evaluation for the agency’s Mars 2020 rover mission. The sibling to NASA’s Curiosity rover, Mars 2020 is to gather and cache samples of Martian rock for eventual return to Earth; demonstrate a technology for extracting oxygen from the carbon dioxide atmosphere; and further characterize the red planet environment for possible bio markers.
Mars Mystery: How was ancient red planet warm enough for liquid water?
Space.com (2/6): Data gathered by NASA’s Curiosity rover from Martian rocks has not found evidence that Mars was warm enough in its past to sustain water as a liquid on the surface. Experts are looking for carbonate minerals in the soil that reflect levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere three and a half billion years ago sufficient to warm up the planet.
Scientists optimistic about prospects for LISA gravitational wave mission
Space News (2/7): Astronomers are optimistic that plans for a three-spacecraft European Space Agency Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission will be forthcoming in time for a launch in the early 2030s. LISA would detect and map out passing gravity waves over a four-year mission.
Cassini images of Enceladus highlight possible cradle for life
Universe Today (2/7): The long running, NASA led Cassini mission to Saturn reveals why Enceladus may host biological activity: an ocean looms below a crust of ice. Geyser-like eruptions emerge from the south pole and the water plumes contain simple organics as well as salt.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Commercial group endorses use of Space Launch System
Space News (2/8): Alan Stern, president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF), offered an endorsement of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), during a conference in Washington this week. “The exploration of space for all purposes, including commercial spaceflight, is our interest. And to that end, the CSF is announcing that we see many potential benefits in the development of NASA’s Space Launch System,” says Stern. “The SLS can be a resource that benefits commercial spaceflight.”