In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA’s Space Launch System, a cornerstone of U.S. human deep space exploration planning, receives an endorsement from the U.S. commercial space sector, which may influence Trump administration policy makers on the SLS’s future.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Leading commercial space group embraces NASA’s biggest rocket
Wall Street Journal (2/7): Alan Stern, chair of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, conveyed the organization’s support for NASA’s Space Launch System during a Washington conference this week. The federation sees benefits accruing from the NASA-led development of the SLS, a crucial element of NASA’s plans to resume human deep space exploration, said Stern.
FAA Commercial Space Conference takeaways from Bridenstine, Babin, Gerstenmaier, and Stern
SpacePolicyOnline.com (2/8): The FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference ended yesterday and included presentations by Representative Jim Bridenstine, Representative Brian Babin, and the head of NASA’s human spaceflight program, Bill Gerstenmaier. During his presentation, Gerstenmaier stressed the need for his agency and those working with it to acknowledge the risks associated with human spaceflight. The conference was organized by the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST).
European Space Agency to help NASA take humans beyond moon
AP via New York Times (2/8): The European Space Agency (ESA) and contractor Airbus will team to furnish a service module for NASA’s Exploration Mission-2, a test flight of the SLS and Orion crew capsule that could launch as soon as 2021 for a journey around the moon and back to Earth with a small crew of astronauts. ESA is already providing the service module for an uncrewed version of the same test flight planned for late 2018 and designated Exploration Mission-1.
Tornado strikes NASA’s Michoud plant in New Orleans
Spaceflightnow.com (2/7): Responders place a priority on repairs to Building 103 at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, which was struck by a tornado on Tuesday. The structure houses production hardware for NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule, lynch pins in the agency’s plans to resume human deep space exploration. The hardware was not damaged. The storm was responsible for a handful of minor injuries, but lots of damage to the grounds.
Space Science
Mars was recently hit by a meteorite ‘shotgun’ blast
Seeker.com (2/8): NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and its high-resolution optics have detected a cluster of meteor impacts near the planet’s Tharsis region, perhaps between 2008 and 2014. Without a protective thick atmosphere, Mars could host risks for future human explorers that include impacts.
Saturn could be defending Earth from massive asteroid impacts
Space.com (2/8): Planetary scientists have long heralded giant Jupiter as a planetary traffic cop, steering large asteroids away from collisions with the Earth. A new study led by a Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist suggests it is Saturn, rather than Jupiter, that reigns as the great protector.
First atomic blast reveals clues about moon formation
Space.com (2/8): The 1945 A-bomb test in southern New Mexico illustrated the effect of high heat on surrounding layers of top soil. A similar response to the impact forces responsible for the moon’s formation may also explain why the lunar terrain has so few volatiles, like water, according to a study led by a Scripps Institution of Oceanography researcher.
Low Earth Orbit
Tornado destroys first NASA space shuttle external tank to stand on launch pad
Collectspace.com (2/8): NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in east New Orleans was damaged Tuesday by a tornado. Among the losses was a shuttle-era artifact, an external fuel tank that served as an early launch pad structural test article. Michoud is the assembly facility for NASA’s Space Launch System core stage and the Orion crew exploration vehicle.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Launch providers making room for smallsat boom
Space News (2/8): Increasingly, traditional launch services providers are working the small satellite operator community into their business and launch plans, according to presentations this week before the Small Satellite Symposium in Mountain View, California. Those adjusting their business plans are based in Europe, Russia and Japan, as well as the U.S.
Suborbital
Pima County board votes to appeal court decision on World View
Tucson News Now (2/7): Tucson County Arizona’s board of supervisors has voted to appeal a court ruling that nullifies a lease agreement with World View, a company initiating a high altitude balloon service for researchers and tourists. Worldview is based on leased land near the Tucson International Airport.