In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Youthful dreams of spaceflight reveal a global reach — and response.
Human Space Exploration
Young astronaut hopeful gets NASA tour of his (space) dreams
NPR/Houston Public Media (8/14): Sixteen-year-old Uzbekistan immigrant Murad Rahimov’s dreams of space and perhaps of becoming an astronaut were ignited by a picture book from his aunt. A news story about his family’s road to U.S. citizenship prompted an invitation to visit NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and a growing friendship between the young student and a NASA research astronomer.
SpaceX confident commercial crew flights in one year
Spacepolicyonline.com (8/14): A SpaceX official expressed optimism the company could be launching astronauts to the International Space Station by this time next year through its partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “Pretty sure a year from now looks right,” commented Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX vice president for build and reliability, following the launch Monday of the company’s latest NASA contracted re-supply mission to the Space Station. Dan Hartman, NASA’s deputy ISS program manager, estimated the milestone mission will unfold during the 2019 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2018. Boeing is also a partner with NASA in efforts to develop commercial systems for transporting astronauts to and from the Space Station.
Space Science
CubeSats: Faster and cheaper, but are they better?
The Space Review (8/14): Small, satellites are bringing the spaceflight experience to new participants from the commercial sector and academia as well as from government agencies. However, the ability of these lower cost alternatives to deliver the highest quality science is still under review, writes TSR editor Jeff Foust.
Scientists discover Trappist-1 is older than our Solar System
Universe Today (8/14): European scientists caused a stir earlier this year when they announced the discovery of Trappist-1, a nearby star with seven rocky planets, three of them in the habitable zone. A new study by University of California San Diego and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory personnel suggests the Trappist-1 system is up to twice as old as the solar system, which came together 4.6 billion years ago.
NASA’s Cassini probe dives into Saturn’s atmosphere
CNN (8/14): With its long mission to Saturn nearing a September close, the joint NASA, European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency Cassini mission has embarked on a final set of five dives that are taking it just over 1,000 miles above the ringed planet’s cloud tops. Launched in 1997, Cassini maneuvered into orbit around Saturn in 2004.
SpaceX launches NASA cargo to ISS, lands Falcon 9 at Cape
Florida Today (8/14): Favorable weather at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center permitted an on time liftoff Monday of the 12th NASA contracted SpaceX resupply mission to the International Space Station. A Dragon capsule, filled with 6,400 pounds of mostly science equipment, was on course to rendezvous with the Space Station early Wednesday. NASA and European astronauts Jack Fischer and Paoli Nespoli were to team up to grapple the cargo vessel with the Station’s Canadian robot arm. Meanwhile, the first stage from the Falcon 9 launch vehicle landed intact at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
U.S. Army prepares to launch Kestrel Eye satellite atop Falcon 9
Space News (8/14): The cargo launched to the International Space Station on Monday includes an experimental U.S. Army small satellite developed to provide troops on the ground independent access to satellite reconnaissance. Kestrel Eye could perhaps be replicated into a constellation of small satellites.
Other News
How to watch the eclipse online if you’re stuck indoors (or it’s cloudy)
New York Times (8/14): If stuck inside or trapped under overcast skies on Monday, August 21, during the rare total solar eclipse, there are ways enthusiasts can not miss out on an event everyone seems to be talking about. NASA is providing a timeline, even programming over the Internet and over social media for remote viewing.