In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Recent remarks from U.S. vice president and chair of the National Space Council Mike Pence suggest the White House wishes to reinforce its commitment to a future sustained human presence at the Moon. New research suggests woman are best suited to withstand the challenges posed by space radiation. NASA’s Osiris-Rex asteroid sample return probe begins final approach to its target, Bennu.
Human Space Exploration
We really are going back to the Moon and then on to Mars
The Hill (8/26): Last week, Vice President Mike Pence spoke reassuringly at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) about the agency’s commitment to returning to the Moon with human explorers, with a human tended Lunar Gateway that will be assembled in lunar orbit starting in 2022 and provide a depot for a return the surface. Devoid of major news, Pence’s appearance and remarks serve as an assurance the White House is committed to a sustained human presence on the Moon, according to the op ed.
The change agents bringing tradition-bound NASA into the future
Washington Post (8/24): NASA’s evolving in its human space exploration efforts and especially when they come to deep space, according to the assessment. As evidence, it cites decisions by the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administration to turn cargo and soon astronaut transportation to the International Space Station (ISS) over to commercial companies. NASA is looking for similar opportunities as it turns its human exploration focus to deep space.
Space Science
Forget “manned” missions, females may be more mentally resilient in deep space
Scientific American (8/24): Space radiation, cosmic as well as solar, poses health and performance threats to human explorers. The effects range from disruption in cognitive behavior to tissue damage and cancer. Results from a NASA funded study of female and male rodents suggests that females are better suited to deal with the challenges. The study was conducted by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, and the Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Spaceflightinsider.com (8/25): NASA’s Osiris-Rex asteroid sample return mission, launched in September 2016, has begun its final approach to the asteroid Bennu. Close proximity operations should begin December 3 and the spacecraft should enter a very low altitude orbit December 31, NASA said in a briefing Friday. After an extensive reconnaissance, Osiris-Rex will descend, tap Bennu’s surface and collect a sample of material for return to Earth in September 2023.
Spaceweather.com (8/26): Though in its solar minimum phase, the sun is sporting a large and magnetically confusing sun spot. On Earth, a strong geomagnetic storm is underway after a crack opened in the Earth’s geomagnetic field.
Other News
John McCain: How Neil Armstrong inspired a POW
Washington Post (8/25): Many are mourning the death of John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona; retired U.S. Navy aviator; and six year Vietnam era prisoner of war. In a 2012 op-ed, McCain recalled how chance news of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing while he was imprisoned in Hanoi helped him endure the long incarceration. The article was re-posted following McCain’s death from cancer on Saturday.
China just set a new national launch record while putting up two more Beidou navigation satellites
SpaceNews.com (8/25): With the launching late Friday of a single Long March 3B rocket, China added two Beidou satellites to its growing satellite navigation network. The launch was China’s 23 for 2018, a new annual record. Beijing’s goal for the year is about 35 launches.
Major Space Related Events for the Week
Major space related events for the week of August 26-31, 2018
Spacepolicyonline.com (8/26): The NASA Advisory Council is meeting Monday through Wednesday at NASA’s Ames Research Center on topics ranging from science and human exploration to aeronautics. Meanwhile, in Washington on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is to take up the White House nominations of James Morehead to become NASA’s deputy administrator and Kelvin Droegemeir to become director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.