In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The White House announces nominee for NASA CFO. Details emerge about Moon base project by China, Russia. Ingenuity conducts a third flight on Mars.
Human Space Exploration
NASA’s Space Launch System core stage heads to Kennedy Space Center
WHLT (4/23): The SLS rocket’s first core stage departed the Stennis Space Center after the completion of the Green Run test series. The stage is now on its way to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the final stop prior to the launch of the Artemis I mission. At KSC, the rocket will be integrated with its boosters, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, and the Orion spacecraft.
China, Russia open Moon base project to international partners, early details emerge
SpaceNews.com (4/26): China and Russia further described plans to establish a Moon base called the International Lunar Research Station (IRLS) during Space Day in China on Saturday. A first phase involves using data returned by missions sent to launch by 2025. A second phase will run from 2026 to 2030 and will see spacecraft set down at the chosen site after the first phase and mark the beginning of construction. The third phase will consist of multiple missions across 2030-2035.
Crew-2 arrives at ISS
SpaceNews.com (4/24): SpaceX’s Crew-2 Dragon docked with the International Space Station (ISS) early Saturday, delivering four astronauts from the U.S., Europe, and Japan for a six-month stay. There are now 11 people living on the station. On Wednesday, four of them will board the Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft for a return to Earth with a splashdown in the ocean waters off the Florida coast. The Crew-2 Dragon launched early Friday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
Russia to jointly use ISS and new national orbital outpost for several years
TASS of Russia (4/23): Though Russia intends to prepare the first module for a new space station, it plans to continue using the International Space Station (ISS) simultaneously for a few years, according to Dimitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. A new research and power module, once intended for the ISS, will instead serve as the cornerstone of Russia’s new station. (Editor’s note: TASS is a Russian government-owned news source).
Space Science
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter aces first longer-range flight on Mars
Spaceflightnow.com (4/25): NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter flew for a third time early Sunday, flying faster, 6.6 feet per second, and further, about 330 feet round trip, than on its history- making first flight on April 19 and second test flight three days later. The third flight lasted about 80 seconds. There’s more to come.
China aims to launch Chang’e-6 lunar probe around 2024
CCTV.com (4/25): China’s Chang’e-6 mission to gather and return samples from the Moon’s far side is planned for launch in 2024. China launched the Chang’e-5 probe mission in 2020, bringing home 1,731 grams of Moon samples. (CCTV.com is a Chinese state-overseen broadcaster)
Other News
White House nominates NOAA administrator, NASA CFO
SpaceNews.com (4/23): President Biden has nominated Margaret Vo Schaus to be NASA Chief Financial Officer (CFO). For the last two years, Schaus has been director of business operations in the Office of the Under Secretary of Research and Engineering at the Department of Defense. With Schaus, the White House has now nominated individuals for the three open agency leadership positions that require Senate confirmation. The President also nominated Rick Spinrad to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
OneWeb flight 6 launches aboard Soyuz-2.1b from Vostochny
NASAspaceflight.com (4/25): A Soyuz 2.1 b rocket on Sunday placed 36 small OneWeb internet communications satellites in orbit, following launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of April 25 to May 1, 2021
Spacepolicyonline.com (4/25): On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate’s Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is scheduled to vote on former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, President Biden’s nominee to serve as NASA administrator. Also Wednesday could mark the launch of Tianhe, the core module of China’s new space station. Monday marks the start of the week-long, 7th annual International Academy of Astronautics Planetary Defense Conference.