Deep Space Extra

Here is a list of news that were published in our Newsletter the weeks of January 13th, 2024:

Human Space Exploration:

• Astronauts repair black hole observatory, inspect cosmic ray detector on ISS spacewalk;
• India completes on-orbit docking test in step towards major space plans;
• Watch 2 NASA astronauts repair X-ray telescope on ISS during a spacewalk today
  Coalition Member in the News – Boeing;
• The civilization survival scale: A biological argument for space settlement;
• As we explore the solar system, radiation will be one of our greatest threats;
• Cross flights to International Space Station extended until 2026;
• Moon over Mars? Congress is determined to kill Elon Musk’s space dream;

Space Science

• Space weather experts forecast strong support from incoming administration;
• NASA wants a ‘Super-Hubble’ space telescope to search for life on alien worlds;
• Hubble budget cuts could impact science and mission operations;
• What’s next for the 2 private landers SpaceX just launched toward the Moon?
• Yutu-2 rover likely immobile on the Moon after historic lunar far side mission;
• This quasar helped end the Dark Ages of the universe;
• Here’s what NASA is sending to the Moon on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander;
• American, Japanese robotic landers share rocket launch to the Moon;
• 3-D printing in space could lead to safer space missions;
• Ghost Riders in the Sky: Firefly’s Blue Ghost mission to the Moon set to launch from KSC;
• World’s 1st wooden satellite deploys from ISS to demonstrate cleaner spacecraft tech (photo);
• SpaceX will launch 2 private lunar landers this week, kicking off busy year for Moon missions;

Other News;

• Comet suddenly appears after 180,000 years. How to see it tonight;
• Moon selected as historical preservation site to protect lunar heritage;
• SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft destroyed in mega rocket launch;
• ISRO chief: V Narayanan succeeds S Somanath, takes over as new head of Indian space agency;
• History made: Blue Origin becomes first new space company to reach orbit on its first launch;
• Defense Department’s new tool to investigate on-orbit anomalies;
• What happened to the flags Apollo astronauts left on the Moon?
• Air Force chief’s parting warning: U.S. must transform Space Force to counter China;
• Blue Origin stands down from New Glenn launch attempt – again;
• NASA lab and historic observatory narrowly escape LA fire damage;
• ESA budget dips slightly in 2025;
• Blue Origin scrubs first New Glenn launch attempt;

Major Space Related Activities for the Week of Jan 6th:

• The U.S. Senate is in session this week and prepared to hold committee hearings on nominees that President-elect Donald Trump has chosen for his cabinet. Those with influence in the space domain include Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and Sean Duffy as Secretary of Transportation.
• SpaceX’s 7th Super Heavy/Starship test launch from South Texas has moved from Monday to Wednesday at 5 p.m. EST.
• The launch of two Moon lander missions (Firefly and ispace) aboard the same SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is planned for Wednesday at 1:11 a.m. EST, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA (plus.nasa.gov) and SpaceX are to livestream the launch beginning at 12:30 a.m. EST.
• On Thursday, NASA will resume ISS spacewalks, the first since a late June incident in which a multi-task spacewalk was called off when an airlock water coolant system umbilical experienced a sudden leak. NASA will stream the spacewalk activities by astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams beginning at 5:30 a.m. EST.

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