Deep Space Extra

Here is a list of news that were published in our Newsletter the weeks of February 10th, 2024:

Human Space Exploration:

• NASA says Boeing-built SLS Moon rocket is ‘essential’ as company warns of layoffs
  Coalition Member in the News – Boeing;
• Risks with current Artemis III Moon landing plan ‘may be too high,’ NASA safety group says
  Coalition Member in the News – Boeing;
• NASA and General Atomics test nuclear fuel for future Moon and Mars missions;
• NASA astronaut Sunita Williams says “we don’t feel abandoned” or “stuck” as space mission stretches on
  Coalition Members in the News – Axiom Space, Boeing;
• NASA switches Crew Dragons allowing Butch and Suni to come home a couple weeks sooner
  Coalition Members in the News – Axiom Space, Boeing;
• A blown-glass structure could house astronauts on the Moon;
• Moon or Mars? Why not both, acting NASA head Janet Petro says;
• New space subcommittee chair backs Moon first, then Mars
  Coalition Member in the News – L3Harris;

Space Science

• “City-killer” asteroid’s odds of crashing into Earth go up as Webb telescope is tasked with studying massive space rock;
• Crater-diving hopper ‘Gracie’ will launch to the Moon aboard private Athena lander this month;
• ‘It’s almost science fiction’: Scientists say the shape of Earth’s inner core is changing;
• Space telescope spots rare ‘Einstein ring’ of light around galaxy in our cosmic neighborhood;
• Pakistan rover to fly on China’s Chang’e-8 lunar south pole mission;
• Searching the entire sky for the secrets to our universe;
• A jumping robot could leap over Enceladus’ geysers;
• Astronomers announce largest collection of comets found outside our solar system;
• Redwire lands new satellite contract for Space Force in-orbit refueling experiment
  Coalition Member in the News – Northrop Grumman;
• Valentine’s Day aurora alert: Geomagnetic storm could bring northern lights as far south as Michigan and Maine tonight and tomorrow;
• Perseverance rover’s Mars samples show traces of ancient water, but NASA needs them on Earth to seek signs of life;

Other News;

• The spaceport conundrum
  Coalition Members in the News – Axiom Space, Collins Aerospace;
• DARPA’s in-space manufacturing program advances with two teams selected for orbital demos;
• Texas awards grants to five space companies;
• Who is Janet Petro, Trump’s pick for acting NASA administrator?;
• Senators reintroduce bill to authorize Commerce’s space traffic coordination system;
• ISRO conducts successful ignition trial of CE20 engine, key for India’s Gaganyaan mission;
• Space security at crossroads: Report urges U.S.-China dialogue;
• There was nearly one rocket launch attempt every ~34 hours in 2024; this year will be even busier.
  Coalition Member in the News – Axiom Space;
• Space Force pushing forward with acquisition reforms ;
• Blue Origin planning second New Glenn launch for late spring;
• SpaceX test-fires Starship megarocket and Super Heavy booster ahead of next launch (video, photos);
• Could this space oven allow astronauts to finally cook in space?
  Coalition Member in the News – Axiom Space;
• Launch providers step closer to first orbital launch from U.K. soil
  Coalition Members in the News – Boeing, Lockheed Martin;

Major Space Related Activities for the Week of Feb 10th:

• On Capitol Hill, continued discussions are anticipated this week with a focus on nominees to lead NASA, NOAA and the Department of Commerce, each with implications for space policy.
• Congressional deliberations also continue on a resolution addressing top line federal spending over the next decade.
• The Commercial Space Federation and FAA are scheduled to host their annual Commercial Space Conference on Wednesday, followed on Thursday by the Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-hosted discussion on an in-space circular economy.

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