Today’s Deep Space Extra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. The U.S. House joined the Senate on Friday in an agreement to extend a budget Continuing Resolution through Wednesday, avoiding a government shutdown. An editorial applauds new U.S. commercial space legislation as the basis for a new “Gold Rush.” Many Kepler exo-planet candidates could be false positives. NASA’s Dawn spacecraft finds more evidence of subsurface water ice on the giant asteroid Ceres. Astronomers find evidence of a possible new solar system planet. European astronaut Tim Peake is set to become the first from Great Britain to live and work aboard the International Space Station. A key Japanese lawmaker urges a stronger partnership with the U.S. in civil, military space activities. Russian military data and weather satellites were launched over the weekend. Retired NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski recalls his spacewalk, Mount Everest adventures. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program test pilots join in launch pad construction ceremony. New Mexico looks back to Spaceport America decisions. A look at major space related activities planned for the rest of December.
U.S. Budget
Congress Extends Government Funding to December 16
Spacepolicyonline.com (12/13): The U.S. House on Friday agreed to a five day, Dec.11 to 16 extension of the current budget Continuing Resolution, (CR) that has been in effect since the start of the 2016 fiscal year on Oct. 1, and in lieu of a 2016 budget. The Senate agreed on Thursday. It’s unclear whether legislators and the president can reach agreement by Dec. 16 on an omnibus appropriations measure to carry the federal government through Sept. 30, or another short term CR to avoid a government shutdown.
Human Deep Space Exploration
The coming cosmic Gold Rush
New York Post (12/12): U.S. legislative and presidential agreement on the direction of commercial space should expand economic opportunity, according to an editorial that praises recent passage of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Half of Kepler’s Giant Exoplanet Candidates Are False Positives: Study
Space.com (12/13): A new study suggests that more than half of the exoplanet candidates detected by NASA’s Kepler space telescope are actually stars or small failed stars called brown dwarfs. The study, accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, was focused on the largest planet candidate discoveries. Kepler launched in 2009. Mission scientists say they are not surprised by the findings and want to make sure there is a large field of candidates available for follow up observations.
Dawn Spacecraft Unraveling Mysteries of Ceres Intriguing Bright Spots as Sublimating Salt Water Residues
Universe Today (12/12): NASA’s Dawn mission spacecraft has descended to its lowest altitude destination for observations of Ceres, a large main belt asteroid that, like Pluto, also qualifies as a dwarf planet. Observations so far have revealed more than 130 mysterious bright spots on Ceres that are thought to be residues from subsurface ice deposits exposed by asteroid impacts.
Was a new planet found in our solar system?
Orlando Sentinel (12/11): Swedish astronomers spot what may be a new solar system planet, a distant “super-Earth” using a Chilean observatory. The object is twice as far as Pluto. Scientists urge more observations.
Low Earth orbit
UK to be European space flight hub: Tim Peake to be sent to ISS as space policy launched
Sunday Express, of London (12/13): At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake is set to become the first from Great Britain to live and work aboard the International Space Station. Peake, NASA’s Tim Kopra and Russia’s Yuri Malenchenko are set to lift off Tues. at 6:03 a.m., EST, for six months aboard the orbiting science laboratory. The activities coincide with British ambitions to become the hub of commercial space activities for Europe.
Tim Peake’s launch into space will inspire a generation, says scientist
The Telegraph, of Great Britain (12/14): European Space Agency astronaut and British native Tim Peake, set to launch to the International Space Station early Tuesday, is inspiring the young to learn of the values of space exploration, according to a leading British scientist. Peake has trained with NASA’s Tim Kopra and Russia’s Yuri Malenchenko to live and work aboard the orbiting science lab.
Japan Seeks To Become Full Partner with U.S. in Space
Space News (12/11): A key Japanese legislator has expressed support for elevating his country’s role in its partnership with the U.S. in civilian and military space activities. “That’s my challenge today, to establish a more equal relationship” said Takeo Kawamura, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Russian data relay satellite launched by Proton rocket
Spaceflightnow.com (12/13): A Russian military data relay satellite reached geostationary Earth orbit on Sunday, following a launch aboard a Proton rocket.
From a Risky Spacewalk to the top of Mount Everest
Popular Science (12/11): Retired NASA physician/astronaut Scott Parazynski recalls a challenging spacewalk outside the International Space Station to repair an energized solar panel and his own climb of Mount Everest for the Science Channel’s Secret Space Escapes.
Commercial to Orbit
Astronauts celebrate with builders topping of Crew Access Tower
Spaceflightinsider.com (12/11): NASA’s Commercial Crew Program test pilots participated in a “topping off” ceremony at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for the Crew Access Tower portion of the launch complex that will be used to transport astronauts to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s CST-100 and the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5.
Suborbital
Did 2005 spaceport study ignore risk factor?
Albuquerque Journal (12/13): In New Mexico, state officials and other key figures re-examine efforts a decade ago to establish Spaceport America. Estimates of passenger suborbital spaceflight activity have yet to materialize in part because of the challenges and setbacks faced by Virgin Galactic. “There were many, many unknowns and it’s easy, today, to have 20/20 hindsight. I’m proud of what we did, and how far the project has come,” Bill Richardson, the state’s former governor reflected.
The Week Ahead
What’s Happening in Space Policy December 14-December 31, 2015
Spacepolicyonline.com (12/13): U.S., European and Russian astronauts are set to launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday. The American Geophysical Union meets this week in San Francisco, with former vice president Al Gore on the agenda with others discussing findings in Earth and planetary science.