In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The first human planetary rover, a mobility asset sure to play an important role in the future exploration of planetary surfaces, debuted on NASA’s Apollo 15 mission 45 years ago this month.
Human Deep Space Exploration
45 years ago, astronauts first drove on the Moon
Seeker.com (7/8): NASA’s Apollo 15 mission reached the lunar surface 45 years ago this July 30. Aboard was the first lunar rover, a battery-powered vehicle that extended the range of the two astronauts, Dave Scott and Jim Irwin, as they explored the Hadley-Apennine region.
The mysterious syndrome impairing astronauts’ sight
Washington Post (7/9): Life aboard the International Space Station has exposed a health challenge to future human space exploration. The ailment is called visual impairment intracranial pressure syndrome. The syndrome that leads to a blurring of the vision affects about 80 percent of long-duration mission astronauts, men more than women. It appears linked to the migration of fluids from the lower to upper torso and head in weightlessness. There may be other factors, which are the focus of ongoing studies.
John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin, others recount life-changing views from space
Forbes.com (7/9): They launched in different eras on a variety of spacecraft, ranging from NASA’s Mercury to Apollo, the space shuttle, Russia’s Soyuz and the International Space Station. They flew to destinations that reach from Earth orbit to the lunar surface. Yet, John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin, Sandra Magnus and Greg Olsen share a sense of amazement at the views from space.
Space Science
One giant leap for space research and for humans on Earth
Washington Post (7/11): NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter serves as an example of the value of space exploration, according to a Washington Post editorial. The quest overall is about understanding the forces at work in our solar system, including those that permit and threaten life, including extinction events. “In an age when Americans worry our world seems more confusing each day, perhaps it’s good to get some perspective in the stars,” the Post writes.
Astronaut-turned-artist Nicole Stott shares view from space in paintings
Collectspace.com (7/8): Former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott could not help but paint with watercolors during her 2009 visit to the International Space Station. “I thought it would be kind of cool to paint in space,” recalls Stott, now an artist. “At that time, I did not know that no one else had painted in space.”
Could Saturn’s moon Titan support life, even without water?
Christian Science Monitor (7/8): Data gathered by the NASA/European Space Agency Cassini Saturn orbiter and Huygens lander suggests that Saturn’s moon Titan may have the chemistry necessary for life, according to a study led by Cornell University researchers.
Gorgeous new Hubble photo reveals ‘beating heart’ of Crab Nebula
Space.com (7/8): The Hubble Space Telescope captures imagery of the heart of the Crab Nebula, where a neutron star 6,500 light years away spins at 30 times a second.
Low Earth Orbit
Trio gets to Space Station after 2-day trip
Geek Wire (7/9): Russia’s upgraded Soyuz crew transport, the MS-01, docked with the International Space Station early Saturday, delivering U.S. astronaut Kate Rubins, Japan’s Takuya Onishi and Russia’s Anatoly Ivanishin. The automated docking at 12:06 a.m., EDT, restored the space station to six-person operations. The MS-01 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days earlier.
China’s second space lab Tiangong-2 reaches launch center
Xinhuanet (7/10): Tiangong-2, China’s second space station has reached its launch site, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. A mid-September lift off is planned. China’s space science lab is equipped to house two astronauts for up to 30 days and receive crew and cargo vessels.
Five years later, shuttle team remembers final launch
Florida Today (7/9): Crew members from NASA’s final space shuttle mission, STS-135, and key members of the launch team gathered Friday at the Kennedy Visitor Center Complex in Central Florida to remember the launch events and the mission.
Navy’s new MUOS-5 communications satellite experiences snag in space
Spaceflightnow.com (7/8): The U.S. Navy has suspended efforts to raise the recently launched Mobile User Objective System satellite, or MUOS-5, to geosynchronous orbit due to an undisclosed anomaly. The military mobile communications satellite was launched June 24.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
SoCal man arrested on spy charges involving satellites
Associated Press (7/9): A 49-year-old defense contractor employee from the Southern California area was arrested last week on espionage charges in connection with efforts to sell sensitive satellite information to the Russians.
Suborbital
Virgin Galactic to restart flight tests of commercial spaceship
Bloomberg (7/8): The suborbital space passenger company Virgin Galactic plans to take to the air next month with its new Unity spacecraft. The vehicle will be test flown while attached to its airborne launcher, according to the report. Unity could be ready for independent test flights next year. Unity replaces SpaceShipTwo, which crashed in October 2014, killing one test pilot and injuring the other. Virgin Galactic has several hundred passenger bookings.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of July 11-16, 2016
Spacepolicyonline.com (7/10): Associates of space policy analyst Molly Macauley are mourning her death on Friday. The U.S. House and Senate are in session this week, then in recess until after Labor Day. The Senate Commerce Committee’s Space, Science and Competitiveness Subcommittee is scheduled to host a hearing on Wednesday, “NASA At a Crossroads: Reasserting American Leadership in Space Exploration.” Those scheduled to testify include the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration’s Executive Director Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar. Additional activities this week include a press briefing on the next NASA contracted cargo mission to the International Space Station and a Saturday observation of the 40th anniversary of the Viking landing on Mars.