In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA will prepare for the human exploration of Mars with missions to the cis-lunar proving ground using the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crew capsule, explains Dava Newman, the agency’s deputy administrator.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Inside the Grand Plan to Send Humans to Mars
Smithsonian Magazine (May 2016): NASA and its partners have learned much about the challenges of exploring Mars with humans from the astronauts and equipment assigned to the International Space Station, according to NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman. But there’s more to learn about moving beyond low Earth Orbit. The next steps will come from human missions to the cis-lunar proving ground with the Space Launch System exploration rocket and the Orion crew capsule, Newman explains.
NASA’s Rocket Garage is Huge and So Are Its Tools
News Ledge, of Alabama (4/20): At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida, the mammoth Vehicle Assembly Building is being reworked to accommodate preparations for the final assembly and launch of the agency’s Space Launch System exploration rocket. SLS is under development to start U.S. human explorers on missions of deep space exploration. Construction of the VAB, which served as the prelaunch assembly facility for the Saturn V moon rocket and the space shuttle, began in 1963.
NASA hackathon to give astronauts something to do on Mars
Orlando Sentinel (4/20): NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge this weekend in Florida will seek to develop a recreational virtual reality experience for future astronauts on long missions.
Space Science
Some Science Coming from Japan’s Ailing Hitomi Satellite
Space.com (4/20): Japan’s silent Hitomi X-ray space telescope, launched on Feb. 17, managed to collect some data before it went silent in late March, say scientists. Recent reports suggest the spacecraft broke up following an attitude control system failure. However, scientists say Hitomi managed to gather spectroscopic observations of the Crab Nebula and the Perseus cluster.
Odd ‘Y’ Shape Dominates Saturn Moon Enceladus (Photo)
Space.com (4/20): Scientists believe techtonics are responsible for a Y-shaped feature on Saturn’s geologically active moon Enceladus. Imagery of the prominent feature was captured by the Cassini spacecraft, a joint U. S. and European planetary science mission. Enceladus has an icy shell and sports a geyser like spray at its south pole.
Lyrid Meteor Shower
Spaceweather.com (4/20): Light from the full moon will wash out some of the annual Lyrid meteor shower otherwise visible on Thursday and Friday nights.
Our sun may have eaten a super Earth for breakfast
Universe Today (4/20): In its long ago youth, the solar system was a turbulent place. A new study suggests that it was so chaotic a “Super Earth” planet orbiting close to the sun may have been pulled in destructively by the intense gravity. The proposition is supported by observations of other stars with planetary systems using NASA’s Kepler space telescope, according to the study led by scientists from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Low Earth Orbit
These old nuclear missiles could be used to clean up space debris
Washington Post (4/20): U.S. Rep Dana Rohrabacher entered a policy debate this week over how the Pentagon should go about disposing of Cold War era missiles. The commercial launch industry is divided over whether some of the rockets could be re-purposed for commercial satellite launches. The California congressman proposes they be used to clear away thousands of pieces of manmade space debris orbiting the Earth.
House panel wants NRO to take over some Air Force weather missions
Space News (4/19): A U.S. House Armed Services subcommittee provides for the National Reconnaissance Office to take on some Air Force next generation weather satellite missions under draft legislation for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017.
China to launch ‘core module’ for space station around 2018
Reuters (4/21): China plans to launch the core stage for a new space station around 2018. Assembly of the permanently staffed orbital outpost should be complete in 2022, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency
Commercial to Orbit
Russia bails out debt-ridden Khrunichev
Space News (4/20): Roscosmos, Russia’s state space corporation will repay mounting debts incurred by the space hardware builder Khrunichev Space Center as part of wider national space reforms. About $300 million is owed suppliers at current exchange rates, according to the report. Khrunichev’s products include the Proton launch vehicle.