Today’s Deep Space Extra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA announced Wednesday that is has backed off plans to launch the multinational Mars InSight mission in March in response to French seismometer difficulties. U.S. Rep. John Culbertson, chair of NASA’s House appropriations panel, explains his vision for space exploration. Scientists predict a stellar explosion. China’s robotic Yutu lunar rover has discovered a new kind of moon rock. Russia’s latest Progress cargo capsule docked to the International Space Station early Wednesday. Japan on Tuesday agreed to a U.S. proposal to extend International Space Station operations from 2020 to 2024.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
NASA’s latest Mars lander grounded indefinitely just months before scheduled launch
Washington Post (12/22): NASA announced Tuesday that the U.S. led, multinational Mars InSight mission will miss its March 2016 launch date due to a problem with a leak in a European seismometer developed by CNES, the French space agency. As a result, the InSight mission will miss its March launch date, while participants evaluate whether the effort must be scrapped altogether.
NASA’s Next Mars Mission Has Been Grounded (UPDATE)
Discovery.com (12/22): Problems with the French seismometer contribution to the NASA InSight Mars lander mission prompted a decision this week to fore go plans for a March launching. Engineers will examine an elusive leak in a vacuum chamber holding three seismometers to determine whether the mission to study the interior geophysical process of Mars should be abandoned altogether.
Q&A: John Culberson’s unique vision for science
Science Insider (12/22): U.S. Rep. John Culbertson, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee responsible for NASA, explains his vision for space exploration. A NASA mission to the surface of the Jovian moon Europa is a priority.
Astronomers Predict a Supernova
Sky and Telescope (12/22): Observations with the Hubble Space Telescope enlisting gravitational lensing track the fury of a stellar explosion.
New kind of moon rock found by Chinese Yutu rover
New Scientist (12/22): China’s Yutu rover reached the lunar surface in December 2013. Post landing discoveries point to a new kind of rock on the moon that suggest the moon’s makeup is more diverse than previously thought.
Low Earth Orbit
Progress spaceship docks with International Space Station
Spaceflightnow.com (12/23): Russia’s upgraded Progress MS-1 resupply capsule successfully docked with the six person International Space Station early Wednesday. The linkup at 5:27 a.m. delivered more than 5,700 pounds of propellant, crew supplies and research gear.
Japan Officially Signs On to ISS Extension to 2024
Spacepolicyonline.com (12/22): On Tuesday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency formally agreed to a 2014 proposal from U.S. President Obama to extend operations of the International Space Agency from 2020 to 2024. Japan joins Russia and Canada in the decision. The European Space Agency continues to deliberate.
Note: The publishers of Deep Space Extra will be spending time with family over the holidays. Deep Space Extra will resume publication on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.