Work to begin on the Orion Stage Adapter

Orion won’t be the only payload launching on NASA’s new rocket – it will also be carrying many small satellites. Called CubeSats, thirteen of these satellites, each about the size of a shoebox, will travel into deep space on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket....

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Thursday, September 29, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The human exploration of Mars will require a government-private sector partnership, say two veteran astronauts of different eras. Human Deep Space Exploration America still needs space travel: Mark Kelly USA Today (9/28): Humanity...

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Wednesday, September 28, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… SpaceX founder unveils a visionary plan to colonize Mars before an audience of international professionals, some enthusiastic, some skeptical. Human Deep Space Exploration Musk Shares Technical Details of His Dream for Mars...

How Will Astronauts Live and Work in Deep Space?

Yesterday, we told you about the “NextSTEP” in deep space human exploration – building a deep space hab in cislunar space. Last week, the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration sponsored an event on Capitol Hill and invited NASA to discuss its plans for human habitation...

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Tuesday, September 27, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The successful long-term human exploration of deep space will require sound policy as well money and technology, according to a pair of experts on the topic. Human Deep Space Exploration Further steps toward the frontier: Recent...

NextSTEP-2 to address challenges of human deep space exploration

Where are humans going to live when they’re in deep space? Partners of NASA have some interesting developments that are addressing the challenges of long-term human spaceflight. Five partners have been working on space homes, or habitats. They are Bigelow Aerospace,...

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Monday, September 26, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The latest in a series of isolation exercises simulating human journeys to Mars is underway in Utah. Human Deep Space Exploration 80-Day Mock Mars Mission Begins Saturday in Utah Space.com (9/23): A multinational team of nine...

The Galileo mission to Jupiter ended 13 years ago this week

For 14 years, the Galileo spacecraft explored the most massive planet in our solar system – a planet so big that 1,300 Earths would fit inside of it. In addition to studying Jupiter, Galileo studied the planet’s largest moons and was the first to visit an...

Today’s Deep Space Extra for Friday, September 23, 2016

In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Flexibility in planning will enable NASA to launch human explorers into the solar system, with Mars as the first stop. Human Deep Space Exploration Path to Mars Should Be Flexible, Experts Agree Space.com (9/22): In remarks before a...
Welding complete on SLS’s liquid hydrogen tank

Welding complete on SLS’s liquid hydrogen tank

Hydrogen and oxygen aren’t just essential components for your drinking water – they’re key to exploring deep space! When hydrogen and oxygen are separated and kept at extremely low temperatures, they can propel the core stage of NASA’s new rocket, Space Launch...