In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Essential personnel at NASA’s Johnson Space Center are staffing Mission Control in support of the International Space Station and maintaining the James Webb Space Telescope during a tropical storm siege.
Human Space Exploration
Tropical Storm Harvey closes Johnson Space Center
Space News (8/28): Despite closing in response to hurricane turned tropical storm Harvey, the Johnson Space Center is continuing to staff the Mission Control Center in support of the six person International Space Station. The James Webb Space Telescope, which has been undergoing thermal vacuum testing since mid-July, remains unscathed by the storm.
As flooding from Harvey intensifies, astronauts tweet well wishes to Houston
Space.com (8/28): Astronauts on the International Space Station have been sending well wishes to their friends, family and colleagues in Houston, as the city and surrounding areas continue to deal with massive flooding caused by Tropical Storm Harvey. NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik — who is currently on the International Space Station — tweeted that Harvey was “still a menace! Hearts & prayers go out to families, friends, & fellow Texans dealing with this storm. #TexasStrong #HoustonStrong.”
Dream Chaser prepares for captive carry test; completes runway tow tests
NASAspaceflight.com (8/28): Sierra Nevada’s mini Dream Chaser space plane is preparing for helicopter borne captive carry tests, following a series of runway tow tests at Edwards Air Base, California, earlier this month. The uncrewed Dream Chaser is one of three spacecraft chosen by NASA for the resupply of the International Space Station under a second round of contracts that go into effect no earlier than 2019. Sierra will join Orbital ATK and SpaceX in carrying out the future cargo missions.
The National Space Council for American Leadership in Space Industries
The Space Review (8/28): The rejuvenated National Space Council’s top priority should be to the advancement of private space development, writes Vidvuds Beldavs, a founding member of the International Lunar Decade Working Group.
Space Science
NASA proposes rapid Mars sample return architecture
Space News (8/28): Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science, outlined a strategy for the return of Martian rock samples gathered by the Mars 2020 rover. Once multiple samples have been cached by the rover on the Red planet, a second mission including a lander called a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) would be launched with a rover to gather the samples. The MAV would join a Mars sample collection orbiter, launched separately, to take custody of the samples and return them to Earth or lunar orbit. The Mars lander, sample gathering rover and ascent vehicle would be launched from Earth no sooner than 2026. Zurbuchen presented the proposal to a National Academy of Sciences panel reviewing previously recommended space science priorities.
NASA says James Webb Telescope will study solar system’s “ocean worlds”
Universe Today (8/29): In addition to observations of the distant universe and extra solar planets, the James Webb Space Telescope will study ice and ocean covered Europa and Enceladus, the potentially habitable moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
Fly through Saturn’s rings with Cassini while it still can
Los Angeles Times (8/28): NASA’s long running Cassini mission has captured some striking close-up images of Saturn and its rings as it nears a Sept. 15 conclusion. The spacecraft has been regularly diving inside the ring structure and over Saturn’s cloud tops since April.