In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The first Orion capsule assigned to launch a NASA astronaut crew around the Moon has transitioned to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for further preparations. NASA may allow the commercial sector rocket and spacecraft naming rights. United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Delta 2 rocket is prepped for its final launch.
Human Space Exploration
The capsule astronauts will ride to return to the Moon has arrived at Kennedy Space Center
Coalition Member in the News – Lockheed Martin
Orlando Sentinel (8/28): The Orion capsule structure for Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2), the first astronaut crewed mission of Orion with the Space Launch System (SLS) on a mission around the Moon, has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Previous work on constructing the capsule led by Lockheed Martin had been underway at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. EM-2 is planned for a mid-2022 liftoff from KSC. The Orion elements were trucked from Michoud to Kennedy for assembly and testing. “We’re all taking extra care with this build and assembly, knowing that this spaceship is going to take astronauts back to the Moon for the first time in four decades,” said Matt Wallo, a Lockheed Martin Orion Production senior manager from Michoud in a new release. EM-1, an uncrewed version of EM-2 is also coming together at Kennedy and could launch by mid-2020.
Aerojet Rocketdyne demonstrates electric propulsion capabilities for future deep space missions
Coalition Member in the News – Aerojet Rocketdyne
Spaceflightinsider.com (8/29): Aerojet Rocketdyne reports a successful integration test of the solar electric, propellant efficient propulsion technology it is preparing for NASA’s human tended lunar Gateway, which is to be assembled in orbit around the Moon beginning in 2022. The company is under contract to NASA to develop a 13 kilowatt Hall thruster propulsion source, which would be part of the Gateway’s first element, the power and propulsion module.
Space Science
Installation of ice-measuring satellite caps assembly of last Delta 2 rocket
Coalition Member in the News – United Launch Alliance
Spaceflightnow.com (8/28): September 15 is to mark the final launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket. The payload is NASA’s ICESat-2 Earth science satellite. The spacecraft will monitor global changes in the depth of land and sea ice, a climate concern. The launch is from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California at 8:46 a.m., EDT. It will be the 155th flight of a Delta 2, which took flight for the first time in 1989.
Bridenstine supports increased funding for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program
SpaceNews.com (8/29): NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, a competition in which NASA selects promising technologies as research payloads for demonstrations aboard commercial suborbital launch vehicles, parabolic aircraft flight and high altitude balloons, could be in line for an increase in annual funding — up from $15 million to $20 million annually, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Wednesday, the agency announced 15 new technology payloads for future test flights. More of a focus on technologies for exploration of the Moon and Mars seem likely.
Other News
No price tag yet for Trump’s Space Force, Pentagon says
Roll Call (8/28): The Pentagon is working with Congress to assess the cost of the Space Force, a new sixth branch of the U.S. military proposed by President Trump, according to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Vice President Mike Pence said the new branch would be in operation by 2020. The procedure for moving forward are outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act.
Bridenstine wants to sell naming rights, allowing astronauts to seek endorsements.
Spacepolicyonline.com (8/29): In a meeting with the NASA Advisory Council on Wednesday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine outlined a proposal that would allow the commercial sector to obtain naming rights for NASA rockets and spacecraft and permit astronauts to seek paid endorsements. Mike Gold, a U.S. commercial space veteran, will chair an advisory council panel to advise Bridenstine on the prospects, which could offset future exploration costs and provide new public outreach.
Maxar’s SSL selected by NASA to explore commercial satellite assembly and manufacturing in LEO
Business Insider (8/29): NASA has contracted with satellite manufacturer SSL, a Maxar Technologies company, to explore the use of commercial space habitats as manufacturing facilities. Satellites manufactured in Earth orbit could forgo the risks of launch, while easing design constraints.
The Commercial Spaceflight Federation elects new Chairman of the Board and leadership
Aero News Network (8/30): Taber MacCallum, co-founder of World View Enterprises, was announced Wednesday as the new chair of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. He succeeds Alan Stern, a scientist at the Southwest Research Institute and World View co-founder, who served as chair for two years. The industry group was founded a dozen years ago.