In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Space veterans express an eagerness to press ahead with human deep space exploration. European, Russian space agency announce a delay in plans to launch the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars lander and rover during a July/August launch window. NASA is keeping a close eye on coronavirus concerns after closing the Ames Research Center earlier this week.
Human Space Exploration
We should send women on a Mars mission
Scientific American (3/11): Women may be best suited for the first long running human missions to Mars. As a gender, they weigh less, eat less and deal better with the psychological challenges, according to the report. Initial missions in confined spacecraft are likely to take two to three years. Two way conversations between a Mars crew and flight controllers and family on Earth will require 40 minutes between the first remarks and a reply.
Exclusive: Lockheed VP excited Orion spacecraft will get us to the Moon and Mars
Coalition Member in the News – Lockheed Martin
Cheddar.com (3/11): A human return to the surface of the Moon offers an opportunity to explore for and learn to use lunar resources to continue on to Mars, according to Lisa Callahan, Lockheed Martin, vice president of programs, in an internet interview. Lockheed is NASA’s prime contractor for the Orion crew capsule and contractor behind a range of planetary science missions.
Space Science
2020: ExoMars to take off for the Red Planet in 2022
European Space Agency (3/12): The heads of the European and Russian space agencies on Thursday announced a delay in plans to launch the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars lander/rover once planned to liftoff from Kazakhstan during a July/August window when the Earth and Mars are favorably aligned. The mission, which is to seek evidence for past and possible current life on Mars, is postponed until 2022 to allow more time to complete pre-launch preparations. In recent months, the mission has struggled to overcome problems with the parachute system that is to slow the lander and rover as they descend into the Martian atmosphere.
India’s Chandrayaan 2 is creating the highest resolution map we have of the Moon
Universe Today (3/11): The India Space Research Organization (ISRO) experienced a setback last September 7 when the Chandrayaan-2 mission Vikram lander and companion rover crashed as they attempted to soft land at the Moon’s south pole. However, the mission orbiter has continued to orbit the Moon and record valuable high resolution observations of the lunar surface.
Op Eds
It’s time for us to go back to the Moon and stay there
CNN Business (3/11): Roger Launius, formerly of the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum and author of an Apollo-era history, makes the case for a human return to the Moon, a sustained return anchored in part by an Antarctic style research station — at least in the short term. It’s a step essential to becoming a multi-planetary species, according to Launius, who envisions an International Space Station (ISS) like global alliance focused in part of identifying and making use of lunar resources.
Other News
NASA chief says agency is monitoring coronavirus situation for impacts to U.S. space program
Space.com (3/11): NASA is coordinating with state and community as well as federal experts in its response to the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this week, the agency directed all but essential personnel who work at the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley to work from home after a worker tested positive for exposure to the virus. Headquartered in Washington, NASA counts 10 field centers spread from coast to coast.
Blue Origin reveals shiny new mission control room for future New Glenn rocket
The Verge (3/11): With a video, Blue Origin has debuted the control room from which its employees will monitor launches of the company’s New Glenn rocket from Florida’s space coast. Launches are anticipated to begin in 2021.