In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA outlines plans for May 27 Commercial Crew Program launch from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the first orbital flight of astronauts from the U.S. since 2011. Some in Congress question NASA’s approach to Human Lander System (HLS) contracts for the future exploration of the Moon.
Human Space Exploration
NASA orders 18 more RS-25 engines for SLS Moon rocket, at $1.79 billion
CSE Member in the News – Aerojet Rocketdyne
AmericaSpace.com (5/2): NASA on Friday announced a $1.79 billion contract with Aerojet Rocketdyne for the production of 18 new RS-25 rocket engines for the Space Launch System (SLS) rockets that are to launch NASA astronauts on missions to the Moon under the Artemis initiative. Each core stage of the SLS is equipped with four of the engines.
SpaceX and NASA break down what their historic first astronaut mission will look like
Tech Crunch (5/1): NASA and SpaceX are preparing for the May 27 launch of astronauts from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the first time astronauts have launched from U.S. soil since the agency’s shuttle fleet was retired in July 2011. Friday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was joined by those preparing for the NASA Commercial Crew Program test flight to discuss how it is to unfold. A day after the liftoff, the Dragon 2 capsule with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley is to dock with the ISS. Their stay at the orbiting lab is likely to be extended in order to augment the Station’s current three person crew with science operations and perhaps spacewalks.
SpaceX aces last Dragon parachute test before crew launch
Spaceflightnow.com (5/3): SpaceX on Friday successfully completed air drop tests of the Mark 3 parachute system used by the Crew Dragon that is to launch NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS on May 27. The four chutes were attached to a capsule simulator and dropped from a C130 cargo plane. The chutes are to be deployed at the end of the Demo 2 mission to lower the Crew Dragon spacecraft into the Atlantic Ocean with the two astronauts for recovery.
Key House democrats “disappointed” with HLS awards
Coalition Members in the News – Dynetics
Spacepolicyonline.com (5/1): The U.S. House chairs of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and the Space Subcommittee expressed their dismay Friday at NASA’s Human Lander System (HLS) contract awards to teams led by Blue Origin and Dynetics and SpaceX to provide potential commercial landers for Moon landings with astronauts under the Artemis initiative. U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Science committee chair and U.S. Rep, Sandra Horn, the subcommittee chair, favor a NASA owned lander system due to safety and cost concerns. Each also believes NASA needs more time to achieve a human lunar return than the 2024 date chosen by the White House.
Space Science
The Moon isn’t ‘dead’: Ridges on lunar surface show signs of recent tectonic activity
Space.com (5/4): The Moon isn’t “dead” after all. Newly discovered ridges on the Moon’s surface are leading scientists to think that the moon might have an active tectonic system.
Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), researchers have discovered a number of ridges with exposed bedrock, free of lunar regolith, or powdery lunar “soil,” spread across the Moon’s nearside surface. These ridges, speckled with boulders, could be evidence that, not too long ago, tectonic activity broke apart the Moon’s surface.
Other News
Senate Armed Services Committee schedules hearing on FCC’s Ligado order
SpaceNews.com (4/30): The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has scheduled a May 6 hearing to obtain testimony from military and national security personnel regarding a recent decision by the FCC to grant the company Ligado cellular network spectrum that could interfere with GPS signals.
SpaceShipTwo flies in New Mexico
Antelope Valley Press of New Mexico (5/2): Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, or Unity, made its first free flight from Spaceport America in New Mexico after taking flight under the WhiteKnightTwo mothership with two pilots. Prior test flights and outfitting for future suborbital passenger flights have been carried out in Mojave, California.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of May 3-9, 2020
Spacepolicyonline.com (5/3): Virtual space policy activities planned for this week include a Center for Strategic and International Studies conversation with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Space Foundation will feature a virtual update session on the new U.S. Space Force. On Friday, the Brookings Institution will feature a program on China’s technological reach. The U.S. Senate returns to Washington this week with plans to transition to in-person activities. The U.S. House remains in recess except for pro forma sessions.