In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Russian experts warn of the threat posed by space weather. Northrop Grumman advances commercial satellite life extension initiative. Space Force list names female general officer.
Space Science
Scientists are worried about solar storms frying all our electronics
Futurism (8/17): A Moscow based research team at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology is urging more vigilance in monitoring solar eruptions that can send waves of high energy into the Earth’s magnetic field, threatening the planet’s electronic infrastructure. Improved forecasting could help to prepare for such an event if not prevent it, they write in a recent Astrophysical Journal article.
Update — A CME is coming
Spaceweather.com (8/17): A solar flare erupted in “slow motion” on Sunday from a sun spot free region of the sun’s southern hemisphere. Quite powerful, the resulting Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is forecast to give the Earth’s magnetic field a glancing blow on Thursday.
Arecibo damage to take months to repair
SpaceNews.com (8/18): An August 10 support cable release at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico led to extensive damage to the primary dish antenna. Repairs to the installation, which is supported primarily by the National Science Foundation, are expected to take months. NASA relies on the telescope as part of Planetary Defense Coordination Office efforts to track near Earth asteroids, objects that could pose an impact threat.
Other News
Northrop Grumman just launched its second satellite rescue mission
Coalition Member in the News – Northrop Grumman
The Verge (8/17): Northrop Grumman’s second Mission Extension Vehicle was among three satellites launched from French Guiana atop an Ariane 5 rocket on Saturday. The MEV-2 is a commercial spacecraft developed to dock with and extend the lives of aging communications satellites experiencing propulsion issues or running low on fuel in geosynchronous orbit.
Armagno becomes the U.S. Space Force’s first female general officer
SpaceNews.com (8/17): Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno was commissioned into the Space Force and promoted to three-star general on Monday at the Pentagon. Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, chief of space operations, officiated. Armagno will serve as staff director overseeing Space Force headquarters operations.
ISRO schedules webinar on space commercialization plans
Parabolicarc.com (8/18): The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) four session webinar is planned for Thursday. After an introduction, the sessions that follow are focused on Launch Vehicles and Satellites; Space Technology Applications; and Academia and Institutions.
Pentagon establishes new task force to investigate UFOs
Politico (8/14): The Department of Defense has announced creation of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, a new high-level body to investigate reports of “unidentified aerial phenomena.” The task force was created earlier this month following multiple incidents in recent years of UFOs reportedly intruding into military airspace. The action was taken in response to increasing pressure from Congress as well.