In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The Blue Origin led development team has delivered a mockup of its lunar lander descent and ascent modules to NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) for evaluation. International Space Station (ISS) crew will isolate over the weekend to help locate the source of a small air leak.

Human Space Exploration

Blue Origin team delivers lunar lander mockup to NASA
Coalition Members in the News – Dynetics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
SpaceNews.com (8/20): The Blue Origin led contractor team that includes Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman has provided NASA with the descent and ascent components of a mockup for the team’s proposed lunar Human Lander System (HLS) for interaction and evaluation by engineers and astronauts at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX were awarded 10 month initial assessment contracts by NASA in late April. The lander concepts are to shuttle astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon starting in 2024. The mockup will be housed in the Johnson Space Center’s (JSC) Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. A team led by Dynetics and SpaceX were contracted as well.

NASA investigating small air leak on International Space Station
Space.com (8/20): The three person U.S. and Russian crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will gather in the Station’s Russian segment Zvezda service module over the weekend so that ground control teams can attempt to isolate the source of a small Space Station pressure leak first noted in September 2019. NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, the Station’s current commander, and cosmonauts Anatoli Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner will have access to their Soyuz launch and descent capsule should an emergency arise, food and water and toilet facilities. Hatches between modules will be closed to assist in the search. The time to pursue is right. Over the past several months, NASA has completed the high priority Demo-2 test flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon module and completed spacewalks to upgrade external batteries. Crew exchange missions planned for October are to increase the number of astronauts and cosmonauts living on the Station from three to seven.

Koichi Wakata on the prospects of a Japanese astronaut on the Moon
Japan Forward (8/20): In an interview, veteran Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata envisions the participation of members of Japan’s astronaut core among the human explorers NASA launches to the surface of the Moon in the 2020’s. The contribution of a Japanese lunar rover to early exploration activities is likely to improve the prospect. Japan’s participation in lunar exploration will be an inspiration to youth and a source of science and technology development, Wakata predicts.

Space Science

First laser space debris detection made in daylight
Universe Today (8/20): The accumulation of manmade space debris in low Earth orbit is a growing concern. A new study from the Institute for Space Research in Austria has demonstrated a new technique for acquiring and tracking debris that poses an impact threat to satellites as well as the permanently staffed International Space Station (ISS) in daylight using a laser. 

Chandrayaan-2 completes a year in Moon orbit, has adequate fuel for 7 years more
Press Trust of India (8/21): Thursday marked the one year anniversary of India’s Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter mission at the Moon. The orbiter, with a suite of eight science instruments, is equipped for another seven years of orbital operations. The mission is memorable in part because of a failed effort by the companion Vikram lander to touchdown softly at the Moon’s south pole on September 9, 2019.

Other News

U.S. military eyes a role in the great power competition for lunar resources
Coalition Members in the News – Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
SpaceNews.com (8/20): The Pentagon is closely watching China’s attempts to reach the Moon in order to be positioned to protect future U.S. lunar assets, according to Brig. Gen. Steven Butow, director of the space portfolio in the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit. Gen. Butow participated earlier this week in an Ascend virtual conference hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Of particular concern is the acquisition of lunar water ice as a source for the production of liquid hydrogen and oxygen rocket propellants. Efforts by the U.S. to successfully explore and operate in cislunar space on a sustainable basis are likely to require private sector as well as government investments. A stabilizing military presence will be a factor in assuring security, according to a recent report from the Defense Innovation Unit.

NAPA endorses Office of Space Commerce for space traffic management role
Spacepolicyonline.com (8/20): A National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) assessment has concluded the Department of Commerce is best to manage nonmilitary space traffic management and that the Office of Space Commerce, now part of NOAA, should become part of the administrative office of the Secretary of Commerce. The assessment agrees with a proposal from the Trump Whitehouse. The study urges Congress to comply.

As he welcomes new space commander, Esper warns of threats to U.S. satellites
SpaceNews.com (8/20): U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper warned Thursday that U.S. strides in space national security are under threat from Russia and China. Esper addressed the matter during a U.S. Space Command change of command ceremony at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Command transitioned from Space Force Gen. John “Jay” Raymond to Army Gen. James Dickinson.