In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine appeared before U.S. Senate appropriators on Wednesday to argue that NASA must be sufficiently funded if it is to return humans to the Moon by 2024. Experts say that the Moon is a crucial stepping stone to human exploration of Mars. The role of women is increasing across the entire space sector, but there is still work to be done.
Human Space Exploration
8 reasons why NASA’s $28 billion Moon return is the bargain of the century
Coalition Members in the News – Boeing, Dynetics, Lockheed Martin
Forbes.com (9/23): A look at the bright side of the Artemis initiative, NASA’s strategy for returning to the surface of the Moon with astronauts: The timing includes an exciting 2021 test flight of hardware that will help to wipe away the 2020 blues, the first female astronaut will set foot on the Moon, and we will search for water at the Moon’s South Pole.
Senate hearing offers no hints on prospect for Artemis funding
Coalition Member in the News – Dynetics
Spacepolicyonline.com (9/23): NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine appeared before the U.S. Senate Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee on Wednesday regarding the agency’s 2021 budget, which includes funds crucial to the development of a lunar Human Landing System (HLS). HLS development needs $3.2 billion for the 2021 fiscal year to achieve the human lunar return goal in 2024. The panel gave no indication of its plan going forward.
How the Artemis Moon mission could help get us to Mars
Coalition Member in the News – Aerojet Rocketdyne
MIT Technology Review (9/23): Establishing a human presence at the Moon offers an opportunity to learn to live on Mars. Some things essential to Mars will be proven on the Moon, with life support at the top of the list. While we’ll be applying much of what we’ve learned from long-duration missions on the International Space Station, we’ll still need to ensure that Moon and Mars bases can provide essential needs like food, water, and shelter.
Space Science
China’s Chang’e 3 lunar lander still going strong after 7 years on the Moon
Space.com (9/23): The China National Space Administration has updated the status of long running missions on the near as well as the far side of the Moon, the oldest having touched down in December 2013.
Opinion
The Artemis files: Bold dreams and busted budgets
Parabolicarc.com (9/23): As October 1, the start of the federal government’s 2021 fiscal year approaches, Congress has yet to settle on a budget. To avoid a government shutdown, House and Senate appropriators must agree on a temporary Continuing Resolution (CR). At NASA efforts to return human explorers to the surface of the Moon in 2024 are at stake.
The White House adopts cybersecurity policy for activities in outer space
Council on Foreign Relations (9/23): In small steps, the U.S. is beginning to respond to concerning evidence of foreign threats to U.S. space national security. New measures are outlined in President Trump’s Space Policy Directive 5 issued September 4.
Other News
The future of space is female
Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, President & CEO, Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar and Coalition Members in the News – Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
19thNews.org (9/23): When Kathy Lueders stepped into the role of NASA associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, it signaled a new era in which both genders can share decision making at every level of the agency. Now as the nation looks to strengthen its STEM presence and greater economic opportunity, increasing diversity offers role models that younger generations can look up to.