In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The White House National Space Council convenes today for its eighth meeting. The Canadian Space Agency moves ahead with Canadarm3, Canada’s planned contribution to the Gateway.
Human Space Exploration
Vice President Mike Pence is set to name a cadre of Artemis astronauts
Ars Technica (12/8): Vice President Mike Pence will convene the National Space Council, which he chairs, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Wednesday. Among the agenda items is a plan to announce a group of 18 NASA astronauts from which the agency can select crews for Artemis missions to the Moon. The meeting will be livestreamed on NASA TV: https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive
Lockheed Martin sees Moon mission as launchpad to Mars and beyond
Coalition Members in the News – Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman
Cheddar.com (12/8): Working with team lead Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper are competing with two other teams to develop a Human Landing System (HLS) with the capabilities to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon. “We haven’t been there in 48 years, and I think the technology is available now for us to do that. And, as humans, we like to explore,” said Lockheed Martin’s Lisa Callahan about a return to the Moon.
SLS Green Run WDR scrubbed, provides initial Core Stage tanking data
Coalition Member in the News – Boeing
NASAspaceflight.com (12/8): Operations planned for last Monday to load the first core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with cryogenic propellants as part of the Green Run test series at NASA’s Stennis Space Center were halted near the beginning of the operation. The Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) is the penultimate test in the Green Run campaign that started at Stennis earlier this year. The testing team is determining the date of the next attempt to complete the WDR.
Canadian Space Agency awards Canadarm3 contract worth $22.8M to MDA
The Star (12/8): The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on Tuesday announced the selection of MDA to develop the requirements for a third-generation space robotic arm. The device will be part of Canada’s contribution to the NASA-led Gateway. Earlier versions of the Canadian robotic arm are aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and flew aboard NASA’s space shuttle.
Space Science
Researchers explore COVID-19’s environmental impact
SpaceNews.com (12/7): Satellite observations of the Earth continue to indicate the coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on the global environment. The topic arose this week at the annual fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union. “If we can tease out what change occurred because of COVID-19, it gives us a better understanding of all change that happens on the Earth’s surface,” Timothy Newman, the U.S. Geological Survey National Land Imaging program coordinator, told a news briefing earlier this week. “There’s certainly more research that needs to be done, but I think it’s pretty clear [the pandemic] had an impact.”
Other News
NASA selects 19 small business tech transfer projects for further funding
Coalition Member in the News – Purdue University
Parabolicarc.com (12/8): NASA announced the selection on Tuesday of 19 technology proposals from 17 companies for funding available under the agency’s Small Business Technology Transfer initiative. The projects have human lunar exploration, aeronautics, science and space technology themes.
And, in case you missed it: The latest series of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration’s Deep Space Podcast, “Workforce of the Future,” is now available. The new series features interviews with young professionals who share thoughts on the future of deep space exploration and speak about their work on the systems that will take humanity forward to the Moon and beyond. Listen to our podcast here: https://exploredeepspace.com/deepspace-podcast/