In Today’s Deep Space Extra… China’s lunar sample return mission, the first attempted by any nation in more than four decades, begins its journey back to Earth. Virgin Galactic weathers a troubled first New Mexico test flight.
Space Science
Chinese lunar probe is on its way back to Earth, carrying Moon rocks
NPR.org (12/13): On Sunday, China’s Chang’e 5 lunar sample return mission spacecraft maneuvered into a Moon to Earth transfer orbit to begin its return. Launched November 24, the spacecraft’s lander and ascent elements touched down at the Moon’s Ocean of Storms December 1 to gather material from the surface and subsurface for study on the Earth. The first lunar samples collected for return in more than four decades are expected to descend into Mongolia within days.
Arecibo’s collapse sends dire warning to other aging observatories
Scientific American (12/11): The U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) 57-year-old Arecibo Observatory succumbed to a succession of structural failures between August and November. The loss elevates an existential issue the U.S. astronomy community is facing as it tries to both manage existing observatories and build new ones in the face of flat or shrinking budgets.
Earth isn’t the only ocean world in the solar system
Discovery (12/11): New assessments of the dwarf planet Ceres, a resident of the main asteroid belt, suggests it harbors a sub-surface sea, adding to a growing indication that the Earth is not the only solar system body with liquid water.
Space weather researchers need detailed impact data
SpaceNews.com (12/11): NASA scientists are urging the aviation, power and satellite operations sectors to disclose more information about how they’ve been impacted by space weather in the past. The information would improve forecasting the effects of solar weather events and develop technologies to prevent interruptions in services and damage to equipment.
Astronomer discover galactic “fossil” inside the Milky Way
Sky and Telescope (12/11): Studies of the Milky Way galaxy’s billions of stars have revealed the remnants of an ancient galaxy that appears to have collided with the Milky Way when it was quite young. The science team is international and their observations were conducted with ground and space based observatories.
Other News
Rocket motor fails to ignite on Virgin Galactic test flight
Star Advertiser (12/12): Virgin Galactic’s first attempt at a piloted test flight of the suborbital SpaceShip Two Unity from Spaceport America in New Mexico ended prematurely Saturday when the vehicle’s rocket engine failed to ignite after release from its carrier jet. Unity glided to a safe landing with test pilots at the controls and a NASA payload on board.
Russia resumes Angara test flights with third mission
NASAspaceflight.com (12/14): Russia’s Angara-5 heavy lift rocket launched Sunday from the Pleseksk Cosmodrome on a second test flight, its first since late 2014 due to technical and quality control issues. The test is to help prepare heavy lift rocket for future national security missions.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of December 13-19, 2020
Spacepolicyonline.com (12/13): Just as they did last Friday, U.S. federal agencies face a shutdown on Friday at midnight if the House and Senate cannot come together on another budget continuing resolution absent a budget for the federal fiscal year that began October 1. China’s Chang’e 5 lunar sample return mission is expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere over China, perhaps on Thursday, U.S. time. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is to deliver a State of Space address before the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) on Wednesday. The European Space Agency (ESA) council meets this week as well to choose a successor to Jan Woener, who has served as Director General since 2015.