New Episode of The Deep Space Podcast Available Now
We are launching our Deep Space Podcast’s Leadership in Space series. This week, United Launch Alliance President and CEO Tory Bruno joins the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration’s Christen Kapavik and Jamil Castillo for a conversation about the qualities that he considers to be fundamental in a leader, especially when working in a challenging and visionary field such as space. Tory also touches on what he would like his and his company’s legacy to be and highlights the importance of developing humanity’s potential in space as well as of using space to be better custodians of our own planet. Click here to listen to the episode now.
In Today’s Deep Space Extra… A look back at some of the trailblazing women who achieved major firsts in space as NASA and its partners prepare to send the first woman to the Moon. Japan’s proposed space budget supports the country’s participation in the U.S.-led Artemis program.
Human Space Exploration
Russian cosmonauts to start eliminating second crack aboard orbital outpost on March 9
TASS of Russia (3/9): Two cosmonauts will attempt to seal a second leak within the International Space Station’s (ISS) Russian segment Zvezda service module on Tuesday. Working with ground-based Russian experts, cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov worked to seal an initial leak in the module last week. (Editor’s note: TASS is a Russian government-owned news source).
NASA-SpaceX launch of next International Space Station crew pushed to April 22
Reuters (3/8): The next launch window for a NASA crew to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX rocket has been pushed back by at least another two days, to no earlier than April 22. The crew carried by the mission will stay at the ISS for six months, while the previous mission is due to return from space by May.
Space Science
Hubble Space Telescope in safe mode after software glitch
Space.com (3/8): The Hubble Space Telescope experienced a software issue that placed it in safe mode early Sunday, temporarily halting observations. The observatory, launched into Earth orbit in April 1990, is currently stable and ground-based experts are working to return it to normal operations.
NASA is considering a radio telescope on the far side of the Moon
Universe Today (3/8): Working with the University of Colorado and Lunar Resources, Inc., NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts initiative is in the early stages of developing a design called FarView, a radio telescope that would be assembled on the far side of the Moon using resources extracted from the lunar regolith. FarView would observe without the radio frequency interference prevalent on the Earth.
Opinion
The new era of private human orbital spaceflight
Coalition Member in the News – Axiom Space
The Space Review (3/8): After a lapse, the promise of private spaceflight appears on the rise, with orbital rather than suborbital flights, writes Jeff Foust. Axiom Space has arranged a flight using SpaceX’s Crew-2 Dragon to transport a crew of four, including an employee and former astronaut, to the International Space Station (ISS) for a short stay early next year. Another quartet plan to spend several days in Earth orbit in October. Meanwhile, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is planning a trip around the Moon with eight others in 2023.
Other News
Japan budgets a record $4.14 billion for space activities
SpaceNews.com (3/9): Japan is planning a record space budget of 449.6 billion yen ($4.14 billion) in fiscal year 2021, up 23.1 percent over the current fiscal year that ends March 30, according to draft budget documents. The proposed budget includes 51.4 billion yen ($472 million) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to participate in NASA’s Artemis program, with 6.1 billion yen ($56 million) to be used to develop technologies for the lunar Gateway.
Women in space: A gallery of firsts
Space.com (3/8): Women have set records for spacewalks and long-duration spaceflight on the International Space Station (ISS). NASA is aiming to land the first woman on the Moon in this decade under the Artemis program. Here’s a look back at some of the trailblazing women who achieved major firsts in space.