In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Redwire to go public in its quest to advance space technology. NASA’s latest batch of small business grants will fund projects ranging from deep space laser communications to high-power technology for space.
Human Space Exploration
Going vertical, Artemis I boosters in place at Kennedy Space Center; awaiting core stage delivery
Coalition Members in the News – Boeing, Northrop Grumman
Yahoo News (3/25): The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket coming together at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida for Artemis I will send an Orion crew capsule farther from Earth than any previous human spacecraft. The large rocket’s first stage recently completed a ground-based “hot fire” test at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. After completion of a post test data analysis and refurbishment, the core stage will journey to KSC to be mated with its solid rocket boosters and potentially lift off later this year.
Space Science
The 1st few seconds of the Big Bang: What we know and what we don’t
Space.com (3/25): The earliest moments of the universe are a mystery. Astrophysicists are focused on finding an explanation, as many questions remain unanswered, such as the issue of dark matter.
Other News
Redwire to go public through a SPAC merger
Coalition Member in the News — Redwire
SpaceNews.com (3/25): Redwire, which has acquired space tech companies over the past year, announced its intent to go public Thursday through a merger with Genesis Park Acquisition Corp., a move that will provide $170 million in new capital. Redwire was established in June 2020 through the merging of Adcole Space and Deep Space Systems.
U.S., Russia discuss how to avoid tensions in space
POLITICO (3/26): The U.S. requested a meeting with Russia to discuss responsible behavior in space. Officials from the two nations met this week and covered “a wide range of issues related to the security of space activities” according to an English translation of a Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.
Lasers on the Moon? Nuclear rockets? NASA awards millions for way-out tech
Geekwire.com (3/25): Some $45 million in NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant funding will advance 365 technology concepts, including lunar laser power beams and materials for ground testing space nuclear reactors. This batch of SBIR/STTR grants will go to 289 small businesses and 47 research institutions, with over 30% going to first-time recipients.
Likely rocket debris lights up skies over the Pacific Northwest
NBC News (3/26): The National Weather Service said it was the re-entry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage rocket that was responsible for a brilliant fireball visible in the skies over the Pacific Northwest on Thursday. The Service said it was likely debris from the rocket that “did not successfully have a deorbit burn.”
Diversion
NASA has turned pictures of space into music
BBC (3/25): Images of stars, black holes and galaxies are being transformed into sound thanks to a process called data sonification. Data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and Spitzer Space Telescope is making it possible. Have a listen.