In Today’s Deep Space Extra… U.S., Russian experts urge future human deep space missions.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Presidential candidates must commit on space
Florida Today (4/10): As the field of presidential candidates narrows, it’s time for the most likely nominees to outline their position on NASA’s future, according to Fred Humphries, president emeritus of Florida A&M University. “Space carries a special historical resonance and economic importance in our state,” he writes in an op-ed.
Former NASA administrator discusses space with students
The Exponent, of Purdue University (4/8): Former NASA administrator Mike Griffin addressed space exploration with students. “A huge debate within the space community is whether we should go to Mars or the moon, to which I respond with ‘yes.”’ said Griffin. “What I want is for the U.S. to be a space-faring nation, and a space-faring nation should be able to go wherever technology takes us.”
Looking from outer space, you don’t see any borders on Earth
Russia Today (4/11): April 12 marks the 55th anniversary of the first human space flight, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s single orbit of the Earth in 1961. Igor Komarov, director general of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, discussed the future of human space exploration with a few predictions about the next 55 years. He foresees orbital bases at the moon and Mars, a lunar base and human activities on the Martian surface as well as continued strong, yet competitive ties with the U.S.
Space Science
NASA’s Kepler spacecraft is in ’emergency mode’
Endgadget.com (4/9): NASA’s alien planet hunting Kepler space telescope failed to check out on April 7, when it was to begin a three-month experiment to search for exoplanets in orbits far from their host stars or planets wandering through the cosmos without a host star. NASA declared an “emergency” for the space observatory launched in 2009 and now 75 million miles from the Earth. Kepler is credited with the discovery of more than 4,700 alien planet candidates. Experts are attempting to overcome the difficulties through NASA’s Deep Space Network.
Kepler’s new mission: To hunt strange orphan worlds
Discovery.com (4/8): Prior to Kepler’s emergency, astronomers planned an experiment that would enable the space telescope to unite with Earth-based observatories to seek alien planets orbiting far from their host stars using a technique called microlensing. The near 90-day test is to serve as a proof of concept for a future NASA observatory, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, planned to launch in the 2020s.
Space agency may give up on troubled Y31 X-ray satellite
Japan Today (4/9): A top Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency officials says the agency may give up on efforts to salvage the Hitomi X-ray telescope spacecraft mission launched on Feb. 17. Communications were lost on Mar. 29. Subsequent observations indicate the spacecraft is spinning as it orbits the Earth.
Moon Express asks FAA to review its plans for Google Lunar X Prize landing in 2017
Geek Wire (4/8): Seattle-based Moon Express seeks an FAA review of its payload to reduce uncertainty over the company’s plans to win the Google X Prize. Contestants for the $30-million prize are expected to launch a private mission to the moon with a rover able to travel over the surface and transmit video back to the Earth.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Dragon arrives at Space Station with inflatable habitat in tow
Spaceflightnow.com (4/14): Astronauts aboard the International Space Station secured the third cargo delivery mission to the orbiting science laboratory in as many weeks early Sunday. British astronaut Tim Peake used the station’s 58-foot-long Canadian built robot arm to grapple SpaceX’s latest Dragon re-supply ship loaded with 7,000 pounds of cargo. The delivery include the Bigelow Expandable Activities Module. The prototype fabric habitat for astronauts is scheduled to be moved from the cargo capsule to the space station on Saturday.
A bouncy house heads to the International Space Station
National Geographic (4/8): NASA’s latest commercial cargo delivery to the International Space Station includes the Bigelow Aerospace Bigelow Expandable Activities Module, the fabric prototype for in-space and planetary surface habitats for astronauts on deep space voyages. BEAM’s performance will be monitored for two years once it’s berthed in several days and extended to 12 feet in length in late May.
Houston Methodist and NASA launching unique nanomedicine experiment
Houston Chronicle (4/7): Among the experiments delivered to the International Space Station was a nanotechnology device from the Houston Methodist Research Institute for the delivering of medications to humans.
ULA offering buyouts to shed hundreds of jobs
Denver Business Journal (4/9): United Launch Alliance plans to cut its workforce by 10 percent this year as part of a nationwide restructuring and cost cutting measure.
U.S. needs up to 18 more Russian rocket engines
Reuters (4/8): The U.S. Department of Defense will require 18 more Russian-built RD-180 rocket engines for United Launch Alliance Atlas V missions launching U.S. national security payloads, according to Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work in an interview on Friday. U.S. lawmakers are seeking a domestic alternative to the RD-180 in response to Russian interference in the Ukraine.
On fifth try, mission accomplished for SpaceX booster rocket
New York Times (4/8): After boosting the company’s seventh NASA contracted re-supply mission to the International Space Station, SpaceX succeeds in returning the first stage of its Falcon 9 booster to a landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean not far from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., launch site.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of April 11-15, 2016
Spacepolicyonline.com (4/10): Major space policy activities this week include the Space Foundation’s Space Symposium in Colorado Springs and the Space Mining and Planetary Surface Construction Conference in Orlando. April 12 and Yuri’s Night will mark the 55th anniversary of the first human spaceflight, Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s single orbit around the Earth on April 12, 1961. In Washington, the U.S. House and Senate are in session.