In Today’s Deep Space Extra… U.S. presidential contenders say little so far on space exploration plans. Congress delves into proposed 2017 space budget proposals.
Human Deep Space Exploration
‘Where’s your space policy?’ Journalist asks 2016 candidates
Wisconsin Public Radio (3/11): U.S. presidential candidates are saying too little about the significance of space exploration, an endeavor that contributes to the nation’s future economic well-being, according to Tyler Rogoway, a veteran Defense journalist.
Here’s what NASA needs if we’re really going to Mars
Time (3/11): NASA’s Mars exploration plans must include the timely development of hardware like the Space Launch System exploration rocket and Orion crew capsule, a straight forward strategy and a budget that supports it, according to the report. Time notes that three U.S. presidents over three decades have directed NASA to resume the human deep space exploration activities pioneered during the Apollo era.
Senators criticize funding “gimmicks” in NASA’s $19 billion budget request
Space News (3/11): U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations commerce, justice and science (CJS) subcommittee, questioned the authenticity of the White House’s $19 billion, 2017 budget request for NASA during a hearing last week. Shelby decried cuts for the Space Launch System exploration rocket, the Orion crew capsule and planetary science.
Mikulski’s last NASA budget hearing
Spacepolicyonline.com (3/11): U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, of Maryland, one of NASA’s strongest supporters in Congress, participated in her final appropriations subcommittee hearing regarding the space agency last week. Active in Congress since 1986, Mikulski retires at the end of this year. During the hearing, she questioned NASA administrator Charles Bolden over the status of the James Webb Space Telescope and the agency’s efforts to advance satellite servicing. Committee chairman Richard Shelby challenged top line figures in NASA’s proposed 2017 budget and cuts to the Space Launch System, Orion and planetary science.
Scott Kelly, NASA’s one-year astronaut, will retire next month
Space.com (3/11): Kelly on Friday announced plans to retire from NASA on April 1, following his U.S. record setting 340 day mission to the International Space Station with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko and after two decades in the astronaut corps. Kelly, who logged a U.S. record 520 days in space over four missions, will continue to serve as a subject in scientific research associated with the long flight that ended late Mar. 1. The research is focused on the effects of long spaceflight on the physical and psychological health of astronauts assigned to future deep space exploration missions.
Space Science
Liftoff! European mission to Mars launches to hunt for signs of life
Space.com (3/14): Europe and Russia are teamed for a Mars space science mission, ExoMars, that lifted off on Monday at 5:31 a.m., EST, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The mission, includes the Mars Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli, a stationery lander, both scheduled to reach Mars on Oct. 19. A second flight in the series with a rover is planned for a 2018 launch will seek signs of life on the red planet, past and present.
EU, Russia discuss possibility to delay 2nd part of ExoMars mission to 2020
Sputnik International (3/13): The second part of the joint European/Russian ExoMars initiative, currently set for a 2018 lift off, could be delayed by two years. The 2018 mission features a rover equipped to detects signs of life on Mars.
Russian Earth observing satellite delivered to orbit
Spaceflightnow.com (3/13): A Russian Soyuz launch vehicle placed an Earth observing satellite into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Sunday afternoon. The countdown was halted a day earlier after a last minute abort.
Pluto’s mountains capped by methane ice (photo)
Space.com (3/11): A 260 mile long mountain chain on distant Pluto is laced with a bright material that has been identified as methane by instruments aboard NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft which carried out the first flyby of Pluto last July 14.
Exploring Jupiter with mobile apps: Track the planet, great red spot and more
Space.com (3/11): Mobile apps offer amateur observers a handy road map for observations of Jupiter, which is now at its closest point to Earth and second only to Venus and the moon in brightness. NASA’s Juno mission spacecraft will maneuver into orbit around the big planet on July 4.
Low Earth Orbit
Astronaut’s photos from space change how we see Earth
NPR (3/12): Astronaut Scott Kelly’s space legacy includes spectacular images of the Earth shared by social media during his U.S. record setting 340 days aboard the International Space Station. Kelly flew the long mission with Russian Milkhail Kornienko to help explore the physical and psychological challenges of future long deep space missions. The two men landed in Kazakhstan late Mar. 1.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin could change the face of space travel
Florida Today (3/12): Bezos spoke of space tourism, production plans for the company’s BE-4 rocket engine and the value of competition during a rare behind the scenes look at Blue Origin facilities in Kent, Washington last week.
Cabana: KSC transformation making ‘tremendous progress’
Florida Today (3/12): NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is achieving its goal of transitioning to a multi-purpose launch complex, director Bob Cabana tells a Florida NASA Space Club group last week. That role includes future launches of NASA’s Space Launch System exploration rocket. Currently, SLS support is focused on control room software, he said.
Major Space Related Activities for the Week
Major space related activities for the week of March 14-18, 2016
Spacepolicyonline.com (3/13): The U.S. House and Senate are in Washington this week and plan hearings of U.S. space budgets. Late Friday, three new crew members launch to the International Space Station, The include NASA’s Jeff Williams and Russia’s Oleg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin.