In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Structural evaluations of the NASA/Lockheed Martin Orion capsule assigned to Exploration Mission-1 get underway at the Kennedy Space Center.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Orion pressure vessel moved to test stand at KSC
Spaceflight Insider (5/1): The NASA/Lockheed Martin Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) Orion spacecraft pressure vessel has been placed on a test stand in the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for evaluations of its structural integrity. The capsule is slated to launch atop a Space Launch System exploration rocket for the first time in late 2018. The uncrewed capsule will carry out a three week flight around the moon and back to Earth for an ocean splashdown and recovery.
Simulating Mars exploration, British astronaut guides rover from space
Reuters (4/29): European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake commanded a robotic rover Friday through a “cave” at a simulated Mars Yard in his native England. Peake, who is nearing the end of his tour of duty aboard the International Space Station, was participating in Meteron, a European project to determine how effectively astronauts in orbit around the moon and Mars could explore planetary surfaces with roving robots.
Bound for Mars, a robot arrives in Boston for training
Boston Globe (5/1): Valkyrie, the prototype for a humanoid robot that could one day help to prepare the Martian surface for the arrival of human explorers, has reached Northeastern University, where it will undergo an evaluation by engineering experts. Valkyrie stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 275 pounds.
2D spacecraft, reprogrammable microbes & more: NASA eyes wild space tech ideas
Space.com (5/1): NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program is backing 13 new technologies that support the agency’s deep space exploration agendas with an initial round of funding.
Space Science
Tailless ‘Manx’ comet could answer planetary mystery
Discovery.com (4/29): U.S. and European astronomers identified a strange “tailless” comet deep in the solar system emitting materials like those of planetary objects in the inner reaches of the main asteroid belt. The materials correspond to those that comprise the inner rocky planets. Scientist believe they were ejected into the Oort Cloud billions of years ago, where they were preserved until making a re-appearance in the comet.
All good things: Countdown begins toward Cassini’s ‘grand finale’ around Saturn
America Space (4/29): The long running multinational Cassini planetary science mission to Saturn is preparing for its long final phase. Launched in 1997, Cassini maneuvered into orbit around the ringed planet in July 2004. Its science has revealed Earth like qualities in the moon Titan and geyser like sprays from the ocean moon Enceladus. Studies of the realm below the ring structure are part of the mission’s final phase. The NASA led mission includes the European and Italian space agencies.
Parallel Universes: Theories & Evidence
Space.com (4/28): Theories for and against a multiverse and parallel universes abound and come and go.
Low Earth Orbit
U.H. announces Scott Kelly will be 2016 commencement speaker
KTRK-TV, of Houston (5/1): Scott Kelly, who returned from a U.S. record breaking 340 day mission aboard the International Space Station on Mar. 1, will serve as the 2016 commencement speaker for the University of Houston. His address is scheduled for May 14. Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko shared the long flight as subjects in physical and psychological experiments intended to help address the challenges of future human deep space exploration.
NASA T-38 jet reunited with space shuttle Enterprise in New York
Collectspace.com (4/28): A historically significant NASA T-38 jet trainer has joined the shuttle test orbiter Enterprise for public display aboard New York City’s Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Jeff Bezos explains how Blue Origin will prevent its rocket engine from melting
Popular Science (4/29): Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos explains the science and engineering behind controlling the thermal environment for the BE-4 rocket engine’s critical pre burner. Ground tests for the methane, liquid oxygen fueled future rocket engine are planned for this year.
ULA traces Atlas V anomaly to malfunctioning RD-180 valve
Spacepolicyonline.com (4/29): United Launch Alliance has identified the mixed ratio control valve as the source of an early first stage shut off of the Atlas 5 rocket involved in the successful Mar. 22 launch of the latest Orbital ATK commercial resupply mission to the six person International Space Station. The launch vehicle’s Centaur second stage made up for the lost performance and the mission was a success. ULA has delayed further Atlas 5 launches until early summer, however, while it examines the issue further.
World View raises $15 million for high-altitude balloon work
Space News (4/29): World View, the Tucson high altitude balloon company, has plans to provide long term observations of places of interest on the Earth. The company’s Stratollites could perform activities otherwise assigned to Earth observation satellites. World View is also developing high altitude balloon missions for passengers and research payloads.
Major Space Related Activities
Major space related activities for the week of May 2-6, 2016
Spacepolicyonline.com (5/1): The U.S. House and Senate are in recess this week. Orbital ATK returns to Virginia’s Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport for pre-launch testing of the company’s upgraded Antares launch vehicle. The Secure World Foundation will host a panel on asteroid mining in Washington D.C. on Thursday.