In Today’s Deep Space Extra… White House sponsored Frontiers Conference will feature brainstorming for future human missions to Mars.
Human Deep Space Exploration
President Obama to pitch Mars mission one final time at Thursday conference
USA Today (10/12): President Obama’s renewed call for the human exploration of Mars in the 2030s coincides with the Frontiers Conference, a one-day gathering in Pittsburgh today co-sponsored by the White House and hosted by the Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. The missions will require the cooperation of government and private sector innovators, according to an op-ed Obama provided CNN earlier this week.
Mars colony weather forecast: Dusty
Seeker (10/12): Human explorers will likely need a network of orbiting weather satellites to help them learn to live on the red planet.
Space Science
ExoMars’ landing demonstrator and orbiter explained by ESA | Video
Space.com (10/12): The joint European/Russian ExoMars mission spacecraft is days from Mars, where the Trace Gas Orbiter will separate ahead of the landing of Schiaparelli, a “test bed” for technologies being developed for future surface missions on the red planet. A European Space Agency video explains how the activities are intended to unfold.
Impact! New moon craters are appearing faster than thought
Space.com (10/12): A new study suggests the Earth’s moon is being pelted by space rocks more frequently than previous estimates. Future human lunar surface activities could be jeopardized by these findings, according to a science team led by an Arizona State University scientist. The study data came from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Orionid Meteor Shower 2016: When, where & how to see it
Space.com (10/12): The annual Orionid meteor shower, whose source is Halley’s Comet, will peak next Thursday and continue into November. As many as 20 meteors each hour should be visible.
Low Earth Orbit
Russia to spend $2.8 billion on space program in 2017 – draft
TASS, of Russia (10/12): A draft of Russian space expenditures for the coming year includes funds for the development of a nuclear propulsion capability, as well as cosmonaut training and launch site operations like those of the Baiknonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Russia’s Glonass satellite navigation system.
Another would-be space tourist might make trip to ISS in 2017
TASS, of Russia (10/12): Russia is discussing the possible flight of an unidentified space tourist, possibly next September. The new flyer would spend about 10 days at the International Space Station. Russia’s most recent space tourist Cirque du Soleil, co-founder of Guy Laliberte, paid $40 million for a similar trip in 2009.
Poland unveils new space strategy, eyes space spending hike
Space News (10/12): Poland’s political leadership agrees to step-up its annual spending on space, with a near term goal of developing the country’s first satellite. The increased investment is intended to place a domestic focus on new knowledge, innovation and technological development.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Boeing delays CST-100 test flights by six months
Space News (10/12): Boeing points to the end of 2018 for the launch of its first NASA contracted crew mission to the International Space Station. Boeing is re-scheduling precursor test flights of the company’s CST-100 Starliner ahead of operational launches to June 2018.