In Today’s Deep Space Extra… President Obama renews his call for the human exploration of Mars.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Mars: How will humans get there?
Voice of America (10/30): President Barack Obama, a self-professed “science geek,” has re-issued his call this month for the human exploration of Mars. During an October symposium in Pennsylvania, the president tried out Boeing and SpaceX simulators for spacecraft that could launch U.S. astronauts into Earth orbit in two years. This advance would free NASA to reach out to Mars.
The weak pull of artificial gravity
The Space Review (10/31): Artificial gravity? Will it, should it play a role in the long duration missions that enable humans to explore Mars? So far, NASA and even private sector visionaries believe that less mechanically complex countermeasures, such as exercise and diet, can counter the ill effects of zero gravity on the human body.
Pence promises to reinvigorate space program
Florida Today (10/31): Vice presidential contender Mike Pence urged voters to back Donald Trump’s White House bid in order to add new vigor to U.S. space exploration.
Mike Pence promises robust space support at Cocoa
Spacepolitics.com (11/1): If elected president, Donald Trump will revive the National Space Policy Council, a cabinet level policy making group, Mike Pence said on Monday during a Florida campaign appearance. Pence would chair the space policy council.
Spaceport Kansas has taken flight as premier space history center
Columbus Dispatch, of Ohio (10/30): The Cosmosphere International Science Center and Space Museum, of Hutchinson, Kansas, has quietly become a significant space-age museum through its collection of spacecraft that helped humans pioneer the exploration of space.
Jeff Bezos dismisses idea of a backup plan, says we must protect Earth
Ars Technica (10/30): Blue Origin’s founder Jeff Bezos believes humans will find innovation, prosperity and a refuge for heavy industry in space, not a second home.
Space Science
NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos are discussing a joint mission to Venus
Sputnik International (11/1): Though no formal agreements have been established, the U.S. and Russia have discussed a joint Venus mission. A proposed 2026 start date remains in question because of Russian financing concerns, according to the report.
NASA: We’re not racing SpaceX to Mars
Discovery (10/31): Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s new associate administrator for space science, says he would welcome a private sector success in an effort to bring samples of Mars back to Earth for study.
Canary Islands are alternate site for planned Mauna Kea telescope
New York Times (10/31): The Canary Islands could be an alternate site for a powerful new telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Protests on Mauna Kea over the project have raised doubts over its viability.
Low Earth Orbit
Space Zen: This Space Station fly-through is supremely serene
Space.com (10/31): NASA offers a serene “fly through” tour of the International Space Station.
Chinese astronauts halfway through country’s longest space mission
Spaceflightnow.com (10/31): Two Chinese astronauts have reached the halfway mark in a 30-day mission to the country’s Tiangong-2 orbiting space lab. Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong lifted off on October 16.
The Space Review (10/31): The movements of a mystery U.S. satellite launched in 2009 hint at its classified mission, one to intercept the communications of adversaries relayed by satellite.