In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Elected U.S. president on Tuesday, Donald Trump could revive National Space Council.
Human Deep Space Exploration
Spacepolicyonline.com (11/9): The Republican party secures the White House as well as control of the U.S. House and Senate in elections Tuesday. President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign remarks were broad on the topic of space, but suggest little change on the civilian front. However, he is considered to be a climate change skeptic. Campaign advisers on the topic suggested Trump will revive the National Space Council, a cabinet-level coordinating body.
How NASA’s space suits have changed through the years
Houston Chronicle (11/8): The space suits worn by NASA’s astronauts have evolved through the years. The latest version belongs to the agency’s space shuttle era and was developed for use aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station. Early versions were developed to explore the moon.
Space Science
November’s supermoon will be bigger than it has been since 1948
Washington Post (11/8): Early November 14 will mark the largest supermoon since 1948. The large bright moon occurs when the orbit of the moon brings it closest to the Earth during the full moon phase.
Looking for life: ExoMars Orbiter to begin observations on November 20
Sputnik International (11/8): The joint European Space Agency/Russian ExoMars mission, Trace Gas Orbiter spacecraft, reached Mars and maneuvered into orbit in October. Scientists are prepared to initiate observations later this month. TGO’s mission includes a search for methane gas in the Martian atmosphere, an indication of possible biological activity.
Universe Today (11/8): The Milky Way galaxy is not all we see in the darkened skies. The large and small Magellanic clouds, assemblies of stars and gas that lurk just beyond, can be spotted as well.
Low Earth Orbit
Congrats to all you gravity-bound earthlings, from NASA astronaut Kate Rubins
Wired News (11/8): Just days from her return to Earth after four months aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins remains excited about her contributions, including a first-ever effort to sequence DNA from space.
Next job for X-37B military space plane: astronaut ambulance?
Space.com (11/8): The U.S. Air Force’s secretive, reusable unpiloted space plane, the X-37B, may earn a new responsibility, serving as a space ambulance for astronauts assigned to the International Space Station. Steve Robinson, a former NASA astronaut, is studying the prospect.
How to spot the International Space Station with new NASA tool
Space.com (11/7): NASA is offering an updated tool for listing the times the International Space Station will cross the darkened skies in a wide range of global ground sites. The six-person orbiting science lab is most visible at dawn and dusk.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
U.S. military rebounding as a commercial satellite customer
Space News (11/9): U.S. Department of Defense purchases of satellite bandwidth show signs of rising, according to earnings reports from major satellite fleet operators.
NASA seeks to purchase Earth science data from smallsats
Space News (11/9): NASA intends to purchase Earth observation data from small satellite operators in 2017 to determine how well they meet requirements long-filled by traditional spacecraft. The effort was included in NASA’s 2017 budget request from last February as the Small Satellite Constellation Initiative, with a request for $30 million.