In Today’s Deep Space Extra… The Earth orbit’s space debris concerns could migrate to the Moon. Seven nations sign document called the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Vision 2031 to enhance space cooperation.
Human Space Exploration
The Moon could soon have a space junk problem
Science.org (2/22): It’s forecast that on March 4, the Moon will be struck by a discarded rocket booster, believed to have originated with the launch of a Chinese rocket. Initial confusion over its source, however, illustrates the difficulty of tracking space debris near the Moon, where NASA and others plan to establish a permanent human presence. The Moon is nearly 250,000 miles from the Earth, and little is known about the debris that passes within 44,000 miles. Vishnu Reddy, a University of Arizona scientist, estimates there are likely fewer than 200 large pieces of space debris near the Moon, a number though that could rise significantly over the next five years as the U.S., China, Russia, and other nations and commercial interests grow.
The European Space Agency wants to be able to launch its own astronauts
Space.com (2/23): The European Space Agency (ESA) is pushing for its members to back a program to allow it to independently send astronauts to space and set ambitious, long-term human exploration goals. While Europeans have been flying to space since the 1970s, only three countries — the Soviet Union (now Russia), the U.S. and China — have so far been able to independently launch astronauts into space. But this could change, if ESA’s leader and its astronauts get their way, as Europe looks to both seize new opportunities and not fall behind.
Space Science
One crater on the Moon is filled with ice and gas that came from a comet impact
Universetoday.com (2/22): Plans to return humans to the Moon have been encouraged in part by evidence pointing to the presence of large subsurface ice deposits in permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, and especially at the South Pole Aitken Basin. Theories explaining the source of the water ice have varied. A new study led by researchers from the U.S. and France points to a comet that impacted the region as the source, findings that have been published in the journal Nature Communications. Water ice, if mined and processed, could provide resources for human life support and liquid oxygen and hydrogen rocket propellants.
Researchers unlock the keys to designing an interstellar sail
Space.com (2/22): The Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, a research and engineering project, aims to stand up a propulsion technique, the solar sail, for missions beyond the solar system. The project is focused on the development of a sail deployed in space and moved by the photons from a light source that would carry a microchip-sized probe at 20% the speed of light, fast enough to reach Alpha Centauri, a triple and nearest star system, in about 20 years. That’s down from the estimated 6,300 years with existing propulsion technologies.
Other News
U.S. and allies to strengthen cooperation in space
SpaceNews.com (2/22): The Defense Department announced February 22 that the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have signed a document called the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Vision 2031. The document states that the seven nations will “generate and improve cooperation, coordination, and interoperability opportunities to sustain freedom of action in space, optimize resources, enhance mission assurance and resilience, and prevent conflict.”
U.S. and international partners to share launch cost of new communications satellite
Coalition Member in the News – Boeing
SpaceNews.com (2/22): Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) communications satellite users are in talks with U.S. officials about a cost sharing agreement to fund the launch of the new WGS-11+. WGS satellites provide broadband communications to the U.S. military and allies. While the U.S. military never intended to buy WGS-11+, the 11th satellite in the constellation, Congress required it, though without providing the funds for the launch. The U.S. Space Force is seeking contributions from international partners that use the network for the launch cost, which is estimated at $150 million.
Washington state’s space industry doubles its economic impact in just four years
Coalition Member in the News – Boeing
Geekwire.com (2/22): An assessment from the Puget Sound Regional Council and the Washington State Space Coalition places the annual economic impact of space activities in Washington State at $4.6 billion and more than 13,000 jobs, up from $1.8 billion and 6,200 jobs in 2018. Blue Origin and a number of smaller space startups in the region, some established by former Blue Origin personnel, are credited with the surge.
NASA control center named for Apollo launch director Rocco A. Petrone
Collectspace.com (2/22): NASA on Tuesday named the Florida Launch Control Center that oversaw the liftoff of the nation’s first Apollo era Moon missions for the late Rocco A. Petrone. Petrone, who died in 2006 at the age of 80, was a U.S. Army officer and mechanical engineer. He became director of launch operations at NASA in 1966, and in 1969 was named director of Apollo, with overall responsibility for the direction and management of the program. He went on to hold other positions at NASA, including associate administrator.