China Eyes Year-Long Stays for Space
Station Astronauts (Source: Space Daily)
China could send astronauts to its space station for more than a year
at a time once it goes operational in 2022, a senior project designer
told state media. The country's second space lab, the Tiangong-2 - or
Heavenly Palace-2 - blasted off Thursday night from the Gobi desert and
is expected to operate for at least two years, the latest stage of the
Asia's giant's ambitious space program. (9/15)
DOD Outlines Approach For Union
Construction Contracts (Source: Law360)
The U.S. Department of Defense issued updated guidance Wednesday
outlining how Pentagon agencies should handle project-specific
collective bargaining agreements for major construction work and if the
agencies should pursue such agreements at all, based on factors
including geographic area and labor needs. (9/15)
Launch Pad Equipment Co. Doubles Down
On Trade Secrets Claims (Source: Law360)
Advanced Fluid Systems Inc. told a Pennsylvania federal judge Wednesday
that a former employee, the company he founded and a rival firm
shouldn’t be able to dodge claims they worked together to steal AFS
designs and subcontracts for hydraulic systems at a NASA's Wallops
Flight Facility spaceport in Virginia. (9/15)
Orbital Debris Concerns Spark Policy
Revisit (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Growing concerns about orbital debris are leading some in the federal
government to consider revisiting existing policies. The growth of
small satellite systems, including constellations of hundreds of
satellites each, lead some to worry about increasing debris and
collision risks, and conclude that existing policies to mitigate the
growth of debris may not be sufficient. It isn't clear yet, though,
what changes could be made to deal with debris concerns, and which
agencies would take the lead. (9/15)
Bridenstine Developing More Space
Legislation (Source: Space News)
A member of Congress is developing legislation to close a regulatory
gap for "non-traditional" commercial space missions. The legislation by
Rep. James Bridenstine (R-OK) would create an "enhanced payload review"
led by the FAA for all commercial missions not otherwise licensed by
other agencies.
The goal is to address concerns about which agency would have oversight
of commercial efforts like satellite servicing and lunar landers in
order to meet U.S. treaty obligations. The proposed legislation is
unlikely to pass this year given the limited time remaining, he
cautioned, and he may hold off on introducing it until next year. (9/15)
Italian-Made Vega Launches Satellites
for Peru, Google Mapping (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
Europe’s solid-fueled Vega booster vaulted away from a launch pad in
the South American jungle late Thursday and deftly delivered five
sharp-eyed Earth observation satellites into two different orbits for
the Peruvian government and a Google-owned mapping company. The
satellites will help Peruvian authorities control the nation’s borders
and combat drug trafficking, and refresh imagery of cities and
landscapes for Google Maps.
The PeruSat 1 and four SkySat spacecraft started their journey with a
flash as the Vega’s first stage P80 solid-fueled rocket motor ignited
right on time at 0143:35 GMT Friday (9:43:35 p.m. EDT) Thursday. The
rocket’s exhaust nozzle swiveled to steer the 98-foot-tall booster to
the north from the Guiana Space Center, a sprawling facility managed by
the French space agency — CNES — at the edge of the Amazon rainforest.
(9/16)
Rocket Lab Nearly Clear for NZ Space
Launch (Source: NZ Herald)
The country's first space rocket company is now almost clear to launch,
with the Government today signing off on a contract authorizing Rocket
Lab's activities from New Zealand. The Auckland-based company, founded
by innovator Peter Beck, plans to begin to launch its Electron rockets
from Mahia Peninsula later this year, in what will be the first
commercial space launches from New Zealand.
The contract is an interim measure to allow the company to commence
launching rockets before the bill establishing a regulatory regime
comes into force. The Outer Space and High Altitude Activities Bill is
expected to be introduced into Parliament later this month and the
Government will be seeking to have it passed into law by mid next year.
(9/16)
First-Ever Discovery: Complex Organic
Molecules Found on Rosetta’s Comet (Source: Futurism)
Over the past few months, the ESA’s Rosetta orbiter has been feeding us
valuable data on comets: where they come from, what they’re made of,
how they work, and so on. But its time is nearly at an end, with a
kamikaze dive towards the surface of comet
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko scheduled for later this month. But just
before it dies, it has one more surprise up its sleeve.
The scientists behind Rosetta report that the probe has found complex,
solid organic matter in the dust particles of the comet, the kind we’ve
never expected to find. Previous missions could not collect these solid
organic molecules, since these missions were merely flybys. Ultimately,
they crafts moved too fast, disrupting the particles too much for a
proper characterization.
But Rosetta has the ability to lower its speed so that such information
can be gathered. By slowing down, it was able to collect 27,000 dust
particles, enough for its COSIMA mass spectrometer to get a proper
reading. What it found was nearly 200 particles of note, which are
being studied to determine their organic structure. In a paper
published in Nature, the scientists present seven representative
particles, particularly two named Kenneth and Juliette. Click here.
(9/14)
Diamandis: ‘We’re Gonna Be a
Multi-Planetary Species’ (Source: Observer)
Engineer and entrepreneur Peter Diamandis grew up in the 1960s, and his
life and career were shaped by two of the biggest space-related
milestones of that decade: the debut of Star Trek in 1966 and the 1969
moon landing. “I was a fanatical Star Trek fan, and the moon landing
was this epic journey that happened during my most formative years,”
Diamandis told the Observer. “It was a one-two punch that really
changed the course of my life.”
Diamandis began putting his passion for space into practice in
college—while studying at MIT in 1980 (where, as Guthrie writes, he was
“officially pre-med, but passionately pre-astronaut”) he co-founded the
school’s first space club, Students for the Exploration and Development
of Space (SEDS), whose first adviser was legendary science fiction
writer Arthur C. Clarke. SEDS is now a 501(c)3 nonprofit with chapters
in 10 countries.
After graduating, Diamandis co-founded the International Space
University, a nonprofit institution for lunar studies, which is still
active and based in France (the school’s current chancellor is Buzz
Aldrin). “I think of myself as a parent of those organizations, and
seeing them stand on their own is something I’m very proud of,”
Diamandis said. (9/14)
NASA: Space Mining Absolutely Viable
(Source: Mining.com)
While many still see space mining as science fiction, the development
of a resources industry and manufacturing supply chain out off-Earth is
both plausible and beneficial, according to former NASA researcher and
current University of Central Florida professor Dr. Phil Metzger.
In an extensive proposal released earlier this month, the academic —
whose work at NASA included developing Lunar and Martian architecture —
says that the main challenge for mining near-Earth celestial bodies is
neither technology nor cost, but simply “convincing people it is
realistic.” Click here.
(9/14)
Vega Launcher to Orbit Five Satellites
on its Seventh Mission (Source: SpaceFlight Insider)
Arianespace is gearing up for the seventh launch of the Vega rocket in
its series, which will place into orbit PerĂºSAT-1 and four SkySat
satellites. The launcher is scheduled to lift off from the Vega Launch
Complex (SLV) in Kourou, French Guiana, at 10:43 p.m. local time on
Sept. 15 (9:43 p.m. EDT).
The mission, designated VV07, will carry a total payload of
approximately 1.23 metric tons. The flight, lasting approximately one
hour and 43 minutes, will result in the insertion of the satellites
into an elliptical low-Earth orbit (LEO). The mission campaign started
in June with the assembly of the Vega launcher. The teams were busy
throughout the month to integrate all four stages of the rocket. After
the assembly of the launch vehicle, the engineers conducted the
synthesis control test. (9/14)
China Launches Tiangong-2 Space Lab to
Orbit (Source: SpaceFlight Insider)
On Thursday, Sept. 15, China successfully launched a Long March 2F
rocket carrying the country’s second space lab – Tiangong-2 (meaning
“Heavenly Palace” in Chinese). Liftoff took place at 10:04 p.m. local
time (10:04 a.m. EDT) from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Center, located in China’s Gansu Province.
The launch, originally targeted for 2014, was delayed several times.
More recently, the mission was set for Sept. 13; however, it was
postponed one more time, most likely due to the Aug. 31, 2016,
suspected launch failure of Long March 4C with the Gaofen-10 satellite.
Finally, the liftoff was rescheduled to Sept. 15 with a launch window
extending until Sept. 20. (9/15)
Colorado Space Business Roundtable
Shows Value of Keeping Aerospace Business Local (Source: CSBR)
The Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR) traveled more than 1,000
miles from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 to four Colorado communities - Grand
Junction, Naturita, Montrose and Durango – for its fourth annual
Aerospace Business Development road trip. The trip showed how the
Colorado aerospace industry benefits all communities across the state,
highlighted opportunities for local businesses to become aerospace
suppliers, and promoted STEM education.
"This year's road trip introduced CSBR and members like Lockheed Martin
to great companies in Western Colorado that have the potential to
expand their work in the aerospace industry," said Joe Rice, Director
of Government Relations at Lockheed Martin (LMT). "This could create
jobs in Western Colorado and provide products and services needed by
aerospace companies across the nation."
CSBR's Aerospace Business Development road trips connect companies,
suppliers, subcontractors and other stakeholders with a goal of
furthering the industry across the state. Western Colorado has
companies with the abilities to produce parts for planes, spacecraft,
and satellites, so this road trip focused on how to take advantage of
these capabilities. (9/14)
China to Share Space Development
Benefits With All (Source: Global Times)
China will share the benefits of the development in its manned space
program with all countries, especially developing countries, a space
program official said Wednesday. China will also expand international
cooperation on equipment research and development, space application,
astronaut training, joint flight and aerospace medical care, said Wu
Ping, deputy director of the manned space engineering office, at a
press conference.
China has signed multiple cooperation agreements with countries such as
Russia, Germany and France, and organizations including the European
Space Agency (ESA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space
Affairs, according to Wu. "We have always insisted on conducting
international exchanges and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect,
equality, mutual benefit and transparency, jointly promoting the
progress and development of space technology," she said. (9/15)
Will SpaceX Pain Mean ULA Gain?
(Source: Decatur Daily)
A massive explosion that destroyed a Falcon 9 rocket and its satellite
payload this month during an engine test was a setback for SpaceX, the
main rival to United Launch Alliance, but it is not clear if SpaceX’s
misfortune will help ULA, according to experts. The Sep. 1 explosion on
a Cape Canaveral launch pad engulfed one of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets
and destroyed a satellite that Facebook planned to use to bring
internet access to Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
It was the second recent failure for the California-based aerospace
company after another Falcon 9 disintegrated in flight last year on a
mission to resupply the International Space Station. SpaceX founder and
CEO Elon Musk has called the latest fireball “the most difficult and
complex failure we have ever had in 14 years.” But experts said last
week it is too soon to say whether ULA will be able to capitalize on
SpaceX’s launch-pad failure. (9/15)
Commercial Space Success Hinges on
Making a Profit (Source: Inverse)
Although companies like SpaceX, Boeing, and Blue Origin have been
stringing together a series of successes over the last few years, the
commercial space industry is perhaps not in the healthiest state —
mainly because it’s not yet profitable.
“You have to be able to make a profit through space,” said Michael
Griffin, chairman and CEO of the technology company Schafer
Corporation. At a panel discussion about the free market space industry
hosted by the AIAA’s annual Explore SPACE Forum on Tuesday, Griffin and
other private spaceflight experts debated what the role of government
should be in helping private companies take a bigger role in low Earth
orbit (LEO) space operations.
NASA’s long-term goals include handing off LEO to the commercial sector
so that it can focus on deep space missions like the journey to Mars.
In order to speed this process up, the government has been actively
partnering with the private industry to develop cheaper launch and
spacecraft technology. But there’s disagreement as to whether or not
the government is getting the most out of its investments. (9/14)
After Year in Space, Scott Kelly is
Still Adjusting to Earth (Source: Inverse)
On Wednesday, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted that he received his
last health scans in a series of tests to gauge the health effects from
his year in space, as part of NASA’s goal to better understand how
long-term space travel impacts the health of astronauts before
launching the mission to Mars. One of the effects Kelly is still
reeling from after 340 days aboard the International Space Station,
besides loss of muscle mass and bone density, is a lesser-known
phenomenon called fluid shift.
According to NASA, more than half of American astronauts develop
changes in eye and vision structure after a long-duration space flight.
These changes in ocular refraction (how the eye processes light) and
cranial pressure are believed to be the result of fluid shifts. While
short-term flights can also impact vision, fluid shift does not seem to
be a factor. However, such suspicions had never been tested before the
Kelly medical test.
In order to determine the impact of fluid shift on eye vision and
structures, researchers used noninvasive techniques developed by NASA
to determine arterial and venous flow parameters, ocular pressure and
structure, and changes in intracranial pressure. (9/14)
Asteroids Will Be Rest Stops on
Journey to Mars, Says NASA Chief (Source: Inverse)
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said Wednesday that the upcoming
Asteroid Redirect Mission is “an important step for us on the journey
to Mars.” As one of agency’s most ambitious projects ever conceived,
the mission — ARM for short — will be “an opportunity for us to sit out
on the proving ground” for getting human boots on the red planet,
Bolden said. In many ways, it’s a test run for future Mars missions.
But it’s a pretty exciting mission in its own right, too.
In brief, a robotic spacecraft will head to a nearby asteroid and, for
the first time ever, use solar-electric propulsion to land on an
asteroid’s surface. It will then scoop up a multi-ton boulder, go back
into space, and use the new mass and gravitational influence to reroute
the asteroid. Eventually — about ten years from now — astronauts will
rendezvous with the spacecraft, take samples from the asteroid boulder,
and return the samples to Earth for analysis. ARM will “give us a
chance to do some of the things we expect we’ll need to do in the Mars
environment,” Bolden said. (9/14)
Moon’s Pull and Tides Raise Odds of
Powerful Earthquakes (Source: Space.com)
Gravitational forces that create high tides during full and new moons
may also intensify tremors to the point that they become big
earthquakes, according to a new study. Ocean tides are caused primarily
by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on Earth. These same
gravitational forces also strain geological faults, triggering both
tremors and earthquakes, the researchers said. (9/14)
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