November 28, 2016

Trump Called for Halting Spending for Space Exploration (Source: Washington Post)
The Washington Post has listed President-Elect Trump's campaign promises and declarations, and will track his progress in implementing them. Number 45 on their list is "Stop spending money on space exploration until the United States can fix its potholes. Encourage private space-exploration companies to expand." (11/26)

The Future of War in Space Is Defensive (Source: War Is Boring)
The best defense is a good offense — or is it? The answer to this question, along with an understanding of the stronger form of warfare, is the single most important consideration in U.S. space strategy and funding major space programs. Satellites and other spacecraft have always been vulnerable targets for America’s adversaries. Today, attacking U.S. on-orbit capabilities offers the potential to cripple U.S. conventional power projection and impose significant costs, whether in dollars, lives or political capital.

Many strategists and policymakers have concluded that because space-based systems are seen as exposed to attack — with little way to defend them — that the offense is the stronger form of warfare in space. This conclusion is incorrect and has led to an underdeveloped U.S. space strategy. Time-tested theory and principles of war underscore that the defense is the stronger form of warfare in space. Click here. (11/24)

Can Russia Beat the U.S. to Mars? (Source: Real Noevremya)
The first manned expedition to Mars can take place in the 2040-2050s as part of international cooperation, claims the Russian Space Research Institute. However, while NASA is planning to perform its manned Mars mission in the 2030s, Russia is reducing investment in space projects.

Russian scientists have announced their desire to participate in an international partnership to perform a manned expedition to Mars within 30 years. Dr. Igor Mitrofanov said "A manned expedition to Mars is not an easy task. In my estimate, technically we'll be able to implement it approximately in the 2040-2050s. This Martian expedition will most probably be performed on the basis of consolidated international efforts.' The elements of a future Martian expedition can be tested during Russia's manned lunar programme, which is expected after 2030. (11/28)

Man Arrested After Trying to Sneak Into High Security ISRO Complex (Source: DNA)
A man who attempted to sneak into the high security ISRO-run Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri was arrested on Sunday, police said. The man was spotted attempting to enter the state-of-the-art center for ISRO's space research program. The security guards caught hold of him and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) officials subsequently handed him over to the police. (11/27)

China's Secretive Space Program Threatens NASA's Dominance (Source: Bloomberg)
The launch of the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft in western China last month marked another great leap forward for the nation's space program and its ambition to send manned missions to the moon and , eventually, Mars. Yet more than national prestige is at stake China is counting on its space program to pay huge economic dividends. Click here. (11/28) https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2016-asia-space-race/china.html

Some Assembly Required: New Space Telescope Will Take Shape After Launch (Source: NPR)
The next generation of great space telescopes is heading into its final round of ground tests. The nearly $9 billion James Webb Space Telescope will replace the aging Hubble Space Telescope. It's designed to provide unprecedented images of the earliest stars and galaxies that formed in the universe.

But before the telescope can get to work, there are still a lot of engineering challenges to overcome. For example, the Webb telescope is designed to look at the infrared wavelengths of light given off by stars. Infrared is needed to see some of the earliest stars and galaxies that formed billions of years ago. But to work properly, infrared telescopes have to be kept cold — very cold. So engineers had to design a multilayered sun shield to protect the telescope from the sun's heat. Click here. (11/28)

Journey From Earth to Space, and Back (Source: Business Mirror)
On November 14, during the 23rd Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum in Manila, a first for the Philippines to host such event, the BusinessMirror interviewed Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s  astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Besides being an astronaut, Noguchi is a Japanese aeronautical engineer. According to Jaxa, his first spaceflight was aboard the Discovery space shuttle with  mission STS-114, the “Return to Flight” space shuttle Mission on July 26, 2005. Click here. (11/27)