December 6, 2016

Red Planet Blues: Popular Entertainment and the Settlement of Mars (Source: Space Review)
A National Geographic Channel series currently airing offers a fictional look at a future Mars expedition, mixed with present-day documentary segments. Dwayne Day explores whether the series does much to make the case for the human settlement of the Red Planet. Click here. (12/5)
 
A Note on the Possible Impending Death of Human Space Exploration (Source: Space Review)
As NASA continues to efforts to eventually send humans to Mars, studies are showing a wide range of health issues that long-duration spaceflight poses to astronauts. Roger Handberg wonders of those issues, and the increasing capabilities of robotic spacecraft, may close the window on human spaceflight. Click here. (12/5)
 
The Engineer and the Imagineer (Source: Space Review)
Two of the recipients of awards from the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation last week were a space agency executive and a former Disney “imagineer.” Jeff Foust reports on a discussion between the two on innovation, risk taking, and a potential emerging “inflection point” for commercial space. Click here. (12/5)
 
Microbench Research (Source: Space Review)
The use of terms like “microgravity” and “zero gravity” can lead some to erroneously conclude that there is no gravity at all in orbit. Philip Backman proposes an alternative term to better understand that environment. Click here. (12/5)

Vega Launches Earth Observation Spacecraft for Turkey (Source: NasaSpaceFlight.com)
Arianespace’s Vega rocket has launched Turkey’s first governmental satellite for Earth observation. The launch of the Göktürk-1A satellite occurred on Monday, lifting off from launch pad ELA-1 at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana – ahead of a 57 minute ride to orbit. The four-stage launcher is tailored to carry the growing number of small scientific spacecraft and other lighter-weight payloads under development or planned worldwide. (12/5)

House Passes Rep. Posey's Bipartisan Bill for Apollo 11 Coin (Source: Rep. Posey)
Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Bill Posey (R-FL), Frederica Wilson (D-FL) John Culberson (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX) and Rod Blum (R-IA) to recognize and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing with a Commemorative Coin. July 20, 2019 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission moon landing.

“The United States remains the only country to have ever landed humans on a celestial body off the Earth and brought them home safely,” said Representative Bill Posey (FL-08) who worked on the Apollo program as a young man. “Passage of this bill honors that great feat and recognizes astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins, who made the historic journey. I would like to thank all of our cosponsors who worked to make this possible.” (12/5)