Humans Are Going to Mars. NASA Has
Unveiled Their Mission. (Source: Futurism)
Though the undertaking will no doubt include many challenges, NASA is
finally ready to make humanity's dream of sending people to Mars a
reality. To that end, the agency has shared its five-part plan for
reaching the Red Planet. Click here.
(4/30)
India’s Space Agency Saves Over US$ 2
Billion per Year for the Country (Source: Sputnik)
Speaking at the Osmania University, Hyderabad on ‘India in Space’, ISRO
chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said the space agency is issuing cyclone
alerts to fishermen and early warnings in the southern state of Kerala.
Not only that, ISRO zeroed in on a fishing hamlet and advised fishermen
from its development center near Thiruvananthapuram. The locals
volunteered to give up their land to ISRO for developing the center
although initially there was some resistance, Kumar added.
Shedding light on future plans, the ISRO chairman said the agency will
launch five communication satellites by the year-end. "The five
communication satellites will be used to improve the number of
transponders available for communications and will significantly
improve our capabilities,” Kumar said. (4/30)
Virgin Galactic Aims to Fly Space
Tourists in 2018, CEO Says (Source: Space.com)
Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is on track to begin commercial
passenger spaceflights before the end of next year, the company's chief
executive said. For years, Branson has been optimistically forecasting
the start of rides aboard SpaceShipTwo, an air-launched suborbital
spaceplane that is designed to carry six passengers and two pilots to
an altitude of about 62 miles (100 kilometers).
During the suborbital hop, passengers will be able to experience a few
minutes of microgravity and see the limb of Earth set against the
blackness of space. Branson has been more circumspect in his schedule
projections since an October 2014 fatal accident during a test flight
of Virgin's first vehicle. But in an interview with The Telegraph
earlier this month, the billionaire entrepreneur said he'd be "very
disappointed" if the program isn't well underway by the end of next
year. (4/30)
How This Son of Migrant Farm Workers
Became an Astronaut (Source: CNN)
Millions of kids dream of going into space. But Jose Hernandez made
that dream a reality -- and he did so against incredible odds. As the
son of Mexican migrant farm workers, his education was constantly
interrupted as his family followed the changing crops. Often, they
would spend December through February in Mexico.
Hernandez and his siblings would home school themselves with
assignments from their American teachers during those months. But with
all of the constant interruptions, Hernandez didn't become fluent in
English until he was 12. But through perseverance, Hernandez managed to
earn a Master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from the
University of California, Santa Barbara and attain his goal of becoming
an astronaut. Not only has he traveled into space as the mission
specialist to the International Space Station, but he now runs his own
foundation, Reaching for the Stars. (4/30)
Starliner’s Propulsion
System Engines Complete Qualification Tests (Source:
SpaceFlight Insider)
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner space capsule got a further boost toward
completion when the engines being built for its reactive propulsion
system by Aerojet Rocketdyne passed their qualification tests. Twelve
of the monopropellant MR-104J engines, fueled by hydrazine, will be
used for reaction control during the re-entry phase of each mission.
The system is designed to keep the spacecraft on the correct trajectory
and orientation for a safe re-entry and landing.
The qualification tests involved hot-fire testing of the engines to not
only prove their functionality and reliability but also to demonstrate
their reusability. The MR-104J engines have been built to withstand
multiple firings to allow them to be used on more than one mission.
(5/2)
Honeywell And Paragon To
Create Life Support Technology For Future NASA Space Missions
(Source: Space.com)
Honeywell and Paragon Space Development Corporation have announced a
teaming agreement that will change the way astronauts experience life
in space. The two companies will design, build, test and apply
environmental control and life support systems for future human NASA
and commercial programs.
Longer duration, human-exploration missions are planned for the future,
but there is no easy way to replenish resources such as oxygen and
water in space. NASA's future human-exploration missions will require
an integrated and highly efficient system for life support and thermal
control. Paragon's focus on evolving water and thermal technologies
complements Honeywell's new developments in air revitalization
technologies, both of which are essential parts of the spacecraft
needed for NASA's deep space goals. (5/3)
Why Space Dust Emits
Radio Waves Upon Crashing Into a Spacecraft (Source: Space
Daily)
When spacecraft and satellites travel through space they encounter
tiny, fast moving particles of space dust and debris. If the particle
travels fast enough, its impact appears to create electromagnetic
radiation (in the form of radio waves) that can damage or even disable
the craft's electronic systems.
A new study published this week in the journal Physics of Plasmas, from
AIP Publishing, uses computer simulations to show that the cloud of
plasma generated from the particle's impact is responsible for creating
the damaging electromagnetic pulse. They show that as the plasma
expands into the surrounding vacuum, the ions and electrons travel at
different speeds and separate in a way that creates radio frequency
emissions. (5/3)
Virgin Galactic VSS Unity
Passes Feather Test (Source: SpaceFlight Insider)
After successfully completing three glide-and-land tests at Mojave Air
and Spaceport, Virgin Galactic conducted its first test of the
“feather” mechanism on its second SpaceShipTwo (SS2) suborbital tourism
spacecraft. This was the first successful test of SS2’s feathering
system since a premature deployment of the system on the first vehicle
caused it to break up in flight, killing one pilot and seriously
injuring a second on October 31, 2014. (5/2)
4 Things You Must Know
About the Future of Space Travel (Source: US News)
Think space travel is just for skilled astronauts and fictional
characters from your favorite "Star Wars" films? Think again. You don't
have to be a professional scientist to fly into suborbital space, but
you will have to pay a steep price. With a variety of pioneering
companies competing to launch humans into space, lunar exploration is
taking off.
Take SpaceX, the brainchild of Elon Musk, which plans to transport two
passengers aboard its SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to cross over the moon
and back in 2018. Or Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket company, which
aspires to launch six lucky tourists into space via a capsule, and
that's testing its New Shepard rocket ahead of plans for commercial
suborbital journeys in 2018. For those more inclined to board a
spaceship, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic aims to send tourists –
including world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking – aboard the
SpaceShipTwo (a six-passenger aircraft) into space this year.
If you're not interested in gliding into deep or suborbital space – or
you lack the funds to support a $250,000 journey aboard the Virgin
Galactic – you can enjoy epic space events from Earth this year,
including watching the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, stargazing in
prized national parks or even checking out the northern lights. Click here.
(5/3)
AIA Calls for Actions to
Spur US Space Competitiveness (Source: AIA)
The Aerospace Industries Association, supported by research and
analysis provided by the consulting firm Bryce Space and Technology,
released a report today highlighting the growing importance of the U.S.
domestic space industry to our nation’s economic vitality and security.
The report: “Engine for Growth: Analysis and Recommendations for U.S.
Space Industry Competitiveness,” recommends specific steps that the
U.S. government should take to maximize potential for renewing American
leadership in global trade and investing in infrastructure for a
stronger America. Click here.
(5/3)
Here's How US Defense
Spending Stacks Up Against the Rest of the World (Source:
CNBC)
Fresh from a bruising budget battle, President Donald Trump and GOP
leaders Tuesday hailed the deal as a first step in a big boost in
military spending, one of the president's major campaign pledges. "We
are taking care of our military, and we're not going to go back to what
we were doing for the last long period of time," the president said at
a Rose Garden event Tuesday honoring the U.S. Air Force Academy
football team.
Military spending flattened and then declined around the world
following the financial crisis a decade ago. U.S. spending picked up
again in 2015, topping $600 billion, according to data collected by the
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Last year,
China boosted its annual defense budget to $215 billion, making it the
second largest in the world. Russia raised spending to $70 billion,
making it the third largest. (5/2)
Space Coast Company
Advancing Magnetics to Change Aerospace (Source: AML)
AML is applying innovative magnet and motor technology to address the
transition of the aerospace industry and its ongoing quest for
electrically propelled aircraft. This shift from gas burning turbines
to electric engines will significantly improve energy efficiency,
dramatically reduce air pollution, and minimize noise over today’s gas
turbine engines. Click here.
(5/2)
Kennedy Space Center
Visitor Complex: Operator's Contract Extended (Source:
Orlando Sentinel)
NASA has extended Delaware North’s contract to run the Kennedy Space
Center Visitor Complex through 2028. Delaware North, a hospitality and
food-service company, originally was awarded a 10-year concessions
contract in 2010. During this tenure, major attractions including the
$100 million Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit and Heroes &
Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame have opened at the
complex.
The company, based in Buffalo, N.Y., has annual revenue of about $3
billion in the sports, parks, resorts, gaming, travel hospitality and
specialty- retail industries. Last year, the visitor complex set an
annual attendance record, the company says. The Brevard County
attraction will be marking its 50th anniversary this summer. (5/3)
NASA Seeks Industry Help
with Lunar Landings, Potentially Sample Return (Source:
Ars Technica)
NASA is interested in the Moon again. This week the space agency issued
a new "request for information" to the aerospace industry for cargo
transportation to the lunar surface. This new opportunity appears to
represent NASA's increasing willingness to reconsider the Moon as a
destination for human spaceflight.
Offered jointly by the agency's science, human spaceflight, and
technology directorates, in its new request NASA seeks to partner with
the commercial sector to deliver scientific payloads to the Moon. "NASA
has identified a variety of exploration, science, and technology
demonstration objectives that could be addressed by sending
instruments, experiments, or other payloads to the lunar surface," the
document states. "To address these objectives as cost-effectively as
possible, NASA may procure payloads and related commercial payload
delivery services to the Moon."
Specifically, the request seeks opportunities as early as fiscal year
2018, running through the next decade for "agreed-upon" locations on
the Moon, and the provision of power, communications, and thermal
control both during the flight and on the surface of the Moon.
Additionally, in the request, NASA says it may also seek the return of
lunar samples to Earth. (5/3)
Orbital Insight Raises
$50M for Data Analytics (Source: Space News)
Geospatial analytics firm Orbital Insight has raised $50 million to
fuel its expansion. The company combines satellite imagery with other
data sources to create new information for a range of industries, from
retail to oil and gas. The company plans to use the additional capital
to expand its workforce and create new data products. The Series C
round, led by venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, brings the total
raised by the company to $78.7 million. (5/3)
Australian Satellite
Broadband Demand Grows (Source: Space News)
Increased demand has led an Australian company to muster a backup
broadband satellite into service. The state-owned National Broadband
Network (NBN) said that its second Sky Muster satellite, launched in
October 2016 originally as an on-orbit spare for the first satellite,
is now in service to keep pace with growing user demand. The two
satellites are providing broadband service to more than 70,000
Australian households that aren't served by terrestrial systems. NBN
said it's improved the installation process for satellite broadband
users, reducing user complaints by 80 percent. (5/3)
DigitalGlobe Reports
Fiscal Quarter Loss (Source: DigitalGlobe)
DigitalGlobe reported a small loss in its fiscal first quarter. The
company said Tuesday that it suffered a net loss of $2.2 million on
revenue of nearly $210 million in the quarter, compared to net income
of $8.6 million on $175.4 million in revenue in the same quarter of
2016. The company said costs of its planned merger with MDA, announced
in February, played a role in the net loss. DigitalGlobe, citing the
ongoing merger activities, did not hold an earnings call with analysts
after releasing its financial results. (5/2)
Senate Passes Space
Weather Bill Including SOHO Replacement (Source: Space
News)
The Senate unanimously passed a space weather bill Tuesday. The Senate
approved by unanimous consent the Space Weather Research and
Forecasting Act, which cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in
January. The bill establishes roles and responsibilities for federal
agencies to predict space weather and respond to solar storms that can
disrupt communications and the power grid. It also directs NOAA to
develop a replacement for the SOHO spacecraft that monitors solar
conditions. (5/3)
ULA Fined by OSHA for
2015 Launch Pad Safety Incident (Source: Bloomberg)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited United
Launch Alliance for a safety violation in a 2015 launch pad incident
that injured one worker. An administrative law judge upheld OSHA's
citation for a "serious violation" of a safety standard after a 2015
accident on a Cape Canaveral launch pad. In that incident, a worker
lost two fingers when his hand slipped off a grate and into the path of
a capture piston. The judge in the case assessed a $5,000 penalty to
ULA. (5/3)
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