November 12, 2017

Arecibo Observatory Is Still Running on Generators (Source: The Atlantic)
Nearly two months after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, many residents are still without power and struggling to get access to water, food, and basic services. This week, a failed transmission line knocked out what little of the island’s electrical grid had been restored, temporarily leaving thousands of people in the dark once again.

The recovery from the devastating Category 4 hurricane is expected to be long and costly for all of Puerto Rico, including at the Arecibo Observatory, the world’s second-largest radio telescope, which sits in a mountain range in the island’s northwest.

As the storm approached Puerto Rico in September, several researchers remained at Arecibo to keep watch over the 305-meter-wide dish, taking shelter in concrete buildings with food, water, and fuel for generators. The staff made it through unharmed, and when the worst of Hurricane Maria passed, they found the facility had survived, with some damage. The main dish, while intact, lost some of its reflective panels, and most of a 29-meter-long antenna was destroyed. (11/10)

As Funding Falls, the ISS May Have to Part-Privatise to Stay in Orbit (Source: WIRED)
The future of space travel is looking increasingly private. Next year, out of four planned missions to land a rover on the Moon, two are by private companies and two by nation states. Now it seems the trend towards private companies entering the space race is going to hit the International Space Station, too.

The ISS is a joint venture between the space agencies of Canada, the US, Russia, Japan and Europe, but the majority of the money comes from Nasa. According to Nasa Associate Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier, the agency spends $3.5 billion a year on the ISS, with an additional $1 billion coming from the other contributors combined. This means the fate of the ISS depends strongly on the US contribution. The ISS mission, which is currently planned to end in 2024, could be extending until 2030. The decision to extend its life would come at a cost.

Instead of the US government deciding the future of the ISS, one likely scenario is private companies will play a more important role. But if Jeff Manber’s predictions are right, the ISS could slowly become the first commercial low-earth orbit funded by private companies, reducing the need for taxpayers to fund ventures into space, and this could happen within the next five years. (11/11)

UAE's Ahbabi: Human Space Travel Is Critical For The Future Of Humanity (Source: Aviation Week)
People still to this day question why we invest time, money and effort on space exploration. The reality is, we would not live the lives that we live today if it were not for advancements in the space sector. Mobile phone cameras, GPS navigation, water purification, CAT scans have all become integral parts of our lives and we have the space industry to thank for all of them.

In health and medicine, space technology has helped create light-emitting diodes (LEDs), infrared ear thermometers and artificial limbs. In terms of transportation, we have created highway safety tools, anti-icing systems, video enhancing and analysis systems for public safety. Firefighter gear was also first developed for space programs. The breathing apparatus worn by firefighters for protection from smoke inhalation injury is one of the clearest transfers of space technology to civil-use applications.

Aside from the physical, tangible and future benefits – the rational side of the space sector, there is also something emotional and inspiring about space exploration. The overwhelming opportunity that it can bring and the fact that we still do not know that much about what could be out there – presents fascinating adventures and incredible curiosity. Our ambitious [UAE] space program is exciting young people, and stimulating interest in areas such as astrophysics and cosmology. (11/11)

Orbital ATK Launches Cargo Mission to ISS (Source: SpaceRef)
Orbital ATK successfully launched its Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus spacecraft from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The launch is Orbital ATK's eighth cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station for NASA.

The Antares rocket launched the Cygnus spacecraft loaded with approximately 7,400 pounds (3,350 kilograms) of cargo to the crew of six who are aboard the space station. Following an approximate nine-minute ascent, the "S.S. Gene Cernan" Cygnus spacecraft, named in honor of the late astronaut and the last man to leave the moon, was successfully deployed into orbit. (11/12)

Rogue Aircraft Forced NASA to Scrub First Antares Launch Attempt From Virginia (Source: Daily Press)
NASA and the weather were willing, but it seems the Fates were not. A rogue aircraft strayed into the hazard area in the final minute of countdown early Saturday and blew the chance to launch an Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus cargo craft to the International Space Station from Wallops Island.

Lift-off was set for 7:37 a.m. at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore. All systems were “green” for launch until a plane was spotted violating the launch zone, forcing a NASA mission controller to call “abort, abort, abort” and dashing hopes at the space agency and at Orbital ATK, where engineers and technicians had been working all night to prepare for it. ISS launches have only a brief window of opportunity. (11/9)

Dream Chaser Spacecraft Completes Successful Free Flight (Source: Ars Technica)
On Saturday, the Dream Chaser space plane completed a milestone in its development. During an “approach and landing” test, the spacecraft was dropped from a helicopter to fly back to a landing strip at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The company behind the space plane confirmed the successful test in a tweet on Saturday night, saying, “The Dream Chaser had a beautiful flight and landing!”

The company released no immediate, additional details about the test. (It promised more information Monday). But Saturday’s flight clearly marks a significant milestone for Dream Chaser and its manufacturer, Sierra Nevada Corporation. During the last free-flight test in 2013, the spacecraft had a problem with the deployment of its left landing gear, causing the plane to skid off the runway and leading to minor damage. (11/11)

NASA Honors History of Veterans in Space Program (Source: Space.com)
More than half of all NASA astronauts, past and present, are military veterans. So it is fitting that in honor of Veterans Day, current and former astronauts have shared warm messages to all those who've served and sacrificed in the armed forces of the United States.

On Nov. 2, International Space Station Expedition 53 Commander and retired Marine Col. Randy Bresnik saluted veterans in a video message, alongside retired Marine Corps Col. and current space station flight engineer Mark Vande Hei, as well as retired Army Col., former Marine reservist and current flight engineer Joe Acaba. The three NASA astronauts asked that the sacrifices of veterans to maintain democracy always be remembered. (11/11)