November 22, 2017

How the Mission to Mars is Starting in Colorado (Source: KUSA)
Lockheed Martin's Space Systems facility in Littleton is preparing for the next mission to Mars. The InSight lander was assembled and programed by local employees. InSight is actually a backronym for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport.

InSight missed it's original launch window back in 2016 because of problems with the construction of its seismometer, which was being built overseas in France. Because of the alignment and orbit of the Earth and Mars, a suitable launch window only comes around every 26 months. The next opportunity to launch a spacecraft to Mars will be in May 2018. That is when NASA plans to launch to launch InSight. (11/21)

How Cosmic Tomatoes Could Teach Us How to Farm on Mars (Source: NBC)
Earlier this year, scientists at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, Peru, announced initial success in growing potatoes inside a small chamber that partially simulates the harsh growing conditions on Mars. The chamber couldn’t mimic Martian gravity (which is about one-third of gravity here on Earth), but it did simulate the high carbon-dioxide levels, low atmospheric pressure and temperatures, high radiation levels — and even the dry, salty soil of the red planet.

As part of an experiment called Eu:CROPIS, Germany’s space agency, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), next year will launch into orbit a satellite containing a pair of tiny soil-less greenhouses. The satellite will use its own rotation to simulate lunar gravity (one-sixth of Earth’s) for six months and then Martian gravity for another six months. Under these conditions, scientists on the ground will try their luck growing tomatoes from seeds, watching their success with cameras.

The tomatoes will be fertilized with synthetic urine — to mimic one type of natural fertilizer astronauts on the moon or on Mars would have at their disposal. “We have to recycle everything in a closed environment, so we have to solve the recycling of human and bio waste — urine, feces, old leaves, rotten fruits, leftover food — to produce a fertilizer solution for plants,” Jens Hauslage said. (11/21)

Russia Defines Technical Layout of New Soyuz-5 Rocket (Source: Tass)
Specialists have defined the technical layout of Russia’s new Soyuz-5 medium-class carrier rocket at a meeting of the scientific and technical council on the results of developing the launcher’s conceptual design, State Space Corporation Roscosmos reported. "Specifically, the work resulted in defining the technical layout, the basic characteristics, technical and technological solutions on the new rocket to ensure the launches of automated space vehicles and transport manned spacecraft," Roscosmos said. (11/21)

India Calls for Stronger Treaties to Protect Space Assets (Source: The Hindu)
Stressing international cooperation in space as in all domains of global commons, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar called for strengthening global treaties to protect space-based assets and prevent militarization of outer space. "International cooperation is critical in the space domain as in other global commons. Our approach therefore goes beyond national considerations. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to state that international cooperation is today hard-wired into India’s space program,” Dr. Jaishankar said.

In line with this, Dr. Jaishankar said India had more than 200 international cooperation agreements with more than 40 countries and international organizations, and called the maiden moon mission, Chandrayaan-I, a “successful example of international cooperation with international payloads”... “The South Asia satellite is a matter of particular pride as it literally raises the heights to which we had taken our ‘neighborhood first’ policy,” the Foreign Secretary said. (11/21)

China Isn't Winning the Race for Space (Source: Bloomberg)
By the middle of the century, nuclear-powered Chinese shuttles will regularly ply interplanetary space, carrying workers between mining colonies on distant planets and asteroids. If that, like much else published on the front page of the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party, sounds like propaganda, remember that China has in barely two decades built up what's arguably the world's second-most-advanced space program, after America's. U.S. strategists warn that Chinese progress in space could soon threaten U.S. military superiority globally.

It's important to remember something else important, too, though. When it comes to the commercial future of outer space, China isn't just competing against the U.S. or Russian government. The real race is against nimble private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin -- and there, China's advantages are far less evident.

Thus far China's centrally planned and military-centered space program has only replicated achievements made decades ago by other national space programs. The country appears to be following the template set by NASA starting in the 1950s, whereby simple human space flight leads to the establishment of a lunar program and an eventual space station. (11/21)

Can Japan Clean Up Outer Space? (Source: The Diplomat)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is pursuring pull or special tether technology. The special tether, which is based on a fishing net manufactured by a long-established Japanese company, is designed to reach out and drag space debris into the atmosphere. Despite the fact that its field test ended in failure in February 2017 due to technical difficulties, JAXA scientists aim to try again.

Astroscale, venture by Japanese entrepreneurs in Singapore is developing technology to physically reach out and collect space debris by utilizing small catcher satellites attached to a space station or spacecraft. In addition to the fact that the company’s further success could eventually contribute much to solving the global space junk issue, it could also motivate Japanese society to welcome an infusion of entrepreneurial spirit to its risk-averse culture and facilitate the government’s improvement of its policy and system to support start-ups.

And Riken, a government-funded research institution in Japan, has coordinated with universities and research institutions overseas to pursue contactless laser technology to remove space debris. This specific technology targets small but dangerous space debris and drags them into Earth’s atmosphere to burn them up. The research group hopes to equip the International Space Station with the system and conduct real-world tests in the near future. (11/21)

LUVOIR, NASA's Next Big Telescope? (Source: SpaceFlight Insider)
In terms of space exploration and information, NASA has had to answer the question of “What is next?” The agency continues to work to answer this question with new and ever-more complex programs. Spacecraft such as the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have and are aiming to continue revolutionizing humanity’s knowledge of the Cosmos. However, there is another possible answer to “What is next?” – LUVOIR.

If everything continues to go as NASA currently has planned, the JWST should launch in the Spring of 2019 atop an Ariane 5 rocket from the spaceport located in Kourou, French Guiana. With a beryllium primary mirror that measures roughly 21 feet (6.5 meters), the JWST is optimized for infrared observations. It should have some seven times collecting power that Hubble has. The JWST’s mirror is made of 18 separate segments that unfold and take shape after launch.

A newly proposed telescope will work to solve some of the other numerous questions our species have about the Universe. The Large Ultraviolet/Optical/Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) is being considered for a possible launch sometime in the 2030 time frame. The spacecraft would be a sort of hybrid between the Hubble Space Telescope and the JWST. While the JWST is being prepped to use a 21-foot (6.5-meter) mirror, LUVOIR’s mirror would measure some 49 feet (15 meters) in diameter. (11/21)

NASA OKs SpaceX Use of Pre-Flown Falcon 9 First Stages on CRS Missions (Source: SpaceFlight Insider)
Nineteen. It only took nineteen successful landings either on one of the company's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships (ASDS) or at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's "Landing Zone 1" (formerly Launch Complex 13) before NASA agreed to allow SpaceX to use its pre-flown boosters for cargo resupply runs to the International Space Station. (11/19)

SSTL to Build Remote Imaging Satellites for Earth-i (Source: Space News)
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) will build the first five Earth-imaging satellites for British company Earth-i. The satellites will be based on a prototype SSTL has built for Earth-i for launch in December on a PSLV; that is based on SSTL's Carbonite 1 technology-demonstration satellite launched in 2015. Earth-i will use the satellites to provide high-resolution images and video, with the goal of daily revisit capabilities once the full system of at least 15 satellites are in place. The first five satellites are planned for launch in 2019. (11/21)

SSTL to Build Debris Removal Satellite for Astroscale (Source: Space News)
Astroscale and SSTL will partner on the development of orbital-debris removal systems, starting with a demonstration satellite. The companies announced Tuesday a contract where SSTL will build the target satellite for Astroscale's ELSA-d mission, which will demonstrate its technologies for capturing and deorbiting debris. Astroscale is looking to win business from satellite constellations that will require services to remove satellites that malfunction in orbit. The contract is part of a broader memorandum of understanding between Astroscale and SSTL on orbital debris removal as well as small satellite sales in Japan. (11/21)

Air Force Rendezvous Test Satellite Ends Mission (Source: USAF)
An Air Force satellite designed to test rendezvous and proximity operations has ended its mission. The ANGELS satellite, launched in July 2014, tested maneuvering and automated spacecraft operations in the geostationary belt, including flying "a threat replication trajectory for an asset at geosynchronous orbit," according to one officer. The Air Force decided to shut down the satellite because of a lack of resources to extend its life and to free up personnel to perform other missions. The Air Force sent final commands to shut down the satellite Monday. (11/21)

Sweden Considers Orbital Launches at Esrange (Source: Space News)
Sweden is considering attracting small satellite launch vehicles to an existing launch range. The Swedish government has commissioned a study to examine the feasibility of using the Esrange Space Center, which currently hosts sounding rocket launches, for small orbital vehicle launches as well. The study could lead to an expansion of the center, which has hosted sounding rockets and stratospheric balloon missions for more than 50 years. (11/22)

New Project Puts Denmark Firmly on the Space Map (Source: CPH Post)
After four years of development, a Danish-steered research consortium has constructed an advanced observatory called the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM). The observatory weighs 314 kilos and will be mounted on the ISS, reports DR Nyeheder. “It’s always exciting when we in Denmark can be at the forefront when it comes to space travel and space exploration,” said Mogensen. “We definitely have the ability to contribute to the areas that we choose, and ASIM is a good example of this.” (11/21)

Australian DSN Workers Stage Work Stoppage Over Pay Dispute (Source: ABC)
A pay dispute led to a brief work stoppage at one of NASA's Deep Space Network facilities. Employees at the DSN center near Canberra, Australia, staged the one-hour work stoppage Wednesday, declining to accept a handover of operations from a DSN site in California. Employees are protesting a proposal by CSIRO, the Australian science agency that runs the DSN site, to be added to an Australian bargaining agreement that would limit their pay raises, arguing that they should be excluded as NASA funds the operations of the center. (11/22)

End of Net Neutrality an Opportunity for Satellite Broadband? (Source: GeekWire)
As the FCC plans to end net neutrality, satellite broadband systems will take on greater importance. The FCC is expected to vote next month to roll back existing net neutrality regulations, which could allow internet service providers to limit access to some content or charge a premium for it. Satellite broadband systems under development, though, could increase competition for customers, which could limit the impact of any access restrictions any current providers seek to impose. (11/22)

India Drafts New Space Law (Source: The Hindu)
India's government has unveiled a new draft space law. The proposed legislation would support commercial space activities in the country, defining the required licenses and also limiting the government's liability for any harm those activities cause. The government is seeking comment on the draft bill from industry and other stakeholders over the next month. (11/22)

NanoRacks Deploys 'Doublewide' Cubesats From ISS (Source: NanoRacks)
NanoRacks has deployed the first "doublewide" cubesats from the ISS. The deployments, completed early Tuesday, including the first six-unit, or 6U, cubesats, which are two 3U cubesats placed side by side. The company said it has modified its deployers to accommodate up to 12U cubesats in order to meet demand from customers developing larger cubesats. The company has, to date, deployed 176 cubesats from the ISS. (11/22)

Budweiser Sending Barley to ISS (Source: CollectSpace)
Budweiser is sending a key ingredient for its beer to the ISS next month. An experiment flying on the next Dragon cargo mission will examine how barley seeds handle exposure to the microgravity environment in space, and then how those seeds germinate there. Budweiser announced earlier this year an initiative it claims will lead to the ability to brew its beer on Mars, although the upcoming experiment will also have applications in the cultivation of barley and other cereal grains on Earth. (11/22)

Space Launch is a National Security Priority (Source: Space News)
Today’s “assured access” policy is a direct result of our response to past launch failures. NSS launch failures in 1985 and 1986 resulted in the loss of extremely important payloads. These two launch failures bookended the Challenger failure in January 1986, with the tragic loss of our astronauts and profound impacts to our manned space program. The net effect of these three failures was an extended period (30 months) wherein the U.S. could not launch NSS and most NASA payloads.

We are now at a critical juncture. The current Atlas 5 EELV relies on the highly capable and relatively inexpensive Russian RD-180 engine. However, due to the current strained relationship with Russia, the long-term use of this engine has been precluded by Congress. The Delta launch family, including a variant that is the only current launch system for our largest NSS payloads, is very expensive. So our current systems are too costly; are becoming obsolete; and are restricted by congressionally mandated prohibitions against the use of Russian engines.

Fortunately, we see innovation being offered by new approaches from current providers, and by new entrants (some with commercial offerings) into the launch industry. These innovative approaches offer the potential to fundamentally alter the marketplace. They include Space X’s Falcon family, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan and Orbital ATK’s Next Generation Launch System. Click here. (11/22)

Space: The Next Frontier (Source: Washington Times)
While Barack Obama was busy scuttling the space program and telling former Astronaut Charles Bolden that he wanted NASA to spend its time reaching out to Muslim nations to make them “feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering;” something interesting happened. The free market stepped into the void. Elon Musk and his company SpaceX have built and are now flying rockets that send satellites into orbit and are planning manned spaceflights in the next few years.

Competition in space is the best thing for space travel since the Apollo program. It will get Americans back into space, sooner rather than later and it may well put Americans back on the moon before anyone else gets there. While the privatization of space flight is good, we need transparency. This is especially true when the American taxpayer is footing the bill for much of the company’s efforts. More importantly, American lives will be at risk. Americans can see in to space. Americans should be able to see into SpaceX as well.

Editor's Note: Typical Washington Times, blaming President Obama for canceling the Space Shuttle along with Constellation. (11/21)

We’re Drafting a Legal Guide to War in Space. Hopefully We’ll Never Need to Use It (Source: The Conversation)
A war in outer space sounds like the stuff of science fiction but it is something we need to consider. Its impact on everybody on Earth and its implications for future human space exploration would be devastating. Right now, there are laws that are relevant to the prospect of war in space, but currently it is unclear exactly how these might be applied.

We and our colleagues from around the world – including experts from Australia, Canada, the United States, Russia and China – are undertaking a multi-year project to provide a definitive guide on how law applies to military uses of outer space.

The aim is to develop a Manual on International Law Applicable to Military uses of Outer Space (MILAMOS) that covers times of tension and outright hostility. The ultimate goal is to help build transparency and confidence between space-faring states. This should reduce the possibility of a war in space, or if it does happen, reduce the impact on the space infrastructure that we have all come to rely on so heavily. Click here. (11/22)

Germany to Spend $465 Million on New Spy Satellites (Source: Space Daily)
Airbus and OHB have submitted bids for the construction of satellites for the German Federal Intelligence Service's new satellite program. The German parliament's Budget Committee gave the green light to construct up to three new spy satellites for the country's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), which will cost some 400 million euros ($465 million), local media reported Saturday. (11/16)

What Happens if Aliens are Real? Astronomers Have Protocol on How Humans Should React (Source: Newsweek)
Imagine if E.T., Yoda, and the Na’vi were more than just fictional beings—and what if we could talk to them from Earth? It might be possible one day, thanks to astronomers who sent a message to a star system that may have the ability to support life. The message, which included music and math, was sent in October, but it was announced to the public on Thursday, according to Scientific American.

Although we could hear back in 25 years, it’s unlikely we will, Douglas Vakoch, president of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) International, told New Scientist. But, what if we did? If we hear back, there’s limited guidance in place on how to communicate with the extraterrestrial beings, according to Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer for the SETI (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute.

“There are some protocols, but I think that’s an unfortunate name, and it makes them sound more important than they are,” Shostak told Live Science. The guidelines—which date back to the 1980s—were designed with governments and scientists in mind. Shostak and his colleagues updated the protocol in the 1990s, in hopes to advise researchers what to do if a detection is made. Click here. (11/18)

International Campaign Will Monitor Fall of China's Tiangong-1 Space Lab (Source: Space.com)
Skywatchers are on the lookout for China's Tiangong-1 space lab — and the seeing is good. Tiangong-1 (whose name translates as "heavenly palace") launched into Earth orbit in late September 2011. It was used for six successive rendezvous and dockings with three different spacecraft — Shenzhou-8 (uncrewed), Shenzhou-9 (piloted) and Shenzhou-10 (piloted) — as part of China's human space exploration activities.

But in March 2016, Tiangong-1 ceased functioning. The uncrewed space lab, which weighed 18,740 lbs. (8,500 kilograms) at launch, is now predicted to fall back to Earth in late January 2018, plus or minus one month, according to a forecast generated by researchers at The Aerospace Corporation on Oct. 31.

"It is unlikely that this is a controlled re-entry," The Aerospace Corporation wrote in a Tiangong-1 re-entry FAQ. "Although not declared officially, it is suspected that control of Tiangong-1 was lost and will not be regained before re-entry." Based on Tiangong-1's inclination, the lab will re-enter somewhere between 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south latitude. (11/20)

Hewson Was Made For Her Role As CEO Of Lockheed Martin (Source: Chief Executive)
Marillyn A. Hewson, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., says the global security and aerospace company is a natural fit for her. Hewson’s father was with the U.S. Army, and her mother was a nurse with the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. She grew up adjacent to Fort Riley in Kansas.

While interviewing for her first job as an industrial engineer at the company’s Marietta, Ga. plant more than 30 years ago, Hewson became hooked after seeing all of the aircraft on the factory floor. After that, “I never really wanted to work anywhere else,” she said. (11/20)

Is the U.S. Ready for China’s ‘Space Militias’? (Source: Space News)
In 2015, when the USS Lassen sailed by Subi Reef, China used maritime militias to communicate Chinese opposition. These militias have become increasingly professionalized while still maintaining an ambiguous civilian affiliation, and herein lies the problem. The civilian nature of these militias provides Beijing the ability to deny involvement while making any sort of response from the United States, or others, very difficult.

Even worse still, the use of maritime militias in this way allows China to undermine international law and begin to set legal precedence in their favor. Given the proven success of this tactic, the U.S. should anticipate similar approaches via space militias. Space militias could operate much in the same way maritime militias act currently.

Space militias will be commercial (or at least appear to be commercial) spacecraft supporting commercial activities but when directed by their government will quickly adjust and adopt a more military or law enforcement like role. The United States should expect these space militias to defend territory, provide situational awareness, and even attack other spacecraft through a variety of anti-satellite systems, but instead of people, these commercial spacecraft will rely on automation and artificial intelligence for basic operations. (11/20)