November 24, 2020

We Were Heroes Once: National Geographic’s “The Right Stuff” and the Deflation of the Astronaut (Source: Space Review)
A new version of “The Right Stuff” is now on the streaming service Disney+, telling the story of the Mercury 7 in a new way. Dwayne Day discusses how the series differs from the original book and movie, and what it says about our views of astronauts and heroes. Click here. (11/23)
 
An Iconic Observatory Faces its Demise (Source: Space Review)
The National Science Foundation announced last week it would seek a “controlled decommissioning” of the giant Arecibo radio telescope after it suffered damage in recent months. Jeff Foust reports on the rationale behind that decision and the telescope’s legacy. Click here. (11/23)
 
The Space Resources Debate Pivots From Asteroids to the Moon (Source: Space Review)
Five years ago this week, President Obama signed into law a bill that granted companies rights to space resources they extracted. Jeff Foust describes how that effort, intended to enable asteroid mining, has evolved to support the use of lunar resources as part of Artemis and related initiatives. Click here. (11/23)
 
In the New Spectrum of Space Law, Will Biden Favor the Moon Treaty? (Source: Space Review)
How might the Biden Administration deal with issues like the Artemis Accords and rights to space resources? Dennis O’Brien examines the proceedings of a recent conference, and Biden’s views on an analogous issue, for insights. Click here. (11/23)
 
FAA To Begin Environmental Review at SpaceX Texas Launch Site (Source: Parabolic Arc)
SpaceX has informed the FAA that it plans to apply for licenses for suborbital and orbital launches of its Starship spacecraft powered by the Super Heavy rocket at its launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. The proposed update to Starship/Super Heavy operations  falls outside of the scope of the existing final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision for the launch site and requires additional environmental review. The FAA is in the beginning stages of conducting the environmental review and developing a public outreach plan. 

The FAA intends to provide scoping information for the project soon. SpaceX is working with the FAA to prepare a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) which will be subject to the FAA’s evaluation and approval. The EA will allow the FAA to determine the appropriate course of action: preparation of an EIS because the proposed action’s environmental impacts would be significant; issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI); or issuance of a “Mitigated FONSI” providing for mitigation measures to address the proposed action’s environmental impacts.

The FAA may make its determination during the EA process or after SpaceX presents a draft EA for FAA approval. To receive the licenses, SpaceX must complete a safety review and develop agreements for the license application in addition to the environmental review. (11/23)

China Launches Moon Probe to Bbring Back Lunar Rocks (Source: Space Daily)
China on Tuesday launched an unmanned spacecraft to bring back lunar rocks -- the first attempt by any nation to retrieve samples from the Moon in four decades. A Long March 5 rocket carrying the Chang'e-5 probe, named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess, blasted off from the Wenchang Space Center on Monday. Beijing is pouring billions into its military-run space program, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022 and of eventually sending humans to the Moon. The mission's goal is to shovel up lunar rocks and soil to help scientists learn about the Moon's origins, formation and volcanic activity on its surface. (11/23)

International Team Developing Phobos Rover (Source: Space.com)
A German-French team are developing the MMX Rover for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Mar­tian Moons ex­plo­ration mission, a mission targeting Phobos, the largest martian moon. The rover is currently undergoing testing and development for the 2026 mission. (11/20)

Space Force Struggles To Shape New Acquisition Command (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force hopes its new acquisition command, Space Systems Command, will be ready for business by early summer, says Lt. Gen. ‘JT’ Thompson, head of the Space and Missile Systems Center. “I’m not telling anybody: ‘Hey, this is going to be easy, peasy,” he told the Air Force Association’s Schriever chapter today. “There is history; there is legacy; there is politics; there is money: obstacles that we’re going to have to overcome to do this.”

SMC, the military’s central space acquisition unit, will play a key role, but it’s unclear exactly how it will fit in the new Space Systems Command (SSC). Indeed, it remains unclear whether SSC will have the authority to actually direct the disparate agencies rolled into it or simply serve a coordinating function. (11/20)

Pentagon Expected to Increase Space Force Funding in Coming Years (Source: C4ISRnet)
U.S. Space Force leadership is confident the new service’s budget will increase in the coming years as the Pentagon continues to prioritize spending on space systems, according to the head of the Space Force’s main acquisitions body. “If you thought space was going to be a priority in a kind of one-and-done way, that’s not clearly what’s been happening, right?” Lt. Gen. John Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, said. “So three years in a row budgets have gone to the Hill with foundational changes to the space budget.” That’s despite the fact that space systems and their supporting equipment are very expensive. (11/21)

Asteroid The Size Of Golden Gate Bridge Heading Towards Earth At 56,000mph (Source: Unilad)
A ginormous asteroid is set to be in close proximity with Earth this week. The asteroid is said to be 0.51km in diameter – the same as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge – and will pass within 4,302,775 km of Earth. It’s also said to be the same height as the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa of Dubai, which is over 800m high. Asteroid 153201 2000 WO107 is expected to come near Earth on Sunday, November 29, at 10:09 GMT and is predicted to be going around 56,000mph.

Despite it being classed as an NEA – as well as it being absolutely huge – astronomers unfortunately won’t be able to spot asteroid 153201 2000 WO107 from Earth. While it’s said that there’s zero chance of the asteroid actually hitting our planet, as it’s classed as an NEA, NASA apparently still enforce its National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan for a worst case scenario. (11/23)

Dittmar: Space Exploration is a Bipartisan Imperative That Benefits All (Source: The Hill)
Space exploration and development are and have always been a bipartisan initiative that is vitally important to America. Today, space impacts every facet of 21st century life. Business, governance, security, education, agriculture, manufacturing, health care, communication and many other sectors all rely on space-based infrastructure and technology. These in turn rely on government programs in space exploration and science.

There is strong bipartisan support for the path that NASA is on. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion crewed spacecraft, the James Webb Space Telescope, robotic missions to distant worlds and the continuing human presence on the International Space Station have created an evolving foundation for a new age of science, exploration and commerce. We explore outward to discover inward. Over the decades, investments in NASA research have unlocked the secrets of the universe and, in the process, have improved life on Earth. Click here. (11/1)

Major Funding Package Pledged for UK Space Center of Excellence in Scotland (Source: Space Daily)
A commitment to invest over 80m pounds in a UK Space Centre of Excellence in Ayrshire, was made by both UK and Scottish Governments, in partnership with South Ayrshire Council, as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal signing yesterday. The funding package will develop and support a wide range of new, cutting-edge aerospace and space activities around Glasgow Prestwick Airport, including a satellite launch site and a range of other advanced technology initiatives beyond space launch.

This significant investment forms part of an even larger 250m pound package that was announced via the Ayrshire Growth Deal Head of Terms agreement 18 months ago. This saw the Scotland Office pledge to invest 103 million pounds in the region over the next 15 years, alongside 103 million pounds from the Scottish Government over 10 years, augmented with further investment from the three local authority areas of East, North and South Ayrshire. This will help drive economic development across the region, create new employment opportunities and encourage further inward investment. (11/22)