February 8, 2020

Industry Puzzled by NASA Withdrawal of Lunarr Lander Task Order (Source: Space News)
NASA withdrew without explanation last week a task order for its commercial lunar lander services program, frustrating many of the companies involved. According to several industry sources, NASA withdrew late Jan. 31 a task order designated 19C for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The task orders serve as requests for proposal for those companies who have CLPS contracts, inviting them to submit bids for carrying out the missions defined in the task order using their landers.

The task order had been issued about a week earlier, with a short turnaround time, according those industry sources. NASA provided no explanation for withdrawing the task order and has not provided any follow-up communications with the companies. A NASA spokesperson, contacted by SpaceNews Feb. 2 about the task order, promised to look into it but has not yet provided any further information. The sudden withdrawal of the task order, and lack of details, has puzzled CLPS companies. “Frustratingly nothing,” said an executive with one company, speaking on background, on the lack of information. (2/6)

China’s Space Industry Faces Impacts of Coronavirus Outbreak (Source: Space News)
China’s space industry is suffering adverse effects from the coronavirus outbreak which has so far infected more than 30,000 in mainland China. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s state-owned main space contractor, has resumed a degree of launch vehicle production activities following the Chinese New Year holiday. However, the implementation of measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus have impacted production and research.

The new strain of coronavirus has had a profound impact on China since its outbreak in December. Chinese media outlet Caixin reported Feb. 7 that more than 31,000 cases had been confirmed in China, with 637 deaths. More than 260 cases have so far been confirmed outside its borders. CASC outlined plans earlier this year to attempt more than 40 launches in 2020. It is set to be the country’s most active year so far, with major interplanetary, lunar and space station-related launches part of the plan. (2/7)

More Science Bound for Space Station From Virginia (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Bones, phages and fires in space are among a suite of science investigations bound for the International Space Station’s orbiting laboratory aboard a Cygnus commercial spacecraft set for launch this weekend from Virginia. The 13th commercial resupply mission by NASA contractor Northrop Grumman is expected to lift off at 5:39 p.m. Sunday from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore.

NASA TV will live-stream the event but, weather permitting, the launch of the Antares rocket should be visible from Hampton Roads and all along the Eastern Seaboard. The 8,000 pounds of payload packed inside the Cygnus - mostly hardware, groceries and crew supplies - includes about 2,300 pounds of research. (2/6)

Space Coast Air Force Sites to Change Names to Space Force Within 30 Days (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Two Air Force installations in on Central Florida’s Space Coast will soon bear the Space Force name. Both Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Brevard County will be changing their names to reflect their recent change in status as designated Space Force facilities. Patrick Air Force Base located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach is home to the 45th Space Wing that supports launches from Cape Canaveral AFS and Kennedy Space Center.

The name shift will come within the next 30 days, according to 45h Space Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Douglas Schiess, who said, "The names of the two bases will change. When that happens, we believe we’ll probably be one of the first, if not the first, bases to do that.” The new names would change to Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (2/7)

Spacecraft Launching Sunday Will Take the First-Ever Images of the Sun’s Poles (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
On Sunday night, a $1.5 billion spacecraft is scheduled take off from the Space Coast on a years-long journey that, if successful, will take the first-ever images of the Sun’s poles.

It’s data that scientists have been yearning to obtain for years, and it may answer crucial questions about the nature of our Sun and, chiefly, the charged solar particles it spews and their impact across the solar system. The mission will send the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter on a seven-year journey and help heliophysicists gain a better understanding of the dark spots believed to be on the Sun’s poles. The mission will work in conjunction with NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which also launched from the Space Coast in August 2018.

Solar Orbiter’s launch is set for Sunday evening from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station launch complex 41 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. ULA will have a two-hour launch window that opens at 11:03 p.m. to takeoff. And the weather is looking good, with an 80% chance of favorable conditions, according to the 45th Weather Squadron. (2/7)