April 10, 2020

Space Wing Defends Launch Scheduling During Pandemic (Source: Space News)
45th Space Wing commander Brig. Gen. Schiess said the next Eastern Range launch will be carried out with a lean crew and social distancing measures. During a call with reporters April 9, Schiess had to defend the decision to allow the launch to go forward amid the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this week, the U.S. Space Force announced it would postpone until late June the launch of a GPS 3 satellite — also on a Falcon 9 — that was scheduled for late April to minimize the potential of COVID-19 exposure to the launch crew and operators.

Schiess said that under the current health emergency, the decision to support a launch is considered on a case-by-case basis. The Starlink launch is less labor intensive than a national security mission like GPS, he said. With a leaner crew it’s easier to implement physical separation at launch facilities, said Schiess. Another consideration is that the 60-satellite Starlink payload is owned by SpaceX so government personnel are not involved in getting it ready for launch. The Falcon 9 has an autonomous flight safety system — an on-board computer that automatically destroys the rocket before it threatens people or property — which reduces the manpower needed at the range to operate ground sensors. (4/9)

China Suffers Another Rocket Launch Failure (Source: Space News)
A Chinese rocket launch of an Indonesian satellite failed Thursday. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 7:46 a.m. Eastern carrying the Nusantara-2 communications satellite. The launch initially appeared to go as expected, but the rocket's third stage malfunctioned. The upper stage and its payload were seen reentering over Guam. Nusantara-2, built by China Great Wall Industry Corporation for an Indonesian joint venture between Pasifik Satelit Nusantara and Indosat Ooredoo, carried C- and Ku-band transponders to provide television and broadband services. The launch is the second failure of a Chinese rocket in as many months, and may delay future launches. (4/10)

Thales Alenia to Build Prototype Satellites for Omnispace Constellation (Source: Space News)
Thales Alenia Space will build two prototype satellites for a constellation startup. Thales said Thursday it won a contract from Omnispace, a company planning a satellite constellation to keep mobile asset trackers, sensors and other smart devices constantly connected using common cellular standards. The two small satellites will launch in early 2021 and carry S-band payloads. Omnispace acquired the S-band spectrum it plans to use for its system by purchasing the assets of ICO Global, a company that attempted to deploy a satellite constellation two decades ago to provide mobile communications services. Omnispace plans to use its prototype satellites to determine the size and capability of a larger constellation. (4/10)

Senators Question GAO Exemption of Constellations for Orbital Environmental Impacts (Source: Space News)
Two senators are asking the GAO to review the FCC's exemption of satellite systems like Starlink from environmental reviews. In the letter, Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) asked the GAO to review whether the "categorical exemption" to the National Environmental Policy Act the FCC created in 1986 for satellite systems was still valid, given concerns by astronomers of the effects such constellations could have on their observations. A paper by a law student earlier this year concluded that astronomers could sue the FCC over that exemption, but professional astronomical organizations have said they have no plans to do so, preferring instead to cooperate with companies like SpaceX to mitigate the effects of their systems. (4/10)

NOAA Awards Eight Contracts for Earth Observation Concepts (Source: Space News)
NOAA awarded an initial set of contracts Thursday for its future weather satellite constellation. The eight contracts, with a combined total of nearly $4.5 million, went to seven companies developing mission concepts, spacecraft and instruments for the agency's future Earth observation constellation. Those companies are L3Harris, Maxar, Leidos, GeoMetWatch, BAE Systems, York Space Systems and Brandywine Photonics. The contracts are a first step in NOAA's plan for satellite systems that will move away from a handful of large satellite in geostationary and polar orbits to larger fleets of smaller satellites using a variety of orbits. (4/10)

IAF Postpones October Conference Due to COVID (Source: IAF)
The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) has postponed one of the biggest space conferences of the year. The IAF announced Friday it had postponed the International Astronautical Congress, which was scheduled for mid-October in Dubai. The IAF cited the "growing escalation" of COVID-19 worldwide as the reason for the postponement. The organization plans to announce a new date for the event, which attracts more than 6,000 people, in the coming weeks. The IAF also delayed the Global Space Exploration Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, which had already been postponed from June to September, to some time in 2021. (4/10)

Soyuz Docks With ISS, Carrying New Crew (Source: AP)
A Soyuz spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station Thursday. The Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft docked with the station about six hours after its launch from Kazakhstan, and hatches between the Soyuz and station opened a couple hours later. The Soyuz brought to the station NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, who will spend the next six months there. (4/10)

General Atomics Opens Smallsat Factory in Colorado (Source: Space News)
General Atomics has opened a smallsat factory in Colorado. The 33,514-square-foot facility in Centennial, Colorado, triples the company’s capacity for satellite production, integration and testing. The company plans to produce at the factory "ESPA-class" small satellites, so named because they designed to be launched as secondary payloads using the EELV Secondary Payload Adapter. San Diego-based General Atomics got into the smallsat through acquisitions of Miltec in 2016 and the U.S. subsidiary of Surrey Satellite Technology in 2017. (4/10)

Numerica Offers Better Orbital Situational Awareness (Source: Space News)
A space data provider startup is launching a new space situational awareness service aimed at government and commercial satellite operators. Numerica, a company that operates a network of deep space telescopes, said it has expanded that network in order to provide daytime tracking of satellites, as well as those in low Earth orbits. The company said it can improve orbit determination and the accuracy of conjunction warnings and other alerts. (4/10)

SOFIA Telescope Must Demonstrate Usefulness After Negative Review (Source: Nature)
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is in a race against time to demonstrate its utility. SOFIA, a 747 aircraft with a 2.5-meter infrared telescope, was the subject of a "scathing" review last year that criticized the lack of science the facility has performed, with an average of just 21 papers published a year using SOFIA data. The project has enacted changes intended to increase its scientific productivity, but is facing a proposed cancellation in NASA's fiscal year 2021 budget request. SOFIA has also been grounded since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. (4/10)

Space Florida - Gateway to an Interstellar Future (Source: Room)
Since the beginning of the Space Age, the State of Florida has been a leader in the space industry. The nation originally turned to Florida for its spaceport because of location - proximity to both the ocean and equator. With time, the world watched as the historic missions of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle launched from Florida, as well as numerous defence and planetary science missions. Astronauts flew aboard the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station and the Space Coast region rode the economic boom of America’s thriving space program as the Air Force provided Cape Canaveral facilities, NASA’s John F Kennedy Space Center, and their contractors privided thousands of high-paying jobs.

Today, the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, which encompasses Space Florida assets as well as the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, is undergoing a transformation, offering its state-wide industry a new renaissance. Over the next decade, Florida’s Spaceport system will grow into the most diverse and capable space transportation and operations complex in the world. The state is poised to dominate the future of the aerospace industry and has the goal to become an essential interstellar trade port and global leader in enabling space commerce. Click here. (4/10)

Space Lettuce Is Out of This World Good (Source: How Stuff Works)
Growing lettuce in space isn't just another small step for man, it's a giant leap for vegetables everywhere. Peas, radishes and lettuce are all being grown in special growth chambers on the International Space Station, and a study published March 6, 2020, in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science proves space lettuce is not only safe to eat but just as healthy as its earthly counterpart. It's even got potential to be a game changer for longer missions, and the lessons learned will help greenhouse gardeners grow healthier veggies here on Earth.

Astronauts normally rely on a limited menu made up of mostly packaged foods, often with lower levels of vitamins and minerals. But lettuce has key nutrients — as well as phenolics, molecules that have anticancer, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties — that give space travelers both a physical and psychological boost. American astronaut Joseph M. Acaba shared on Twitter"... Nothing beats fresh, homegrown food." Space lettuce is grown under LED lights and of course less gravity. And after 33 to 56 days, it's ready to be safely enjoyed — fresh and full of nutrition. (4/8)

Weirdest Solar System We've Found So Far? You May Be In It (Source: NASA)
Before we found the first exoplanets — planets orbiting other stars — it seemed reasonable to suppose that other planetary systems looked like ours: small, rocky planets close to a Sun-like star, a big Jupiter and a few other gas giants farther out. But after a quarter century of discovery revealing thousands of exoplanets in our galaxy, things look very different. In a word, we are “weird” — at least among the planetary systems found so far.

Just how weird is still a matter of debate. And weirdness is relative. We’ve detected “hot Jupiters” in scorching, star-hugging orbits around their stars, where a “year” — one trip around the star — takes only a few days. We’ve found a string of small, rocky worlds, all in Earth’s size-range, in lock-step orbits around a tiny red-dwarf star called TRAPPIST-1. We’ve seen systems with one or more planets that are larger than Earth and smaller than Neptune. The properties of these worlds are a mystery because they’re unlike anything in our solar system — and yet, they’re among the most common types of exoplanets discovered so far. (4/8)

NASA Cancels Annual (October) Business Opportunities Expo at Port Canaveral (Source: NASA)
For over 29 years in partnership with businesses like yours; NASA, the Kennedy Space Center Prime Council Board, the 45th Space Wing, and the Canaveral Port Authority have jointly contributed to building a stronger economy through Business-Government partnerships. Regrettably, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year's Expo, scheduled for October 2020. (4/10)

‘Space Force’ sitcom starring Steve Carell landing on Netflix in May (Source: Military Times)
Even as a global pandemic threatens our way of life, there still exist occasional moments that are not shrouded entirely in the impending doom of our species. Netflix graced the public with one such joyous rarity Wednesday when the media titan confirmed that Steve Carell’s newest workplace comedy, “Space Force,” would be available to stream starting May 29. The release of the 10-episode season, an obvious nod to President Donald Trump’s launch of the U.S. military’s newest branch, coincides with Netflix’s impending loss of Carell’s iconic sitcom, “The Office.” (4/10)

Eastern Range Cautiously Continuing Space Ops (Source: Air Force Magazine)
Florida’s 45th Space Wing is aiming to keep as much regular order as possible as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, reviewing launch plans and hoping the virus remains at bay. Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aim to execute 49 military and commercial launches in 2020. While the Space Force is deciding whether to go forward with each event on a case-by-case basis, the Florida Space Coast has put eight rockets into orbit so far this year and expects it will stick to its overall plan for 49 launches, even if some launch dates shift.

“I don’t see a ripple yet. I’m not saying that that can’t happen,” Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Doug Schiess said on an April 9 call with reporters. “If we were to have folks that were to get sick, not just us, if our launch providers or if something else were to happen, obviously that could push some launches into the next year.”

Still, Schiess says work is moving along well. The two facilities have shrunk the number of on-site employees to mission- and services-essential personnel only, are practicing social distancing when possible, and have employees cover their faces with cloth. No one who lives or works at Patrick or the Cape has tested positive for the virus, though the wing has seen cases at its clinics that serve retirees and other beneficiaries. The wing has administered fewer than 100 tests so far. (4/9)

Trump Wants To Mine The Moon. This Is How NASA Will Do That Using ‘Roomba’-Sized Rovers (Source: Forbes)
NASA wants to send astronauts back to the moon—and then mine it to create a self-sustaining moon base. We already knew that, but an executive order signed by President Donald Trump yesterday makes it clear that the U.S. will disregard any international treaty that attempts to limit that. In 2024, the Artemis 3 mission will touchdown at the Moon’s South Pole. The one female and one male astronauts will become the first moonwalkers of the 21st century, 55 years after Apollo 17 blasted-off.

Although Artemis 3 is planned to include only a brief visit to the lunar surface, NASA has grander plans for future Artemis missions in the late 2020s—“a sustained lunar presence,” in fact. Key questions remain before that can become a reality. What’s it really like on the moon? Exactly what resources does it have in specific locations? How will the lunar environment—radiation and solar activity—affect humans who attempt to live and work there? NASA will attempt to answer those questions in advance using a fleet of small lunar rovers, sent up to the moon alone to gather intel in advance of the arrival of humans. Click here. (4/9)

Want to Lead a NASA Mission? Here’s What It Takes! (Source: First Mode)
Spacecraft missions drive step-change advances in the Earth and space sciences, leading to some of the most surprising discoveries of the past 50 years. First Mode’s contributions to NASA missions such as Psyche, Mars 2020, and Europa Clipper are complemented by the work of as many as hundreds of other people. All but the largest NASA science missions are led by a principal investigator (PI), a scientist who is supported by other key leaders such as the deputy PI and instrument PIs.

I’ve been in the planetary science community for over a decade and have worked in engineer-dominated companies for four years. When it comes to missions, scientists love to talk about the science driving them (why are we going?) and engineers love to talk about spacecraft engineering (what tools are we using?).

 Less often discussed is how PIs and other mission leaders weave together the efforts of their team in pursuit of mission success. How do those in leadership roles on NASA missions manage their teams? How did they prepare for the role they’re in? How did they build teams that work together well? How do they foster a healthy team culture? There is no PI how-to manual. Click here. (4/9)

U.S. Space Force to Launch Three Smallsat Missions on LauncherOne (Source: Virgin Orbit)
VOX Space, the Virgin Orbit subsidiary which provides responsive and affordable launch services for the U.S. national security community, has been selected to launch three dedicated missions for the U.S. Space Force (USSF), delivering multiple spacecraft to orbit for the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program-S28 (STP-S28). This launch service contract — awarded by the USSF Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Office in Albuquerque, NM — is the first task order under the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. (4/10)

New Document Reveals Significant Fall From Grace for Boeing’s Space Business (Source: Ars Technica)
Boeing's 737 Max has been grounded for a year after two crashes that killed 346 people between them, collectively making for the worst air disaster since September 11, 2001. Then there are the issues with the company's KC-46 Pegasus tanker program, which is $3 billion over budget, three years behind schedule, and beset by technical issues. Most recently, in March, the Air Force revealed that it had upgraded chronic leaks in the aircraft's fuel system to a Category I deficiency.

Since December, the company's space issues have also become more widely known following the failure of the company's Starliner capsule to successfully carry out a test flight to the Space Station. NASA labeled this aborted mission a "high visibility close call." But a new document released by NASA reveals the broader scope of Boeing's apparent decline in spaceflight dominance. The "source selection statement" from NASA explains the space agency's rationale for selecting SpaceX over three other companies—Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Sierra Nevada—to deliver large supplies of cargo to lunar orbit. NASA selected SpaceX for this "Gateway Logistics" contract in March.

The selection document says SpaceX provided the best technical approach and the lowest price by a "significant" margin. Comparing this to the selection rationale for the 2014 commercial crew contracts, the perception of Boeing's offering could not be more stark. In 2014, Boeing was very much perceived as the gold-standard—expensive, yes, but also technically masterful. In 2020, the company was still perceived as expensive but not ultimately worthy of consideration. For the Gateway Logistics contract, of the four contenders, Boeing had the lowest overall technical and mission suitability scores. In addition, Boeing's proposal was characterized as "inaccurate" and possessing no "significant strengths." NASA didn't even consider the proposal among the final bidders. (4/10)

Rehearsal Time for NASA’s Asteroid Sampling Spacecraft (Source: NASA)
In August, a robotic spacecraft will make NASA’s first-ever attempt to descend to the surface of an asteroid, collect a sample, and ultimately bring it safely back to Earth. In order to achieve this challenging feat, the OSIRIS-REx mission team devised new techniques to operate in asteroid Bennu’s microgravity environment – but they still need experience flying the spacecraft in close proximity to the asteroid in order to test them. So, before touching down at sample site Nightingale this summer, OSIRIS-REx will first rehearse the activities leading up to the event.

On Apr. 14, the mission will pursue its first practice run – officially known as “Checkpoint” rehearsal – which will also place the spacecraft the closest it’s ever been to Bennu. This rehearsal is a chance for the OSIRIS-REx team and spacecraft to test the first steps of the robotic sample collection event. The Checkpoint rehearsal allows the team to practice navigating the spacecraft through both the orbit departure and Checkpoint maneuvers, and ensures that the spacecraft’s imaging, navigation and ranging systems operate as expected during the first part of the descent sequence. (4/9)