September 19, 2021

Why the Universe Is Annoyed by the Astronomer Pushing a Ninth Planet (Source: Daily Beast)
It’s one of the most exciting things in the whole field of astronomy: the discovery of a new planet. But the push to recognize one particular object—an apparent orb many times the size of Earth that seems to be spinning along the outer solar system—as a major planet has been complicated by the history of one earthling. The scientist championing the naming of a new ninth planet, Caltech astronomer Mike Brown, is the same one who got the old ninth planet, Pluto, removed from the list that teachers teach and students memorize.

Many of Brown’s fellow astronomers are less than thrilled. To be clear, most of the scientists The Daily Beast spoke with said they like Brown, respect his work and support his efforts to add at least one new planet to the current roster. They just disagree with what he did to Pluto back in 2006. Strongly. “He’s wrong about Pluto,” planetary scientist Alan Stern, the principal investigator on NASA’s New Horizons mission, which sent a probe past Pluto in 2015, told The Daily Beast.

To them, nothing was wrong with the old ninth planet. Brown’s potential new planet should be at least number 10—if not number 50 or 500. More importantly, they warned, arbitrary bureaucratic meddling in scientific definitions risks doing grave damage. The Pluto kerfuffle “has actually created a divide between scientists and the public, and sends a terrible message—particularly for these time—that science is done by fiat on the basis of authority,” Mark Sykes, director of the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona, told The Daily Beast. (9/18)

Liquid hydrogen Manufacturer GenH2 Announces Global Headquarters in Titusville (Source: MyNews13)
Liquid hydrogen has long been a pillar of the space industry as it plays an important role in rocket propulsion. But as the hydrogen market diversifies, the number of companies that manufacture liquid hydrogen is also growing. The city of Titusville in Brevard County will be the latest beneficiary of this budding pocket of the economy.

GenH2 closed on a deal to transform an old car dealership property into its new global headquarters. “Since we actually grew up and came from the hydrogen economy here at NASA at Kennedy Space Center, we thought it was only appropriate that we did something closer to home,” said GenH2 CEO and founder Cody Bateman. “Plus, a lot of our engineers already live here.” Bateman, like many of his colleagues at GenH2, formerly worked for NASA before branching off into new endeavors.

The facility will undergo a nearly $35 million revamping to fit the needs of the company as it looks to rapidly grow in northern Brevard County. Phase 1 will cost about $4 million and will involve restoration and construction work on the main building, demolishing an old warehouse and updating some of the cosmetic features of a third building on the property. The main building will feature an open, glass exterior and a space on the bottom floor that will be open to the public to see some of the actual work being done by GenH2. Bateman said the goal is to help educate the public about hydrogen energy. (9/6)

Two Space Force Delta’s Ready to Train Guardians and Airmen (Source: The Gazette)
The Space Force command that will train its troops — Space Training and Readiness Command — was established in Colorado Springs last month, and two of its five Deltas later announced their squadron activation and command structure. Space Delta 12, the test and evaluation Delta, held a squadron activation and redesignation recognition ceremony Aug. 27 at Peterson Space Force Base;  Space Delta 11, the range and aggressor Delta, held its squadron activation ceremony Aug. 30 at Schriever Space Force Base.

Space Delta 12 is part of the newest U.S. Space Force field command, Space Training and Readiness Command, which was activated Aug. 23 at Peterson Space Force Base. The command is provisionally housed at Peterson Space Force Base with a formal basing decision planned later. The command of roughly 850 Space Force "guardians" will more than double in size over next five years as the new service — established in December 2019 — grows, said Brig. Gen. Shawn Bratton, commander of Space Training and Readiness Command. (9/18)

Musk Donates $50M to Bring Inspiration4’s Total St. Jude Donation to $210 Million (Source: Teslarati)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk noted on Saturday night that he would be donating $50 million towards Inspiration4’s $200 million fundraising goal for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Musk’s donation effectively boosted the $100 million already donated by mission commander and Shift4Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, as well as the $60.2 million raised by the public.

Apart from being the first-ever all-civilian space mission, Inspiration4 is, more importantly, a massive fundraising campaign for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The mission had an initial goal of raising $200 million, and with Musk’s donation, Inspiration4 has effectively raised a total of $210 million. Such an amount would help St. Jude in its continued efforts to help children and fight cancer among the young. (9/18)

Brexit Britain Faces ‘Disaster’ in International Standing Without Space Investment (Source: Express)
Britain could suffer a "disaster" in its "international standing" unless investment in space is boosted, according to an industry insider. The Government wants the UK to control 10 percent of the global space market by 2030. Spaceport Cornwall, Britain’s first spaceport, could conduct its first launch next year whilst there are plans for vertical launch rocket sites in Scotland.

UKspace, which represents the British space industry, is calling for more investment to maximise potential. The industry body has launched a campaign, aimed at Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, urging them to “invest to unleash the transformative potential of the space sector.” A Government Comprehensive Spending Review will be published later this autumn. (9/17)