March 27, 2022

NASA to Announce Hubble Space Telescope Discovery Next Week (Source: Space.com)
Officials with the Hubble Space Telescope program have some new science to share on Wednesday (March 30). A NASA statement promises "one for the record books" and an "exciting new observation" from the nearly 32-year-old telescope. It's tricky to guess what that discovery might be, given that the Hubble Space Telescope's work stretches from exoplanets to galaxies to measuring the expansion of the universe. (3/25)

James Webb Space Telescope's 1st Science Targets Remain Super Secret as Observatory Settles In (Source: Space.com)
In the first year of its scientific operations, the James Webb Space Telescope will study small galaxies orbiting the Milky Way, look for the oldest stars in the universe or peer inside mysterious remnants of an exploded star. Its very first science targets, however, remain top secret. The world's science geeks are still holding their breath for the first proper scientific images, the objects of which will be kept under wraps until the images' release, likely in July. "Yes, the targets have been chosen for the super-secret first images that will be released," said Jane Rigby. (3/25)

Central Florida's Growing Space Tourism Sector is Popular, but Expensive (Source: Orlando Business Journal)
Space tourism appears to be the next frontier of travel for Central Florida, and there is a hunger to travel into space. Nearly half of 2,000 surveyed Americans (49%) want to travel to space. "Of course, household income plays a big role in whether or not someone considers the experience worth a six-figure price tag: Among prospective space travelers with a six-figure household income, 33% would spend at least $100,000 on space travel," added the study. Notably, 24% of those surveyed (nearly 1 in 4 respondents) question the ethics of space tourism.

Central Florida has been the epicenter for space tourism business lately. There's already some notable Central Floridians set to buckle up and head to orbit. Local companies lining up to take tourists to space include: Space Perspective, $125,000 and up per seat; Axiom Space and SpaceX, reportedly $55 million per seat; Blue Origin, cost unknown, though one bidder paid $28 million last year. (3/25)

Canada Wants a Study on the Socio-Economic Benefits of the Arctic Observing Mission (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency has posted a tender notice for a study on the socio-economic benefits of the Arctic Observing Mission, a possible government of Canada Earth observation mission. The Earth Arctic Observing Mission would be a follow-on to the Phase 0 study, the Atmospheric Imaging Mission for Northern Regions (AIM-North).

The original study was a “constellation of two satellites in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) formation to provide observations with an unprecedented combination of frequency, density and quality for monitoring greenhouse gases (GHGs), air quality (AQ) and solar induced fluorescence (SIF) from vegetation over land from about 40-80°N, multiple times per day.” Now, as the proposed Arctic Observing Mission, “meteorological and space weather observations” have been added to the scope. (3/25)

After Russia's Aggression in Ukraine, ESA Likely to Work More Closely With US on Space Missions (Source: CNN)
he European Space Agency may seek closer ties with NASA on its upcoming missions, especially the ExoMars rover, after it became clear ESA needed "to sever" its ties with Russia, the agency's director general, Josef Aschbacher, said. "Certainly one option which we are studying, there's no decision made yet, but one option we are studying is also working closer with NASA," Aschbacher told Becky Anderson on CNN's Connect the World on Friday. (3/25)

Russia War's Ripple Effect Reaches Space, May Touch India's Crewed Spaceflight (Source: Businsss Standard)
The Ukraine war could lead to breakdowns in space exploration due to sanctions against Russia. Apart from the complexities of maintaining the ISS, there’s a host of other areas where Russia provides both equipment and science as also technology inputs. This new scenario could lead to some setbacks for the Indian Space Research Organization and others in the Indian aerospace sector. Russia has provided various services in support of India's human spaceflight program. (3/24)

Space Forge to Launch Satellite with Virgin Orbit at Spaceport Cornwall (Source: The National)
Wales will play a significant role in Spaceport Cornwall's inaugural launch this summer. Cardiff-based Space Forge has secured a place for its own satellite to be launched by Virgin Orbit which will take to the skies from Newquay later this year. Space Forge recently announced that it had developed a world-first launch and return service of a new small class space vehicle, named the Forgestar, that can be deployed from conventional launching systems. Forgestar would provide rapid, reliable, and a reusable means to access and return from space. (3/26)

Special Meeting to Discuss Spaceport in Paso Robles, California (Source: Paso Robles Daily News)
Next Tuesday, the Paso Robles City Council will conduct a special joint information workshop with the Paso Robles Planning Commission and the Paso Robles Airport Commission to discuss nonbinding letters of intent for the spaceport, as well as receive a presentation on the spaceport’s license preliminary technical review. The Paso Robles spaceport leverages nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base and is supported by REACH, an economic impact organization with a mission to increase economic prosperity on the Central Coast. (3/25)

FAA Sets Late April to Release Boca Chica/Starship Environmental Assessment (Source: BocaChica Gal)
The FAA is updating the release date for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). The FAA now plans to issue the Final PEA on April 29, which will allow the FAA to review responses to comments and complete consultation and coordination with agencies at the local, State, and Federal level. All consultations must be complete before the FAA can issue the Final PEA. (3/25)