In Today’s Deep Space Extra… Cosmonauts detect new cracks in International Space Station module. Nelson backs continued cooperation among NASA’s space partners as the agency’s human exploration focus turns to deep space.
Human Space Exploration
Russian cosmonauts find new cracks in ISS module
Reuters.com (8/30): Superficial fractures that could worsen have been detected in the Russian segment Zarya module of the International Space Station (ISS), Vladimir Solovyov, the chief engineer for state space firm Energia told Russia’s RIA news agency. Solovyov, who has warned the ISS is aging, did not say whether the damage is responsible for air leaks. But he did say they could spread over time. Zarya was the first ISS module launched in November 1998.
Russian cosmonauts to track air leaks with vibration sensors
Sputniknews.com of Russia (8/30): The Russian segment of the International Space Station will be equipped with special sensors intended to reveal whether small air leaks in the Zarya and Zvezda modules are linked to errors in welding seams made three decades ago, according to Energia’s Solovyov. (Editor’s note: Sputniknews.com is a Russian state-owned news source).
Cooperation, competition, conferences, and COVID
The Space Review (8/30): Colorado Springs was host last week to the 36th Space Symposium, the largest in-person space event in 18 months due to precautions over the coronavirus pandemic that did not totally lift for the gathering. The heads of the world’s leading space agencies with the exception of Russia but including NASA Administrator Bill Nelson were present for an hour-long panel discussion. While discounting any rift with Russia, but acknowledging that China is a rival in space, Nelson said the traditional ISS partners should continue to cooperate and look ahead to the Moon as their next destination.
Space Science
NASA just cut a 10-cent check to kick-start Moon mining tech
Space.com (8/30): Lunar Outpost, a Colorado startup, bid $1 to participate in a NASA initiative to mine the Moon as part of a space resource contract. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson responded with a 10-cent check during the 36th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs last week. The exchange was intended to set a legal and procedural framework for the commercial collection of lunar and other planetary resources for NASA. Lunar Outpost is eyeing the lunar south pole.
One-third of Sun-like stars may have eaten their planets
Sciencemag.org (8/30): Evidence of elevated iron content in a sample of binary star systems points to the possibility that some sun-like stars have destroyed one or more of their planets. A study led by an astrophysicist from the Astronomical Observatory of Padua could help astronomers rule out stellar systems unlikely to contain Earth-like planets, according to findings published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
Other News
Space agencies support space traffic management but differ on how it should be developed
SpaceNews.com (8/31): At a 36th Space Symposium panel last week, the heads of European and North American space agencies discussed the importance of space traffic management (STM) but expressed differing views on who should be responsible for it. Walther Pelzer, head of the German space agency DLR, said “we have to do space traffic management within the United Nations to have this issue sorted out sustainably.” Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), instead said relying on the U.N. alone was not enough because “we need to act urgently.” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson didn’t take a stand on how STM should be developed but said space traffic management will become easier if spacefaring nations stop polluting, particularly with ASAT tests.
Lamborn and Crow propose establishment of Space Force National Guard
SpaceNews.com (8/30): Two members of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Doug Lamborn, a Republican, and Jason Crow, a Democrat, both from Colorado, have introduced legislation that would establish a Space National Guard as a reserve component of the new U.S. Space Force.
Dragon supply freighter docks at Space Station with 2.4 tons of cargo
Coalition Member in the News – Nanoracks
Spaceflightnow.com (8/30): SpaceX’s 23rd NASA-contracted resupply mission docked at the U.S. segment of the International Space Station (ISS) with a 4,800-pound cargo on Monday at 10:30 a.m. EDT. In addition to science experiments, the cargo included some fresh food for the ISS astronauts. NASA’s Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough supervised the approach and linkup to the Harmony module.
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