In Today’s Deep Space Extra… NASA launches new mission to observe dramatic objects in space. A spacecraft spots “weird” feature on the Moon’s far side.
Space Science
NASA launches new x-ray telescope designed to unravel mysteries of black holes
CNN.com (12/9): The Imaging X-ray Polarimeter Explorer (IXPE), a joint space observatory developed by NASA and the Italian Space Agency with Japanese contributions, launched early Thursday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). IXPE’s goal is to unlock the secrets of X-ray emissions from black holes, neutron stars and other of the universe’s most energetic objects. The spacecraft settled into an equatorial orbit to begin a month-long checkout to initiate a $188 million, two-year primary mission that will uniquely complement the objectives of other space observatories.
‘Mystery hut’ on the Moon just the latest weird lunar find by China’s Yutu 2 rover
Space.com (12/8): China’s Yutu 2 rover became the first spacecraft to explore the surface of the Moon’s far side, after touching down at Von Karman crater in January 2019. In the latest in a series of scientifically puzzling observations, Yutu 2 has spotted a cubed shaped feature off to its horizon. Potentially just a rock, the find is nonetheless drawing attention.
Other News
Here is the heart that will keep the Orion spacecraft alive
Autoevolution.com (12/4): For the Artemis program, NASA has looked for help outside the borders of the U.S. In the case of Orion’s European Service Module (ESM), the agency tapped ESA and Airbus with devising it. ESM is Orion’s main power and propulsion source. It’s a 4-meter (13 feet) long cylindrical piece of unpressurized equipment that holds the capsule’s main engine, and tanks for fuel and water. The unit’s design is an evolution of an older ESA spacecraft called Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which years ago was used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
Europe awards study contract for disruptive satellite constellation ideas
SpaceNews.com (12/8): Under a European Commission agreement announced on Wednesday and valued at $1.6 million U.S., more than 20 European space companies will spend six months assessing elements of a planned European broadband satellite constellation. The contract comes as a yearlong feasibility study awarded to a consortium of larger, industrial companies in December 2020 ends. Many participants are early-stage and small to medium-sized businesses in the space industry.
Space Force official: U.S. has a broad range of options to respond to space aggression
SpaceNews.com (12/8): If another country targeted a U.S. satellite with missiles or other weapons, the U.S. would respond in a “proportional manner,” said Brig. Gen. John Olson, the senior reserve officer of the U.S. Space Force. Depending on the specific situation, an attack against a satellite could justify retaliation but it doesn’t have to be with a space weapon, Olson said on a DefenseOne online event aired December 8. “You could have leverage with any one of the other domains or any of the other tools” the U.S. government has. A military response could be conducted using aerial, ground, or naval weapons, according to Olson, adding that there are also diplomatic and economic levers that the U.S. can exert. “We generally use the military as the last resort and, of course, that is how it should be.”
Blue Origin space flight delayed: Michael Strahan and crew will finish training as planned
ABCnews.com (12/8): Blue Origin on Wednesday rescheduled plans for a New Shepard suborbital mission launch from West Texas with six passengers from Thursday to Saturday at 9:45 a.m. EST, due to weather. The passenger list includes Laura Shepard-Churchley, daughter of the late Alan Shepard, America’s first astronaut and the rocket’s namesake, and Michael Strahan, co-host of ABC’s Good Morning America.
BlackSky continues rapid-fire launch campaign with Rocket Lab mission
Spaceflightnow.com (12/9): Two BlackSky high resolution optical Earth observation satellites launched from New Zealand atop a RocketLab Electron rocket on Wednesday. It was the third launch for BlackSky satellites within the past month, as either the prime payload or a rideshare. BlackSky, with offices in Seattle and Herndon, Virginia, is deploying a fleet of small remote sensing satellites to provide high-resolution Earth imagery to commercial and government clients. BlackSky has agreements to sell commercial imagery to NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
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