Space News reports, “NASA is requesting concepts from companies and organizations willing to take over a robotic lunar rover that the agency announced last month it would cancel even through it is nearly complete. NASA issued a request for information (RFI) Aug. 9 for the operation of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) spacecraft. NASA announced July 17 it planned to cancel the rover, citing development delays and cost overruns amid broader budget pressures in the agency’s science programs.”
Full Story (Space News)
Tag: 2024
NASA Shuts Down NEOWISE Spacecraft, Closing More than a Decade of Asteroid Observations
Spaceflight Now reports, “A spacecraft that helped bolster planetary defense is now at the end of its operational mission. On Thursday, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California sent the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft into its final hibernation mode by shutting off its transmitter. The command, issued from the Earth Orbiting Missions Operations Center at JPL, brought to an end more than a decade of observations of comets and asteroids that helped further the understanding of celestial bodies that could potentially pose a threat to Earth.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Starliner Crew May Return Home with SpaceX in 2025
The New York Times reports that for weeks, NASA has downplayed problems experienced by Starliner, but on Wednesday, NASA officials admitted that the issues might be more serious than first thought and that the astronauts might not return on the Boeing vehicle. “The agency is exploring a backup option for the astronauts, Suni Wiliams and Butch Wilmore, to instead hitch a ride back to Earth on a spacecraft built by Boeing’s competitor SpaceX. The astronauts’ stay in orbit, which was to be as short as eight days, could be extended into next year.”
Full Story (New York Times)
NASA Chief to Make Final Call On When Starliner Crew Returns Home
Ars Technica reports, “NASA on Tuesday confirmed that it is delaying the launch of its next astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Crew 9, until at least September 24. This is a significant slip from the previous date of August 18. The space agency said the delay was necessary for ‘operational flexibility’ as it continues to deliberate on the viability of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. In the release, NASA stated, ‘This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory.’”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
Joby Aviation Applies for FAA Type Certification in Australia
Reuters reports, “Electric air taxi maker Joby Aviation said on Tuesday [that] it has formally applied for its aircraft to be certified for use in Australia. … Joby’s application to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority for an FAA type certification validation leverages a bilateral agreement between U.S. and Australian regulators for mutual recognition of aviation approvals and certifications.”
Full Story (Reuters)
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink Satellites from KSC
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites, increasing the company’s mega-constellation in low Earth orbit. The mission came as SpaceX works towards the launch of a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station over the weekend. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-6 mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center happened at 1:01 a.m. EDT.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral on Falcon 9 rocket
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)
Panelists at ASCEND Discuss AI Challenges and Promise
Space News reports, “Space organizations are continuing to identify promising applications of artificial intelligence, according to speakers at the AIAA ASCEND conference.” At NASA, for example, AI helps aggregate complex datasets from various Earth-observation sensors and illustrate the data through modeling “in ways that are ‘intuitively clear,’” said David Salvagnini, NASA’s chief artificial intelligence officer and chief data officer.
Full Story (Space News)
NASA On Track for August Launch of Crew-9
Space News reports, “NASA is pressing ahead with a mid-August launch of the next Crew Dragon mission while delaying the first operational flight of Starliner. At a July 26 briefing, NASA officials said they were targeting no earlier than Aug. 18 for the launch of the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station. That date had been in question after an upper stage anomaly on a Falcon 9 Starlink launch that grounded the rocket for 15 days.”
Full Story (Space News)
AIAA and Tripadvisor Launch “Destination: Space” to Open Up Space Tourism to New Audiences
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Includes First-Ever Tourist Review of Space from Dr. Sian Proctor
July 30, 2024 – Las Vegas – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Tripadvisor have launched “Destination: Space,” a new content platform dedicated to space tourism, exploration, and education. “Destination: Space” aims to demystify space for the general public and make space tourism more accessible to all. The platform features Tripadvisor reviews and content from the growing community of astronauts who have travelled to space – sharing their unfiltered experiences of what it’s like to travel off planet Earth. These human stories draw from the ever-expanding community of more than 600 people who have travelled to space.
The announcement was celebrated during the 2024 ASCEND event in Las Vegas where more than 3,500 people in the aerospace community and adjacent industries are gathered this week.
In addition to reviews on traveling to space, “Destination: Space” includes links for the public to book actual space experiences. Enthusiasts can find travel information to visit space-related locations here on Earth, including museums and science centers, as well as where to see rocket launches, take advantage of STEM learning opportunities, and explore online space resources.
The First Review from Space
The first official review from space is provided by Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor, renowned for her groundbreaking achievements as the first African American woman to pilot a spaceship, paint in space, and serve on the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission – the first all-civilian orbital mission. She became a commercial astronaut following her 22 years as a professor teaching geology, sustainability, and planetary science at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, and now as a geoscience professor at the Maricopa Community Colleges in Tempe, Arizona. Her humorous yet accurate review of space appears alongside videos, photos, and the familiar Tripadvisor “bubble ratings” for ambiance, location, sleep quality, and more.
A Unique Perspective
The content at “Destination: Space” includes not only reviews but also space-inspired itineraries, interactive educational STEM programs, and more, catering to those who wish to experience space here on Earth – for fun, inspiration, and education. This additional information is provided by experts and enthusiasts working in the space community. Reviews from other space travelers – Victor L. Vescovo and Marty Allen – are included, with more to be added as increasing numbers of people explore the final frontier.
Making Space Accessible to More People
Adam Ochman from Tripadvisor commented on this exciting development, “We are thrilled to launch ‘Destination: Space,’ where we aim to bridge the gap between Earth and the cosmos, providing our community with engaging and educational content that fuels curiosity and inspires future generations of space travelers.”
“AIAA is dedicated to accelerating humanity’s future in space through fostering innovative collaborations inside and outside of the space industry. We are thrilled to work closely with Tripadvisor, a global online travel market leader, to promote space as an increasingly accessible destination,” said Brian Talbot, AIAA vice president of revenue development, marketing and communications. “With the launch of ‘Destination: Space,’ Tripadvisor joins the emerging ecosystem of non-aerospace companies and new industries that now see space as an opportunity.”
AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
ULA Launches Atlas 5 On Its 100th National Security Mission
Spaceflight Now reports, “United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket marked its swan song when it comes to launching critical missions connected to U.S. national security. A launch at dawn sent up a classified payload as part of the United States Space Force-51 (USSF-51) mission, marking the 100th such operation for ULA. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) happened Tuesday, July 30, 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 UTC).”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral on Falcon 9 rocket
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)