OSIRIS-REx begins exploration of asteroid Bennu

NASA’s science probe OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) arrived at the asteroid Bennu last week. After a few weeks of reconnaissance of the small object, the spacecraft will move in close enough to go into orbit around it. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Arrives at Asteroid Bennu – NASA

Now, at about 11.8 miles (19 kilometers) from Bennu’s Sun-facing surface, OSIRIS-REx will begin a preliminary survey of the asteroid. The spacecraft will commence flyovers of Bennu’s north pole, equatorial region, and south pole, getting as close as nearly 4 miles (7 kilometers) above Bennu during each flyover.

The primary science goals of this survey are to refine estimates of Bennu’s mass and spin rate, and to generate a more precise model of its shape. The data will help determine potential sites for later sample collection.

OSIRIS-REx’s mission will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth. Asteroids are remnants of the building blocks that formed the planets and enabled life. Those like Bennu contain natural resources, such as water, organics and metals. Future space exploration and economic development may rely on asteroids for these materials.


This image of Bennu was taken by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a distance of around 50 miles (80 km).  Credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

After a couple of years of study, the spacecraft will obtain a sample of the asteroid and return it to earth: 

When OSIRIS-REx begins to orbit Bennu at the end of this month, it will come close to approximately three quarters of a mile (1.25 kilometers) to its surface. In February 2019, the spacecraft begins efforts to globally map Bennu to determine the best site for sample collection. After the collection site is selected, the spacecraft will briefly touch the surface of Bennu to retrieve a sample. OSIRIS-REx is scheduled to return the sample to Earth in September 2023.

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Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto

China heads for the Moon’s far side, NASA listens to Martian winds, and a Dragon arrives at the ISS

Lots of activity in space this weekend:

** Moon: China launched on Friday the Chang’e-4 mission to the far side of the Moon. The 3,780 kg package includes a lander (1,200 kg), a rover (140 kg). This will be the first mission of any kind to the surface of the side of the Moon that never faces Earth due to tidal locking. A lunar orbiter was launched earlier to serve as a communications relay. The landing date has not been announced yet.

Chang’e 4 Rover on the Moon (Image: CNSA)

** Mars: Insight is busy setting up its experiments and listening to the Martian wind.

This image from InSight’s robotic-arm mounted Instrument Deployment Camera shows the instruments on the spacecraft’s deck, with the Martian surface of Elysium Planitia in the background. The image was received on Dec. 4, 2018 (Sol 8). Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Full image and caption

** Earth Orbit: The SpaceX Dragon, launched on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral last Wednesday, rendezvoused and berthed to the ISS this morning. It joins five other spaceships attached to the station including Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo vehicle, two Russian Progress cargo vehicles, and two Russian Soyuz crew vehicles.

Dec. 8, 2018: International Space Station Configuration. Six spaceships are attached at the space station including the U.S. resuppy ships Northrop Grumman Cygnus and the SpaceX Dragon; and Russia’s Progress 70 and Progress 71 resupply ships and the Soyuz MS-09 and MS-10 crew ships all from Roscosmos.

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Videos: “Space to Ground” report on ISS – Dec.7.2018

Here is this week’s episode of NASA’s Space to Ground report on activities related to the  International Space Station:

This video describes an experiment launched to the ISS on the SpaceX Dragon that will test in-space refueling technologies:

The Dragon is currently catching up with the ISS in time to berth with the station early Saturday morning US time. NASA TV will webcast the rendezvous and attachment:

Updates on the ISS and the Dragon arrival can be found at Space Station – Off The Earth, For The Earth – NASA ISS blog.

More about the research payloads on the Dragon: NASA Sends New Research, Hardware to Space Station on SpaceX Mission | NASA

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Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto

 

Space policy roundup – Dec.6.2018

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest:

Webcast:

** Space Economics : Planet Money : NPR

Most people have a fascination with space because of the grand themes — exploration, the search for aliens, going to the moon, maybe someday living on Mars! Matt Weinzeirl of Harvard Business School is just as fascinated, but for a different reason.

Matt says the economic model of space activity was once centralized, and focused mainly on the provision of public goods. But over time, that model has evolved, and NASA has found a potentially fruitful way to partner with the private sector in developing the space economy of the future.

** Art Harman – Trump Space Policy – 21st Annual International Mars Society Convention

** Art Harman – Lunar Gateway or Boots on the Poles? – 21st Annual Mars Society Convention

** Dr. Doug Plata – Reality Check on BFR – 21st Annual International Mars Society Convention:

 

** The Space Show – Sun, 12/02/2018 – Leonard David discussed “Gateway, lunar policy, space advocacy, space legal issues and concerns, commercial space concerns, NASA budget and OMB issues, promoting space books and much more.”.

** The Space Show – Fri, 11/30/2018Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University talked about “lunar policy, returning to the Moon, planning a human lunar return mission, commercial lunar market potential, advocacy action and more”.

** The Space Show – Tue, 11/27/2018Dr. Doug Plata discussed “policy meetings regarding alternative lunar return possibilities, Scott Pace meetings, Doug’s Dec. 5th telecon, and much more”.

** The Space Show – Mon, 11/26/2018John Hunt “discussed his interest in space and physics, advanced & exotic propulsion, he updated us with the Woodward Mach Thruster work plus the latest on SLS and the Gateway, Space Show annual campaign, Space Show Advisory Board”.

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Videos: Recent rocket launches – SpaceX Falcon 9, Ariane 5, Russian Soyuz and Rokot

** Dec. 5: SpaceX Falcon 9 Dragon Resupply Mission (CRS-16) from Cape Canaveral: Falcon 9 successfully lofts CRS-16 Dragon enroute to ISS – Booster spins out but soft lands in water – NASASpaceFlight.com

[ Update 3: Another good view of the booster. Shows it clear detail the stage when it starts to spin and wobble,  the engine struggling to maintain control, and ends with the legs deploying and the soft landing:

Update 2: Another view of the water landing:

Update: Video from Elon showing the landing from a camera on the booster:

]

Unfortunately, a stuck hydraulic pump on a guide fin caused the first stage to miss the landing pad and go into the water offshore:

The return trajectories of the boosters always aim for the water offshore. Then, if everything is working OK, the engine and fins at the last minute will guide the rocket over to the pad, which lies just beside the beach.

** Dec.4: Ariane V launched two satellites – GSAT-11 for ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), and GEO-KOMPSAT-2A for KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute): Ariane 5 conducts dual passenger launch with GSAT-11 and GEO-KOMPSAT-2A – NASASpaceFlight.com

** Dec.3: SpaceX Falcon 9 SSO-A mission puts 64 satellites into orbit after launch from Vandenberg AFB in California. First stage lands for third time: Spaceflight Successfully Launches 64 Satellites on First Dedicated Rideshare Mission – Spaceflight

** Dec.3: Russian Soyuz takes three new crew members to the ISS: NASA Astronaut Anne McClain and Crewmates Arrive Aboard Space Station | NASA

** Nov.29: Russian Rokot launches from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia with three military satellites: Russian Rokot launch vehicle lofts three military satellites – NASASpaceFlight.com

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