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October 22nd, 2024
The prestigious National Academies has taken a hard look at the NASA of today and what’s ahead.
And for a space agency that has been a leader in exploring our planet and other worlds, it is in a world of hurt.
That’s the thrust of a hard-hitting report from an Academies blue-ribbon committee.
Norm Augustine, committee chair and former Lockheed Martin CEO, details report findings during a webinar.
Image credit: National Academies/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Core issues
The report released last month is titled “NASA at a Crossroads: Maintaining Workforce, Infrastructure, and Technology Preeminence in the Coming Decades.”
Out-of-date infrastructure, pressures to prioritize short-term objectives, budget mismatches, inefficient management practices, and nonstrategic reliance on commercial partners are spotlighted as core issues needing attention.
For an inside look at the report itself, and reactions to its findings, go to my new Space.com story — “NASA at a crossroads: Budget woes, aging infrastructure and hard choices ahead – ‘This is not a time for business as usual'” – at:
https://www.space.com/nasa-crossroads-budget-issues-national-academies-report
Image credit: NASA
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Lunar brick specialist, Zhou Cheng.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China rolled out last week a roadmap for the development of space science in China through 2050. A phase of that agenda is constructing the International Lunar Research Station, or ILRS.
Now in research status is use of the lunar regolith to help build that lunar base in the 2028-2035 time period.
In fact, test bricks for lunar construction will be sent to China’s space station aboard the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft. The first lunar brick is expected to return to the Earth by the end of 2025.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Brick strength
Flying the lunar soil bricks is an output from China’s National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction and the Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST).
The bricks are called simulated lunar soil bricks, said Zhou Cheng, a professor at the center. They have a similar density to that of ordinary bricks but are more than three times stronger than standard red bricks or concrete bricks, Zhou told China Central Television (CCTV).
Temperatures on the lunar surface exceed 180 degrees Celsius during the lunar day and dip to minus 190 degrees Celsius during lunar night – a 14 day/night cycle.
Photo taking during Chang’e-5 moon surface sampling session in December 2020.
Credit: CNSA/China Central Television (CCTV)
In addition, significant levels of cosmic radiation and micrometeorites also strike the surface of the Moon, given its lack of atmospheric protection. Also, there is frequent moonquake activity.
On-station test program
All of these will place demanding requirements on the mechanical, thermal and radiation resistance properties of lunar surface construction materials, Zhou added.
“What we care about the most is its mechanical and thermal performances, including heat preservation and insulation effectiveness, as well as its ability to withstand cosmic radiation. The Moon has a vacuum environment, so there is significant cosmic radiation,” Zhou said.
Simulated lunar bricks to be flown on China space station. Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
As for use of the Chinese space station to evaluate lunar soil bricks, the total planned exposure period for the bricks is three years.
So every year, researchers will return one sample panel exposed on the space station to the Earth and conduct related experiments, according to Zhou.
Simulated lunar soil compositions
The research team also designed the bricks in two shapes: columnar and flaky. The pillar-shaped lunar soil bricks are primarily intended for mechanical testing, while the larger-exposed flakes are used to assess thermal and radiation effects.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
In addition to their various forms, these bricks are made from five simulated compositions of lunar soil and undergo three distinct sintering processes, providing more accurate scientific data for the construction of future lunar bases.
3D-printing robot
As reported by China Global Television Network (CGTN), the team also developed another construction option using additive manufacturing technology. In addition, a 3D-printing robot has been invented to print houses using lunar soil.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Zhou told CGTN that the composition of lunar soil varies in different locations on the Moon, noting that one composition simulates the lunar soil at the landing site of China’s Chang’e-5 lander, which is mainly basalt.
Some other compositions simulate soil found at other locations that is mainly anorthosite, said Zhou.
The HUST team used five different simulated lunar soil compositions and three different sintering processes to help acquire accurate scientific data for selection of materials and process optimization for future lunar base construction.
A number of private firms want to see an inflation factor for the future.
What is now being evaluated and tested is the use of “softgoods” to fashion inflatable/expandable airlocks and off-Earth habitats, not only for low Earth orbit, but also to provide comfy housing for future moon and Mars explorers.
Pioneering work
Enter the 21st century and make note of the pioneering work of Robert Bigelow and his team at Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The company fabricated two uncrewed free-flying expandable prototype modules that flew in 2006 and 2007, respectively, under its Genesis program. They are still circling the globe to this day.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
For more information on inflatable structures in space, go to my new Space.com story – “Blowing up: Inflatable space habitats could be key to exploring the solar system” — at:
https://www.space.com/expandable-space-habitats-moon-mars-private-companies
The future of Moon exploration construction will benefit from a combination of lunar rovers and Inchworm robots.
Image credit: GITAI/Inside Outer Space screengrab
That’s the vision of GITAI, a space robotics startup that last year relocated its headquarters from Japan to the United States. The group is blueprinting a range of robotic satellites for on-orbit services, as well as lunar rovers and inchworm-type robotic arms for lunar infrastructure construction.
Headquartered in Torrance, California, GITAI is pressing forward on the firm’s goal to significantly reduce space labor costs.
Image credit: GITAI/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: GITAI/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: GITAI/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: GITAI
Truss-based towers
Under a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project award, GITAI has been scoping out the assembly and outfitting of tall truss-based towers on the Moon using autonomous lunar robots. These lunar towers can support communication and solar panel energy needs.
In a recent showcasing of their robotic wares at a California Mojave Desert test site, multiple GITAI robots worked together to perform key tasks such as building communication antennas, exchanging flat tires, drilling holes, welding metal panels, and assembling solar panels.
One output was autonomously assembling a tower 16 feet high (5 meters) to simulate use for future lunar habitats. Put to use was a GITAI Inchworm Robot, a robotic arm equipped with “grapple end-effectors” on both ends of the arm.
To view a fascinating video of this capability, go to:
For more information on GITAI, go to:
Credit: NASA
There’s been a research boost to locate life that may have found a comfy niche on the Red Planet.
The potential for photosynthesis on Mars within snow and ice is the subject of a just-released paper appearing in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment.
As for implications for life on Mars, the analysis indicates that, despite higher surface ultraviolet radiation levels on Mars than on Earth, “it is possible for terrestrial photosynthetic organisms to find locations within exposed ice on Mars with favorable solar radiative conditions,” the research team explains.
The white material seen within this Martian gully is believed to be dusty water ice. Scientists believe this kind of ice could be an excellent place to look for microbial life on Mars today.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Present-day habitats
These potential present-day habitats are centimeters to meters below the surface, the research team observes, “and could be the most easily accessible locations to find extant life on Mars via future robotic and human missions.”
These findings are led by Aditya Khuller, currently at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology.
Khuller is a Postdoctoral Researcher at JPL. His research interests include studying planetary ices, surface processes and atmospheres using a combination of numerical modeling, remote sensing data and geological mapping.
These holes, captured on Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier in 2012, are formed by cryoconite — dust particles that melt into the ice over time, eventually forming small pockets of water below the glacier’s surface. Scientists believe similar pockets of water may exist on Mars.
Image credit: Kimberly Casey CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Variety of organisms
If indeed present and accounted for, what kind of life might be detected?
“A variety of organisms are found in these shallow subsurface habitats within terrestrial ice, such as cyanobacteria, chlorophytes, fungi, diatoms, and heterotrophic bacteria,” Khuller and colleagues report.
Usually, the most dominant organisms in these habitats are cyanobacteria.
“Cyanobacteria have developed appropriate mechanisms to deal with a wide range of temperatures, nutrient deficiency, UV radiation, and desiccation. These communities can persist even if temperatures are above freezing for only a few days per year,” the research paper explains.
Computer modeling
The research work uses computer modeling to suggest that dusty ice lets in enough light for photosynthesis to occur as deep as 10 feet (3 meters) below the surface.
Zones where levels of DNA-damaging irradiance are safe and there is enough photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) for photosynthesis to occur are shown as the green areas, as a function of (a) dust content, (b) ice radius, (c) latitude, and (d) solar zenith angle.
Image credit: Khuller, et al.
In this situation the upper layers of ice prevents the shallow subsurface pools of water from evaporating and protects those watery pools from harmful radiation.
As for where on Mars the water ice would form these subsurface pools, future exploration would be in the midlatitudes — between the latitudes of 30 degrees and 60 degrees — in both the northern and southern hemispheres of the Red Planet.
In the zone
“This latest paper examines the propagation of solar radiation into the ice, showing that just below the surface there is a zone that is safe from ultraviolet but still gets enough visible light to support photosynthesis,” said co-author Steve Warren, professor emeritus of Earth and space sciences at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle.
“But of course photosynthetic organisms won’t survive unless the ice in that zone can melt, at least occasionally,” Warren states in a UW statement.
Credit: NASA/Pat Rawlings
Next step
In November, Khuller will join UW’s Applied Physics Laboratory as a senior research scientist. He plans to continue working to find out where liquid water is likely to exist and persist on Mars.
The next step, Khuller explains, will be to recreate some of Mars’ dusty ice in a lab setting.
Meanwhile, Khuller and research partners are starting to map out the most likely spots on Mars to look for shallow meltwater, pinpointing them as possible scientific targets for future robotic and human expeditions.
Co-authors of the just-issued Mars work, along with Khuller and Warren, are Philip Christensen of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University in Tempe and Gary Clow of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado/Boulder.
To access the paper – “Potential for photosynthesis on Mars within snow and ice” – go to:
Image credit: Space Perspective
Air balloon, space tourist and “uppity up” business mogul, Sir Richard Branson, is co-piloting the first crewed test flight of Space Perspective’s sojourn into near-space.
“I’m passionate about adventure and helping fellow entrepreneurs reach their business dreams. I look forward to dusting off my old ballooning license ahead of some magnificent test flights,” said Branson in a Space Perspective statement.
Branson is an investor in Space Perspective of Titusville, Florida, a group that is offering sustainable, stratospheric balloon travel.
Image credit: Space Perspective
Seeking adventure-seekers
Branson is no stranger to high-flying above Earth having broken two ballooning world records crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in 1987 and 1991 respectively. Space Perspective has the potential to revolutionize balloon flying, he adds, opening a world of new possibilities for adventure-seekers all over the globe.
Branson will be aloft alongside the company founders, Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, high-tailing it above Earth next year.
For detailed information regarding Space Perspective, go to:
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), a federal watchdog organization, has issued another look at the NASA Artemis, back to the Moon, program.
This GAO report – “Exploration Ground Systems Program Could Strengthen Schedule Decisions” – found that the program has made progress, but the Artemis schedule poses challenges.
Schedule driver
The Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) program develops and operates the systems and facilities necessary to integrate and launch rockets and spacecraft and then recover crew for the Artemis missions.
“NASA is planning to spend billions of dollars on the Artemis missions. This includes over $3 billion specifically for EGS from fiscal years 2024 through 2028,” the GAO report notes. “The EGS program was a key contributor during the launch of Artemis I in November 2022.”
The program will support crewed Artemis launches in upcoming years. Since Artemis I, EGS continues to improve facilities and develop capabilities for future Artemis missions, such as the EGS’s Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) which is the primary schedule driver for Artemis IV.
Much work remains
Artemis II and III launches (planned for September 2025 and 2026, respectively): EGS is making progress refurbishing the Mobile Launcher 1—the structure used to transport and launch key systems—and modifying elements to support crew during these missions.
“New capabilities are taking longer than planned, and the program has only limited time to address potential issues,” the GAO report adds.
Artemis IV launch (planned for September 2028): EGS has made some progress toward this mission, such as modifying facilities to accommodate processing and launching the larger Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1B launch vehicle.
“However, much work remains, some of which cannot start until after the Artemis III launch,” the GAO report explains.
To review the GAO report — “Exploration Ground Systems Program Could Strengthen Schedule Decisions” – go to:
Image credit: ASE
What happens when you blend Earth + music + movies created by astronauts?
The outcome is EarthMusicTheater.org, “for the good of Earth…and joy of music.”
There’s a featured movie every Friday, explains Dan Barstow, Education Mission Specialist for the Association of Space Explorers (ASE). He is managing their archive of stunning photos and movies of Earth.
“Over the past couple of years, I’ve worked with astronauts + musicians to make some really stunning Earth + music movies,” Barstow tells Inside Outer Space. “It’s like a free ticket to Earth orbit, with some superb music, an interesting creative blend of astronauts and creative musicians.”
Image credit: ASE
Seeking serenity
The Association of Space Explorers (flown astronauts from 38 countries) leads this Earth Music project. Indeed, ASE members took many of these movies while on the International Space Station.
Each movie features glorious views of Earth from orbit, along with music by world-class musicians. And there’s a new movie every Friday, free on the web.
For example, a new addition is “Pathway to Center” featuring Laura Zaerr playing harp to help us find serenity in life’s challenges, as we fly over a powerful hurricane.
Image credit: ASE/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Two destructive hurricanes recently hit Florida and the US Southeast and the movie features a hurricane fly-over, “as a metaphor for all the struggles we go through, and the need to find inner peace when we most need it.”
Creative team
Backing the effort is a creative team:
- Astronauts took the photos from the International Space Station.
- Musicians explore Earth movies and select their music.
- Movie-makers put pieces together to make the whole.
“We hope humanity will see Earth with new eyes, and hear music with new ears,” notes the website. “Earth inspires the musicians, astronauts…and you.”
To view the innovative collection of movies, go to:
https://www.earthmusictheater.org/
Also, check out Dan Barstow’s presentation to the astronauts at a recent ASE Congress held this month in Amsterdam. Go to:
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China has rolled out a roadmap of space research goals for the period 2024 to 2050.
The agenda is reportedly the first of its kind at a national level and was unveiled Tuesday by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the China Manned Space Agency.
Details were revealed at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, China.
As explained by the state-run China Central Television (CCTV), China’s space science plan includes 17 priority areas under five key scientific themes: the extreme universe, space-time ripples, panoramic view of Sun-Earth, habitable planets, and biological and physical sciences in space, Ding Chibiao, vice president of the CAS said at the press conference.
Ding Chibiao, vice president of the CAS.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Research themes
The theme of extreme universe focuses on exploring the origin and evolution of the universe, revealing the physical laws under extreme cosmic conditions. The priority areas range from dark matter and extreme universe to the universe’s origin and evolution, as well as the detection of cosmic baryonic matter, according to the program.
Other themes are:
- The theme of space-time ripples centers on detecting medium to low-frequency gravitational waves and primordial gravitational waves, with the goal of uncovering the nature of gravity and space-time. The priority area within this theme is space-based gravitational wave detection.
- The Sun-Earth panoramic view theme involves the exploration of the sun, the Earth, and the heliosphere to unravel the physical processes and laws governing the complex interactions within the Sun-Earth system. Priority areas include Earth’s cycle systems, comprehensive observations of the Earth-Moon, space weather observation, three-dimensional solar exploration, and heliosphere exploration.
- Scientists will also explore the habitability of celestial bodies in the solar system and exoplanets, as well as search for extraterrestrial life. Key areas in the subject cover sustainable development, the origin and evolution of the solar system, characterization of planetary atmospheres, the search for extraterrestrial life, and exoplanet detection.
- The theme of biological and physical sciences in space seeks to reveal the laws of matter movement and life activities under space conditions to deepen the understanding of fundamental physics, such as quantum mechanics and general relativity. Priority areas encompass microgravity science, quantum mechanics and general relativity, and space life sciences.
Phased approaches
The newly issued roadmap outlines China’s space science development through 2050.
China space station is captured in this photo taken by the departing Shenzhou-16 crew.
Image credit: CMS
“In the first phase, leading up to 2027, China will focus on operating its space station, implementing the manned lunar exploration project, and the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program as well as the planetary exploration project,” Ding said. “Five to eight space science satellite missions will be approved and a number of original achievements with significant international influence will be made during the period.”
From 2028 to 2035, China will continue to operate its space station operation, Ding added, implement the manned lunar exploration project and construct the international lunar research station, the ILRS.
“In the third phase from 2036 to 2050, China will launch over 30 space science missions and ascend to an advanced world level in key areas,” said Ding.
Yang Xiaoyu, director of the System Engineering Department of the CNSA.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Moon research station
In regards to the International Lunar Research Station, it’s a two-phased initiative.
According to Yang Xiaoyu, director of the System Engineering Department of the CNSA, the first phase, the basic configuration phase, will focus on establishing a comprehensive lunar-based research platform to enable regular scientific experiments and verification of resource utilization technologies.
The second phase, the expansion phase, aims to create a large-scale, stable, and fully functional lunar research platform “capable of carrying out long-term unmanned operations, allowing short-term human presence, and conducting comprehensive lunar surface scientific research, resource development, and technology verification,” said Yang.
Artist’s view of International Lunar Research Station . Credit: CNSA
The CNSA launched the ILRS cooperation initiative globally in 2017, aiming to build a basic model by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, and to establish a lunar research station connecting the Moon’s south pole, equator, and far side by 2050.
Yang noted that the ILRS project involves signed cooperation agreements with 17 countries and international organizations and are prepared to offer various collaborative opportunities to international partners.
“We will engage in extensive cooperation with our partners on joint feasibility studies, joint design of the ILRS, technical collaboration, overall mission planning and implementation, and scientific data sharing,” said Yang.
China’s Chang’e-7 is to launch a mini-scout that will overfly a shadowed crater at the Moon’s south pole to look for possible traces of water or ice.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Lunar south pole
As for upcoming Moon exploration projects China is moving forward with launching the Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 probes in the near-term.
Chang’e-7 will probe the environment and resources of the lunar south pole.
Chang’e-8 will carry out technical verification of the in-situ utilization of lunar resources.
China’s Chang’e-8 lunar lander, a bridge build to the International Lunar Research Station.
Image credit: CNSA
“They will form the basic model of the lunar scientific research station that we are currently demonstrating. The two will also jointly conduct a comprehensive multi-physics exploration of the lunar internal structure,” said Yang.
Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency, also underscored that China has been steadily preparing for its historic launch of a crewed mission to the Moon and the establishment of a lunar research station.
At Tuesday’s conference, Lin and other officials from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China National Space Administration also said that the ILRS initiated by China will be constructed from 2028 to 2035, and approximately 15 scientific satellite missions will be carried out during this period. And from 2036 to 2050, China will launch over 30 space science missions.
Image credit: CCTV/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Planetary exploration
As for planetary exploration objectives, China will also carry out asteroid exploration, work towards sample return missions on Mars, and press ahead with further planetary exploration in the solar system.
On the books are launchings of Tianwen-2, Tianwen-3, and Tianwen-4 in the future.
Tianwen-2 will deliver samples from asteroids. Tianwen-3 will retrieve samples from Mars. Tianwen-4 is designed to study Jupiter and its satellites and probe the space and internal structure of Jupiter, Yang said.
Starship’s fifth flight test launched on Sunday, October 13. The fifth flight test of Starship took another step towards full and rapid reusability.
The primary objectives of the test flight were met: the first ever return to launch site and catch of the Super Heavy booster; another Starship reentry and landing burn, and an on-target, soft splashdown of Starship in the Indian Ocean.
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
For mission replay, go to:
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-5
