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The goal of planetary protection is to control, to the degree possible, the biological cross-contamination of planetary bodies.

A recently released National Academies of Science (NAS) report — Assessment of the Report of NASA’s Planetary Protection Independent Review Board (2020) – took a hard look at the observations of a NASA-charted Planetary Protection Independent Review Board (PPIRB).

The new Academies report flagged several areas of concern, such as commercial and private groups exploring and utilizing Mars. There is need, the report notes, “to clarify the legal and regulatory framework applicable to private-sector space activities that implicate planetary protection.”

Wanted: standard template

One of the report’s recommendations is that NASA should undertake the following actions:

• Develop a broad-based, representative advisory process to inform the development of planetary protection policy for small, low-cost spacecraft;
• Identify, fund, and complete research and development priorities related to small, low-cost spacecraft (e.g., on analyzing base costs for planetary protection compliance and on crafting a standard planetary protection template);
• Clarify the legal and regulatory environment for small, low-cost spacecraft used in missions that are not subject to agreements or contracts with NASA; and
• Record, analyze, and communicate the lessons learned from specific small, low-cost spacecraft missions in order to inform the development and implementation of the new approach to planetary protection policy.
• 

  Credit: Elon Musk/SpaceX

Legal and regulatory guide

NASA should work with other agencies of the U.S. government, especially the Federal Aviation Administration, the new reports explains, to produce a legal and regulatory guide for private-sector actors planning space activities that implicate planetary protection but that do not involve NASA participation.

The guide should clearly identify where legal authority for making decisions about planetary protection issues resides, how the United States translates its obligations under the United Nations Outer Space Treaty into planetary protection requirements for non-governmental missions, what legal rules apply to private-sector actors planning missions with planetary protection issues, and what authoritative sources of information are available to private-sector actors that want more guidance on legal and regulatory questions.

Bad-boy Beresheet

Spotlighted both in the new Academies report and by the (PPIRB) is Israel’s Beresheet lunar mission.

Built by SpaceIL, an Israeli nonprofit organization, and launched by SpaceX, this commercial lunar lander that subsequently crashed on the Moon, carried a variety of payloads, including a laser retroreflector experiment supplied by NASA via an agreement with the Israeli Space Agency.

However, unbeknownst to SpaceIL, SpaceX, or NASA (which also provided tracking and communications support), another payload aboard Beresheet contained undisclosed organisms and, possibly, other biological materials.

As such, this was a clear case of a payload owner not providing the launch operator or NASA with full information about the payload’s biological content. The Academies report addresses the implications of the SpaceIL incident “because the incident connects to persistent questions about the legal authority and rules applicable to private sector space activities conducted with or without NASA participation that implicate planetary protection.”

Problems persist

A finding of the new report: “Problems persist with whether and how U.S. federal law regulates private-sector space activities for planetary protection purposes concerning launch, on-orbit, and re-entry activities.”

These problems create challenges for U.S. compliance with the United Nations Outer Space Treaty’s obligations concerning the authorization and continual supervision of activities of non-governmental entities “and also undermine the private sector’s need for a transparent and efficient legal and regulatory framework to support expanding of private sector exploration and uses of space,” the report adds.

Humans to Mars

Regarding the human exploration of Mars, the report explains that, although NASA recognizes that existing planetary protection policy is inappropriate for human missions to Mars, “it has not developed a strategy for producing practical planetary protection measures for such human missions. The lack of a strategy stems, in large measure, from the fact that NASA has not conducted the research and development needed to build the scientific and technological foundation for planetary protection measures designed specifically for human missions to Mars.”

The new report recommends that NASA should make the development and execution of a strategy to guide the adoption of planetary protection policy for human missions to Mars a priority.

Independent advisory body

Furthermore, the report recommends that NASA should establish a new, permanent, and independent advisory body formally authorized to provide NASA with information and formulate advice from representatives of the full range of stakeholders relevant to, or affected by, planetary protection policy.

To read the full report — Assessment of the Report of NASA’s Planetary Protection Independent Review Board — go to:

https://www.nap.edu/download/25773

 

 

China’s new-generation manned spaceship (unscrewed) successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 8, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The return capsule successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site at 1:49 p.m. (Beijing Time) Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

After reentry in the Earth’s atmosphere and reached the designated altitude, two deceleration parachutes were deployed followed by three main parachutes from the return capsule. Before touching down, the vehicle deployed six airbags to cushion the capsule’s landing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For videos, go to:

https://youtu.be/Gc4suHaExQE

Credit: XinhuaVideo

https://youtu.be/__EXYYl3IlI

Credit: CCTV Video News Agency

Also, go to this CCTV 13 video at:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1259115041317683201

The return capsule of China’s experimental manned spacecraft with no crew safely landed at the Dongfeng landing site in the desert of north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 13:49 Beijing Time (05:49 GMT), according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO).

China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the search team quickly found the reusable capsule and confirmed that its structure was intact.

The new manned spaceship can be used in the operation of China’s space station and future human exploration of the Moon, Chinese space officials said.

The new spaceship is 30 feet (nine meters) high, with a maximum diameter of 15 feet (4.5 meters). It can hold six to seven astronauts.

New-generation craft

The re-entry capsule, together with a service module that forms the new-generation spacecraft, weighing more than 20 tons, were sent into space by China’s new large carrier rocket Long March-5B, which blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the coast of southern China’s island province of Hainan at 18:00 Beijing Time on Tuesday.

Following the instructions from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, the experimental spaceship applied the brake and entered the return orbit at 12:21, and its return capsule separated with its service capsule at 13:33.

The experimental spaceship flew in orbit for two days and 19 hours, during which it carried out a series of space science and technology experiments, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

 

Human lunar exploration

“The success of the test indicates that China has made a major progress in manned space transportation technology,” said Wang Zhonggui, deputy chief designer of China’s manned space program in a CCTV interview.

The return capsule uses 12 monopropellant-powered engines which are applied for the first time in China to make the capsule safer and reusable.

“The test has made technological preparations for the following manned lunar exploration and other space missions and has opened a new chapter in the annals of China’s space program,” Wang added.

According to the China Global Television Network (CGTV), the new spaceship is reusable. “It only needs changes to its thermal-protective coating and its protective cap of docking devices before re-launching again. A modular design can ensure the re-entry capsule is compatible with bigger service modules for a mission even to the Moon.”

Key technologies

The mission tested the key technologies of the new spaceship such as the control of its re-entry into the atmosphere, heat shielding and recovery technology.

“The ground control center calculated accurately the orbit of the spaceship and the control parameters of its re-entry into the atmosphere. The reentry control precision is very high, well within the anticipated range,” said Sun Jun, head of the survey and control team of the Long March-5B maiden flight mission.

Star sensors, computers and other high-value equipment were moved from the service capsule to the return capsule so that they can be recycled after returning to Earth.

CCTV landing video at:

https://youtu.be/zpm05o0g288?list=PLpGTA7wMEDFjz0Zx93ifOsi92FwylSAS3

Also go to this CCTV/China National Space Administration (CNSA) video at:

https://youtu.be/psEWjY2GnlI?list=PLpGTA7wMEDFjz0Zx93ifOsi92FwylSAS3

 

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2757 duties.

A second try at drilling the “Glasgow” target proved successful creating the 26th drill hole on Mars!

“It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a little over a month since we drilled our last sample ‘Edinburgh.’ Curiosity is certainly making quick progress in the ‘Glen Torridon’ region,” reports Vivian Sun, Planetary Geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Drill campaign sequence

The focus of a newly scripted two-sol plan (Sols 2756-2757) is portion characterization, which is the next step in the rover’s drill campaign sequence.

This portion characterization step consists of Curiosity’s arm dropping a few portions of drill powder onto a surface, Sun adds, with the robot’s Mastcam imaging before and after to check the drilled sample before delivering it to Chemistry & Mineralogy X-Ray Diffraction/X-Ray Fluorescence Instrument (CheMin) and the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite.

“Aside from this important and exciting activity, the team also planned a variety of remote sensing activities to study the rocks and environment around Glasgow,” Sun says.

Nodular bedrock

Curiosity’s Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) will be observing two targets on nodular bedrock, “Polwarth” and “Rob Roy Way,” which may give researchers insight into how these rocks interacted with water.

Another two targets, “Valsgarth” and “Lunnain,” are located on less nodular portions of bedrock, and will help scientists characterize the typical composition of the rocks at the drill site.

ChemCam’s final observation in this plan is a long-distance image of “Puffin,” which is a nodular crossbedded portion of the pediment cap.

Environmental observations

“A number of Mastcam images and mosaics are planned, including a large mosaic of a trough feature that continues the coverage from a mosaic in the previous plan,” Sun explains. “Part of this Mastcam mosaic will also expand high-resolution imaging of our workspace, which will help us target higher-resolution features in future plans.”

A Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) image is also to be acquired, and will serve as the baseline image for future change-detection observations while the rover is parked at the Glasgow drill site.

“Rounding out our plan is a suite of environmental observations aimed at characterizing local atmospheric conditions,” Sun concludes, “especially now that we’re entering the season where dust activity may be picking up.”

China’s experimental new-generation piloted spaceship is working normally in orbit according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

The experimental spaceship was launched Tuesday evening without crew by China’s new large carrier rocket Long March-5B from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the coast of south China’s island province of Hainan.

The craft has adjusted its orbit six times autonomously as of 9:00 Thursday.

Landing site

The new manned spacecraft is designed to adapt to multiple tasks including low-Earth orbit missions and deep-space exploration. The spacecraft comprises a service capsule and a return capsule.

The mission will test the key technologies of the new spaceship such as the control of its re-entry into the atmosphere, heat shielding and recovery technology, according to the China Academy of Space Technology under the CASC.

It is scheduled to touch down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday, according to Ji Qiming, an assistant to the director of the China Manned Space Agency.

Data transmission

During the flight of the spacecraft, a “time-triggered Ethernet system” completed the verification of clock synchronization, multi-source data sampling, and high-definition image transmission, thus realizing the high-speed transmission of inter-system data. This is the first time for China to carry out a space test of this technology.

“The results have met the mission’s expectations. First, we have reached the gigabit level in terms of speed. Second, compared to the previous task, the bandwidth used this time is one megabyte, which means that we have improved the performance of the traditional data bus by 1000 times,” said Lin Yue, chief designer of the information network carrier system of the 502 Institute under the Fifth Academy of the CASC.

Local area network

The time-triggered Ethernet system will be mainly used in large and complex spacecraft in the future, equivalent to the establishment of a high-speed local area network.

In the future, if the high-speed local area network is used in China’s space station, all the household appliances can be controlled with only one controller, thus forming an intelligent spacecraft information system similar to the smart home.

“The astronauts, for example, can control all the facilities on the spacecraft with a PAD (tablet personal computer), which greatly reduces the pressure on the crew and system design,” said Lin.

3D printing system

Also onboard the new-generation vehicle is a 3D printing system making use of composite materials inside the reentry capsule of the experimental spacecraft.

Independently developed by China, CCTV reports, the 3D printer automatically completed the task of printing two samples during space flight, confirming the scientific research purpose of 3D printing composite materials in microgravity environment.

As noted by the China Academy of Space Technology Corporation (CAST), continuous fiber-reinforced composite material is the main material for spacecraft structure in the world. 3D printing technologies will pave the way for further construction of China’s space station and offer prospective research and technical test data.

“The first goal is to support the in-orbit long-term manned operation and maintenance of the space station. The second goal is to support the in-orbit expansion of our space station,” said CAST’s Qi Junfeng, person in charge of the space 3D printing system.

Malfunctioning reentry vehicle

Meanwhile, an experimental spacecraft — the Flexible Inflatable Cargo Reentry Vehicle – that was launched on the maiden flight of the Long March 5B carrier rocket malfunctioned as it returned to the Earth on Wednesday afternoon, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The reentry vehicle was scheduled to touch down by parachute at the Dongfeng Landing Site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region at the end of its 19-hour space trip.

China Daily reports that there were malfunctions during the re-entry process and experts are analyzing available data, the CMSA said in a brief statement, without giving details. The space vehicle, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, was to perform a re-entry test to examine a new concept in bringing in-space cargo back to Earth.

Go to this informative video about this new stepping stone for China’s space program at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxsSiDZW5K0

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2756 tasks.

New imagery of the robot’s drilling efforts at the “Glasgow” target:

The next X-37B robotic space plane is scheduled to launch on May 16 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

One experiment onboard the craft will transform solar power into radio frequency microwave energy which could then be transmitted to the ground.

In an announcement released today, the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with the U.S. Space Force, will hurl the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-6)  into Earth orbit on a sixth mission.

The X-37B remains a Department of the Air Force asset; however, the U.S. Space Force is responsible for the launch, on-orbit operations, and landing.

More experiments

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett explains in the press statement: “Demonstrating the department’s innovation, this X-37B mission will host more experiments than any prior missions. This launch also demonstrates the department’s collaboration that pushes the boundaries for reusable space systems.”

This will be the first X-37B mission to use a service module to host experiments. The service module is an attachment to the aft of the vehicle that allows additional experimental payload capability to be carried to orbit.

Big step

“This sixth mission is a big step for the X-37B program,” adds Randy Walden, Director and Program Executive Officer for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.

“This will be the first X-37B mission to use a service module to host experiments. The incorporation of a service module on this mission enables us to continue to expand the capabilities of the spacecraft and host more experiments than any of the previous missions.”

On-orbit experiments

This flight of the X-37B will deploy the FalconSat-8, a small satellite developed by the U.S. Air Force Academy and sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory to conduct several experiments on orbit.

The FalconSat-8 is an educational platform that will carry five experimental payloads for USAFA to operate.

In addition, two NASA experiments will be included to study the results of radiation and other space effects on a materials sample plate and seeds used to grow food.

In addition, a U.S. Naval Research Laboratory experiment will transform solar power into radio frequency microwave energy which could then be transmitted to the ground.

 

 

Length of mission?

There is no word on how long the space plane will operate in Earth orbit.

The X-37B program completed its fifth mission in October 2019, landing after 780 days on orbit, extending the total number of days spent on orbit for the program to 2,865 – or seven years and 10 months.

This new space plane mission – USSF-7 — will roar skyward atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster.

Milestone-setting space plane

Here’s a roster of the milestone-setting missions as told to Inside Outer Space by Major Will Russell, U.S. Space Force spokesperson.

OTV-1 launched on April 22, 2010 and landed on December 3, 2010, spending over 224 days on orbit. 

OTV-2 launched on March 5,  2011 and landed on June 16, 2012, spending over 468 days on orbit.

OTV-3 launched on December 11, 2012 and landed on October 17, 2014, spending over 674 days on-orbit.

OTV-4 launched on May 20, 2015 and landed on May 7, 2015, spending nearly 718 days on-orbit.

OTV-5 launched on September 7, 2017 and landed on October 27, 2019, spending nearly 780 days on-orbit. 

The first four missions launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida thanks to an an Atlas-V booster.

The fifth mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher.

 

OTV-1, OTV-2, and OTV-3 missions landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, while the OTV-4 and OTV-5 missions landed at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Total time on orbit for all five previous missions is 2,865 days – or 7 years and 10 months, Russell adds.

 

Power-beaming experimentation

The X-37B testing of power beaming continues a research program underway by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).

A power-beaming demonstration in orbit has already taken place onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

A NRL power-beaming demo took place in mid-February, facilitated by ISS astronaut Jessica Meir. A device converted electromagnetic waves into electric current on the orbiting outpost.

Meir showed how NRL’s LEctenna™, a light-emitting rectifying antenna, converted a wireless network signal, similar to home networks, into electric power. While the current that was produced and the light emitted was a small amount, the setup proved the concept in space.

 

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2755 tasks.

A minor issue with the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) instrument caused rover arm activities to stop prior to drilling at the “Glasgow” target. However, new imagery shows that issue resolved and drilling appears to have taken place.

Lauren Edgar, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center, reports that a plan for Sols 2754-2755 is devoted to drilling, and the second sol is packed with remote sensing activities.

Trough feature

“On the second sol, the remote sensing activities start with a Navcam dust devil movie and dust devil survey, and Navcam line-of-sight observation to monitor dust in the atmosphere,” Edgar reports. “Then Mastcam will take a multispectral observation of the drill hole, followed by a Mastcam mosaic of a trough feature to document surface processes.”

The robot’s Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) has a number of activities including observations of the bedrock targets “Marygold” and “Murra,” a Remote Micro-Imager (RMI) z-stack observation of the drill hole to help with future targeting, and a ChemCam pointing test, Edgar adds.

“Mastcam will also document the ChemCam targets,” Edgar concludes. “Fingers crossed for a good day on Mars to see those new drill hole images!”

 

China’s Long March-5B rocket was launched on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (Beijing time) from the Wenchang Space Launch Site. The booster hurled into space a test model of the country’s new crewed spaceship.

The rocket is the fourth variant of the Long March-5 (LM-5) series and offers the most boost power in the Long March series. It can deliver no less than 22 tons of payload into low-Earth orbit.

Booster differences

As reported by the China Global Television Network (CGTN), the biggest difference between LM-5 and 5B is that the 5B only has one and a half stages compared to two of the LM-5.

The “half stage” consists of four 3.35-meter-diameter boosters attached to the core stage.

With the modification applied, the 5B became three meters shorter and about 20 tons lighter than the LM-5. The rocket is nearly 54 meters in height, about the size of the 18-story building.

The lack of additional stages makes it harder to be launched to the correct height, CGTN adds. “Since it can only be ignited once, there’s no way to re-maneuver it after the initial launch. Everything has to be perfect.”

The engines of the rocket are also new models. Two YF-77 hydrogen oxygen engines were installed in the core stage, and two YF-100 kerosene and liquid oxygen engines were installed for each of the four boosters.

New spaceship

China’s new-generation spaceship is nine meters long and can hold as many as seven astronauts. In this test mission the craft did not carry a crew.

The ship will stay in space for two days making multiple automatic orbit maneuvers, CGTN reports. The new ship is reusable thanks to its modular design. The thermal-protective coating and be reapplied after being burned-out during re-entry.

China’s Xinhua news agency reports that the successful flight inaugurated the “third step” of China’s manned space program, which is to construct a space station, citing the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

After the booster’s liftoff, about 488 seconds later, the experimental manned spacecraft with no crew, together with the test version of the cargo return capsule, separated with the rocket and entered the planned orbit, according to CMSA. Also onboard, more than 10 other experimental craft, the agency said in a statement.

The successful maiden flight verified the design of the rocket. A series of technological breakthroughs have been achieved such as the separation of the large fairing and the payloads in space and the precise control of the rocket to enter orbit directly with high thrust, laying the foundation for constructing China’s space station, CMSA said.

The successful launch is also a good indication that China’s Mars 2020 Mission will fly on schedule this year.

Danish space architects are building and plan to test this year a Moon home for everyone.

Two members of the design team will live for three months (91 days) in a Moon analogue habitat to be positioned in the Arctic, Greenland.

The project is dubbed LUNARK, developed by SAGA Space Architects in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their design for a lunar dwelling combines the ancient Japanese art of paper folding with the method of biomimicry. The result is a lightweight and strong foldable structure.

The challenge the architects took on is translating origami into thicker panels that can still fold. The final hinge design is a compliant mechanism is lightweight, strong, airtight, and simple to manufacture and to maintain.

“We want to understand with our own bodies, what is truly important when living in isolation under these extreme conditions,” explains Karl-Johan Sørensen. His expedition team member, Sebastian Aristotelis adds: “50 years ago we survived on the Moon, this time we want to live on the Moon. We use the arctic as the most realistic test site for the future Moon house.”

Monotony, claustrophobia and psychological stress

Previous research shows that lack of stimuli, isolation, and confinement will become major challenges for the long-term voyages of the future.

This experiment, the architects contend, will develop and test a radically different Moon habitat where architecture helps to counteract monotony, claustrophobia and psychological stress.

The group is developing a complete digital model which connects all the habitat’s systems (eg. life support, heat, water, electricity), along with embedded sensors. The goal is to be able to predict maintenance or risks through simple artificial intelligence so 3D print replacement parts can be produced before they break.

Circadian rhythms

A circadian simulator is on the agenda to develop and test. This system would counter sleep disruptions and out-of-sync circadian rhythms that make astronauts lethargic and unproductive. This simulator would bathe the habitat’s inside in slowly changing hues and luminosities over the day; bright in the morning to wake an individual up, and glowing in nuances of pink and orange as the person goes to sleep.

Also under development is a weather simulator. The habitat designers consider the lack of novelty as another key challenge for long term space habitation. So instead of living in a pod where every day is the same, you might one day wake up to a stormy day, or a rainbow of color. The architects believe this might be a key to breaking the monotony of space.

Within the core of the habitat, an algae reactor is to be placed, a unit that is resilient, highly photosynthetic, provides nutritious rations, and can absorb cosmic radiation.

Habitat structure

To energize the habitat’s functions, monocrystalline solar cell-laden panels are integrated within the skin of the structure yielding 2.5 kilowatts of power.

The habitat is equipped with two individual sound insulated crew cabins, to strengthen the sense of privacy in the small habitat.

The habitat structure has two main segments – the steel frame and the composite Origami vessel. These two segments are attached to each other and allow the Habitat to be both flexible when deploying and rigid and stable throughout the mission.

The steel structure carries the entire habitat on three angled legs. Height-adjustable feet at the three support points ensure that the habitat is stable regardless of the site topography, and wind conditions. The legs attach to two inlaid structural rings that stiffen the origami and carry all the loads from the habitat’s interior. This means that the floor, sleeping cabins, etc. aren’t carried by the origami, but attach directly to the structural rings.

 Greenland gotchas

Isolated and confined in one of the harshest climates on Earth, the habitat’s occupants will endure -30°C as well as hurricane winds.

Team members make note that on the Moon, there is a risk of being hit by a meteor. In Greenland, you might get hit by a polar bear. The habitat must withstand a curious and weighty polar bear. Furthermore, the habitat must leave no trace and recycle as much waste as possible.

The habitat is to be situated around Dundas, 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Thule in northern Greenland.

The LUNARK project has already received corporate support, but are on the lookout for more sponsors. To boost their efforts, a Kickstarter campaign is to be unveiled on May 5^th at:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sagaspacearchitects/lunark-building-and-testing-a-moon-home-for-everyone

For more details on SAGA Space Architects and its LUNARK initiative, go to:

https://lunark.space/

Also, go to this informative video at:

https://vimeo.com/353525132