The Space Resource Newsletter - January 2020
The surface of the farside of the Moon, taken by the Chinese Yutu-2 rover. Credit: CNSA; Doug Ellison.
Welcome to The Space Resource monthly newsletter for January 2020. A satellite near miss, Artemis updates, the year of Mars, and the first Vatira asteroid found.
🚨🚨 The inaugural The Space Resource Report was published! We highlighted the major developments surrounding space resources in 2019, covering the science, technology, business, and policy developments that will invigorate humanity’s expansion into space. Check it out here.
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Asteroids
First asteroid found inside the orbit of Venus. Asteroids within the orbit of Earth are classified as Atiras, where objects within Venus’ orbit are called Vatira. This asteroid, named 2020 AV2, is the only Vatira known so far. The ZTF telescope identified 2020 AV2 during its Twilight program, which aims to find Atiras asteroids. Due to being close to the sun, Atiras are only visible during dusk and dawn. Link.
OSIRIS-REx scouted sample collection location. Flying as close as 620 meters from the surface of asteroid Bennu, OSIRIS-REx collected data about the Nightingale site. Boulders and craters on the surface were cataloged, which will eventually allow the autonomous navigation system to safely collect samples from the surface. A similar flyby will occur for backup site Osprey in early February. OSIRIS-REx will return for Earth in early 2021.
Cislunar
Near-collision between two defunct satellites. LeoLabs detected a large infrared space telescope and a cold war era US spy satellite were on a collision course. Over a span of a few days, collision probabilities ranged from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 20. While the two satellites did not collide, this situation illustrates the dire need for active debris removal systems, and the need for all future spacecraft to have integrated deorbiting mechanisms. Read LeoLabs’ extensive report here.
Tethers Unlimited demonstrated CubeSat deorbit tether. A 70 meters (230 feet) metal tape was deployed from a CubeSat, where it interacted with Earth’s magnetic field to create drag, ultimately causing the CubeSat to deorbit 24 times quicker than without it. This is a low cost and low mass approach for accelerating the deorbit of low-Earth orbit CubeSats. Link.
3D printed heart tissue returned from the ISS. A SpaceX Dragon capsule returned from the International Space Station (ISS) with multiple science experiments, a feat only Dragon can perform right now. 3D printing organs in space represents a massive opportunity to provide life-saving capabilities using microgravity. Printing soft tissues, like blood vessels or muscle, is difficult on Earth because gravity makes the soft, easily flowing materials collapse under their own weight. However, microgravity allows these materials to retain the shape and structure as they are printed.
Axiom Space selected to build commercial module for ISS. NASA aims to open the ISS for commercial use. While technical details and reasons for the choice are sparse, Axiom will have access to a docking port for a five year base period, with a two year optional extension. Axiom expects to launch the first module in 2024.
Astronaut is treated for blood clot in space. A blood clot medical expert, Dr. Stephan Moll, aided NASA in dealing with the first blood clot discovered in an astronaut while aboard the ISS. The clot was in the astronaut’s jugular vein (in the neck). To prevent the clot from getting bigger and to reduce the risk of it moving to other parts of the body, blood thinners were used. Ultimately, the astronaut returned to Earth after their six month mission finished. Medical emergencies like this highlight the risk of remote, distant space travel. While help is always nearby for crews on the ISS, the vast distance will restrict help available to future Martian crews. Link.
Mars
China announced that it will launch a Mars rover in July. Capitalizing on the Mars transfer window this year, China will be sending the Huoxing-1 spacecraft to Mars. Launched on the Long March-5 heavy lift rocket, the spacecraft will contain an orbiter and a surface rover. 2020 is the year of Mars, with several other Mars missions scheduled. Link.
Moon
NASA announced first commercial lunar delivery payloads. 16 science experiments and technology demonstrations were selected to be delivered to the Moon’s surface within the Artemis program. Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander will carry 11 payloads and Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander will carry five payloads. Both are scheduled to fly in 2021. These landers are part of the Commercial Lunar Payloads Program (CLPS), which allows 14 companies to bid on delivering NASA payloads to the lunar surface. Read more about the payloads here.
Data archive released for Chang’e 4 mission. The Ground Research and Application System (GRAS) of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Project released many high-res images from the Yutu-2 rover as it traversed the farside of the Moon. View some processed images by Doug Ellison, the engineering camera team lead for the Curiosity rover.
The NASA VIPER was tested in lunar conditions. VIPER is a golf cart sized rover that will explore the Moon’s South Pole, surveying regolith for water ice. This mission is part of the Artemis program, aiming to sustainably return humans to the Moon. The mobility system of VIPER was a key component tested, ensuring it can traverse conditions similar to those on the Moon. Link.
India planning another Moon landing with Chandrayaan-3. Despite the crash of the Vikram lander into the lunar surface during the Chandrayaan-2 mission, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is determined to land on the Moon’s surface. At an estimated cost of $35 million, Chandrayaan-3 will include a lunar lander and surface rover. Launch is expected for late 2020 or early 2021.
Terrestrial
NASA announces latest class of graduating astronauts. Six women and seven men have completed an extensive two year training program. The new graduates may join a future Artemis mission to the Moon, and eventually, missions to Mars. Link.
SpaceX successfully performs launch escape test. In the worst case scenario of a Falcon 9 exploding during the launch of a crewed mission, the Dragon capsule carrying astronauts would perform an emergency ejection from the booster. This procedure was tested using test dummies. As planned, the Dragon capsule escaped from the booster and parachuted into the Atlantic Ocean. This successful demonstration means that SpaceX can launch their first crewed mission to the ISS. Link.
SLS core stage transported to Stennis for testing. The NASA Space Launch System (SLS) is currently scheduled to launch Artemis payloads to the Moon starting in 2021. The core stage is a 65 meter by 8 meter wide rocket stage that contains four RS-25 engines (the same type used on the Space Shuttle). All four engines will be tested simultaneously while at Stennis Space Center.
