The Space Resource Newsletter - April 2020
Illustration of the NASA Lunar Flashlight, a 6U CubeSat that will measure the surface ice within permanently shadowed regions at the Moon’s South Pole. Credit: NASA./JPL-Caltech.
Welcome to The Space Resource monthly newsletter for April 2020. NASA selects SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics to build human lunar lander, the US issued an executive order that promotes the utilization of space resources, Artemis based projects continue pace, and CNSA and NASA prepare Mars rovers for July launch.
🚨🚨 Want to learn more about space resources? Checkout The Space Resource Report! 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.
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Asteroids
Synthetic asteroid under development for future in-space test. Kevin Cannon at the University of Florida shared a picture of a softball sized synthetic asteroid he was able to make. This first object provided valuable insight into the techniques used to build one of these asteroids. The synthetic asteroid will provide a test subject similar to a real asteroid, which will be used for evaluating the water extraction process of TransAstra’s Mini Bee mission. The final synthetic asteroid will weigh over 80 kg when launched into space.
Cislunar
US executive order signed that promotes utilization of space resources. Called the Executive Order on Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources, the signed order says that “Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space, consistent with applicable law.” This order builds upon the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 and the Space Directive-1 of 2017. All three provide guidance for how the US views its relation to the Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967 (ratified by the US) and the Moon Agreement of 1979 (not ratified by the US), verifying its commitment to still be bound to the OST. Responses to this order vary from person to person. For space resource focused companies, however, this order is very positive. View the original executive order here.
Mars
NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover undergoing final preparations. The wheels and parachute have been installed and final mass measurements have been made. Once launched atop an Atlas V rocket in July 2020, it will spend about eight months traveling to Mars. Perseverance weights 1025 kg (2260 lb), and will search for signs of past microbial life on Mars. Ultimately, it’s purpose is to pave the way for future human exploration.
Mars Helicopter integrated on Perseverance. Weighing only 1.8 kg (4 lb), the Mars Helicopter will be the first powered aircraft to have flown on another planet. With an atmosphere only 1% as dense as that on Earth, flying a drone on Mars is equivalent to flying at an altitude of 100,000 feet on Earth. Advancing this technology is paving the way for further robotic systems that will provide greater mobility and flexibility for exploring and surveying adverse environments. The helicopter will spend the next year strapped to the Perseverance’s belly until it is ready for deployment (about two months after touchdown). Learn more about the Mars Helicopter’s early development and chief engineer here.
China names their first Mars Lander Tianwen. Translated to “Quest for Heavenly Truth”, Tianwen is scheduled to launch in July for an 8 month journey to Mars. The mission comprises an orbiter, a lander, and a 200 kg solar powered rover. Similar to other Mars rovers, Tianwen will analyse the martian soil and search for biosignatures. If successfully landed, China will be the second country to have landed a rover on Mars.
Moon
NASA awards human lunar lander contracts to SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics. The trio of contractors will now be tasked with developing a lunar landing system by 2024, able to deliver astronauts to the Moon’s surface. SpaceX received $135 million, Blue Origin $579 million, and Dynetics $253 million. While very different, the amount of money awarded is based on what each contractor specified for their deliverables over a 10 month period. After the 10 month period, NASA has the option of down-selecting one of the contractors.
USGS released the first geologic map of the Moon. Called the Unified Geologic Map of the Moon, the digital map summarizes the current state of lunar geologic knowledge. Lunar data from the NASA LRO and JAXA SELENE missions were used to generate the map. The map is set to a 1:5M scale. The USGS has extensive experience assembling terrestrial geologic maps, and a history of partnering with NASA to provide geologic data for NASA missions. Learn more about the map here.
NASA Lunar Flashlight to peer into lunar PSRs. The 6U CubeSat will use multiple lasers to scan permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the Moon’s South Pole for signatures of surface water ice. Four near-infrared wavelength lasers will provide the most accurate measurements performed of these regions to date. This will provide valuable data about the conditions future ice processing systems will need to operate in. Lunar Flashlight is one of 13 secondary payloads aboard the Artemis I mission, which is expected to launch in 2021 aboard an SLS rocket. Learn more about Lunar Flashlight here.
Masten Space Systems selected as first CLPS provider. Masten received the contract to deliver and operate eight payloads to the Moon’s South Pole in 2022. The $75.9 million award includes integration, launch, landing, and surface operation for at least 12 days. All of the instruments included as payloads will provide in-situ measurements that will be valuable for follow-on missions. Read more about the contract and instruments here.
NASA accepting PRISM Request for Information (RFI) for future lunar missions. Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) will help NASA learn what investigations they can integrate with future CLPS deliveries. This RFI will likely expand into funding opportunities for concepts NASA finds relevant. Learn more about the PRISM RFI here.
Terrestrial
SpaceX Starship testing makes progress. SN4 (Serial Number 4) was successfully pressurized to 4.9 bar, which is enough for basic flight and further testing. None of the prior three test vehicles survived their pressurization tests. The next step is to integrate a single Raptor engine on SN4 and perform a static fire test. Pending a successful test, SN4 will perform a flight up to 150 meters. Follow-on development with SN5 is already well underway, and it is expected to use three Raptor engines for performing a higher test flight.
16 new concepts and 7 existing studies receive NIAC funding. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program invests in early stage technology from industry and academic researchers, aiming to increase the technology readiness level (TRL) of them. The 2020 funding round provided $7 million to the 23 winning projects. Several of the concepts are related to Artemis and space resource utilization. A few space resource related studies include creating lunar landing pads via rocket exhaust, a mechanical lunar ice collection process, and an electromagnetic spectrum lunar ice collection process. View the full list of selections here.
NASA announced the first crewed launch aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon. Scheduled for May 27, 2020, this will be the first private company to launch astronauts to space, and the first time the United States has launched astronauts to space since the July 2011 retirement of the Space Shuttle. Two astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, have been selected for this mission. The Dragon capsule has made 15 trips to resupply the ISS since 2012.
