Oklahoma Space Allianceosa.nss.org/1711 Whats Happening.pdf · 2017-11-11 · Oklahoma Space...
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Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 1 of 18 November 2017 Quote of the Month “People will learn to live in space and on strange worlds. They will sail and dance among the stars nurturing and spreading the songs of life, the laughter of children and the joy of being through the universe.’’ Stephen Swift President of Oklahoma Space Alliance Dancing Among the Stars, 2012 Western Veil Nebula A Chapter of The [email protected] National Space Society 405 496 3616 Oklahoma Space Alliance
Transcript of Oklahoma Space Allianceosa.nss.org/1711 Whats Happening.pdf · 2017-11-11 · Oklahoma Space...
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 1 of 18
November 2017 Quote of the Month
“People will learn to live in space and on strange worlds. They will sail and dance among the stars nurturing and spreading the songs of life, the laughter of children and the joy of being through the universe.’’
Stephen Swift President of Oklahoma Space Alliance
Dancing Among the Stars, 2012
Western Veil Nebula
A Chapter of The [email protected]
National Space Society 405 496 3616
Oklahoma Space Alliance
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 2 of 18
Table of Contents
Quote of the Month .................................................................................................................................... 1
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 2
SpaceX Ties ULA’s Launch Record ................................................................................................................. 3
Space Grown Veggies................................................................................................................................... 4
50 Kilometer Cave on the Moon Confrimed.................................................................................................. 5
ULA Launches Reconasiance Satellite ........................................................................................................... 6
Blue Origin Testfires BE4 Engine ................................................................................................................... 7
Bigelow and ULA Plan Orbital Moon base by 2022 ....................................................................................... 8
Interest in EmDrive Is Gaining Momentum ................................................................................................... 9
Orbital ATK Minotaur C Launches SkySat ................................................................................................... 10
MIT Mars City Concept .............................................................................................................................. 11
Senate Committee Advances Bridenstine Nomination ................................................................................ 12
New Merlin Engine Explodes During Test ................................................................................................... 13
Significant Space News in Past 6 Years ....................................................................................................... 14
Movers and Shakers .................................................................................................................................. 15
Favorite Quotes ......................................................................................................................................... 16
News and Events ....................................................................................................................................... 17
That’s All Folks .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 3 of 18
Oklahoma Space Alliance
What’s Happening
November 2017 Copyright © 2017 Oklahoma Space Alliance Editor Stephen Swift
405-496-3616
The Oklahoma Space Alliance What’s Happening is a presentation in each monthly meeting of the Oklahoma Space Alliance. Oklahoma Space Alliance is a chapter of the National Space Society, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The address of OSA is 102 W. Linn, #1, Norman, OK 73071. Unless otherwise noted, all contents of articles herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of anyone but the editor or the originating source. Reprint rights are granted to chapters of NSS and to any non-profit organization for education or information purposes only provided credit is given.
.OSA 2017 http://nsschapters.org/ok/osanss.html
President & Stephen Swift
Update Editor
405-496-3616
Vice President & David Sheely
Chapters Representative
405-821-9077
Secretary & Syd Henderson
Outreach Editor
405-321-4027(H)
405-365-8983(C)
Treasurer Tim Scott
405-740-7549(H)
NSS Region Claire McMurray
405-329-4326(H)
405-863-9173(C)
NSS Headquarters 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 500
Washington DC 20005 Exec Director TBD
[email protected] 202-429-1600
SpaceX Ties ULA’s Launch Record
Falcon9 Launch of Koreasat-5A
SpaceX’s Oct. 30 launch of the Koreasat-5A telecommunications satellite doubled the number of Falcon 9 missions completed in a single year and ties the company with United Launch Alliance’s record of 16 launches in one year.
See article at http://spacenews.com/spacex-ties-ulas-annual-launch-record-with-16th-launch-this-year/.
See launch and landing video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lukpi5oDjD0.
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Space Grown Veggies
NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 3 November 2017
“VEG-03 Science Harvest: The crew cut one to three leaves from each plant for consumption and then preserved them in foil and inserted them into cold stowage for science data.
The remainder of the plants will be left to grow and sprout new leaves. The Veg-03 investigation uses the Veggie plant growth facility to cultivate a type of cabbage, lettuce and mizuna which are harvested on-orbit with samples returned to Earth for testing.”
See article at http://spaceref.com/international-space-station/nasa-space-station-on-orbit-status-3-november-2017---space-grown-veggies.html.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 5 of 18
50 Kilometer Cave on the Moon Confrimed
Earth from the Moon. View from Apollo 11, July 1969. Credit NASA
“This week scientists at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) confirmed the presence of a cave after examining the hole using radio waves.
The chasm, 50km (31 miles) long and 100 meters wide, appears to be structurally sound and its rocks may contain ice or water deposits that could be turned into fuel, according to data sent back by the orbiter, nicknamed Kaguya after the moon princess in a Japanese fairytale.”
See article at https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/19/lunar-cave-discovery-raises-hopes-for-human-colonisation-of-moon.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 6 of 18
ULA Launches Reconasiance Satellite
Screenshot of Atlas V Launch on Oct. 15, 2017
See article at https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/10/ula-atlas-v-nrol-52-launch-cape-canaveral/.
See launch video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbhHR3DbuPY.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 7 of 18
Blue Origin Testfires BE4 Engine
BE-4 engine hot-fire test. Photo Credit: Blue Origin
“Blue Origin is moving forward with its rocket development program, hot-firing a 550,000-pound-force (2,446.5-kilonewton) thrust liquid natural gas / liquid oxygen BE-4 engine at its facility in Texas this week. The hot-fire test is an important milestone for Blue Origin, as they plan to use the engine on their New Glenn rocket and are contenders for placing the engine on the new United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan launch vehicle.” Read more at http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/blue-origin/blue-origin-conducts-first-hot-fire-test-be-4-engine/#bB0RqOi3QhxCADCG.99
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 8 of 18
Bigelow and ULA Plan Orbital Moon base by 2022
An illustration of the proposed lunar depot, using a Bigelow Aerospace B330 module and launched by United Launch Alliance using its Vulcan rocket and ACES
upper stage. Credit: Bigelow Aerospace
“Bigelow Aerospace and United Launch Alliance said Oct. 17 that they are cooperating on the development of a habitat orbiting the moon that they hope to build in a public-private partnership with NASA.”
See article at http://spacenews.com/bigelow-and-ula-announce-plans-for-lunar-orbiting-facility/.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 9 of 18
Interest in EmDrive Is Gaining Momentum
Abstract image credit: Wall Street Pit
“The Electromagnetic Drive, or EmDrive, is a space engine that runs on propellant-less thruster technology. It is touted to have the potential to cut travel time through space, particularly to Mars and more ambitiously with interstellar travels. The engine was designed by British scientist Roger Shawyer back in 2001. Yet, 16 years later, the EmDrive remains a controversial subject within the scientific community with many physicists dismissing the theoretical propulsion system to the world of pseudoscience.”
An alternative view of quantum mechanics (the Pilot Wave Theory) offers a basis for the EmDrive.
See article at http://wallstreetpit.com/114322-physics-defying-emdrive-thruster-remains-mystery/.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 10 of 18
Orbital ATK Minotaur C Launches SkySat
Screenshot of Minotaur C Launch on October 31, 2017
“Orbital ATK’s Taurus-XL rocket – now renamed Minotaur-C – returned to flight on Tuesday with a commercial mission deploying ten satellites for Planet Labs, six and a half years after its last launch ended in failure. Liftoff took place from Vandenberg Air Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 576E (SLC-576E) at 14:37 local time (21:37 UTC).”
See article at https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/10/orbital-atk-minotaur-c-skysat-mission-vandenberg/.
See video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O65NBjeWf-U.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 11 of 18
MIT Mars City Concept
An MIT team won first place for urban design with the Redwood Forest, a series of woodsy habitats enclosed in open, public domes that would reside on the Martian
surface. Credit: MIT
“At first glance, the MIT habitats don't look very tree-like. They look more like giant glass balls sitting on the Martian plains, each housing 50 people. But, like real trees, much of the habitat is below the surface in the form of intricate tunnels that connect the spheres and provide protection from cold, radiation, micrometeorites, and other surface hazards. “
See article at https://newatlas.com/mars-city-design-redwood-forest/52018/.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 12 of 18
Senate Committee Advances Bridenstine Nomination
Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) at his Nov. 1 confirmation hearing to become
NASA administrator. The Senate Commerce Committee voted on party lines Nov. 8
to advance his nomination to the full Senate. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
“WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee voted strictly upon party lines Nov. 8 to send the nomination of Jim Bridenstine as NASA administrator to the full Senate for confirmation.
The committee, during an executive session where it approved several other nominations and legislation not related to NASA, voted 14–13 to favorably report Bridenstine’s nomination. All 14 Republicans on the committee voted in favor of the nomination, and all 13 Democrats voted against it in a roll call vote.”
See article at http://spacenews.com/senate-committee-advances-bridenstine-nomination-on-a-party-line-vote/.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 13 of 18
New Merlin Engine Explodes During Test
Testing of a SpaceX Merlin engine Image: SpaceX
“On November 4, one of SpaceX’s rocket engines exploded during a test at the company’s facility in McGregor, Texas — and now it’s investigating what happened, The Washington Post reported. The mishap occurred during a “qualification test” of a Merlin engine meant to be used during a Falcon 9 launch in late 2018. SpaceX says that no one was injured during the event and that it shouldn’t affect the company’s launches moving forward.”
See article at https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/8/16624022/spacex-merlin-rocket-engine-failure-mcgregor-texas-falcon-9.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 14 of 18
Significant Space News in Past 6 Years
The following is based on OSA presentations and represents the opinions of
retiring OSA president Stephen Swift.
New Shepard Landing Falcon 9 Landing on Barge at Sea
The most significant development during the past 6 years is the landing and reuse of booster rockets. Blue Origin reused the same suborbital New Shepard 4 times. SpaceX landed and reused orbital Falcon 9 first stages. These events open the way for dramatically reduced launch costs.
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Movers and Shakers
The following individuals made outstanding contributions to space and future space settlement:
Elon Musk founder, chairman and chief technology officer of SpaceX.
Jeff Bezos founder and CEO of Amazon and Blue Origin.
Jim Bridenstine Congresman & author of American Space Rennisance Act.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 16 of 18
Favorite Quotes
“I want to die on Mars just not on impact.” Elon Musk
“…there will be some who will not fear even that void (space)…” Johannes Kepler, April 19, 1610
“The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn’t have a space program.” Larry Niven
“You cannot always be first, but you can be excellent.” Dr. Mae Jemison
“…We are either a multi-planet species out there exploring the stars, or we are a single planet species waiting around for some eventual extinction event.” Elon Musk
“All else in the physical universe is mechanics of particles, dust, immense masses and forces, but life brings value, awareness and the joy of being into the universe. Humankind lives, loves, and creates, and as with all living things, sings the songs of life and dances where before there was only dust… Humanity’s role is to recognize the value of life including our own and to lead the way for life to flourish and spread through the stars.” Stephen Swift
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 17 of 18
News and Events
Last Space Shuttle Flight.
Curiosity Rover Landing on Mars.
Commercial Cargo Program supported by SpaceX and Orbital Sciences.
Commercial Crew Program Awarded to SpaceX and Boeing.
Recognition that Billions of Earth Like Planets Exist.
Emergence of 3D Printing.
Eight Orbital Launches in 6 Days—March 25-31, 2015.
Bigelow BEAM Module Installed on ISS.
SpaceX Selected for PAD 39A Lease.
Rosetta Intercepts Comet & Philae Probe Lands.
Oklahoma Space Alliance November 2017 Page 18 of 18
That’s All Folks
