Artemis Day at Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans on December 9. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine shared news that the core stage of Space Launch System (SLS) was ready for testing.
Space Exploration
- Astronauts Continue Repairs on the International Space Station’s Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) Cosmic Ray Detector in Third Spacewalk (Spaceflight Now) – Launched in 2011, NASA is working to extend the $2 billion AMS-02 mission. AMS seeks answers to the composition of dark matter and detection of antimatter in space.
- NASA launching Robotic Tool Stowage (RiTS) ‘robot hotel’ to the International Space Station (phys.org) – RiTS’ first robot resident will be the Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL). RELL’s mass spectrometers can detect leaks from micrometeoroids and could be deployed in future human habitats.
Astronomy | Astrophysics | Cosmology
- Comet 2I/Borisov, the Recently Discovered Interstellar Comet, Swings Past the Sun (NASA) – The second-known interstellar visitor makes its closest approach to Earth in late December. Hubble revealed the comet nucleus is likely less than 3,200 feet in size.
- Oddly Complex Magnetic Fields Discovered in NGC 4631 “Whale Galaxy” Halo (Astronomy.com) – Astronomers have recently managed to image complex 3D magnetic field structures which can span 1,000 light-years.
Interesting Finds
- If you live on Mars, your house might be filled with furniture from IKEA (Fast Company) – Designer Christina Levenborn has been tasked with creating a functional and comfortable space for astronauts, by maximizing their living area with IKEA products.
Launches
- ULA Atlas V CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test (Kennedy Space Center) – On December 20, Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule is scheduled for first uncrewed launch from Cape Canaveral. Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon should once again enable US manned launch capability.
- ULA Atlas V Solar Orbiter Rocket Launch (Kennedy Space Center) – On February 5, NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) will launch Solar Orbiter. The satellite seeks answers to how the Sun generates the heliosphere plasma bubble surrounding the Solar System.
Events
- International Space Development Conference (ISDC) 2020: Continuing the Journey (National Space Society) – ISDC 2020 to be held at the Embassy Suites in Dallas on May 28–31. The focus is on efforts to push human exploration back to the Moon, then Mars.
- Techstars Allied Space Accelerator (Techstars) – The program will run in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and Norwegian Space Agency for 13 weeks from June to September 2020. Currently accepting applications through March 1, 2020.
- GeoBuiz Summit 2020 (GeoBuiz) – Geospatial industry experts gather in Monterey Bay, CA on January 13th and 14th.