3D perspective view of the Jezero crater on Mars that the Mars 2020 rover will land at. You can 3D print this topology via an STL file developed by Timothy Goudge. Credit: Goudge 2019.

Welcome to The Space Resource monthly newsletter for December 2019.

China prepares for 2020 deep space missions with flight-worthy Long March 5, NASA produces a new Mars water map, and Iridium offers the first public price for on-orbit debris removal. We welcome all story ideas, so please contact us or reply to this email with any ideas. If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter, please consider subscribing here. If you enjoy our work, please consider supporting us on Patreon.

Asteroids

NEO Surveillance Mission receives $35.6 million to start development. Through the fiscal year 2020 minibus signed on December 20, a portion of the $22.63 billion NASA funding was earmarked for the NEO Surveillance Mission. This mission, originally called NEOCam, is an infrared space telescope that will discover and track near-Earth objects (NEOs) over 140 meters in diameter. While initially a science focused mission, it was recently reclassified as a planetary defense mission. This is part of the Congressional mandate to track all NEOs equal or greater than 140 meters in diameter, or those that can cause significant destruction in the event of an impact. Link.

Sample site selected on asteroid Bennu for OSIRIS-REx sample collection. After a year of scouting, the mission team selected a site called “Nightingale” as the primary location for collecting regolith samples. The site is located in a 140 meter wide crater in Bennu’s high northern latitudes. Nightingale was selected because of its likely more pristine material, due to being in a colder region and a relatively young crater. A very accurate landing is required to avoid nearby boulders and touchdown within the 16 meter diameter safety area. After samples are collected, OSIRIS-REx will depart Bennu in 2021 to return to Earth for a late 2023 landing. Link.

Modeling Debris from Asteroid Mining to Inform Legal Frameworks. This recent study analyzed how particles of debris from asteroid mining would spread out over 100 years, determining the level of potential risk to Earth based satellites. The results show that a significant level of mining would be required before space assets are at risk, however, this does not mean that we can or should ignore these risks. Safeguards and limitations should be followed by all participants to ensure a safe operating environment. Link.

Cislunar

Chinese Long March 5 back in action and ready for deep space missions. After a turbopump failure in the original design, the latest Long March 5 successfully launched an 8 ton communications satellite. The Long March 5 is comparable to the Delta IV Heavy, being able to deliver about 25 metric tons to LEO and 14 metric tons to GTO. China plans to launch a 2020 lunar sample-return mission, a 2020 Mars mission, and a modular space station on the Long March 5. If anything, this heavy lift system is China’s ticket to deep space exploration.

Iridium floated paying $10k to have one of its dead satellites deorbited. This may be the first public price point proposed by a large, active satellite operator for having one of their satellites deorbited. While this price is unprofitable for any debris removal company, it puts a monetary value on active satellite removal services. This is similar to how ULA provided a price for purchasing propellant in orbit as part of the Commercial Lunar Propellant Architecture and CisLunar-1000 architecture. Link.

Boeing Starliner makes first space flight, despite orbit adjust failure. After extensive delays, the Starliner had a successful launch on the Atlas V rocket for an uncrewed test flight. A software timing failure wasted excessive amounts of fuel, preventing the spacecraft from raising orbit to intersect the ISS. While visiting the ISS was not a primary mission requirement, the spacecraft had to return to Earth days before scheduled. The parachute and airbag landing was successful. Assuming no other issues, the Starliner will likely be cleared for a crewed launch by mid-2020.

Using yeast cells to understand potential radiant resistant genes for humans. An early stage research study used 6,000 strains of yeast to try finding strains that resist high amounts of radiation. 10 genes within the yeast were identified that enabled certain strains to survive the radiation (the amount received after a year on Mars). All ten genes have human counterparts, enabling the possibility of providing humans with the genes able to let them also survive high radiation doses. While this possibility is decades away, this current research is required for mitigating radiation dangers to future astronauts. Link.

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Mars

New map of the water ice deposits on Mars. Using the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey orbiter, scientists were able to build a global map of ice deposits. Aside from the expected deposits at the Martian poles and mid-latitudes, a few shallow deposits were identified at lower latitudes. Aside from more plentiful sunlight and warmer temperatures than the poles, a lower latitude location with near surface ice deposits would provide an enticing site for a future human base. Link.

3D print a model of Jezero Delta, the Mars 2020 landing location. If you are a fan of 3D printing, checkout this STL file of the topology of the Jezero Delta on Mars. The vertical height of the model is exaggerated five times to make subtle elevation features more prominent. The model can be scaled to fit any 3D printer. Be sure to impress your friends with this print! Link.

Moon

The Lunar IceCube spacecraft to map distribution and dynamics of lunar water. Selected as one of thirteen CubeSats to be deployed during the Artemis 1 mission in late 2020, the Lunar IceCube is a 6U CubeSat that will carry an infrared spectrometer to detect temperature changes associated with water. Data from Lunar IceCube is critical for planning future lunar ice mining missions. Link.

Core stage of the SLS rocket was completed. While a milestone for the Artemis program, this is just one stage in the rocket that will eventually carry humans to the Moon’s south pole.

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