“Some segments of this book may be rough going. That's the nature of real science. It requires thought. Sometimes deep thought. But thinking can be rewarding. You can just skip the rough parts, or you can struggle to understand.”
Kip S. Thorne born June 1, 1940
This week features a Chat with David Baker about Alan Bean and Mars Helicopters. Jamie and Matt have technical difficulties but battle through to bring you the weeks space news.
Don Peterson, First Shuttle Spacewalker, Dies Aged 84
Alan Bean, the fourth man on the moon has died, aged 86
NASA’s Curiosity rover is finally drilling again!
China has invited other countries in the United Nations to use its China Space Station
Return of One Space Station Crew, Launch of Another
Vladimir Putin and Shinzo Abe talk to ISS
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity conducted her second powered test flight
Jeff Bezos Saves the Expanse
RemoveDEBRIS to be deployed soon
Former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar honoured by President and Santokba Award
Also born on this day
Alexander Valentinovich Zakharov (born June 1, 1941) is a Soviet and Russian chief scientist and astronomer serving at the Russian Space Research Institute[1] (IKI).
He was a lead scientist of the failed Mars missions, Mars 96 and Fobos-Grunt
Georgiy Timofeyevich Dobrovolsky (June 1, 1928 – June 30, 1971) was a Sovietcosmonaut who served on the three-man crew of the Soyuz 11 spacecraft. They became the world's first space station crew aboard Salyut 1, but died in space due to asphyxiation due to an erroneously opened valve. They were the first and, as of 2018, the only humans to have died in space.
Space News
Don Peterson, First Shuttle Spacewalker, Dies Aged 8
performed the first-ever spacewalk from the shuttle airlock, Peterson’s spacewalk training had been rushed. however his four hours outside Challenger with Story Musgrave ran very smoothly, Musgrave knew everything you needed to know as he had helped design the suits..
Alan Bean, the fourth man on the moon has died, aged 86, after suddenly falling ill while on travel in Indiana two weeks ago.
NASA’s Curiosity rover is finally drilling again! After many months of testing and devising new techniques since experiencing problems in December 2016
China has invited other countries to use its China Space Station (CSS), expected to up and running by 2022
"CSS belongs not only to China, but also to the world," said Shi Zhongjun, China's ambassador to the UN and other international organizations at a ceremony announcing the initiative in Vienna on Monday. "All countries, regardless of their size and level of development, can participate in the cooperation on an equal footing."
Huge shot across the bows of US and Russian dominance in Space.
Return of One Space Station Crew, Launch of Another
June 3, 2018,: After 168 days on the International Space Station, astronauts Scott Tingle , Anton Shkaplerov, Norishige Kanai the Expedition 54 crew, return in the Soyuz MS-06 from their mission Feb. 27, 2018
June 6, 2018: Expedition 56 astronauts Serena Auñón-Chancellor , Sergey Prokopyev and Alexander Gerst launch to the orbiting outpost, in the Soyuz MS-09.
January 16, 2018 it was reported that Auñón-Chancellor would replace prime crew member Jeanette J. Epps ...which remains surrounded in mystery and possible controversy
Vladimir Putin and Shinzo Abe talk to ISS last Saturday from the Kremlin . The two leaders spoke to Anton Shkaplerov and Norishige Kanai from the St. Andrew Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, where a large television screen had been installed for the video linkup.
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity conducted her second powered test flight
“It was great to see our beautiful spaceship back in the air and to share the moment with the talented team who are taking us, step by step, to space” Branson said. “Seeing Unity soar upwards at supersonic speeds is inspiring and absolutely breathtaking. We are getting ever closer to realizing our goals. Congratulations to the whole team!”
The rocket motor burned for the planned 31 seconds and propelled Unity to a speed of Mach 1.9 and an altitude of 114,500 ft. Unity’s unique re-entry feathering system was deployed for the initial descent before the final glide home to a smooth runway landing
Jeff Bezos Saves the Expanse
“ I just got word that ‘The Expanse’ was saved,” he said, referring to the series that was canceled by Syfy
RemoveDEBRIS to be deployed soon project intending to demonstrate various space debris removal technologies was launched aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on 2 April 2018 as part of the CRS-14 mission, arriving at the ISS on 4 April
Deployment of the satellite from the station's Kibo module via robotic arm is expected to take place early June. At approximately 100 kg, RemoveDEBRIS would be the largest satellite to have ever been deployed from the ISS.
Former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar honoured by President and Santokba Award
President Ram Nath Kovind decided to break the protocol of attend functions organised by private parties to felicitate "good people" like former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar who dedicated the award to the ISRO
Launch
June 1st
SpaceX to Launch SES-12, a geostationary communications satellite to be operated by SES and to be designed and manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space. It will weigh 5.3 t (5.8 tons) and have a design life of at least 18 years on Falcon 9 Full thrust