Category Archives: Space Exploration

Vanessa Wyche will take the reins at Johnson Space Center while Janet Petro will lead Kennedy Space Center as they prepare for the Artemis 1 launch to the moon.

HOUSTON NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has promoted two women as directors of Johnson Space Center in Houston and Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Vanessa Wyche will take the reins at JSCand Janet Petro will lead KSC as they prepare for theArtemis 1 launch to the moon scheduled for later this year.

Both Vanessa and Janet are exceptional leaders who will help propel NASA forward as we venture farther out into the cosmos than ever before, said Nelson. Its an incredible time at NASA, and with Vanessa and Janet leading the Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers, NASA will embark on a new era of space exploration starting with the Artemis I launch to the Moon later this year.

Before being named acting director on May 3, Wyche had served as deputy director of JSC since August 2018. Before that, the 31-year NASA veteran held a number of roles, including flight manager for multiple space shuttle missions.

Vanessa is a tenacious leader who has broken down barriers throughout her career, said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. Vanessas more than three decades at NASA and program experience in almost all of the human spaceflight programs at Johnson is an incredible asset to the agency. In the years to come, Im confident that Houston will continue to lead the way in human spaceflight.

Wyche said she is humbled and honored to be chosen to lead more than 10,000 employees at JSC as they push ahead to the moon and beyond.

As the home to Americas astronaut corps, International Space Station mission operations, the Orion and Gateway programs, and a host of future space developments, Johnson is a world leader in human space exploration and is playing a key role in the next giant leaps in American excellence in space," Wyche said in a statement.

Prior to being named Kennedys acting director, Petro served as the centers deputy director since 2007.

She will oversee the centers world class multi-user spaceport, supporting both commercial customers and NASAs science and human exploration missions.

"She was central to Kennedys transition to a multi-user spaceport, bringing a variety of new commercial and government partners to Kennedy," NASA said in a statement. "She led cross-agency initiatives with the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Air Force to streamline government processes and support commercial space operations, increase government efficiency, and limit redundancy."

Petro grew up on Florida's Space Coast and said she's the second generation in her family to work at KSC.

"Its truly exciting to help grow the multi-user spaceport as we prepare for Artemis and continue launching commercial crew missions to the International Space Station," she said.

Petro began her professional career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1981.

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NASA names two women to lead JSC and KSC during 'new era of space exploration' - KHOU.com

You may need things for life support. Life support is not so much of a driver for this because were increasingly moving towards very efficient life support systems and the cost of resupply compared with, for example, propellent in terms of the total mass taken to a place is quite small. Oxygen, for example, is used in propellant and life-support, so theres a synergy between these things. You can also use local materials to create structures or radiation shielding, thermal shielding or a landing pad, for example.

At ESA, we look at what can be created locally and how this can be done. The most obvious example is to harvest water and from this, create hydrogen and oxygen, which are useful and are rocket fuel. We find water ice at the poles of the Moon. We also find it on Mars. This could be universally applicable around the Solar System by water.

We also look at how to extract useful things from the rocks and minerals found. The surface of the Moon is covered in ground-up powder, powdered rock, Regolith, generated by billions of years of impact onto the surface. This relic, like all minerals, is made up of oxygen combined chemically with different metals. We look at processes taken from terrestrial industries and use those to learn how to take oxygen out of lunar materials, which leaves us with oxygen and metal alloys that can be used to do a 3D print to create materials in the future. Oxygen extraction is something were getting pretty good at; however, metal production is something that will happen in the future to make decent quality alloys.

The Package for Resource Observation and in-Situ Prospecting for Exploration, Commercial exploitation and Transportation (PROSPECT) assesses and accesses potential resources on the Moon and aims to prepare technologies that could be used, in the future, to extract these resources. This will drill beneath the surface at the lunar poles. It will extract water ice, then analyse the chemistry of that to help us work out the abundance, distribution, origins, how that water evolves in the poles and how it might be used responsibly in the future.

A key thing to understand is how to use local materials, where are the opportunities and what will it take to use them? How can we do that responsibly? How can we work in the most efficient way possible using the materials that we have, using recycled, for example? Also, how can local materials be used, extracted and processed to respect the environment? The idea is that there are related lessons to bring back to Earth.

Building vehicles to get into space is expensive, theyre extremely complex and must work. Failure is not an option if people are sitting on the top of a rocket or youve got a billion or multi-billion-euro spacecraft. This sits on tonnes of highly explosive material to explode. Doing this in a controlled and careful way that delivers what you need in the way you need, is complex and dangerous. The development of vehicles, new buildings and rocket engines are costly undertakings.

We now see a drive towards reusability, of course, SpaceX has driven that conceptually and in Europe, were looking at reusable concepts. Thats one way of bringing down the cost of access, so globally, we see the cost of getting to space reducing. As that happens, we see more and more people using and accessing space. Space will become an increasing part of our economic sphere, and its already an integral part of many aspects of our lives. That utilisation of space will expand over the coming years. In exploration, we endeavour to take humanitys next economic sphere and expand that beyond our near-Earth environments, outwards into the Solar System. In the long-term, that will have enormous benefits for humanity.

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Sustainable exploration in space benefits humanity sustainable exploration in space - Open Access Government

In 2009, using NASAs Interstellar Boundary Explorer, also known as IBEX, astronomers spied a strange ribbon-like structure dancing between our solar system and the rest of interstellar space.

The discovery of the IBEX Ribbon, which is invisible to both telescopes and the human eye, was one of scientists first forays into understanding more about our heliospherea bubble-like shield made up of solar winds.

A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal maps the entire boundary of this shield, and the data collected may be used to usher in a new era of heliophysics exploration.

Most instruments that detect particles in space are detecting charged particles, says Daniel Reisenfeld, a senior scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and lead author of the study. But IBEX is unique.

It detects energetic neutral atoms, or ENAsions that originally come off the sun but collide with interstellar electrons, neutralizing them. These atoms can be found everywhere in space, and observing ENA fluxes across time can be a powerful imaging tool.

So what exactly was that mysterious ribbon? Scientists have since determined that what they were seeing was a giant swath of ENAs lighting up the night sky.

Using data IBEX collected on ENAs as it charted just one 11-year solar cycle, the time between shifts in the suns magnetic field, researchers built a three-dimensional map of the entire heliosphere, which Reisenfeld says shields Earth and other planets from harmful radiation.

Our Earth gets bombarded by cosmic rays, galactic cosmic rays all the time, he says. These rays can subtly affect airplanes that fly near the poles, often on trips between Europe or Asia and the US.

Scientists say that to study other planets astrospheres, which is what heliospheres are called when they surround other stars, we must first understand our own.

A lot of physical models which are being developed right now are based on the discoveries of the IBEX mission, says Nikolai Pogorelov, a professor of space science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Its not only experimental, he says, adding that it will be used for [a] real purpose.

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The solar wind bubble that protects the Earth has been mapped for the first time - MIT Technology Review

Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - July 6, 2021) - SGE which stands for Society of Galactic Exploration is an Ethereum based token developed to celebrate and encourage space exploration amongst the masses. Roger Malcolm III, "SGE is built to bridge the gap between space exploration and the general public." This cryptocurrency will offer investors the golden opportunity to be part of the developmental process of the telescope.

Roger, a college student pursuing mechanical engineering and the founder and developer of SGE, introduced coins to celebrate space exploration. The company operates with a team of 24 young enthusiasts keen on thinking out of the box to bridge the gap between space exploration and cryptocurrency in the form of SGE tokens.

The advantage of SGE tokens is that it is a utility coin and is not for financial gains. Investors who wish to see the world above can invest in a hiss. The developer and their team will be transparent with their official names released. This is relatively uncommon in the world of cryptocurrency. Through this platform, holders will be able to control a telescope from the palm of their hands. Their mobile application will feature a remote login option to various telescopes revolving above us so that users can witness the world above.

SGE, per a legal opinion, is recorded as a utility coin. Instead, the purpose is to hold cash utilized as a currency to buy time for the telescope application. The developers said that "SGE has started performing audits of themes with an appealing format so other coins can post them immediately after receiving them." It will also perform audits promptly, which can be rare, they added. In case any currencies fail the initial audit, developers will provide consultation to change such contracts.

The company is also looking forward to launching hardware that will act as a wallet into space and will contain at least 1 SGE token for every humanoid on Earth. Not just that, SGE announced that they are keen to allow investors to control telescopes from their mobile app. They will enable users to take beautiful pictures of the vast emptiness above us, explore galaxies for beauty, and know the unknown. After which, users will also be able to sell their pictures in the form of NFTs.

Story continues

NFT means a non-fungible token, in essence to a collectible digital asset that holds value as a form of cryptocurrency and as a form of art or culture. Unlike Bitcoins, NFT is unique and can't be exchanged. However, they store extra data and information that elevates it above pure currency. The types of NFTs are varied and can be seen in digital art or a music file, anything unique that could be stored digitally and thought of to hold value. NFTs are like a collector's item, but instead of physical and touchable stuff, it is available in the form of a JPG file.

This mobile application will allow users to control a mighty telescope straight from their mobile screen. SGE has long announced a partnership with the Down Under Observatory in Colorado, backed by NASA-affiliated astrophotographer Terry Hancock. SGE will be the first cryptocurrency to be in space and will also be sponsoring an area Concordia in the base 11 Space Challenge. SGE will have their logo added to their rocket and send a hardware wallet with SGE tokens to space.

Since SGE is a fast-growing, deflationary token with a strong community, it decided to focus on Space Exploration. SGE also developed its own NFT platform recently. Users who want to experience their services or invest in SGE can do that through their official website.

Media Contact Details:

Company Name: SGECompany website: SGE - SOCIETY OF GALACTIC EXPLORATIONEmail: admin@sge.spacePhone Number: (810) 305-4411 Twitter: https://twitter.com/sge_space Facebook: https: //www.facebook.com/sge.spaceofficial/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/89521

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SGE Bridging the Gap Between Humans and Space - Yahoo Finance

As a child growing up on the Space Coast, Caroline Anderson 19 would stand in her backyard and watch the space shuttles launch from NASAs Kennedy Space Center. Her lifelong passion for space, coupled with mentorship from several local women who worked as engineers in the space sector, led her to pursue a career in aerospace engineering.

Now, Anderson will move from a spectator to an actor in the space industry through the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) program. She is one of 58 participants across the nation selected for a fully funded fellowship open only to graduate students at accredited U.S. universities who demonstrate the potential to assist NASA in creating new and innovative space technologies.

Im so excited to learn from and work with leading engineers in my field, as were on path for a new era of human space exploration, says the Palm Bay, Florida, native. Ive wanted to work with the NASA Ames aerothermodynamics branch, and this fellowship opens the door to do so while I develop my doctoral thesis.

The research experience lasts for approximately 10 weeks in the fall. During that time, Anderson will work on a project that she proposed in collaboration with a NASA subject matter expert who will assist her with the research. The fellowship covers expenses to relocate so she can complete her research in person at NASAs Ames Research Center in California. Anderson will also receive funding to cover research expenses. As a space enthusiast, she says this experience is a dream come true.

Andersons research project aims to better control the trajectory of entry vehicles, which need to withstand extremely high levels of heat as they enter or reenter a planets atmosphere. For protection, vehicles are equipped with transpiration cooling systems, which circulate fluid along the outside layer to absorb heat. But this cooling method can affect local pressure, something an entry vehicle needs to control in order to adjust its attitude, or orientation in space.

Andersons goal is to change how porous the outer layer of the transpiration cooling system is, that should decrease the pressure around the outer layer, which creates a moment or torque about the vehicles center.

That moment is desired for use for attitude adjustments, to alter the vehicles trajectory in entry and descent, Anderson says. The ability of the concept to still sufficiently protect the vehicle from heat while creating enough of a moment force to change the vehicles trajectory is still iffy so thats part of what Ill be investigating.

Michael Kinzel, an assistant professor who manages the Computational Fluid and Aerodynamics Lab at UCF, says Anderson will be an asset to NASA. Hes gotten to know Anderson in her role as a graduate research assistant in the lab.

I believe Caroline caught NASAs attention from her strong performance in school, her broad experience in research and industry, and her creative proposed research project that showed NASA Caroline has new ideas to bring to the table, Kinzel says. At CFAL, Caroline has shown the ability and flexibility to work on many projects at advanced levels, which will surely fit in well with her ability to support NASA.

Anderson earned her bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from UCF in 2019 and is pursuing her doctorate in the same field. She is a recipient of the UCF Office of Researchs Doctoral Fellowship. She is the third UCF student to participate in the NSTGRO program since its inception. Elizabeth Barrios 20PhD was selected in 2016 and Christian Vazquez 17 18MS was selected in 2020.

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UCF Doctoral Student Selected for Out-of-This-World Research Experience at NASA - UCF

The long holiday weekend may be over here in the states, but you still have a few hours left to take advantage of our two-for-one sale on passes to all four TechCrunch 2021 events. Dont miss out the sale ends tonight, July 6, at 11:59 pm (PT).

All four TechCrunch events take place in 2021 and, listed below in calendrical order, offer something for every person working in or aspiring to join the tech startup universe.

Which of these conferences will help you build or invest faster, stronger and more efficiently? Heck, choose more than one if they fit your business model you cant go wrong by expanding your startup education and your networking empire.

TC Early Stage 2021: Marketing and Fundraising (July 8-9). This ones for the pre-seed through Series A crowd and the investors and business folk that support them. It features expert-led, interactive sessions designed to help newbie founders avoid pitfalls without reinventing the wheel. Actionable tips and strategies, a supportive community and a kick-butt pitch session are just some of whats waiting for you. Buy your 2-for-1 TC Early Stage ticket here.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 (September 21-23). Why go to Disrupt?

Tech startups go to Disrupt to show off their stuff. Its the perfect place to scope out the competition, network with potential investors, get a feel for how other companies position themselves and to see whats trending.

Jessica McLean, director of marketing and communications, Infinite-Compute. Buy your 2-for-1 TC Disrupt pass here (excludes Startup Alley Exhibitor and Expo Only passes).

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TC Sessions: Space 2021 (December 14-15). Dont miss an out-of-this-world opportunity to connect with the visionary startups, founders and investors challenging the boundaries of space exploration and all the supporting technologies it takes to move above and beyond our world. Buy your 2-for-1 TC Sessions: Space ticket here (excludes exhibitor tickets).

Our two-for-one deal on passes to four TechCrunch events remains in play until tonight, July 6 at 11:59 pm (PT). Score that free ticket now while you still can. If you havent decided who gets that bonus pass, you can simply transfer it to that lucky person any time before the event starts.

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Fourth of July sale ends tonight: 2-for-1 passes on all TechCrunch events - TechCrunch

RAIPUR, India, July 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Researchannounces the launch of a new research report onSpace Power Supply Marketby Product Type(Solar Panels & Arrays, Batteries {Primary Batteries, Secondary Batteries, and Reserve Batteries}, Power Modules, Thermoelectric Generators, and Others),by Application Type(Launch Vehicles {Small & Medium-Lift and Heavy & Super-Heavy Lift}, Satellites {LEO, MEO, and GEO}, and Space Exploration {Rovers and Others}), andby Region(North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2021-2026.

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's space power supply market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period 2021 to 2026. The report estimates the current and future demand for the space power supply market at the global, regional, as well as country-level. The report also studies all the major space industry stakeholders across the globe. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants and investors in identifying low-hanging fruits available in the market and formulating growth strategies.

Space Power Supply Market: Highlights

In space applications, the power supply system covers all aspects: generation, storage, conditioning, distribution, and conversion. Space missions can last from few minutes to decades; therefore, finding the optimum primary and secondary sources with an architecture that will make the best use remains paramount.

The space industry including space power supply is highly regulated where all parts require a rigorous quality check and legal documentation before their use in a spacecraft. Furthermore, the industry's demand for power supply products is largely impacted by new technological advancements, satellite launches, regulations (EWR 127-1, MIL-STD), etc. Major players have been hammering hard for the advancements in the existing products for meeting the changing market requirements.

SpaceX, Blue Origin, OneWeb, and Virgin Galactic were the key investment recipients in 2019, collectively embraced about US$ 3.9 billion, translating into 68% of the total investments. Despite the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, the space industry witnessed robust growth in the year 2020, making it a record year for the industry. As a result, the global space power supply market loggedan impressive growth of more than 100% (year-over-year) to reach US$ 2.8 billion in 2020.

Click Here to Run Through the Detailed TOC of the Report:https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/1705/space-power-supply-market.html

Stratview Research has firstly segmented the space power supply market based on the application type as satellites, launch vehicles, and space exploration. Increasing investments in space start-ups are driving companies to launch several small satellites in the LEO orbit.More than 1,200 satellites were launched in 2020, of which more than 1,100 were small satellites.SpaceX's constellation "Starlink" deployed hundreds of communication satellites, which led the market to register an extraordinary growth in the year 2020. Furthermore, there are thousands of more such satellites already in the pipeline, ensuring a bright future for the industry in the coming years.

Based on the product type, the market is segmented as solar panels & arrays, batteries, power modules, thermoelectric generators, and others.Power modules dominate the market with DC convertor modules being one of the key components.The batteries segment is further classified into battery type as primary, secondary, and reserve battery as well as into material type as nickel, lithium, silver-zinc, and others.Lithium-ion batteries are likely to remain the dominant and the fastest-growing material type in the years to come.

In terms of regions,North America is likely to maintain its huge dominance in the market in the foreseen future.The USA holds huge dominance, alone capturing more than two-third share of the total market.The region is likely to offer the highest growth opportunities during the forecast periodas well, with increasing investments of start-ups and aggressive launch activities by SpaceX.

Asia-Pacific to remain the second-largest region of the market during the forecast period.The region's space budget is almost half of North America's space budget. China and India are other key countries, having a conspicuous share in the global market.

Register Here for a Free Sample of the Report:https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/1705/space-power-supply-market.html#form

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, space power supply product manufacturers, space agencies, research institutes, and satellite manufacturers. Key space power supply manufacturers are Airborne, Airbus SE, AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH, DHV Technology, EaglePicher Technologies, GS Yuasa Corporation, Northrup Grumman Corporation, Saft Groupe S.A., Sierra Nevada Corporation, SolAero Technologies, Inc., and Teledyne Technologies Incorporated.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

This report studies the space power supply market and has segmented the market in three ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the three ways in which the market is segmented:

Space Power Supply Market by Product Type

Space Power Supply Market by Application Type

Space Power Supply Market by Region

Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the aerospace and defense industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports:https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Aerospace-Defense.html

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy,and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

For enquiries,Contact:Stratview ResearchE-mail:[emailprotected] Direct: +1-313-307-4176

SOURCE Stratview Research

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Space Power Supply Market Size, Untouched by COVID-19, Clocked More than 100% Growth and Reached US$ 2.8 Billion in 2020, Says Stratview Research -...

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, June 17, 2021 shows three Chinese astronauts onboard the Shenzhou XII spaceship entering the space station core module Tianhe. [Photo/Xinhua]

Three Chinese astronauts busying themselves on the new Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace, space station module account for just one of China's achievements in the past six months pertaining to outer space.

In addition to manning the new space station's core module in orbit, China also recently became just the second nation to land a rover on Mars with the Tianwen 1 mission and Zhurong probe. And at the beginning of the year, the Chang'e 5 mission successfully brought back samples of lunar rock.

Furthermore, China and Russia have released a joint road map for building the International Lunar Research Station, which will be the first structures built on the moon, by 2036.

China's space authorities and astronauts have expressed willingness to welcome foreign partners and participation in the new space station, even though China has not been able to participate in the international space station led by the United States since the 1990s, despite Chinese willingness and capabilities.

China's achievements come on the back of a space program that only sent its first astronauts into space in 2003, showing the extraordinary pace of the nation's space exploration.

However, some may interpret China's aspirations in the wrong way, accusing the country of seeking dominance or hegemony in space and being in a "space race "with NASA and the US.

Such interpretations are groundless: China's vision for the exploration of outer space should be understood through the lens of its economic strategy for "peaceful development" and "a community of a shared future" for the good of humankind.

Long before the modern era, Chinese culture and tradition long attached importance to the heavens and the moon, boasting many of the world's earliest astronomers and cosmologists.

While the United States largely perceives expansion into space through the medium of military ambitions, inaugurating its Space Force under the former president Donald Trump's administration, China has a nonmilitary view of space exploration that is attached to the principle of "socialism with Chinese characteristics". It sees advances in science as a means for accelerating global prosperity and economic development.

Since the 20th century, outer space has been the newest frontier of humankind, and understanding it and knowing how to use it productively are crucial for humanity. The advancement of space-related activities has the potential to overcome many problems on Earth itself, including access to energy, resources and protection of the environment.

As a consequence, progress made in space is ultimately progress in the name of all, and serves subsequently to benefit all.

China is a signatory of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which explicitly opposes the militarization of space and urges the peaceful use of the cosmos for the common benefit of humankind. This is the direction we must take in what we envision to achieve in the universe.

Each civil feat in space subsequently transforms the way we live, even if we do not realize it. The achievements of the 20th century made by the US and the Soviet Union transformed our world in communications and subsequently expanded our capability to understand ourselves. The invention of the satellite and similar resources has been invaluable in promulgating globalization and interconnectivity.

As a result, the Tiangong space station and the planned International Lunar Research Station will aim to shape the future of humanity accordingly, by expanding the scope of knowledge to new levels.

The Chinese endeavor is not a zero-sum game; China invites all countries to participate and partner in its projects as a peaceful initiative and to help shape humanity's future. It is the United States that stages stringent legal and other barriers to Chinese cooperation in US-led international space programs, or even visits by Chinese nationals to NASA facilities.

The politicization, division and militarization of the cosmos are what divide us as a planet, bringing risks rather than benefits. Thus, regardless of what other countries do, China will pursue the path of peaceful development in space with a view to the moon, Mars and beyond.

With so much still to learn and discover, consequential transformations in how we live and experience the world surely lie ahead but are yet to be envisioned.

The author is a British political and international relations analyst.

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Nation aims for peaceful use of space exploration - Chinadaily USA

Timothy Kopra; Credits: MDA/ Robert Markowitz

During the second Space Caf Canada event, host Jessica West of Project Ploughshares sat down with Tim Kopra, Vice-President of Robotics and Space Operations at MDA, to talk about the role of robotics in Canadas space program and in the future of space exploration.

MDA is one of Canadas most successful space technology companies and is behind many of Canadas signature programs in space including the famous Canadarm on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, and the Radarsat series of Earth observation satellites. Its also central to Canadas future space activities which continue to prioritize the development of space-based robotics and radar capabilities. Before joining MDA, Mr. Kopra had a remarkable career beginning with the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of Colonel. As an engineer and astronaut with NASA Tim flew twice to the International Space Station, the second time as Commander.

How does MDA lead the development of space technology in Canada?

MDA is at the centre of Canadas burgeoning space industry with expertise in robotics, satellite systems, and geo-intelligence. With a new contract to develop and operate the Canadarm3 robotic arm on the upcoming Lunar Gateway space station in cis-lunar orbit, MDA has a prominent role in the future of Canadas space exploration program.

As a core developer of the Canadian governments space-based capabilities through prominent public-private partnerships, the company made history in 2008 when it became the first private Canadian company that the government blocked from a foreign takeover. Today MDA is owned by a group of Canadian investors, and recently celebrated a new milestone, becoming a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange, which speak to the pace of growth and development within the Canadian space industry. New programs such as Artemis are a shot in the arm for industry because it means that countries will be investing in space. The national impact on countries such as Canada will be amplified as leading space companies such as MDA continue to invest in developing supply chains and national expertise.

Spaceflight is hard. How does robotics help?

Humans have an unmatched ability to think and process information, but we arent optimized for space exploration: we have to eat, we breathe oxygen, we consume products, and we create waste. And of course, all of this takes place in a very harsh environment. Finding ways to automate some activities that dont require a human or that can be done in conjunction with a human helps. Canadarm2 is a prime example.

On the International Space Station, the hardware that we supply and the operational expertise that we apply to that set of robotics is absolutely vital for maintaining that space station.

Going forward, the need for robotics capabilities to maintain future space stations, including new commercial ones, and to keep them operational, is going to increase.

What is it like to be in space, working with a giant robotic system such as Canadarm2?

Watching the Canadarm2 grabbing enormous pieces of hardware out of the payload bay to be installed on the International Space Station like huge pieces of Lego is like participating in a science fiction movie.

Its surreal, because youre doing something that youre trained to do, but not in that environment.

Is the Lunar Gateway a game-changer?

Much in the way that the International Space Station has been built piece-by-piece, the Lunar Gateway program is a building block to the return of humans to the Moon, part of a long history of experimenting and learning how to support human life in outer space.

In the beginning, we werent even sure if you could swallow in space. When we first landed something on the Moon, we thought maybe its going to land in 30 feet of dust and disappear.we knew nothing.

Now, we will be taking what we learned on the International Space Station which orbits 400 km from the Earth and applying it to the Lunar Gateway 400,000 km away.

What new capabilities will Canadarm3 bring to this effort?

Unlike the ISS, the Lunar Gateway will not be permanently crewed. That means that we have to design it in such a manner that allows a lot of autonomous operations, may of which will be external to the station. Canadarm3 will take our existing robotic operations a step further to include artificial intelligence capabilities required for greater autonomy, as well as a second, smaller arm to maintain the larger arm, creating a complete ecosystem of end-to-end logistics.

These capabilities will have wide commercial applications that make MDA not only a leading robotics company in Canada but in the world.

Weve established over the last few decades over 3-million hours of operations dedicated to on-orbit, robotic space operations; thats a legacy that were very proud of, and really one that no one else can brag about at this point.

How do these investments in space-based robotic capabilities translate to our lives on Earth?

The contributions of space activities are so much more than Velcro, Teflon, and Tang.

Right now, people might be texting on their iPhone, which has technology that came from our space program, and driving in their car, being navigated by the GPS, which is part of our space program, and using miniaturized electronics, which comes from our space programand what many people just arent aware of is that what we do on the International Space Station is the basic and fundamental scientific research that will have the nominal impact to how we live on planet Earth.

But these contributions are not linear: they are building blocks that move science along. You learn how people and things work, which advances a whole range of applications on Earth including medicine.

The Canadarm2 was recently pierced by a piece of space debris. How big is the debris problem for space exploration?

The Canadarm2 is designed to be very robust and it can withstand a pretty significant hit and remain 100% operational. The Space Station is also equipped with a debris shield to protect from the impacts of debris the size of a marble or smaller. But we see debris impacts on the space station all the time, including on the solar arrays that power it, and we have to be aware of the danger. Sometimes the space station has to be moved because of a possible conjunction event with a bigger piece of debris, or if there isnt enough time to move, then the crew have to shelter in place.

Its not possible for us to know every little piece of debris in space. And that is a danger and its a future worry as we expand the number of satellites in space. How do we do this in a very responsible way?

We need better solutions.

What are the possible solutions?

Technical capabilities for services such as debris removal and satellite servicing are advancing rapidly, and MDA is interested in being a leader in this market. But the solution to space debris has to be regulated so that there is a business case to make these services worthwhile.

I think one of the most important development is a requirement for anybody that puts an object in space in order to have access to the spectrum needed to operate it to have to demonstrate that they have the capability to get that satellite out of orbit.

You can also envision a future at some point in time when there is liability established as part of a burgeoning insurance industry that requires an ability to deorbit. Because a collision in space doesnt just disable a satellite: it creates more debris. And we dont want to wake up to a dystopian future in the workable space around our planet. If we wait for an accident to happen, it will be too late.

Many advanced robotics capabilities in space are dual-use. How does the industry think about this?

MDA is focused on opportunities for cooperation and collaboration in space through the Canadarm3. The new Artemis Accords are also important and are really a means to extend the kind of cooperation that we have seen on the International Space Station, which has been key to developing trust.

People in the audience are asking about future robotics cooperation with China. Is that in the cards?

Its in the interest of both a country and a company to maintain their intellectual property, and to partner with people where you can have confidence and trust in that partnershipand trust is built over time. And its possible to erode trust based on actions. So whoever we partner with, has to have demonstrated that theyre a good actor in the space community. You have to be able to trust that your technology is safe with that actor.

Do you have a wish list for Canadian space policy and regulatory frameworks?

We dont want regulation for regulations sake. What is needed to optimize a free market in space is regulation to make sure that negative impacts of activities such as space debris are minimized, while working to help people work well, and companies work well with each other. This fosters growth and translates into high technology jobs here in Canada. Doing this internationally requires leadership.

Canada has an opportunity to be a leader, in many ways. It would be really cool to watch Canada take the lead on how to maintain this environment in space that allows us to have a burgeoning market there.

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Space Caf Canada by Dr. Jessica West Recap: Is the Future of Space Exploration Robotic? - SpaceWatch.Global

There is a new space race developing, with higher stakes and more ambitious goals than just going back to Earth orbit or the Moon. The U.S. has developed a sizable technological lead in rockets and satellite technology, which has in turn grown our national and global space ambitions. Now that it is feasible to get to low Earth orbit affordably and reliably, astronauts and private companies are now looking to go furtherincluding establishing permanent colonies on the Moon and Mars, mining asteroids for their immense natural resources, and sending astronauts to search for life on the moons of the outer planets. And were not alone in this race. China and Russia are teaming together on a lunar base, and China claims it will be the first to colonize Mars and even mine asteroids.

Nuclear fission and fusion power will be essential to accomplishing these and other ambitions. These technologies can deliver the performanceincluding immense power levels, longevity and reliabilityrequired to take large people and cargo astronomically long distances, and support the power requirements for long-term colonies far removed from the safety net of Earth. To this end, China is reportedly making investments in the advanced propulsion sector, including in fission and fusion contexts, that dwarf U.S. efforts. For the U.S. to remain competitive on the world scale and win what some are calling the new Deep Space Race, we must double down on investment in nuclear fission and fusion technologies.

We overview below a recent proposal by the Fusion Industry Association (FIA) that further details this new space race and advocates for a $40 million Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)-style program to accelerate the use of fusion for space travel. We discuss that in the context of recent efforts by the Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to work together to accelerate the use of nuclear and fusion power in space.

A Proposed $40 Million Fusion Propulsion Program to Win the Deep Space Race

The FIAan association of 24 member companies working to commercialize fusion powerrecently recommended a $40 million fusion propulsion funding program. The proposal, Fusion Energy for Space Propulsion: Making Fusion Space Propulsion A Reality by 2030 (the Fusion-Space Overview) explains that there is a Deep Space Race developing as the U.S. and other world powers have set their sights not just on returning humans to orbit and stepping foot on the Moon, but building outposts on the Moon, Mars, and going much farther out. There are compelling reasons to believe that taking the lead in exploration of deep space (beyond the near-Earth orbit) can bring tremendous returns. This is not just in the form of national pride and scientific progress, but also financial. Some, including Goldman Sachs, have predicted that the worlds first trillionaire will be the person that successfully mines asteroids and their tremendous amounts of mineral wealth.

As outlined in the Fusion-Space Overview, chemical-propelled rockets do not have the fuel efficiency to support this far-reaching agenda. Fusion propulsion can be up to 100 times more fuel-efficient than chemical propulsion, while still maintaining large thrustsmaking it a prime option for transporting large payloads to distant destinations or ferrying cargo to and from the Moon. As just one example, the Direct Fusion Drive could potentially expedite travel to the Moon and Mars to hours and months respectively, and even get the U.S. to Saturn in as little as two years.

The Fusion-Space Overview advocates for an ARPA-style, milestone-based funding program to accelerate the development of critical fusion propulsion technologies and enable designs to start getting tested. ARPA programs have a demonstrated track record of moving promising technologies on a track towards commercial deployment by the private sector. A number of fusion space propulsion ventures spoke at the recent ASCENDx Summit held June 15, 2021, discussing how they are ready for incremental investment to further develop their prototypes, with the long-term goal of performing ground and space demonstrations.

The FIAs recommended fusion propulsion program would synthesize best practices from the DARPA and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) programs and apply it to deep space. The Fusion-Space Overview concludes that the $40 million program has the potential to transform the way we look at the universe and ourselves, unlock potentially trillions of dollars in scientific and economic innovation, and secure American interests for this century and the next.

Energy, Space, and Defense Agencies Aligning on Use of Advanced Nuclear

DOE and NASA have a long history of collaboration on the use of nuclear power in space. For more than 50 years, DOE enabled space exploration on over twenty NASA missions by providing safe and reliable radioisotope power systems and radioisotope heater units. Further, DOE has decades of experience managing plutonium-238 radioisotope thermal power generator production required for NASAs deep space probes.

This relationship has now accelerated in scope, with a goal to enable much larger uses of nuclear power in space. In 2018, NASA and DOE launched an effort to develop the Kilopower Reactor, with a hope to demonstrate a fission surface power system on the moon by the end of the decade. And toward the end of the previous administration, former Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand the DOE-NASA partnership on space exploration. Nuclear power and propulsion were among the key areas of interest listed in the MOU. And this was followed up with Space Policy Directive 6, which sought to implement a National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion.

Currently NASA is examining the possibility of utilizing two nuclear systems in space exploration. The first is a nuclear electric propulsion system, which is highly efficient and allows a spacecraft to travel for longer periods although at lower thrust. The second type of system is a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system, which is a higher thrust system but still far more efficient than a traditional rocket. (Fusion systems can also be split along similar lines). In the same vein, Battelle Energy Alliance, which operates DOE Idaho National Laboratory, earlier this year published a solicitation for a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactor Interim Design.

The efforts by NASA and DOE complements a program by DARPA, called Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO), to demonstrate a NTP system in orbit. Although the program is just getting started, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and General Atomic haves received initial awards. As DARPA explains, [t]he space domain is essential to modern commerce, scientific discovery, and national defense. Maintaining space domain awareness in cislunar space the volume of space between the Earth and the Moon will require a leap-ahead in propulsion technology. And to the same end, all three agencies have taken interest in the use of fusion for similar ends.

Next Steps

To successfully compete with China and Russia in the new Deep Space Race, the U.S. needs to accelerate investment in these mission-critical areas and form public-private partnerships to accelerate technology development. There are numerous private companies, including the ventures listed in the Fusion-Space Overview, pursuing innovative and advanced nuclear space propulsion concepts. And, as evidenced in recent events held by DOE, NASA, and DARPA, a number of companies stand ready to support the development of nuclear and fusion space propulsion technologies.

However, beyond possibly the DARPA DRACO effort, these initiatives lack a significant and long-term dedicated funding program to support their commercialization. Continued investment in nuclear and fusion propulsion concepts, through the establishment of long-term programs with the clear end goal of demonstrating multiple advanced propulsion technologies in space, including an ARPA-like program like the one recommended by FIA, can have a tremendous impact on whether the U.S. will not only win the next space race, but even be able to compete with countries like Russia and China who are making these programs national priorities.

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Nuclear and Fusion Power at the Forefront of Deep Space Exploration - Lexology