Big Mission For SpaceX

The next Dragon supply flight to ISS, scheduled for launch Saturday, will feature an attempt by SpaceX to recover the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, hopefully in reusable condition.

That would be another step towards the company's goal of completely reusable launchers that can be turned around quickly by a small crew, thus drastically reducing the cost of space operations.

COSMOS Debut

The new COSMOS, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, debuted on FOX last night.  As would've been expected,  it was a well produced, visually interesting effort.  The first show featured, among other things, the story of Giordano Bruno, the sixteenth century Catholic priest who argued every star in the sky was a sun with its own family of planets.  That was contrary to Catholic doctrine at the time, and Bruno, refusing to back down, was imprisoned by the Church, tortured. and burned at the stake.

Some may wonder why FOX, the American network most closely associated with fundamentalist Christianity, would carry COSMOS, which will often be contrary to religious interpretations of the universe.  It's an interesting question.

Red Dragon

A new study finds that a modified version of SpaceX's Dragon capsule could carry out a sample return mission to Mars.  A sample of Mars gathered by an earlier rover, preferably from feet below the surface, would be transferred to the so-called Red Dragon for the trip back to Earth.

The study contemplates a 2022 launch of Red Dragon, and assumes a 2020 NASA rover mission that collects and caches a sample.

Cosmos Returns

The acclaimed science television series COSMOS returns in an updated version this month on Fox.

Famed astronomer Carl Sagan hosted the original, but Dr. Sagan is gone now.  Replacing him is a man who has taken up Sagan's mantle in other ways, as well-- astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Two Days In A Row

Today, for the second day in a row, a small asteroid is shooting past Earth at a distance well inside the Moon's orbit.  Both were only discovered this year, the second on March 4.

Neither poses any threat-- but they could have.  These close cosmic shaves should serve as more reminders that developing a planetary defense capability is a good idea.

NASA Looks At Europa

In its 2015 budget request, NASA is asking for $15 million to begin studying sending a probe to Jupiter to investigate its ice-encased moon, Europa.  The mission would launch around 2025.

Even though Europa is bathed in radiation and far outside the Sun's habitable zone, it's seen as a prime candidate for harboring life deep in its ocean under its ice shell.  That's something to remember as we look for life further afield.

Stars Aren't Lonely

A new study suggests that nearly all stars have at least one planet.  Most have more than one.

That implies planetary formation is a normal part of star formation.  It also means that life beyond Earth will have plenty of chances to take hold.