Possible Showstopper

Scientists have known for decades that prolonged exposure to microgravity can harm human vision.  With evidence suggesting that damage might be permanent, some are suggesting this condition might be a showstopper for deep space manned missions, including manned missions to Mars.

A possible counter for the condition would be to spin all or part of a ship to produce artificial gravity, but researchers don't know exactly what causes the problem yet, so any possible fix is premature.

John Lewis, Space Pioneer

The National Space Society is giving Dr. John Lewis its Space Pioneer Award for Science and Engineering.

Lewis' work has concentrated on defining the composition of asteroids and comets.  He has emphasized both the threat such bodies pose to human civilization and the promise they hold to make that civilization immensely wealthy.

NASA, Russia, And Ukraine

NASA, like other U.S. Government agencies, is cutting contact with Russian officials as a sort of protest against the Russian military move into Ukraine.  Contact regarding ISS operations, however, is exempt from the policy.

Since ISS operations represents the lion's share of contact between NASA and Russia, it's not clear the policy change will have much affect in the space area.  If Russia makes another move against Ukraine, however, that could change quickly, even though any interruption in ISS operations would hurt the interests of both Russia and the United States.

Enceladus Ocean Confirmed

Since 2005, scientists have suspected a huge ocean of water ice existed under the ice shell of Saturn's moon, Enceladus.  A new study confirms that, using slight variations in Enceladus' gravitational field to propose an ocean perhaps six miles deep exists under the southern hemisphere.

Further, the study suggests the ocean extends down to a rocky sea floor, increasing the possibility that life might exist there by expanding the range of possible chemical reactions.

Possible Phobos Probe

NASA's Ames Research Center is looking at a low cost mission to one of Mars' two tiny moons. either Phobos or Deimos.  Astronomers think both are captured asteroids.

Ames argues such an orbital mission could be a step towards establishing a human base on, say, Phobos, which in turn could be the first step towards the systematic human exploration of the Red Plane.

Interorbital Success

Interorbital Systems successfully test launched its CPM rocket last Saturday in Mojave, California.  The company calls the launch a "major milestone."  Several CPMs will power IOS' large Neptune launch system.

The CPM was recovered after the launch, and it was in good condition.  It will be re-used-- another big plus for IOS.

Earth-Moon Water

A new study using rock samples taken by Apollo 17 astronauts in the lunar highlands-- the oldest lunar rocks yet collected-- suggests that water on Earth and on the Moon came from the same source.

That, in turn, implies that water somehow survived the fiery collision of Earth and a Mars-sized body which, according to current theory, created the Moon, and that a tiny fraction of that water transferred to the Moon.  It might seem an unlikely possibility at first glance, but the universe is a strange old place.