65th session of the UN COPUOS Legal Subcommittee (LSC). Informal meetings and consultations are expected to take place on April 13-14 and April 23-24, surrounding the main...
First Woman Lands on the Moon …
NET (no earlier than)
Days
April 20-26, 2026 | Vol 45, Week 16 | Hawai`i Island, USA
ULA Vulcan-Centaur Rocket Needs Northrop Grumman Boosters to Pass the Test
United Launch Alliance (ULA) hopes to complete a comprehensive static fire test this week. Although ULA’s Vulcan-Centaur (VC) successfully deployed two satellites to geosynchronous orbit in February, one of the VC’s four GEM63XL solid rocket boosters apparently blasted off a nozzle, repeating a fault from a 2024 launch, requiring the guidance systems and two Blue Origin BE-4 first-stage engines to adjust for the asymmetric thrust. Once corrective measures are verified, the VC is planned for launch of the USSF-57 infrared satellite to orbit as early as next month. Expected to replace Atlas and Delta rockets, the VC stands 61 to 67 meters tall, depending on fairing, and is 5.4m in diameter. The BE-4s burn a combination of LOX and industrial-grade, clean-burning LNG that is more than 95% methane. Two to six 63-inch-diameter GEM63XLs can be mounted, depending on payload demands, and many have already been delivered to Canaveral in anticipation of an increased launch cadence. These will likely need to be examined, possibly by manufacturer Northrop Grumman. The VC upper stage has two RL10C engines manufactured by L3Harris that burn liquid hydrogen and have a record of 500+ successful flights. VC is expected to launch 38 Amazon Leo missions and NET Q4 Sierra Space Dream Chaser to the ISS. (Image Credits: ULA, Northrop Grumman)
China National Space Day
see if you can find any specifics for this year and where it’s being held. They will likely highlight (meaning you should mention) upcoming change’7 launch this year, advancements in their human lunar flight system, tianwen 2 launched last year for arrival at asteroid in 2027, and updates for long march 10 rocket. (Image Credits: )
Humans in Space
☆ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 seven members are working to unpack ~5,000 kg of supplies from Cygnus NG-24 XL cargo craft “SS Steven R Nagel” that arrived Monday and was captured by Canadarm2; research studies being delivered include a quantum science module seeking dark matter, improved computing technology, and equipment for therapeutic stem cell production to treat diseases, a gut microbiome study, and a device to improve ability to predict “space weather” that could help protect space-based GPS and radar systems. SS Steven R Nagel is scheduled to stayed docked until October.
……
☆ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 three-member crew ….
◐ Lunar Enterprise News: …..All the major elements of Chang’E-7 have arrived at Wenchang for pre-launch integration and final tests prior to launching on a Long March 5 rocket NET August. ……
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Apr 20: Apollo Asteroid 2026 AC4 (0.027 AU); Tue Apr 21: Apollo Asteroid 2026 GJ1 (0.022 AU); Wed Apr 22: Apollo Asteroid 2026 BK2 (0.025 AU); Sat Apr 25: Apollo Asteroid 2022 UU8 (0.022 AU)
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22 events found.
Events
Monday
Tuesday
George N. Andrew, with 46+ years of experience relating to launch vehicle, spacecraft / instrument avionics architecture, design, manufacturing, integration / testing / program management, convenes this...
US$495 – US$1095
Sunday
Annual advocacy event that connects space advocates with their members of Congress in Washington D.C. Training 13:00-17:00 Sunday Apr 19. Congressional meetings Monday Apr 20. Anyone age...
US$30 – US$54
Monday
Launch window open 02:48-04:05 EST | HST is 20:48-22:05 on Apr 19; 10th of 10 navigation satellites to MEO; 1st stage booster planned to land on autonomous...
This 5th conference expects 600+ participants from 200+ organizations in 65+ countries, including 50+ African governments, to hear 60+ speakers and visit 40+ exhibitors. Includes a Startup...
€300
A platform for a fruitful discussion of fundamental problems and practical issues, exchange of research results and ideas in space biology and medicine, including: – Analogue Environments...
€100 – €700
A meeting revisiting the Hubble Sequence 100 years on: Linking the morphological evolution of galaxies across cosmic time. Invited Speakers: Angela Adamo (Stockholm University) Oscar Agertz (Lund University) Michele Cappellari (University of Oxford) Andrei...
Tuesday
Origins, Development, Operation and Lessons Learned from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope with Jonathan Arenberg, Northrop Grumman Fellow and Chief Mission Architect for Science and Robotic Exploration,...
Launch window open 13:00-17:00 PDT | 16:00-20:00 HST for 25 internet satellites. Booster B1100 planned to land on ASDS OCISLY after this 5th flight. This is the...
Best seen from Northern Hemisphere, with a lower hourly rate in the Southern Hemisphere, Lyrids seem to stream from the Constellation Lyra. They actually derive from the...
MEPAG Hybrid Meeting #43, online and in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins at Mt Washington, Susquehanna Room, 6225 Smith Avenue. No charge but registration required.
Wednesday
Launch window open 14:00-18:00 Korea Time | HST is 19:00-23:00 on Apr 21; to LEO for first orbital full-version launch after 2 sub-orbital tests of individual stages,...
At 12:00 PDT, University of Southern California (USC) campus. Astronaut Frederick D. Gregory flew 3 Space Shuttle missions, STS-51B, STS-33 and STS-44.
Exploring the intersection of space innovation and planetary stewardship, from 12:00-14:00 EDT / UTC-4; no cost but registration required at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2yLblO6EqWkVLaCtst5oMSbSdwDAq3_WiuUW5fMOwStqb2Q/viewform
The goal of this workshop is to bring together interdisciplinary scientists to discuss outstanding science questions about Io -- the most volcanically active world in the Solar...
This online-only Lunar Surface Science Workshop (LSSW) session will share results from the first NASA CLPS missions, provide updates on upcoming deliveries, and discuss lessons learned. No...
Thursday
To SSO with 8 separate spacecraft, including for education, ocean monitoring, ultra-small multispectral camera, and antenna packed origami-style and unfurled to 25 times the size. The 8...
Exclusive all-day tour begins at 09:00 EDT with a knowledgeable space expert as guide. Includes: Admission and parking, iconic attractions including Rocket Garden, Deep Space Launch Complex, Space Shuttle Atlantis, Spaceport KSC ride,...
US$175
Friday
NASA spacecraft with 2.4-meter diameter main telescope begins 37th year in space today, launched Apr 24, 1990; could continue operations until 2040s.
Commemorating the launch of China’s first satellite, Dongfanghong-1 on April 24, 1970.
In Toranomon Area of Tokyo, 09:00-20:00 Japan Time. The lecture sessions cover a wide range of topics, including industry structure and the global competitive landscape, the history...
Free
In honor of Astronomy Month, celebrated around the Earth, this full-dome planetarium program takes the audience out to the colorful birthplaces and burial grounds of stars, and...