IAF, CSA Host Global Lunar Conference in China
Lunar scientists, entrepreneurs and space agency leaders from all over the world will gather in Beijing on May 31 to June 3 for the Global Lunar Conference. Sponsored by the International Astronautical Federation and the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the conference will feature over 400 technical presentations and a series of plenary sessions directly relevant to the theme of Lunar Exploration. During the conference, Space Agencies will present their plans for the next decade and beyond at the Moon, results from recent lunar missions will be shared, technical challenges for creating sustainable habitats on the Moon and in cislunar space will be explored and global benefits for society will be highlighted. Conference attendees will also be afforded the opportunity to tour National Astronomical Observatories of Chinese Academy of Science and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) VP Li Ming, ILEWG Executive Director Bernard Foing and Raymond Arvidson of Washington University, Missouri lead the conference program committee. (Credit: NASA, IAF, CSA, JAXA)
ISRO Forges Ahead with PSLV Launch of Advanced Cartosat-2B Satellite
On June 4, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will attempt to launch its 300-ton Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C15) (R) carrying the Cartosat-2B satellite (TL) from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India. ISRO technicians worked diligently to dismantle the entire 2nd stage of the PSLV and replace faulty parts after a marginal drop in pressure caused launch delays on May 5 and May 9. The main payload of the mission is the ISRO Cartosat-2B remote sensing satellite equipped with a sophisticated panchromatic camera. Weighing nearly 700 kg, the satellite will take higher spatial resolution imagery at 0.8 meters from sun-synchronous orbit and aid India in infrastructure and urban planning as well as other cartographic applications. Expected operational life of the satellite is 5 years. The PSLV is also slated to carry the Algeria Alsat (CL) communication satellite, 2 nano satellites from Canada and a StudSat pico satellite (BL, BR) developed by college students in Hyderabad and Bangalore. Since 1994, ISRO has used its PSLV to launch 41 satellites into orbit, setting a world record in 2008 by successfully launching 10 satellites in one launch. Pictured: K Radhakrishnan (CR). (Credit: ISRO, teamstudsat.com)
= All times for terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for space events, and…
= All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time;’ Greenwich, England).
Weekly Planet Watch – Morning Planets: Mercury (E), Jupiter (ESE) / Evening Planets: Venus (WNW), Mars (W), Saturn (SW).
MONDAY
May 31 — International Space Station, LEO: E-23 Crew perform light maintenance duties and make preparations for the departure of Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineers TJ Creamer and Soichi Noguchi; Kotov to hand over command of the station to Skvortsov in change of command ceremony.
May 31 — NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Orbit: Instruments aboard LRO continue to work nominally as they return detailed information of lunar imagery, topography and temperature measurements.
May 31 — Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter / Mars Phoenix Lander, Red Planet: NASA JPL scientists continue to evaluate damage to lander after MRO imagery shows severe damage to solar panels; scientists plan to continue analysis of information from Phoenix’s science activities despite ending all operations.
May 31 — Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island VA / Online: Application deadline for NASA ‘RockOn! 2010 Workshop,’ event on June 19-24.
May 31-Jun 3 — International Astronautical Federation, Chinese Society of Astronautics, Beijing, China: ‘Global Lunar Congress,’ conference to advance lunar exploration and applications.
May 31-Jun 4 — ESA, Madeira, Portugal: ‘4S Symposium 2010: Small Satellite Systems and Services.’
May 31-Jun 4 — International Astronomical Union, Barcelona, Spain: ‘IAU Symposium 270: Computational Star Formation.’
May 31-Jun 4 — Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Network for the Ultraviolet Astronomy, et al, St. Petersburg, Russia: ‘Ultraviolet Universe 2010.’
Continued from . . .
Jan 30 — Museum of Science and Industry, Confucius Institute / University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom: ‘Exhibition: From Gunpowder to Space Rockets – The China Space Program,’ includes models of ancient rockets, recent satellites, rockets, space ships and a lunar rover; through Aug 7.
May 30 — Mees Solar Observatory, Haleakala Maui HI: ‘6th Solar Polarization Workshop;’ through June 4.
TUESDAY
Jun 1 — Deep Space, Jupiter: NASA to launch new robotic mission to Jupiter in Aug 2011; Juno spacecraft mission to last 1 year and orbit planet 32 times.
Jun 1 — Silicon Valley Education Foundation, NASA Ames Research Center, Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, Moffett Field CA: ‘Smart Skies,’ renewing the spark of curiosity in math and science for students.
Jun 1-4 — Eurospace, CSA, ESA, et al, Budapest, Hungary: ‘DAta Systems in Aerospace 2010,’ where space meets ground and related non-space applications of similar technology.
Jun 1-6 — Guanajuato University Physics Department, Guanajuato, Mexico: ‘6th International Conference on the Dark Side of the Universe.’
Jun 1 — Cassini OTM-250, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #250 today.
Jun 1 — Asteroid 2010 HZ104: Near Earth Fly-by (0.064 AU).
WEDNESDAY
Jun 2 — Eurockot Launch Services, Launch Rockot / SERVIS 2, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia: A Eurockot Rockot vehicle set to launch SERVIS 2 satellite for Japan’s Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF) to test commercial off-the-shelf technologies for space applications.
NET Jun 2 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Dragon, Cape Canaveral FL: Falcon 9 rocket maiden launch demonstration mission to test future resupply flights to the ISS.
Jun 2 — EADS Astrium, Institution of Engineering and Technology, London, United Kingdom: ‘IET Seminar: Milsatcoms.’
Jun 2 — The SETI Institute, Mountain View CA: Colloquium Series Lecture: ‘The Soot Line: Destruction of Pre-Solar Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Terrestrial Planet-Forming Region of Disks,’ Monika Kress.
Jun 2-6 — Science Festival Foundation, New York City NY: ‘World Science Festival,’ an unprecedented annual tribute to imagination, ingenuity and inventiveness, takes science out of the laboratory and into the streets, theaters, museums, and public halls of New York City; Opening night to honor theoretical physicist Stephen W. Hawking /Jun 5, NASA Tweet-up event / James Webb Space Telescope.
THURSDAY
Jun 3 — International Launch Services, Launch Proton / Badr 5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan: International Launch Services Proton rocket with Breeze M upper stage set to deploy Badr 5 telecommunications spacecraft which will provide direct broadcasting, HDTV programming and interactive services.
Jun 3 — National Science Foundation, Washington DC: ‘Future Science: The Frontiers of 21st Century.’
Jun 3 — The Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston TX: ‘Lunar and Mercurian Impacts,’ Brett Gladman.
Jun 3-4 — ESA, Madrid, Spain: ‘Herschel Open Time Cycle-1 Observation Planning Workshop.’
Jun 3-4 — The Association of The United States Army – Los Angeles Chapter, Long Beach CA: ‘GLAC AUSA 2010 Symposium: Space, C4 & Cyper – Prevail, Prevent, Prepare & Preserve.’
Jun 3-5 — The Mars Society, San Rafael Swell UT: ‘4th Annual University Rover Challenge.’
Jun 3 — Moon: 4.3° NNW of Neptune, 05:00; At Apogee (Distance 63.38 Earth-radii), 07:00.
FRIDAY
Jun 4 — ISRO, Launch PSLV / Cartosat 2B, Sriharikota, India: ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to launch Cartosat 2B remote sensing satellite.
Jun 4 — Asteroid (Near-Earth Flyby): 1999 MN (0.033 AU); 2010 JK1 (0.068 AU).
Jun 4 — Asteroid 19578 Kirkdouglas: Closest Approach to Earth (0.967 AU).
SATURDAY
Jun 5 — Zero Gravity Corporation, Los Angeles CA: Commercial weightless flight onboard G Force One.
Jun 5 — Cassini Titan Flyby, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts close flyby of Saturn moon Titan (altitude 2044 km).
Jun 5 — Asteroid (Near-Earth Flyby): 2004 KH17 (0.084 AU); 1999 HE1 (0.077 AU).
Jun 5 — Moon: 6.3° NNW of Jupiter, 18:00; 5.9° NNW of Uranus, 19:00.
SUNDAY
Jun 6-8 — Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy Science Center, Monterey Peninsula CA: ‘Scientific Opportunities for New Instrumentation, Asimolar 2010.’
Jun 6-10 — University of Oslo Physics of Geological Processes, Oslo, Norway: ‘Damage to Target Rocks During Impact Cratering,’ Workshop and field excursion to Ritland impact structure, southwestern Norway on Jun 9-11.
Jun 6 — Mars: .83° NNW of Regulus; 20:00.