November 11-17, 2019 / Vol 38, No 45 / Hawai’i Island, USA

6th Interstellar Symposium and Propulsion Workshop in Ad Astra State

Wichita, Kansas is hosting the 6th Interstellar Symposium and Advanced Interstellar Propulsion Workshop on November 10-15. Cosponsored by Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop in collaboration with NASA, and hosted jointly by Wichita State University and Ad Astra Kansas Foundation. This symposium will feature ~35 oral presentations, 4 seminars, and 2.5 days of parallel sessions for the Propulsion Workshop. Speakers include Greg Matloff, Marc Millis, Geoff Landis, and Les Johnson. Topics include Preparing for First Contact, Life in Space, In-Space Manufacturing, Space Law, Interstellar Power and Communication, LightSails, Wormholes and Warp Metrics, Self-Replicating Probes, and Inflatable Tech. There is also a ‘Sagan Meeting’ on Nov 12 and tour of Cosmosphere on Nov 13, which houses >13,000 space artifacts. Propulsion Workshop will touch on Beamed Energy Propulsion and Highly Energetic Nuclear Processes for Propulsion (Fusion and Antimatter), and hold a panel on “Roadmap and needed NASA and other agency Support”. The rise of the Interstellar community – particularly groups founded in the 21st Century such as AAK, Breakthrough Initiatives, TVIW, 100-YSS, Icarus Interstellar and Centauri Dreams – has led to advanced research and development which could catalyze the founding of the first Interstellar University, perhaps in the Ad Astra State of Kansas; and help overcome challenges for observation, location and travel to thousands of confirmed exoplanets in Milky Way Galaxy, especially close star systems such as Alpha Centauri and intriguing systems such as Trappist-1. (Image Credits: TVIW, AAKF, NASA, WSU, 100YSS, Breakthrough Initiatives, Icarus Interstellar, Centauri Dreams, GSA, i4is, et al)

MONDAY

Nov 11 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink 1, LC-40, Cape Canaveral AFS FL: Launch of second batch of ~60 satellites, designated Starlink 1, for SpaceX Starlink Broadband.

Nov 11 — Transit of Mercury: Mercury to pass directly between Earth and Sun; observers see distant planet as small dot gliding slowly across face of Sun; 02:35 – 08:04 HST.

22nd IAA Humans in Space Symposium in Dubai

The 22nd International Academy of Astronautics Humans in Space Symposium opens in Dubai, United Arab Emirates November 11-14. IAA, founded in Stockholm in 1960 by Theodore von Karman, fosters the development of astronautics for peaceful purposes. It is modeled after the great 17th century scientific academies of Europe. Featured guests at HIS2019 include Hazzaa Amansoori (L), the first UAE astronaut fresh from his 8-day flight to ISS from Sep 25 to Oct 3, and his backup Sultan Alneyadi. Project Manager Omran Sharaf will talk about the UAE Mars Exploration Program and the Emirates Mars Mission planned for launch in 2020. Julie A. Robinson of NASA Johnson Space Center will talk about using ISS as an analog for human Mars missions. NASA is planning more one-year stays on ISS to better understand the effects of long duration space flight. Breakout sessions cover the spectrum of human spaceflight research. Claudia Stern of DLR (R) speaks on medical selection of the first German commercial woman astronaut. Chen Shanguang of CNSA will discuss Chinese human spaceflight program and future plans. Shiying Liu will talk about the Chinese Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. As various nations and independent enterprises prepare for the Moon and beyond, the effects of spaceflight will be discussed at the IAA Humans in Space Symposium. (Image Credits: NASA, DLR)

Nov 11-13 — Leiden University, International Institute of Air and Space Law,

Nov 11-14 — International Academy of Astronautics, Dubai, UAE: 22nd IAA Humans in Space Symposium.

Nov 11-14 — University of Malaysia, ASIAA, NAOJ, NARIT, et al, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 1st Malaysian VLBI Workshop.

Nov 11-15 — International Academy of Astronautics, Buenos Aires, Argentina: 2nd IAA Latin American Symposium on Small Satellites (IAA LASSS).

Nov 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2019 VN: Near-Earth Flyby (0.008 AU)

Nov 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2019 VX2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.009 AU)

Nov 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2019 VX3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.010 AU)

Nov 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2005 WD: Near-Earth Flyby (0.060 AU)

Continued from…

NET Nov-Dec — CNSA, Launch Long March 5 / Shijian 20 (SJ 20), Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan Island, China (19° N): China Long March 5 return to flight carrying SJ-20, an 8-metric ton technological demonstration satellite, into geosynchronous orbit.

Nov 10-15 — Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop, Ad Astra Kansas Foundation, Wichita State University, NASA Wichita KS: The 6th Interstellar Symposium and Advanced Interstellar Propulsion Workshop; with Cosmosphere tour on November 13.

Nov 10-17 — International Astronomical Union, Multiple Locations: IAU100 Astronomy Day in Schools, which includes World Science Day for Peace and Development on Nov 10, and Mercury transit on Nov 11.