July 27 – August 2, 2020 / Vol 39, No 30 / Hawai`i Island, USA

USA Campaign 2020 and Artemis Moon Missions: First Women on the Moon

Space Policy Directive-1, the Artemis mission return to the Moon — is a laudable priority of the current USA administration, and key to opening up the Solar System to human activity in the 2020s. With a legacy of exploration going back to the leadership of JFK and LBJ in the Apollo era, the opposition Democrat party ought not allow their rivals to be sole champions of this most inspiring of tasks. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine has commented on “continuity of purpose going from one administration to the next” being a major factor in program success, while the late Representative John Lewis opined “America’s destiny is to explore space… as soon as we lose the ability to dream and reach for the stars, we cease to be great”. Exploration, a species-wide imperative ingrained across culture, geography and race, is exemplified by space travel. As the leading space faring power, USA executive branch has a singular ability to accelerate or retard sustainable human residency in space. Hence, regardless of political orientation / party affiliation, it is imperative that policy regarding space expansion is conducive to this pursuit — for reasons both pragmatic (production of innovative technology, diversification of habitat) and idealistic (optimism for future, unity). While the draft Democratic Party platform includes supportive language for NASA, strong advocacy for the First Woman and Next man on Moon is conspicuously absent. (Image Credits: ILOA, NASA, USA Senate, House of Representatives, White House; Pictured (L-R): Sen. Kamala Harris, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rep. Val Demings, Sen. Elizabeth Warren)

MONDAY

Jul 27-31— Heidelberg University, MPIA, DFG, German Research Foundation, et al, Online / Heidelberg, Germany: Exoplanets III Online Conference.

Jul 27 — Moon: At first quarter, 02:33.

Jul 27 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 OO1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.005 AU)

Solar System Complete, 21st Century Planning for Mars, Moon, Beyond Exploration

USA is set to round out July 2020 month of Mars missions with Perseverance Rover launch July 30 by ULA Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral FL at 07:50. The Rover with 7 science instruments, core drill and helicopter ‘Ingenuity’ are expected to touchdown at Jezero Crater (8.38°N, 77.58°E) February 18, 2021 at ~12:00 PST. The area is thought to have had a long-lived lake in which life may have formed. UAE Hope and China Tianwen-1 will also arrive at Mars in Feb. Exploring the strategic planetary center of our Solar System, Juno at Jupiter is estimated to exceed a total travel distance of 22.66 AU / 3.39B km on August 5, having launched exactly 9 years prior. Though its mission lifetime could be extended, it is planned to impact Jupiter atmosphere Aug 2021 — about 9 months before launch of ESA JUICE and 3 years before NASA Europa clipper. The Voyagers in Interstellar Space reach 44 years of operations next month. New Horizons is in Kuiper Belt ‘3rd Zone of the Solar System’ and may soon have ~50 KBOs identified by Subaru which could be chosen for its flyby observations. Next up, first robotic lunar sample return this Century, Chang’e-5 is launching NET Oct 2020. Proposed Solar System Complete expansion in 2020s decade + beyond include missions to Uranus, Neptune, Interstellar space and Alpha Centauri. (Image Credits: NASA, JPL, SpaceX, ESO/Pale Red Dot)

Jan 2019 – Sep 2020 — New Horizons, Kuiper Belt: Full data collected from 7 instruments during KBO Arrokoth flyby to be transmitted to Earth over this time period.

Nov 2019 – Nov 2020 — Hayabusa2, Earth Trajectory: JAXA Hayabusa2 with two samples collected from C-type asteroid 162173 Ryugu on trajectory for Earth return.

Jul 13-31 – ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo HI: ‘Imiloa to begin reopening with educational Halau Lamaku program.

Jul 20 – Aug 21 — International Space University, Online / Strasbourg, France: Interactive Space Program (ISP2020).

TUESDAY

Jul 28 — Arianespace, Launch Ariane 5 / Galaxy 30, MEV 2 & BSat 4b, ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana: Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA253, to launch Galaxy 30 communications satellite, second Mission Extension Vehicle satellite servicing spacecraft, and BSat 4b broadcasting payload.

Jul 28 — TechWeek, SpaceBase, Online / New Zealand: Webinar: Catalyzing a Space Industry in your NZ Region; hosted by Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom and Eric Dahlstrom.

Jul 28 – Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Online / Washington DC: Online Lecture: Hubble at 30; David Leckrone, 20:00 EDT.

Jul 28 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 OE2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.011 AU)

Jul 28 — Amor Asteroid 2020 NZ: Near-Earth Flyby (0.021 AU)

WEDNESDAY

Jul 29 — Roscosmos State Corporation, Launch Proton / Express 80 & Express 103, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan: Proton Rocket set to deliver Express 80 and Express 103 communications satellites for Russian Satellite Communication Company.