August 3-9, 2020 / Vol 39, No 31 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Pacific Space Access Vital for Hawai’i 21st Century Resiliency

The Hawaiian archipelago, situated in the center of the Pacific Hemisphere, is a near ideal location to access space via ocean launch. At latitude 19° North, equatorial trajectories benefit from the extra push given by Earth rotation, minimal need for orbital plane change in comparison to Cape Canaveral (28.5° N) and relative lack of population downrange in all directions – allowing for a multitude of launch inclinations. While already an established leader in 21st Century Astronomy from Mauna Kea, the unique cultural, biological and geopolitical nature of Hawaii has proven problematic in past efforts at establishing USA pacific space access on the Islands: further militarization is politically untenable, as is environmental degradation, and indigenous land rights must be respected. However, technology has progressed: solid propellant, once a mainstay of orbital flight, has given way to less environmentally deleterious liquid combinations with sufficient specific impulse to loft LEO payloads. Ocean-based launch technology has also matured, with international Sea Launch platforms used on 32+ successful launches since 1999 due south of Hawaii, and CNSA Long March 11 flying March 2019 from a converted barge in the Yellow Sea. As such, the case for peaceful, offshore, truly pacific space access should be revisited – with an eye toward the future of humankind and Hawaii nei. Might Hawaii Pacific Space Access be a factor in the upcoming (Nov 3) Honolulu mayoral election? This issue will be discussed November 12 at Galaxy Forum Hawaii, Kamuela. (Image Credits: Sea Launch, candidate photos via Twitter)

MONDAY

Aug 3 — Astra Space, Launch Astra Rocket 3.1 / “2 of 3”, Pacific Spaceport Complex, Kodiak Island AK: Astra Space second attempt to launch Rocket 3 to LEO, launch set for 02:00-04:00 UT window open through Aug 7.

Interstellar University Considerations

The potential establishment of an Interstellar University (IU), a collection of rich international interstellar R&D resources, could be a timely consideration for early 2020s decade to realize the long-range vision to innovate, educate, inspire and achieve Interstellar observations, communications, transportation in the 21st Century. The Ad Astra State of Kansas, reaching its 160th anniversary of becoming the 34th Star in the USA Flag 29 January 2021, is an appealing location and time to launch a modest beginning for this important venture, planning for next the 5 years and decades beyond. With the State Motto and Seal “Ad Astra Per Aspera” and Midway USA Breadbasket / Heartland persevering, upward-looking spirit – Kansas is well suited to host IU. Perhaps first starting with an existing University Department and expanding to a regular curriculum, IU would build upon in-state resources such as K-State, KU, WSU, Ad Astra Kansas Foundation, Cosmosphere housing >13K spaceflight artifacts, 7 Observatories, manufacturing / engineering capabilities and its history of aero- and astronautics with Mercury & Apollo. IU may be similar to International Space University, and see participation from the Interstellar Community including: Centauri Dreams, Tau Zero Foundation, Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop, 100-Year Starship, Icarus Interstellar, Starship Congress, Initiative for Interstellar Studies and Breakthrough Initiatives. Galaxy Forum Kansas 2020 Hutchinson is postponed from August to October 24, when its organizers hope an in-person / hybrid online event can support Interstellar / IU interactions and advances. (Image Credits: KS Historical Society, NASA, Cosmosphere, MeerKAT, SARAO)

Aug 3 — Moon: Full Sturgeon / Green Corn Moon, 05:58.

Aug 3 — Apollo Asteroid 2018 BD: Near-Earth Flyby (0.019 AU)

Continued From…

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

Aug 1-6 – Utah State University, Online / Logan UT: 34th annual Small Satellite Conference: Space Mission Architectures: Infinite Possibilities; free of charge.

Aug 2-6 — International Academy of Astronautics, Online / Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil: 4th IAA Latin American CubeSat Workshop; now being held virtually.

TUESDAY

Aug 4 — Secure World Foundation, Online / Broomfield CO: Space Weather and Small Satellites: How the Sun Impacts LEO; 10:00-11:15 EDT.

Aug 4-6 — Chandra X-Ray Center, NASA, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Online / Cambridge MA: Conference: Chandra Frontiers in Time-Domain Science.

Aug 4 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 OG3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.018 AU)