November 16-22, 2020 / Vol 39, No 46 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Venus Captures Attention of Astrophysicists, Planetary Scientists and Explorers

Closest Earth neighbor Venus may hold the answer to the most perennially contemplated query of humankind: the existence of extraterrestrial life and its distribution in the universe, as well as give insight into climate change processes on Earth. Recent analysis of spectroscopic observations at ALMA in Chile and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii conducted at Cardiff University indicate the presence of Venusian atmospheric phosphine, a terrestrial biomarker thought to have astrobiological relevance. Lead study author Jane Greaves is invited to talk on the possibility of phosphine at 18th Meeting of the Venus Exploration and Analysis Group (VEXAG) being held virtually Nov 16-17. Another investigation of ALMA data conducted by researchers in West Bengal, India has identified the amino acid glycine in Venusian mid-latitudes. Although these findings are under methodological scrutiny by the scientific peer-review process, ultimately further exploratory missions will be necessary to judge validity of Earth-based readings. Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck is determined to explore Venus for life-signs with a series of missions starting 2023. Beck proposes utilization of the proven workhorse Electron rocket in conjunction with Photon smallsat platform to thoroughly analyze the atmosphere of Venus in a commercial / academic collaboration with researchers at MIT, JPL and Oxford. With Electron reusability attempt set for Nov 15 and Artemis lessons to be learned via Capstone in 2021, Rocket Lab is well positioned to achieve the transcendent. (Image Credits: ISAS, NASA, Rocket Lab)

MONDAY

3rd Symposium on Peaceful Use of Space Technology Being Held in-Person and Online

The 3rd IPSPACE 2020 – Health is set for November 18–19 at three parallel venues in China (Presidential Hotel, Beijing), Europe and USA as well as 20 sub-venues around the world and online. This annual event is hosted by the International Peace Alliance, Chinese Society of Astronautics and China High-Tech Industrialization Association, with support from IAA, IAF, IISL, ASE, ISU, Space Foundation and Rice University International Space Medicine Summit. It aims to promote the peaceful use of space technology for the betterment of peoples of Earth. With the slogan “One Space, One Home” and theme “Space technology and pandemic control / prevention” this conference will feature 2 Plenary Sessions, 5 Tracks, and opening and closing ceremonies. Some speakers include (TL-TR) CSA Secretary General Wang Yiran, IAF Executive Director Christian Feichtinger, UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of Russian Academy of Sciences IBMP Oleg Orlov, Former JAXA VP Hiroki Matsuo, Space Foundation VP Steve Eisenhart, Canada Astronaut Robert Thirsk, Farhan Asrar of International Space University, China Astronauts Yang Liwei and Wang Yaping, and iSpace China VP Huo Jia. Topics covered include remote sensing, space medicine, commercialization of space, international collaborations for peaceful use of space, space communication and navigation, mass spectrometry-based microorganism identification systems, Hainan satellite industry, aerospace revolution to meet new world challenges, and next-gen space education and projects. (Image Credits: IPA, CSA, CHIA, IAF, IAA, ISSL, ASE, ISU, SF, ISMS, NASA, Xinhua / Liu Jinhai)

Nov 16 — Cornell University, Online / Ithaca NY: Lecture: Understanding Atmospheres Across the Stellar-Substellar Boundary; by Eileen Gonzales from Cornell, 12:20 EST.

Nov 16-17 — Tech Crunch, The Aerospace Corporation, Online: TC Sessions: Space 2020; featuring Peter Beck (Rocket Lab), Kathy Lueders (NASA), John Thompson (USSF), tickets range from 50-$360, 07:00 HST.

Nov 16-17 — Venus Exploration Analysis Group, NASA, Online: Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting #18.

Nov 16-18 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Online: 2020 Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration and New Discovery (ASCEND) Conference; with Keynote Speaker Jim Bridenstine, Kathy Lueders, Dava Newman, Astronaut Harrison Schmitt, Shawna Pandya, more.

Nov 16-20 — JHU APL, Lunar and Planetary Institute, USRA, Online: 3rd Annual Interstellar Probe Exploration Workshop.

Nov 16 — Venus: 3.8° NNE of Spica, 10:00.

Nov 16 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 VB3: Near Earth Flyby (0.004 AU)

Nov 16 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 VS1: Near Earth Flyby (0.019 AU)

Nov 16 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 VA3: Near Earth Flyby (0.028 AU)

Continued From…

Nov 2019 – Dec 2020 — Hayabusa2, Earth Trajectory: JAXA Hayabusa2 on trajectory for Earth to return two samples collected from C-type asteroid 162173 Ryugu; craft will then head toward Asteroid 1998 KY26, arriving 2031.

 NET Nov 15 — Rocket Lab, Launch Electron / “Return to Sender”, LC 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand: 14-day launch window for Electron Flight 16 carrying 30 satellites to a sun-synchronous orbit at 500 km altitude for a range of customers, including TriSept, Unseenlabs, Swarm, Auckland Programme for Space Systems, and global gaming software company Valve; launch opens at 15:44-18:34 HST.