January 16-22, 2023 / Vol 42, No 3 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Interstellar Community Sees Resurgence of 100YSS, 1st International IRG Workshop in Montreal, New Interstellar Seminar at WSU

2023 is accelerating interstellar advancements with the 100 Year Starship reemerging for NEXUS 2023 themed When Space, Purpose, and Culture Collide in Nairobi, Kenya January 31 – February 4 after a 7-year meeting hiatus. Astronaut Mae Jemison will lead the event which includes workshops, challenges, classes, receptions, keynotes, plenaries, panels, networking, Thought Pools, celebrations, stargazing, and awards. Some of the 27 highlighted speakers are Rhonda Stevenson (Tao Zero Foundation), Alires Almon (Deep Space Predictive Research Group), Susan Murabana (The Travelling Telescope), Ariel Waldman (National Geographic), and Jennie Yeung (UN Education Science Cultural Health Advancement). Abstract submissions early deadline will pass January 15 for the first international Interstellar Symposium (8th of the series) themed In the Light of Other Suns. It is being held in Montreal, Canada July 10-13 by Interstellar Research Group, alongside pre-symposium seminars, in collaboration with International Academy of Astronautics and Breakthrough Initiatives at McGill University. The 3 Keynotes will be given by Kathryn Denning (York Univ.), Becky McCauley Rench (NASA, New Horizons), and Stephen Webb (Univ. of Portsmouth). On January 18, Wichita State University Interstellar Seminar ‘LASI 150G’ 1-credit hour course led by Prof. Mark Schneegurt will commence with an introductory talk on ‘Introduction to the Interstellar Community & An Interstellar University in the Ad Astra State’ by Ad Astra Kansas Foundation co-founder Steve Durst. (Image Credits: 100YSS, IRG, McGill Univ., NASA/JPL, WSU, ILOA Hawai’i, et al)

MONDAY

☆ Jan 16 — ISS, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 68 seven-member configuring EVA equipment; externally-mounted Cold Atom Lab simultaneously produces 2 species of quantum gases for 1st time.

☆ Jan 16 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou 15 three-member crew 2 months into 6-month mission setting up additional science experiment cabins; Xuntian (space telescope) may launch to TSS in Q4.

☾ = Moon activity

★ = Space and… ☆ = International space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).

First Woman on the Moon, Complete Solar System Exploration May Be Advanced at Upcoming USA State of the Union

As the Biden / Harris administration enters its 3rd year January 20 (recognized as Inauguration Day since 1937), the 2nd State of the Union (SOTU) address from USA President Joe Biden is expected soon. This constitutionally-mandated presidential update to congress is a focal point for executive priorities in the coming year and beyond. With many inspiring space missions and preparations slated for 2023 (CLPS commercial lunar landers, OSIRIS-REx sample return from Bennu, Starliner crewed flight to ISS, launch of Psyche, Artemis 2 crew selection / training, and Artemis 3 First Woman on the Moon NLT July 4, 2026 awareness) and the major USA space accomplishments of 2022 (JWST, DART, Artemis 1) still fresh in the public imagination, the moment is ripe for an ambitious declaration of continuity following NASA Moon to Mars program – out to the middle and far reaches of the Solar System as the 21st Century unfolds. Past the main Asteroid Belt, humans from the USA and other nations may explore the Jovian planetary systems – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, all possessing planetary magnetospheres and a plethora of moon worlds (208 total) containing the variety of resources necessary to sustain civilization, and on to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. Vice President Kamala Harris could amplify and sustain a call for long-term solar system exploration at the SOTU through her role as chair of Chair of the National Space Council. (Image Credits: NASA, The White House, OpenAI)

o Jan 16-18 — Malaysia National Planetarium (Planetarium Negara), Australian National University, Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, et al, Pusat Sains Negara & Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Global Malaysia Astronomers Convention 2023 (Part 2).

☆ Jan 16 — Aten Asteroid 2012 BV13: Near-Earth Flyby (0.031 AU)

☆ Jan 16 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 NO2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.064 AU)

☆ Jan 16 — Amor Asteroid 2022 YB5: Near-Earth Flyby (0.086 AU)

Continued From…

● Oct 15 – Jun 15, 2023 — International Space Elevator Consortium, Online: Space Elevator Academic Challenge: Improving Humanity’s Future; for students 17-25.

● Nov 14 – Jan 17, 2023 — Wichita State University, Wichita KS and Online: Registration Open for 2023 Interstellar Seminar ‘LASI 150G’; 1-credit hour seminar which begins Jan 18, every Wednesday 14:30-15:20, led by Prof. Mark Schneegurt.

● Dec 1 – Jan 31, 2023 — JPL, NASA, Online / Pasadena CA: Prepare for the Science Fair; video series for students in grades 3-12, teachers and parents.

☾ Dec 11 – Apr 25, 2023 — Hakuto-R / ispace Mission 1, Lunar Landing Trajectory: Carrying UAE Rashid 10-kg rover, 0.25-kg JAXA rover, Hakuto-R performing orbital control maneuvers to reach Lunar Orbital Insertion, followed by Moon touchdown nominally ~4.5 months after launch.

● Jan 15-18 — Pacific Telecommunications Council, Honolulu HI: Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC 2023).

● Jan 15-19 — American Astronautical Society, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Austin TX: 33rd AAS / AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting.

TUESDAY

● Jan 17 — Maryland Space Business Roundtable (MSBR), Greenbelt MD: MSBR Luncheon; featuring Kevin Murphy, NASA Science Mission Directorate Chief Science Data Officer and Head of Earth Science Data Systems.