October 30 – November 5, 2023 / Vol 42, No 44 / Hawai`i Island, USA

ISS Surpasses 23 Years of Continuous Human Occupation This Week While Exp 70 Perform Multiple EVAs

The start to the 24th year of International Space Station continuous human occupation commences November 3 with Expedition 70 crew and Andreas Mogensen as Commander. The crew is represented by 1 ESA, 1 JAXA, 2 NASA and 3 Roscosmos Astronauts who are focusing on experiments for human health, cancer treatments and space manufacturing techniques. U.S. EVA #89 will see the removal of radio frequency group hardware and the replacement of a trundle bearing assembly by Loral O’Hara and Andreas Mogensen on October 30; and soon followed by EVA #90 with Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli exiting the station. Russia EVA #61 last week lasted 7 hours 41 minutes for the installation of a synthetic radar communications system, deployment of a solar sail satellite and to image the 13-year-old external radiator mounted on Nauka for ongoing leak investigations. The crew are also prepared to receive SpaceX Dragon CRS 29 cargo ship after its launch November 5 aboard Falcon 9 from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center FL. Dragon will carry ~3,500-kg of cargo including ILLUMA-T to be installed on the Japan module exposed facility for testing laser communication, AWE to measure atmospheric gravity waves, Aquamembrane-3 water filtration demonstration, and ovarian, skeletal & respiratory studies. Private sector investment at ISS is increasing The next commercial Axiom Mission 3 will carry 3 passengers including a Turkish Space Agency representative as early as January 10 to ISS.  (Image Credits: ISS Partners, NASA, SpaceX)

MONDAY 

☆ Oct 30 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 70 working with HAM radio, plant habitat, sleep monitoring studies; prepacking items for Dragon cargo ship arrival and carrying out activities for spacewalks.

☆ Oct 30 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou 17 crew Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin being oriented to TSS operations as 3-member Shenzhou 16 crew return to Earth.

☾ = Moon activity

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

5 Days of Venus Science Comes to Albuquerque, New Mexico

While Earth’s twin, Venus, holds the solar system planetary record for mean surface temperature (464°C), its novel atmosphere contains dramatic thermal fluctuations, with a ‘cryosphere’ layer at ~125 km altitude that is thought to reach a frigid -175°C, possibly cold enough to freeze CO2. With this unique dynamic in mind, the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VExAG) is set to hold its annual meeting October 30-31 at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Open to all interested scientists, VExAG reports to NASA Planetary Advisory Committee on matters which may affect goals defined by National Research Council Planetary Science Decadal Survey and Solar System Exploration Strategic Roadmap. Immediately following, Lunar and Planetary Institute is holding the third meeting of its Venus Initiative, Venus as a System: Coupled Volcanic, Tectonic, Surface, and Atmospheric Evolution November 1-3. Talks will focus on how interrelated aspects of Venusian planetary processes, with research being presented on topics including Venus interior structure and evolution, impacts, geology, atmosphere, tectonics, and ancient Venus. Participants will discuss experiments, landing sites, and future considerations for upcoming exploration missions including NASA Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI) and Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy (VERITAS) slated for NET 2029 launch as well as ESA EnVision planned for 2031. (Pictured: LPI Organizing Committee members Debra Buczkowski, Tracy Gregg, Indujaa Ganesh, Thomas Widemann, Justin Filiberto, and David Grinspoon; Credits: LPI, JHU APL, University at Buffalo, indujaa.com, Paris Observatory, ResearchGate, NASA)

☆ NET Oct 30 — Tiangong Space Station, Shenzhou-16 Return to Earth, ~390-km LEO: Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao of Shenzhou 16 to return to Earth after planned 155-day mission.

☆ Oct 30 — International Space Station, Expedition 70 / USA EVA #89, ~415-km LEO: Loral O’Hara and Andreas Mogensen of Expedition 70 to perform ~6.5-hour spacewalk; starts 06:30 EDT, live coverage available.

● Oct 30-31 — NASA Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG), Hybrid / Albuquerque NM and Online: VEXAG Annual Meeting; at New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

o Oct 30 – Nov 3 — United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Canadian Space Agency, Montreal, Québec, Canada: 4th Space4Women Expert Meeting: Building capacity to promote and advance gender equality in the space sector.

☾ Oct 30 — Moon: 1.06° SE of Pleiades, 07:00.

☆ Oct 30 — Apollo Asteroid 525229 (2004 UU1): Near-Earth Flyby (0.027 AU).

TUESDAY

☆ Oct 31 — Apollo Asteroid 2023 TW6: Near-Earth Flyby (0.049 AU).

☆ Oct 31 — Amor Asteroid 2023 SU: Near-Earth Flyby (0.053 AU).

WEDNESDAY 

★ Nov 1 — Lucy, Inner Main Asteroid Belt: NASA spacecraft to fly within 450 km of asteroid 1999 VD57 today.

☆ Nov 1 — Deep Space, Jupiter Orbit: Juno reveals high resolution images of Jupiter moon Io after fly by at 11,645 km distance; planned to perform 1,500-km altitude flyby in February.