29th Planetary Congress of ASE Brings Together Astronauts From Around the World

The Association of Space Explorers is hosting the 29th Planetary Congress ‘Born to Explore’ in Vienna, Austria October 3-7. The international forum of Astronauts from different countries facilitates professional exchange of experiences and information related to space operations, scientific research, mission development, astronaut training and national space agency developments. There are also unique opportunities for interaction between the international space community, government agencies and the public. Some of the Space Explorers attending public functions are John-David Bartoe, Bonnie J. Dunbar, Michael Lopez-Alegria, Sandra Magnus, Bruce McCandless II, and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu. Prizes for a silent auction to support the education and scholarship programs of the ASE and the Austrian Space Forum include a tour of NASA JSC with Bonnie Dunbar, an aerial tour of Chartres Cathedral with Michel Tognini, and a golf and Napa Valley wine tour with Apollo Astronaut Rusty Schweickart. Out of a total 549 people who have been in space, ASE membership has included over 400 astronauts from 37 nations across four regional chapters: USA, Russia, Europe and Asia headed by Michael Lopez-Alegria, Alexander Alexandrov, Dorin Prunariu, and Sultan bin Salman al-Saud respectively. The ASE Planetary Congress coincides with the United Nations sanctioned World Space Week Oct 4-10, one of the largest public space events on Earth. Organizers hope to build on 2015 stats of 1,800+ events in 73 countries. (Image Credit: ASE, NASA, RSA)

MONDAY

Hawaii Capitol Focuses on Aerospace Developments and Benefits Statewide

The 2016 Hawaii Aerospace Summit is being held at the State Capitol Building in Honolulu October 4-5. Expecting over 200 participants, the large exhibit hall will feature displays during Aerospace Week in Hawaii Oct 2-7. Hawaii State legislators, Administration officials, and leaders from commercial aerospace companies, University of Hawaii, PISCES, HI-SEAS and DoD will discuss aerospace-related activities in Hawaii, public-private and international partnerships, and expanding Hawaii economic development, through aerospace high tech jobs, 21st Century education and inspiration. Hawaii Governor David Ige, Senator Will Espero and Representative Angus McKelvey will give welcome remarks. Space Transportation Panel will be moderated by Jacqui Hoover and include Mike Jacobs (Orbital ATK), Jason Hundley (Zero Point Frontiers), Craig Campbell (Alaska Aerospace Corp) and Luke Flynn (Hawaii Space Flight Lab). Planetary Sustainability and the Space Economy Panel will have Dan Rasky and Bruce Pittman of NASA. Aerospace Education and Training Panel will feature Karen Meech (IfA), Liane Kim (Challenger Center Hawaii), Tristan Bassingthwaighte (HI-SEAS) and Shauna Tonkin (Pacific Aviation Museum). There will be Breakout Session Focus Groups and Recommendations, and a lunch presentation by Rick Rogers (Hawaii Spaceport Planning Lead). The proposed Spaceport for Kona, Hawaii Island would feature suborbital tourism and horizontal take off and landing vehicles. Hawaii is also considered an ideal location for Pacific Space Access, offshore / sea launching, and orbital launches due to its optimal population-free equatorial and polar flight paths. (Image Credit: Hawaii Office of Aerospace Development, PISCES, NASA, PAM, hawaii.gov, Google)

Oct 3 — Cornell University, Ithaca NY: Lecture: Albedos and Colors of Solar System Bodies as Exoplanets; Jack Madden of Cornell, 12:30.

Oct 3-4 — Government of Canada, Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Antarctic Research Workshop.

Oct 3-7 — Association of Space Explorers, Vienna, Austria: 29th Planetary Congress of the ASE: Born to Explore.

Oct 3-7 — International Astronomical Union, National University of Columbia, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia: 15th Latin American Regional IAU Meeting.

Oct 3-7 — ESA, Thessaloniki, Greece: 11th European Space Power Conference.

Oct 3 — Moon: 4.9° NNE of Venus, 10:00.

Continued from…

NET Q4 — Interorbital Systems Corp., Launch Neptune 5 (5 CPM) vehicle / 30 Nanosats, Mojave CA: Planning to launch Neptune 5 Common Propulsion Module (CPM) to loft 30 nanosats to LEO, including payloads for GLXP teams Team Synergy Moon, Part-Time Scientists, Plan B & EuroLuna.

Oct 1-5 — Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere (PoSSUM), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Dayton Beach FL: PoSSUM Scientist-Astronaut Class 1602.

Oct 2-7 — State of Hawai`i, Hawaii Office of Aerospace Development (OAD), Honolulu HI: 2016 Aerospace Week in Hawaii; Governor David Ige to speak Oct 4; at Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium and Walkway.

TUESDAY

Oct 4 — Cassini OTM-462, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #462 today.

Oct 4 — Arianespace, Launch Ariane 5 / Sky Muster 2 & GSAT 18, Kourou, French Guiana: Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA231, to launch Sky Muster 2 (NBN Co 1B) and ISRO GSAT 18 communications satellites.