Galaxy Forum and IPSPACE Held on Hainan Island, Known as China’s Hawai’i

International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) convenes Galaxy Forum China 2024 Hainan, Wenchang December 8-12 with 40+ presentations by people from 14 countries on themes International Human Moon Landings, Astronomy from the Moon and 21st Century Solar System Complete Exploration. One special session features “First Women on the Moon”. The Forum is endorsed by Chinese Society of Astronautics, International Astronautical Federation, Moon Village Association, Deep Space Exploration Lab and Hainan Association for Science and Technology, with thanks to National Astronomical Observatories of China. Discussions center around developments, resources, international cooperation to promote human presence on and Astronomy from the Moon, and exploration of the entire Solar System by 2100. Experts from research institutions, aerospace companies, media, cultural educators and young professionals will participate. Speakers include Astronaut Don Thomas (USA), Shawna Pandya (Canada), Wang Yiran (CSA), Boonrucksar Soonthornthum (Thailand), Christian Feichtinger (IAF France) and Jatan Mehta (India). Performances by Hainan students and Hawai’i cultural practitioners seek to bridge the islands of Hainan and Hawaii, which are the same latitude, the southernmost points of their countries and known to have great advantages for Pacific Space Access. Galaxy Forum will be in Wenchang on the northeast coast of Hainan. On the same island, about 98 km away, International Symposium on the Peaceful Use of Space Technology (IPSPACE 2024): One Space, One Home will be held December 10-13 and emphasize conversion of innovations from space to Earth. Sessions include power, propulsion, health, IT, Moon protection / development / law / investment and space elevators. (Image credits: ILOA, IAA, NARIT, S. Pandya, D. Thomas, CSA)

MONDAY 

☆ Dec 9 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: This week the Expedition 72 seven-member crew has Don Pettit speaking at 06:45 on Dec 9, Suni Williams / Nick Hague at 07:25 on Dec 11, Nick Hague at 11:25 on Dec 11; all times HST on NASA+; Roscosmos Cosmonauts preparing for EVA #63 potentially in 1 week.

☆ Dec 9 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: The Shenzhou 19 three-member crew mark one month in space, stay fit with treadmill time, conduct science and maintenance projects.

● Dec 9-13 — American Geophysical Union (AGU), Washington DC: AGU 2024 Annual Meeting; convenes 25,000+ attendees from 100+ countries.

☾ Dec 9 — Moon: At ascending node, 10:00.

☆ Dec 9 — Apollo Asteroid (2024 VE13): Near-Earth Flyby (0.046 AU)

☾ = Moon activity

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

American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting Convenes 25,000+ for Earth and Space Sciences

The annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) is planned for December 9-13 in Washington DC with sponsors SETI Institute, Lockheed Martin, KBR, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Battelle, Maritz, Polar Science Alliance, Schmidt Ocean Institute and Wiley. AGU meetings foster learning and collaboration, and promote topics that enhance perspectives across Earth and space science. The AGU meetings are claimed to be “the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists,” educators, policymakers, journalists and communicators with 25,000+ attendees from 100+ countries. AGU also publishes the quarterly journal Space Weather and is committed to open data on Earth and space sciences as a world heritage. (Image credits: AGU, Lockheed Martin, SETI, NASA)

TUESDAY

☆ Dec 10 — XMM-Newton, Very Eccentric Elliptical LEO: ESA craft studying X-ray emissions, star-forming regions, galaxy clusters, environment of supermassive black holes, mapping dark matter, reaches 25 full years / begins 26th year in space today, launched 1999.

● Dec 10 — Maryland Space Business Roundtable (MSBR), Greenbelt MD: MSBR Luncheon: NASA Goddard Chief Scientist Jim Garvin.

o Dec 10 — Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN), Online; See recording and summary of Founding Meeting; 2nd meeting introduces the Global Space Innovation Ecosystem Maturity Rubric, updates governance, membership, initiatives; RSVP, 02:00 HST.

● Dec 10-11 — NewSpace Nexus, Online / Albuquerque NM: 2024 NewSpace Showspace Summit; for industry, government, academia; industry tours Dec 11.

o Dec 10-11 — UAE Space Agency, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi Space Debate.

o Dec 10-13 — International Academy of Astronautics, IAU, et al, Haikou, China / Online: International Symposium on the Peaceful Use of Space Technology (IPSPACE 2024): One Space, One Home; focus on global peace, collaboration and innovation.

☆ Dec 10 — Apollo Asteroid (2024 WS17): Near-Earth Flyby (0.012 AU)