February 22-28, 2021 / Vol 40, No 8 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Supporting Humans in Space, on the Moon: Meetings Focus on Lunar Surface Science and Commons in Space

As 2021 new USA Administration plans for February 23 (TBD) State of the Union Address, hopefully including thoughts for strategic Artemis Moon / USA in Space 2020s decade planning, the only humans in LEO continue their work aboard ISS while on the ground, others advance exploration infrastructures. The 8th Lunar Surface Science Workshop, themed ‘Structuring Real-Time Science Support of Artemis Crewed Operations’ and chaired by (TL) José Hurtado and Kelsey Young will run February 24-25. There will be >35 lectures, 2 Sessions on Analogs and 2 Breakout Sessions cover topics on modernizing lessons and support tools from Apollo, Constellation, Shuttle program, ISS EVAs, EuroMoonMars, Pangaea astronaut training, Desert Research and Technology Studies, and Haughton-Mars Project analog site on Devon Island, High Arctic. On Feb 24-26, Commons in Space Conference 2021 is being held online hosted by International Association for the Study of the Commons, ASU, University of Arizona, Open Lunar Foundation and Indiana University Bloomington. It will discuss orbital space congestion, celestial mining and dark night sky, building beyond Antarctica and High Sea regulations to promote fair use of space resources, knowledge and innovations. The Conference Steering Committee includes (BL-R) Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty of ASU, Alice Gorman of Flinders University, Jessy Kate Schingler of Open Lunar Foundation, Menelisi Falayi of Rhodes University, and Akhil Rao of Middlebury College. (Image Credits: NASA, LPI, ASU, Beyond Earth, et al)

USA State of Union Address Appeal

Artemis and the First Woman on the Moon significant, historic achievement should be high priority for President Biden and First Woman VP Harris

MONDAY

Southeast Asia Increasingly Focused on Space Industry, Science, Exploration

Singapore, a hub of technology and commerce in SEA, is host to Pre-Global Space & Technology Convention (GSTC) Workshops and Seminars February 25 in Hybrid format – joining carefully orchestrated in-person exchanges with online participation. The day starts with Global Navigation Satellite System Workshop, featuring GNSS Innovation Challenge – design competition to utilize differential Singapore Satellite Positioning Reference Network (SiReNT) technology to aid in caring for elderly, special needs or animal companions with US$4k in prizes. 3rd Lunar Commercial Communications Workshop, co-hosted by International Lunar Observatory Association of Hawai’i, will concentrate on business communication on and around the Moon – an endeavor which will increase the sphere of commercial communications more than 1000X. Workshops on Global Air Traffic Management, Global Maritime Traffic Management, Project Cyclotron and Startup Pitching will also be conducted. In Thailand, Science Minister Anek Laothamatas has announced plans for GISTDA to construct 50-100kg satellites within 4 years and a 300kg ion thruster propelled spacecraft capable of achieving lunar orbit within 7, with $100.2M budget. President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is hoping to attract international launch providers including SpaceX to the spaceport under construction by Indonesia National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) on Biak Island, Papua. Vietnam National Space Center is working with State Space Agency of Ukraine to develop capabilities after Jan 25 MoU signing and Malaysia makes strides through recently merged Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency / National Space Agency, now Malaysian Space Agency. (Image Credits: SSTL, ILOA)

Feb 22 — National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Online / Washington DC: Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration Report Briefing; 16:30 EST.

Feb 22-26 — Nexus for Exoplanet System Science, NASA, American Astronomical Society, Online: Habitable Worlds 2021 Workshop.

Feb 22 — Aten Asteroid 2020 BV9: Near-Earth Flyby (0.038 AU)

Feb 22 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 CC5: Near-Earth Flyby (0.046 AU)

Continued From…

Nov 4, 2020 – Feb 28, 2021 — International Astronautical Federation, Online: Abstracts Submission Open: 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2021); being held Oct 25-29.

Jan 20 – Feb 28 — CNSA Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, Online / Beijing, China: Global Campaign soliciting nominations for the name of Tianwen-1 Mars rover.

Feb 15-28 — NI Science Festival Team, Belfast City Council, Queen’s University, Open University, et al, Online / United Kingdom: Ireland & Northern Ireland Science Festival 2021.

TUESDAY

NET Feb 23 — USA Administration, Washington DC / Online: State of the Union Address to Congress 2021; to be given by 46th President Joe Biden.

Feb 23 — Secure World Foundation, Caelus Foundation, Online / Washington DC: Report Release Event: Lost Without Translation: Identifying Gaps in U.S. Perceptions of the Chinese Commercial Space Sector; 11:00-12:30 EST.

Feb 23 — SETI Institute Online / Mountain View CA: Lecture: Searching with NASA’s SOFIA; by Dana Backman from MIT and University of Hawaii; 19:00 CST.