October 1-7, 2018 / Vol 37, No 40 / Hawai`i Island, USA

International Astronautical Congress 2018 Meets in Bremen, Commencing World Space Week

International Astronautical Federation (IAF) holds the 69th IAC in Bremen, Germany on October 1-5 with the theme “Involving Everyone”, locally organized by Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM). Co-organizers include the International Academy of Astronautics, International Institute of Space Law, and Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). This year’s IAC boasts a record number of 2,500+ presenters from 90 countries. The plenary on Tuesday will discuss “Joint Future in Space”, featuring a panel of women including DLR chair Pascale Ehrenfreund and UNOOSA Director Simonetta di Pippo. IAF is hosting 3G Diversity sessions to foster diversity across Geography, Generation, and Gender. SGAC led by Clementine Decoopman was the winner of this year’s 3G Diversity Award. Mika Ochiai of JAXA is presenting on International Space Exploration Forum for Young Professionals, while Peter Martinez of South Africa is presenting on space sustainability. Two scientists from Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia are presenting in Space Astronomy session. There are three Moon Exploration sessions, with Takeshi Hoshino of JAXA presenting on lunar polar exploration, in addition to ISRO, ispace, SpaceIL, Canadensys, ILOA, and many others. Finally, this IAC hosts many interactive sessions with over 30 interactive presentations focused on the Moon, including Zaid Rana of SGAC discussing lunar radio telescope array, 7 China participants discussing Moon missions, and 6 participants from ispace, JAXA, and Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation. (Image Credits: IAF, UNOP, IAF, IAA, IISL, SGAC, ESA)

MONDAY

NASA@60 and JAXA@15: Human Spaceflight, Lunar and Deep-Space Focus

October 1, 2018 marks the 60th year since the formation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the 15th for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Evolving from National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) of 1915 — NASA, led by Jim Bridenstine, is developing plans for a sustained Human Return to the Moon, and formulating extensive international and commercial partnerships. The first test launches of Commercial Crew Program with SpaceX and Boeing are scheduled before the end of 2018; commercial lunar lander / payload providers may see large contracts for upcoming Moon missions; and the Lunar Orbital Gateway-Platform concept has piqued the interest (and skepticism) of many nations. Among the achievements NASA will celebrate this year is a look toward the 50th Observation of Apollo 11 on July 20, 2019 – an awe-inspiring reminder of the “Moon, Mars, and Beyond” vision that has yet to become reality. Building upon a merger of ISAS [est. 1955], NAL [1955] and NASDA [1 Oct 1969] — JAXA, led by Hiroshi Yamakawa, currently has 7 active Astronauts, 2 orbital launch sites and maintains the largest single ISS module “Kibo”. It is developing the next-gen Epsilon rocket, operating Hayabusa2 at asteroid Ryugu & Akatsuki at Venus, planning for 2021 robotic Moon mission SLIM and Martian Moons Exploration (MMX). The joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury is set to launch next month. JAXA is working to launch Astronauts into space by 2025 on its HTV Return Vehicle from Tanegashima Space Center. (Image Credits: NASA, JAXA, Akihiro Ikeshita)

Oct 1 — Deep Space: New Horizons team studying images of KBO Ultima Thule to approximate its size, and refine trajectory course for flyby Jan 1, 2019; estimated to come as close as 3,500 km – compared to Pluto at 12,550 km.

Oct 1 — National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 60th Observation, USA: Nationwide celebrations and educational events occur to observe NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) becoming NASA on this day in 1958.

Oct 1 — Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 15th Observation, Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan: Through the merger of 3 previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed 1 October 2003.

Oct 1-3 — Lunar and Planetary Society, USRA, Houston TX: Late Mars Workshop; discursive platform for the exchange of ideas, observations and hypotheses among planetary scientists keen to explore and explain recent evolution of Mars landscape.

Oct 1-5 — International Astronautical Federation, ZARM, IAA, SGAC, IISL, Bremen, Germany: 69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2018): Involving Everyone; multidisciplinary congress that covers all space sectors and topics.

Oct 1 — Moon: 3.5° S of M35 cluster, 12:00; at last quarter, 23:46.

Continued from…

Jul 8 – Oct 9 — NAOC, National Aquatic Center “Water Cube”, Beijing, China: Lunar Exploration Technology Exhibition featuring 10-meter diameter Moon, lunar imagery, ‘moonlight’ and surround sound composition.

Sep 29, Oct 3 — Fathom Events, Discovery Channel, Broadcast / Theaters: Above and Beyond: NASA’s Journey to Tomorrow; in celebration of NASA 60th anniversary, this documentary discusses NASA’s missions to the Moon, Mars and Beyond; will air on Discovery Channel Oct 13.

Sep 30 – Oct 3 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, Barringer Crater / Winslow AZ: The First Billion Years Initiative – Bombardment: Shaping Planetary Surfaces and Their Environments Conference.