South Korea Strives to Join Major Space Nations with First Indigenous Orbital Launch
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MONDAY Highlights…
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Korea Space Launch Vehicle 2 (KSLV-II) / Nuri (World) is set to mark South Korea entry into club of nations with domestic orbital launch capability with Oct 21 launch window opening 16:00 KST (GMT+9) at Naro Space Center in Goheung (34.4°N, 127.5°E). Developed over a decade by Korea Aerospace Research Institute, prime engine contractor Hanwha Aerospace and 300+ other commercial partners, 3-stage Nuri is flagship launch vehicle of ROK, expected to provide access to space for regional clients at low cost (~US$30M per launch), advance KOMPSAT Earth observation program, and send Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (NET 2022) / lander to Moon (NET 2030). The first stage of vehicle is powered by four 75-ton KRE-075 engines, stage 2 has an additional KRE-075, and stage 3 a single 7-ton KRE-007 engine – all are fueled by LOX / kerosine. Payload capacity is rated at 2,600 kg to 300 km LEO / 1,500 kg to 600–800 km SSO. With legacy restrictions imposed by USA preventing solid fuel rocket development lifted in 2020 / limiting launch capability to <800km lifted in May, South Korea is advancing plans to increase space budget >5% to $553M for 2022 and produce solid-propellant rocket by 2024. Kari also plans to develop Nuri platform with a 2-stage small sat launcher within a 2025-30 time frame and a Heavy Lift launcher 2030-40. (Image Credits: KARI)
Oct 18 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Seven-member Expedition 66 led by 1st French national commander Thomas Pesquet (ESA), Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Mark Vande Hei (NASA), Akihiko Hoshide (JAXA), Anton Shkaplerov, Pyotr Dubrov (Roscosmos) continue work on experiments in biology, robotics, VR.
Oct 18 — NewSpace: 
Oct 18 — USA: 
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Weekly Planet Watch – Evening Planets: Venus (SW), Jupiter (S), Saturn (S), Uranus (E), Neptune (SE); Morning Planets: Mercury (E).
Dubai, UAE Hosting Space Exploration, Experts Meetings Preliminary to 72nd IAC |
Oct 18 — Chinese Academy of Engineering Sciences, Shenzhen, China: Deep Space Exploration Science, Technology and Applications Conference.
Continued From…
TUESDAY
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Oct 19 — Apollo Asteroid 2021: Near-Earth Flyby (0.023 AU)
Oct 19 — Comet 342P/SOHO: Near-Earth Flyby (0.054 AU)
WEDNESDAY
NET Oct 20 — Rocket Lab, Launch Electron / NASA CAPSTONE, Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand: Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment to pathfind near rectilinear halo orbit planned for Lunar Gateway.
Oct 20 — BepiColombo, Mercury Trajectory: European Space Agency / JAXA Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (dubbed Mio ‘waterway or fairway’) reach 3 full years / enter 4th year in space today, launched 2018; expected to reach Mercury polar orbit 2025 to map planet, investigate magnetosphere.
Oct 20 — Moon Village Association, Online / Vienna, Austria: Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) 9th meeting; 15:00-17:00 CET.
Oct 20 — Moon: Full / Hunter’s Moon, 04:56.
Oct 20 — Apollo Asteroid 1996 VB3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.022 AU)
THURSDAY
NET Oct 21 — KARI, Launch KSLV 2 / Test Flight, Naro Space Center, South Korea: Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) indigenous third-stage rocket Korea Space Launch Vehicle 2, also known as Nuri, to attempt first orbital launch attempt.
Oct 21 — NASA, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Online / Huntsville AL: Kickoff Webinar: NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge.
Oct 21 — British Interplanetary Society, Hybrid / United Kingdom and Online: Lecture: Modern Space Elevator – Ready to Initiate Development; featuring Peter Swan and Jerry Eddy.
Oct 21-22 — UNOOSA, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil, Brazilian Space Agency, National Institute for Space Research, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai, UAE: United Nations Space for Women Expert Meeting: Initiatives, Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Space.
Oct 21-23 — Space Generation Advisory Council, Dubai, UAE: Space Generation Congress 2021.
Oct 21 — Orionids Meteor Shower Peak: The 2nd of 2 showers from Halley’s Comet dust, Orionids appear to radiate from Constellation Orion, are swift (68 km/sec), can be bright & leave persistent trains; ~25 meteors per hour.
Oct 21 — Moon: 1.24° SE of Uranus, 13:00.
Oct 21 — Mars: 2.60° NNE of Spica, 11:00.
Oct 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 TE4: Near-Earth Flyby (0.021 AU)
Oct 21 — Aten Asteroid 2021 TV3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.034 AU)
Oct 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 RE10: Near-Earth Flyby (0.040 AU)
Oct 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 SG2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.041 AU)
FRIDAY
Oct 22 — Arianespace, Launch Ariane 5 / SES 17 & Syracuse 4A, Kourou, French Guiana: Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA255, to launch SES 17 and Syracuse 4A communications satellites.
Oct 22-24 — UNOOSA, International Astronautical Federation, Dubai, UAE: Workshop on Space Technology for Socio-Economic Benefits: Space Exploration – A source of Inspiration, Innovation and Discovery.
SATURDAY
Oct 23 — Moon: 4.2° SE of Pleiades, 00:00; 6.2° N of Aldebaran, 18:00.
SUNDAY
Oct 24 — Mars Odyssey, Mars Orbit: NASA spacecraft reaches 20 full years / begins 21st year in orbit around Mars today, holds record for longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth; launched 2001.
Oct 24 — International Academy of Astronautics, Dubai, UAE: IAA Academy Day 2021.
Oct 24 — International Astronautical Federation, Dubai, UAE: IAC Hosts Summit; 2024 IAC Host Candidates Locations: Adelaide, Budapest, Milan, Sao Paulo, Seville.
Oct 24 — Moon: At apogee (distance 405650 km), 06:00.
Oct 24 — Aten Asteroid 2021 TE1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.025 AU)