National / Independent Japan Space Organizations Making Progress Toward 2022 Lunar Landings

The 4th nation to reach orbit (Ohsumi, February 1970) is advancing in cislunar space: JAXA aims to launch Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) NET 2022, its 3rd Moon probe and 1st landing on lunar surface. SLIM is to validate low-processing power / crater map based algorithmic precision landing technique. Sharing a ride on H-2A rocket built and operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), the next generation space telescope in that spectrum – itself heading to ~550-km LEO to conduct its astronomy mission, SLIM is to land near Marius Hills. Structures in the region are thought to contain lava tubes possibly suitable for human habitation, and possible ‘skylight’ identified by SELENE (Kaguya) will be investigated while Multi-Band Camera to characterize nature of exposed mantle material relevant to Giant-impact hypothesis of lunar formation. ispace of Japan is also eager to launch 30-kg payload capacity HAKUTO-R, competing with NASA CLPS providers to land the world’s 1st commercial Moon lander (Mission 1) NET 2022 – to be followed by Mission 2 (2023) and Mission 3 (2024), in which 500-kg payload capacity Series 2 lander is to be deployed. UAESA and CSA-ASC are to fly rovers with ispace. Japan is also planning on sending humans to the Moon, with Artemis Generation application period running Dec 20 – Mar 4. JAXA hopes to increase diversity (currently, all 7 Japan astronauts are male, with 52-year average age) with outreach by Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and revamped requirements. (Image Credits: JAXA, NASA, ispace, Nissan)

MONDAY

Dec 13 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Seven-member Expedition 66 working with experiments involving colloids & magnetic fields, MAND 3D printer, flow boilers / heat exchange; to be joined by visitors Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano, Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.

Dec 13 — Tiangong Space Station, ~370-km LEO: Shenzhou 13 crew of 3 configuring Tianhe for Wentian arrival in ~6 months; Shenzhou 14 craft at Jiuquan readied in case of emergencies while its crew perform technical recovery training to prepare for future missions.

AGU 2021 Expects 25,000 From 100+ Countries in New Orleans & Online Dec 13-17

The American Geophysical Union 2021 meeting with theme ‘Science is Society’ is being held December 13-17 in New Orleans LA and Online. AGU21 will feature 6 keynotes, 26 workshops, 10 field trips (of which 1 is to John C. Stennis Space Center, and 4 online field trips), 32 awards, poster sessions, lightning talks, town halls and numerous lectures under 25 sections including: atmospheric sciences, Earth and planetary surface processes, education, ocean sciences, sciences & society, volcanology, geochemistry and petrology. Some of the speakers are (L-R) Paul Schenk (LPI) talking on Perseverance, Curiosity and Opportunity in the Outer Solar System; Mei-Ching Hannah Fok (GSFC) on The Interconnected Inner Magnetosphere: A Modeler’s Perspective; Athena Coustenis (Paris Observatory) on Search for Habitable Conditions in the Outer Solar System. Emily Cooperdock (USC) on Weaving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Geoscience Education. Among dozens of related events are: The United Nations Sustainable Development Stage, Climate Science 2021: The latest from the IPCC, and Latest Science from the Biggest Story in Solar System: NASA’s Juno Mission to Jupiter. Founded 1919 and headquartered in Washington DC, AGU is currently directed by Susan Lozier and now has >62,000 individual members from 137 countries under its new centennial logo and tagline ‘Advancing Earth and Space Science’. It publishes online magazine Eos and ~20 peer-reviewed scientific journals. (Image Credits: AGU)

Dec 13 — AIAA Greater Huntsville Section, Online / Huntsville AL: Associate Fellow Recognition Event; with AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher.

Dec 13-16 — Euroconsult, SES, Hybrid / Paris, France and Online: World Satellite Business Week.

Dec 13-17 — American Geophysical Union, New Orleans LA: AGU Fall Meeting 2021.

Dec 13-14 — Geminids Meteor Shower Peak: Appearing to radiate from constellation Gemini, shower can produce 80-130 meteors per hour; bright, medium-slow meteors (35 km/sec), few leave persistent trains.

Dec 13 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 WZ5: Near-Earth Flyby (0.012 AU)

Dec 13 — Aten Asteroid 2019 XQ1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.036 AU)

Dec 13 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 WW2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.036 AU)

Dec 13 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 VW27: Near-Earth Flyby (0.048 AU)

Continued From…

Nov 4 – Jun 29 — Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Problems, NASA Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA), Moscow, Russia: Mixed gender crew of 6 participating in 8-month space / lunar simulation mission SIRIUS-21 (Scientific International Research In Unique Terrestrial Station).

Nov 29 – Dec 17 — NASA, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Online / Huntsville AL: Design Review Presentations: NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge 2022.

Dec 6 – Jan 20 — STEAMSPACE, Enterprise in Space, Janet’s Planet, Online / Austin TX: Registration Open: Cities in Space Micro Challenge; 9 week challenge open to 3rd and 4th grade students, globally; free to participate.