Space Foundation Explores Moon Build-out Technology, Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Addresses Dust Challenges
Mark McDonald, Chief Architect of NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) will moderate Space Symposium 365 Webinar Panel: Construction on the Moon on February 1. The webinar features presentations by space industrialist Alex Ignatiev of Lunar Resources, a Houston-based enterprise aiming to convert regolith into construction material / oxygen via electrolysis and utilize vacuum present on the lunar surface for manufacture of advanced electronics; Jason Ballard, CEO of Austin-based habitat building company ICON, which aims to 3D print terrestrial homes and off-world settlements starting with Earth’s Moon; and Lockheed Martin Deputy Exploration Architect Christine Edwards. Planetary scientist Jorge Núñez of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and STMD Technical Integration Manager Michael Johansen are orchestrating Dust Mitigation Workshop Feb 4. Keynote speaker Niki Werkheiser, also of STMD, will update on Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, which she leads along with her role as Game Changing Development Program Executive. Adrienne Dove of University of Central Florida and Ryan Watkins of Planetary Science Institute are to present dust findings from Lunar Surface Science Workshop, Mary Hakam will speak on xEMU space suit, astronaut Michael L. Gernhardt will speak on lessons learned from Lunar Roving Vehicle. Breakout sessions will be held on Plume / Surface Interaction, Surface Operations and Sustainable Presence and workshop participants will have an opportunity to give lightning talks. (Image Credits: NASA, UCF, LPI, Space Foundation, JHUAPL)
MONDAY
Highlights… Feb 1 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Expedition 64 crew of 7 working with BioNutrients study, checking BEAM module periodically; Hopkins, Glover to perform U.S. EVA #71 today, a ~6.5-hour spacewalk for installation of final lithium-ion battery adapter plate on port 4 (P4) truss, starts 07:05 EST, live coverage available.
Feb 1 — Global: Russia / China Moon base collaboration increasingly likely; CASC planning 3-4 sea launches for Long March 11 rockets this year; 5.2m diameter launch system H3 begins core stage testing at JAXA Tanegashima Space Center.
Feb 1 — Columbia STS-107 18th Observation, Nationwide USA: Annual international conferences and events take place to further space exploration efforts in remembrance of Columbia 7 loss in 2003: Commander Richard D. Husband, Mission Specialist Laurel Clark, Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon (‘1st Israeli astronaut’) and Astronauts: William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown and Kalpana Chawla (‘1st Indian American astronaut’ and ‘1st Indian woman in space’).
= All times
for terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for space events, and…
= All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).
ISU Asia-Pacific Conference Highlights Regional Well-Established and Emerging Space Developments, Collaborations
ISU Adelaide Conference 2021 themed International Collaboration in Asia-Pacific Space Activities is taking place online February 5-6. Day 1, 3-hour agenda will feature Welcome Keynotes by Conference Chair Scott Schneider and Australia Space Agency Head Enrico Palermo; Space Agency Panel with Andrew Johnson (New Zealand Space Agency), Joel Marciano Jr. (Philippine Space Agency), Norimitsu Kamimori (JAXA), and Durairaj Radhakrishnan (ISRO); and Space Startups presentations by NewSpace India Ltd, Arlula, Zenno Astronautics, Astrogate Labs and Space Machines Company. Day 2, 6-hour agenda will have a discussion on The Future of Launch with Equatorial Space Systems CEO Simon Gwozdz, Dawn Aerospace CTO Stefan Powell, Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp, i-Space China VP Jingqi Cai; Closing Keynotes by Space Base Co-Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom and ISU President Juan de Dalmau; and thematic break-out rooms on topics: Orbital Debris hosted by Astroscale, Outreach & Space Education by Andy Thomas Space Foundation, Space Law by Space Law Council, Deep Space Missions by space scientist Hajime Yano, Post-Covid Recovery Through Space and Current ISU Team Project. Asia-Pacific space sector rapid developments include China Lunar Exploration Program, India Mars and Gaganyaan Human missions, Japan Multi-GNSS and its asteroid / inner Solar System missions, with advancing efforts by NZSA founding 2016, ASA founding 2018, Rocket Lab, and other NewSpace and related industries. (Image Credits: ISU, NZSA, ASA, PSA, JAXA, ISRO, NASA)
Feb 1 — USA-UAE Business Council, Planetary Society,Online: Update on UAE Hope Mission to Mars; with Sarah Al Amiri, U.A.E. Minister of State for Advanced Technologies and Chairwoman of UAE Space Agency; 09:00 EDT
Feb 2 — University of Arizona Press, Online: 600-page technical compendium titled ‘The Pluto System after New Horizons’ to be published / distributed today, created by S. Alan Stern.
Feb 3 — Moon: At perigee (distance 370,124 km), 08:48.
Feb 3 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 SO: Near Earth Flyby (0.001 AU)
THURSDAY
Feb 4 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink V1.0-L18,LC-39A, KSC FL: Falcon 9 to launch 19th batch of ~60 satellites for SpaceX Starlink broadband network.
Feb 4 — Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium of JHU/APL, Online: Dust Mitigation Workshop; featuring invited presentations from NASA representatives and the community, contributed lightning talks, and breakout discussion sessions; 11:00-17:00 EST.
Feb 7 — Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower Peak: Appearing to radiate from Alpha Centauri (α Cen), meteors are far south and below horizon for most in North, can produce ~6 meteors per hour, peak 08:00.
Feb 7 — Mars: Spring Equinox, 01:00.
Feb 7 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 BT: Near Earth Flyby (0.048 AU)
Emanating from ~6km-wide comet with 5.3-year Solar orbit, visible in constellation Aquarius near star Delta Aquarii, fast, faint meteors peak on this night, best...
The International Research Conference is a federated organization dedicated to bringing together a significant number of diverse scholarly events for presentation within the conference...
Includes ~150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions / Panels / Task Groups, such as SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and...
From 02 to 07 August 2026, a few thousand geoscientists across diverse disciplines will gather at the 23rd annual meeting of the Asia Oceania Geosciences...
NASA Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory) rover surpasses another full year of operations on Mars surface today; launched Nov 26, 2011 – landed Aug 5,...
This international lunar science meeting has two objectives: to provide a platform for leading experts to review recent advances across lunar research, from the...
At CSIR International Convention Centre. Key topics are Earth Observation, Developing Space Tourism, Space Supply Manufacturing. Cultural tours are offered.
Participants will receive theoretical and hands-on training in electron imaging and X-ray spectroscopy for application to planetary samples. This training opportunity is targeted at...
"Leading Australia’s Space Future for Our Strategic Advantage". Southern Space 2026 brings together decision-makers who set the direction for Australia’s space sector. It is...
Includes presentation of the Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence, activities for the new class of Astronaut Scholars, 2-day Technical Conference where Scholars present their...
Key themes include: Characterizing exoplanet-host solar-like stars; Star-planet interactions; Planet populations around solar-like stars. At University of Liège.
Mark McDonald, Chief Architect of NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) will moderate Space Symposium 365 Webinar Panel: Construction on the Moon on February 1. The webinar features presentations by space industrialist Alex Ignatiev of Lunar Resources, a Houston-based enterprise aiming to convert regolith into construction material / oxygen via electrolysis and utilize vacuum present on the lunar surface for manufacture of advanced electronics; Jason Ballard, CEO of Austin-based habitat building company ICON, which aims to 3D print terrestrial homes and off-world settlements starting with Earth’s Moon; and Lockheed Martin Deputy Exploration Architect Christine Edwards. Planetary scientist Jorge Núñez of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and STMD Technical Integration Manager Michael Johansen are orchestrating Dust Mitigation Workshop Feb 4. Keynote speaker Niki Werkheiser, also of STMD, will update on Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, which she leads along with her role as Game Changing Development Program Executive. Adrienne Dove of University of Central Florida and Ryan Watkins of Planetary Science Institute are to present dust findings from Lunar Surface Science Workshop, Mary Hakam will speak on xEMU space suit, astronaut Michael L. Gernhardt will speak on lessons learned from Lunar Roving Vehicle. Breakout sessions will be held on Plume / Surface Interaction, Surface Operations and Sustainable Presence and workshop participants will have an opportunity to give lightning talks. (Image Credits: NASA, UCF, LPI, Space Foundation, JHUAPL)
Feb 1 — 
Feb 1 — NewSpace: Private ISS mission,
Feb 1 — USA: RFI seeks launch provider capable of 
= All times
= All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for space events, and…
= All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).
