Triple Conjunction – 60th Cosmonautics Day, 40th Space Shuttle Observation, 20th Yuri’s Night

April 12 marks the 60-40-20 observations of Yuri Gagarin’s spaceflight in 1961, the first NASA Space Shuttle launch of STS-1 Columbia in 1981, and the founding of Yuri’s Night in 2001. Continuing the legacy of Soviet Union space achievements, Russia revitalization of the Luna Program will aim to see Luna-25 lander launch to the Moon October 1, 45 years after Luna-24. Though Sputnik-V launch is successful, the traditional procession from Gagarin’s statue in Korolyov, to Gagarin’s grave at Red Square through Cosmonauts Alley near the Monument to the Conquerors of Space may be postponed. Commemorating STS-1 Columbia flight carrying John Young and Robert Crippen around Earth on a 54.4-hour mission, NASA is currently training Astronauts for the dawn of the ‘Artemis Era’ cis-lunar and Moon surface missions 2022-2026. Internationally April 12 is celebrated as Yuri’s Night aka World Space Party where space enthusiasts gather for a variety of activities from academic to festive. This year Yuri’s Night is being held April 10 with theme “Earthseed”. Envisioning the 80-60-40 conjunction of these events in 2041 what might the committed funding, focus and urgency of public-private entities have accomplished: the establishment of multiple international sustainable lunar bases, first human footsteps on Mars and developing settlements, planning for human Jupiter system exploration, nanocraft nearing Alpha Centauri, and inter-global space law treaties in Peace for All. (Image Credits: NASA, Dubai Media Office, ESA – P. Carril, Breakthrough Starshot, Roscosmos)

MONDAY

PR China to Join USA on Mars Surface while Mars Orbit Growing Crowded with International Probes

6 nations are now monitoring conditions from cis-Martian space and soon 2 will be conducting surface operations, should CNSA Tianwen-1 land successfully next month. A total of 8 spacecraft are in controlled orbit of the Red Planet, in order of arrival they are: Odyssey (NASA), Express (ESA), MRO (NASA), Mars Orbiter Mission / Mangalyaan (ISRO), MAVEN (NASA), ExoMars TGO (ESA/Roscosmos), Emirates Mars Mission / Hope (UAESA) and Tianwen-1 (CNSA). Through an array of increasingly advanced sensing instruments, these craft have gathered voluminous data on the substructure, surface, atmosphere and magnetosphere. On the ground, Insight lander continues geology investigations with SEIS seismometer as Curiosity and Perseverance Rovers explore Gale and Jezero craters, performing planetary science and astrobiology investigations. Tianwen-1 is currently parked in a 280km x 59,000km orbit as CNSA plans to land in middle May, with exact landing coordinates reported by state media at / 24.748° N, 110.318° E – relatively close to Octavia E. Butler Landing site at 18.4446°N, 77.4509°E. USA and China mission planners have provided their counterparts orbital trajectory information (as with India, Europe, Russia, UAE) with required formal congressional approval, begging the question if further cooperation between the world’s leading powers and only neighbors on Mars is forthcoming. Next missions include a second phase of ExoMars, with ESA and Roscosmos planning for September 20, 2022 launch window and June 2023 landing of Kazachok lander and deployal of Rosalind Franklin rover. (Image Credits: CNSA, NASA, ESA, ISRO, UAESA)

Apr 12 — 40th Observation of STS-1 Columbia Flight, Nationwide USA: Commemorations occur today in honor of 1st ever NASA Space Shuttle Columbia carrying John Young and pilot Robert Crippen around Earth on 54.5-hour mission in 1981.

Apr 12 — 20th Yuri’s Night Celebrations, Global: Yuri’s Night 2021; annual worldwide party to celebrate Yuri Gagarin’s 1st flight into space and promote space exploration.

Apr 12 — British Interplanetary Society, Online / London, United Kingdom: Beyond the Moon; 12:00-16:00 UTC.

Apr 12 — NASA / JPL, Mars / Online: First flight of Ingenuity Mars Helicopter; to be broadcast on NASA TV / App / Website, 03:30 EDT.

Apr 12-16 — Science and Technology Institute, Universities Space Research Association, NASA, Cocoa Beach FL: 16th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference (#SCTC2021); reset to Spring 2022 TBD.

Apr 12 — Moon: 2.61° SE of Venus, 03:00.

Apr 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 GQ: Near-Earth Flyby (0.020 AU)

Apr 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 GR4: Near-Earth Flyby (0.029 AU)

Apr 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 GZ: Near-Earth Flyby (0.033 AU)

Continued From…
NET Early 2021 — ISRO, Launch SSLV / Demonstration Launch, Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India: New Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to launch on first orbital test flight.

NET Mar — International Astronautical Federation, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Online: IAC 2021 Press Conference; providing updates for 72nd IAC being held Oct 25-29.

Mar 15 – Apr 15 — W. M. Keck Observatory, CFHT, Kamuela HI: 2021 Waimea Solar System Walk.