Russia, India, USA Robotic Spacecraft Set to Join China with Moon Landers in 2021
An unprecedented flurry of lunar landings is planned for the year by multiple national and commercial enterprises: Russia may resume remote exploration slightly ahead of others if October 1 launch date announced by Roscosmos leader Dmitry Rogozin, now also in charge of a dedicated lunar directorate, holds true. Luna-25 is an entirely new spacecraft (Luna-Glob) while paying homage to the historic mission series. ISRO Chair Kailasavadivoo Sivan also confirms Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover will be sent NET November, where they will coordinate with Chandrayaan-2 orbiter currently in 100-km lunar polar orbit – reducing expected price to US$84.1M vs $136.8M cost of the prior mission. Two independent efforts from USA are also keen on making Moon landings in 2021: Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines are counting down days until Peregrine and Nova-C landers are to touch down in Lacus Mortis and Schroter’s Valley, respectively. IM is striving for October 11 launch via SpaceX Falcon 9. International Lunar Observatory Association is sending ILO-X precursor instruments with IM, joining 5 NASA and several independent payloads. Japan company Dymon will rideshare with Astrobotic to deploy a small rover, as will SpaceBit of UK. While Astrobotic aims for July, its mission is contingent upon the completion of ULA Vulcan Centaur, which CEO Tory Bruno has stated will be pushed to late 2021 while awaiting Blue Origin BE-4 engines. (Image Credits: Roscosmos, IM, ISRO, NASA)
MONDAY
Highlights… Jan 11 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Expedition 64 crew of 7 facilitate Dragon CRS-21 undocking today 09:25 EST (live coverage available), preparing for U.S. EVAs #69 and 70 for ISS external upgrades to be conducted early next week, working with experiments involving liquid displacement, bacteria genes, muscle and bone density.
India Sets Near and Long Term Goals: Human Space Missions, Boost Commercial Space, Reusability / Green Tech
K. Sivan begins his 1-year extended term as ISRO Chair January 14 and outlines India 2021 plans as well as a 10-year projection for sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth. In late February, PSLV-C51 is to launch the first satellite developed entirely by Brazil space agency, Amazônia 1 for Earth observation, from Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 re-attempt at Moon South Pole landing is being prepared for second half 2021. India first solar researcher, Aditya-L1, is planned for January 2022. Chandrayaan-2 initial data release from 7 instruments is now available to the public; release of new data sets containing lunar surface mineral mapping is expected later this year. Perhaps most significant is human spaceflight program development with Gaganyaan first uncrewed flight possibly late 2021 – which may use green propulsion and lithium-ion batteries. Further efforts are being made toward private industry partnerships, including the recent establishment of Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Center, and the commissioning of a launch site 750 km South of Sriharikota at Kulasekarapattnam from where the upcoming Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will launch when complete. First demo flight of SSLV is slated for March 2021 from a dedicated launch pad “Small Satellite Launch Complex” in Sriharikota. Also in progress are advancements for heavy-lift capabilities, public outreach, and technologies for tracking, telemetry and R&D. (Image Credits: ISRO, Roscosmos, Google Maps)
Jan 10-15 — European Microwave Association, Institute of Engineering and Technology, IEEE, AESS, et al, Online / Utrecht, The Netherlands: 50th European Microwave Week; in conjunction with 17th European Radar Conference and 15th European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference.
Jan 12-13 — LRA (Learn, Reach, Achieve) Institute, Online / CA: Conference: NewSpace Industrialization; featuring Kyle Acierno of iSpace Technologies USA, Jim Cantrell of Phantom Space, Daniel Faber of Orbit Fab, others; 08:00-12:00 PST, daily.
Jan 12 — Moon: New Moon, 19:01.
Jan 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 AX1: Near Earth Flyby (0.004 AU)
Jan 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 AZ1: Near Earth Flyby (0.004 AU)
Jan 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 AA2: Near Earth Flyby (0.017 AU)
WEDNESDAY
Jan 13 — Chang’e-5T1 Service Module, Lunar Orbit: China module collecting data on Lunar surface for future Moon missions begins 6th year / enters 7th year in Lunar orbit today; launched Oct 2014, reached Moon Jan 2015.
Jan 13 — Moon: 3.2° SE of Saturn, 13:00; with Jupiter and Saturn within circle of diameter 3.77°, 14:00; 3.3° SE of Jupiter, 17:00.
Jan 13 — Pluto: At conjunction with Sun, 21:00.
THURSDAY
Jan 14 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Transporter 1, SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL: Falcon rocket to carry Transporter 1 mission rideshare flight to SSO with dozens of micro- and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.
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An unprecedented flurry of lunar landings is planned for the year by multiple national and commercial enterprises: Russia may resume remote exploration slightly ahead of others if October 1 launch date announced by Roscosmos leader Dmitry Rogozin, now also in charge of a dedicated lunar directorate, holds true. Luna-25 is an entirely new spacecraft (Luna-Glob) while paying homage to the historic mission series. ISRO Chair Kailasavadivoo Sivan also confirms Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover will be sent NET November, where they will coordinate with Chandrayaan-2 orbiter currently in 100-km lunar polar orbit – reducing expected price to US$84.1M vs $136.8M cost of the prior mission. Two independent efforts from USA are also keen on making Moon landings in 2021: Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines are counting down days until Peregrine and Nova-C landers are to touch down in Lacus Mortis and Schroter’s Valley, respectively. IM is striving for October 11 launch via SpaceX Falcon 9. International Lunar Observatory Association is sending ILO-X precursor instruments with IM, joining 5 NASA and several independent payloads. Japan company Dymon will rideshare with Astrobotic to deploy a small rover, as will SpaceBit of UK. While Astrobotic aims for July, its mission is contingent upon the completion of ULA Vulcan Centaur, which CEO Tory Bruno has stated will be pushed to late 2021 while awaiting Blue Origin BE-4 engines. (Image Credits: Roscosmos, IM, ISRO, NASA)
Jan 11 — 
Jan 11 — NewSpace: 
Jan 11 — USA: 
= 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’).
K. Sivan begins his 1-year extended term as ISRO Chair January 14 and outlines India 2021 plans as well as a 10-year projection for sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth. In late February, PSLV-C51 is to launch the first satellite developed entirely by Brazil space agency, Amazônia 1 for Earth observation, from Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 re-attempt at Moon South Pole landing is being prepared for second half 2021. India first solar researcher, Aditya-L1, is planned for January 2022. Chandrayaan-2 initial data release from 7 instruments is now available to the public; release of new data sets containing lunar surface mineral mapping is expected later this year. Perhaps most significant is human spaceflight program development with Gaganyaan first uncrewed flight possibly late 2021 – which may use green propulsion and lithium-ion batteries. Further efforts are being made toward private industry partnerships, including the recent establishment of Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Center, and the commissioning of a launch site 750 km South of Sriharikota at Kulasekarapattnam from where the upcoming Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will launch when complete. First demo flight of SSLV is slated for March 2021 from a dedicated launch pad “Small Satellite Launch Complex” in Sriharikota. Also in progress are advancements for heavy-lift capabilities, public outreach, and technologies for tracking, telemetry and R&D. (Image Credits: ISRO, Roscosmos, Google Maps)
