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

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’).

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 — Conrad Foundation, AIAA, Online: Conrad Challenge – 2021 Virtual Innovation Summit.

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 1-3 — American Astronautical Society, AIAA, Online / Charlotte NC: 31st AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting; at Sheraton Charlotte Hotel.

Feb 1 — Aten Asteroid 2016 CL136: Near Earth Flyby (0.035 AU)

Continued From…

Nov 4, 2020 – Feb 28, 2021 — International Astronautical Federation, Online: Abstracts Submission Open: 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2021); being held Oct 25-29.

Jan 20 – Feb 28 — CNSA Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, Online / Beijing, China: Global Campaign soliciting nominations for the name of Tianwen-1 Mars rover.

Jan 28 – Feb 4 — Committee on Space Research, Australian Academy of Science, Sydney, Australia and Online: 43rd Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research and Associated Events “COSPAR 2021”; with approximately 125 meetings covering COSPAR Scientific Commissions.

TUESDAY

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 2 — Space Foundation, Online / Colorado Springs CO: Space Symposium 365 Webinar Panel: State of Space; with Tidiane Ouattara, Chris Quilty, Kathryn Sullivan; 10:00-11:30 EST.

Feb 2 — Moon: 6.2° NNE of Spica, 20:00.