Artemis Program Extends More Branches Connecting Public-Private, Science-Commerce

Newest expansion of Artemis Program includes due dates for Artemis Science white papers and Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) proposals, and the review of PRIME-1 contractor bids. Due on September 8 are White Papers proposing science to be conducted by 2-crew Artemis 3 at Moon South Pole in 2024. On Sep 9, LuSTR proposals are due from Universities to support sustainable Moon operations including advanced tech for ISRU and power. Winners could receive up to US$2M. The 14 CLPS contractors were asked to submit bids to fly drill & mass spectrometer Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment (PRIME-1) to Moon South Pole Region by December 2022. The winning contractor could be announced before October. PRIME-1 is a precursor for TRIDENT drill and spectrometer being readied for South Pole VIPER rover flying on Astrobotic late 2023 via $199.5M contract. The nicknamed ‘19D contract’ for an equatorial mission should also be solicited before the end of the year. Artemis program reach is extending through various contracts for human and cargo systems, instrument developments, R&D programs, international collaborations and national policy developments including Artemis Accords. At its peak Apollo is reported to have employed 400,000 Americans – Artemis / International sustained Human Moon outpost goal envisions Millions living and working in cislunar space as the first step of Solar System expansion. (Image Credits: NASA, ESO, SPC, ILOA)

MONDAY

Sep 7-12 — Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Online / Byurakan, Armenia: 7th Byurakan International Summer School (7BISS) for Young Astronomers: Astronomy and Data Science.

SWF 2nd Annual Summit Champions Space Sustainability

Secure World Foundation, with offices in Broomfield CO and Washington DC, is a nonprofit that aspires to leverage human space activities for protective purposes via informing, facilitation and promotion. For 2020 SWF moves its marquee event, Summit for Space Sustainability, to a virtual format September 9-11. Conference Chair (clockwise from TL) Krystal Azelton is optimistic about the potential of virtual conferences, telling Politico that VIP speakers have been more available and international participation more convenient in planning the Summit. Spotlight speakers include Einar Bjorgo of United Nations Institute for Training / Research, Li Shouping of China National Space Administration Space Law Center, Bermuda Deputy Premier Walter Roban and Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch of Inmarsat. 6 panel discussions will take place: on Wednesday, Space Sustainability Progress and Responsible Behavior in Space; Thursday topics are Space Force and Cis-Lunar / Lunar Sustainability; Friday focus is on Governmental Optimization and Space Arms Control. Keynote speakers are NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, ULA VP Mark Peller, and Astroscale founder Nobu Okada. Interactive Sessions will allow attendees to participate in 4 subjects: Megaconstellations and Astronomy, Multilateral Diplomacy, US-China Engagement, and Next Steps On Orbital Debris. A fee of US$25 for entire conference will fund Space Sustainability Summit Student Essay Competition, open to undergraduate or graduate students internationally – 5 winners are to be announced on Sep 9, each receiving a $500 prize. (Image Credits: SFW, NASA, ULA, Astroscale, CU-Boulder, Space Logistics, AGI, Bermuda, Virgin Orbit, ESA)

Nov 2019 – Nov 2020 — Hayabusa2, Earth Trajectory: JAXA Hayabusa2 with two samples collected from C-type asteroid 162173 Ryugu on trajectory for Earth return.

Jul 29 – Oct 31 — CNSA, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Online / Beijing, China: Students to submit ideas for payloads for Chang’e-7 lunar south pole craft, and ZhengHe mission that will return samples from Asteroid 2016HO3 and visit Comet 133P.

Sep 6-12 — Mexican Academy of Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, University of Guanajuato, et al, Online / Mexico City, Mexico: IWARA2020 Video Conference – 9th International Workshop on Astronomy and Relativistic Astrophysics.

TUESDAY

Sep 8 — Canadian Space Agency, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada: CSA-ASC President Sylvain Laporte planned to move on from position, new leadership TBD.

Sep 8 — NASA Science Mission Directorate Planetary Science Division, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Online / Washington DC: Call for Artemis Science White Papers; 2-page science proposals for Artemis III Human lunar mission due.

Sep 8-10 — Ames Research Center, NASA, University of Birmingham, Flatiron Institute, University of New South Wales, Online / Moffett Field CA: TESS Science Meeting; international collaboration & co-working event focused on NASA exoplanet hunter Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

Sep 8-10 — Astronomical Society of Japan, Online / Tokyo, Japan: Autumn Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan.

Sep 8 — Epsilon Perseid Meteor Shower Peak: Appearing to radiate from the constellation Perseid, September Epsilon Perseids can reach up to 5 per hour traveling at ~65 km per second; peak 12:00.

Sep 8 — Moon: 6.2° SE of Pleiades, 14:00.

Sep 8 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 PT4: Near-Earth Flyby (0.012 AU)