July 20-26, 2020 / Vol 39, No 29 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Multiple Launches to Mars Orbit and Surface, ISS, LEO Scheduled for Space Week JAXA / UAE, CNSA, Astra Space, NASA, Roscosmos and SpaceX all have upcoming missions: UAE Hope Probe is now scheduled to launch to Mars on JAXA H2A on July 20. The same day, Zhongguo / China opens its launch window for Tianwen-1 from Wenchang SLC, Hainan Island — newest and most equatorial China Spaceport. Tianwen-1 includes a remarkable configuration for an initial foray into interplanetary exploration with an orbiter, lander and rover. Similar in scope to NASA Mars 2020 mission, currently set for launch window beginning July 30 from Cape Canaveral, Tianwen-1 is preparatory for future sample return and astrobiology investigations. NASA US$2.7B Mars 2020 consists of ULA Atlas 5, Cruise stage, Entry / Descent / Landing module and 1,025-kg Perseverance Rover, which itself contains 1.8-kg Ingenuity drone helicopter to be deployed for aerial reconnaissance. Alameda CA-based Astra Space fittingly opens launch window on Global Space Exploration day, July 20, to LEO from Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island AK. Soyuz 2.1a rocket is to lift cargo vessel Progress MS-15 (76P) from Baikonur Cosmodrome to ISS with supplies on July 23. Space week is also to see SpaceX Falcon 9 launch SAOCOM 1B to a polar orbit where it will join twin SAOCOM 1A in observing Earth via Synthetic Aperture Radar for CONAE, the civil space agency of Argentina. (Image Credits: CNSA, Roscosmos, NASA, SpaceX, Astra Space)

MONDAY Highlights… Jul 20 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Expedition 63 five-member crew planning for US EVA #68, expecting arrival of Progress 76P cargo ship, working on immune system studies, maintenance of ISS and computer systems, daily exercise tasks; Demo-2 crew could return to Earth as early as Aug 2. Jul 20 — NewSpace: Voyager Space Holdings to acquire Pioneer Astrobotics, Bob Zubrin will remain leader; commercial astronaut training facility to be built Seattle by Orbite Corporation; Puli Space Technologies wins US$30K for lunar tiny probe challenge. Jul 20 — Solar System: DLR newest study dates Moon as 4.425 billion years old +/- 25 million years; JPL research adds to understanding of Neptune moon orbits and compositions; NASA and ESA Solar Orbiter Mission releases fist images. Jul 20 — Galaxy: ‘South Pole Wall’ of Galaxies inferred by computation to exist beyond Zone of Avoidance; evidence for potential undiscovered types of supernovae found in Hubble data; National Radio Astronomy Observatory works to increase instrument / data security. Jul 20 — Global: Roscosmos Director Dmitry Rogozin suggests greater cooperation with China space program; ISRO extends Human Spaceflight proposals until end of August; KARI plans for KSLV-2 rocket first-stage test this year. Jul 20 — USA: NASA Interim Directive on biological reporting modified allowing greater Lunar access while preserving important areas; Astronomy from the Moon considerations for Artemis program; Navigation Doppler Lidar instrument nears integration on Blue Origin New Shepard. Jul 20 — Hawai’i: UH-led astronomer team continues mapping galaxies surrounding Milky Way, revealing immense structure beyond Laniakea; proposed Mauna Kea Big Telescope construction postponed until Spring / Summer 2021; Mauna Loa HI-SEAS participant shares experience in Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars. Jul 20 — JAXA, UAE Space Agency, Launch H2A / Al-Amal ‘Hope’ Probe, Tanegashima Launch Center, Japan: UAE Amal (Hope) mission to launch to Mars 06:58 local time to study planet atmosphere, in celebration of 50th observation of nation’s founding; live coverage available, launch window open July 20-22.

= 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’).

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Weekly Planet Watch – Evening Planets: Mars (E), Jupiter (SE), Saturn (SE); Morning Planets: Mercury (ENE), Venus (E), Uranus (E), Neptune (S).

Space Day July 20 Observations and Advancements, Ad Astra Per Aspera Interactive, international Moonday July 20 events are set to take place this week to reach space, students and audiences alike. Expanding on Apollo@50 momentum, NASA Artemis program is working to accomplish 2024-25 landing of the First Woman and Next Man on the Moon ~55 years after Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins established humankind as inter-world workers on July 20, 1969. Widely observed as Space Exploration Day, July 20 is also the 44th observation of the first USA craft to land on Mars, Viking 1, and it will serve as the start date for International Space University (ISU) Interactive Space Program (ISP). Re-configuring from the intended 33rd Space Studies Program to be held in Shenzhen, China, the ISP will now be the first-ever online expedition directed by (T) Arif Göktuğ Karacalıoğlu with 85 participants from 26 countries. The course will prepare participants to enter one of the face-to-face ISU programs: Master of Space Studies, Space Studies Programs or Commercial Space Program. The Farnborough International Airshow has created an online platform to connect its exhibitors, aerospace companies and international delegates July 20-24. Also on July 20 is the SpaceFund webinar titled ‘The Moon is Open for Business’, 2020 Sagan Exoplanet Summer Virtual Workshop hosted online by Pasadena CA colleagues, and the continued Moon Society 2020 Lunar Development Conference. (Image Credits: ISU, Farnborough Airshow, Finn)

Jul 20 — CNSA, Long March 5 / Launch Tianwen-1, Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Center, Hainan Island, China (19° N): Launch window open July 20-25 (likely 22 July 18:00 HST), for China orbiter, lander & rover to arrive at Mars low latitude area in northern hemisphere 7 months later; 240-kg rover has 6 wheels and 6 payloads; orbiter has 7 payloads; sample return mission planned 2030. Jul 20 — Astra Space, Launch Astra Rocket 3.1 / “2 of 3”, Pacific Spaceport Complex, Kodiak Island AK: Astra Space second attempt to launch Rocket 3 to LEO; launch window open through July 25. Jul 20 — Apollo 11 51st Observation, Nationwide USA / Global: First Human mission to land on Moon in 1969; 1st steps by humans on another World taken by Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin; Command Module piloted by Michael Collins. Jul 20 — Viking 1 Mars Lander 44th Observation, Nationwide USA / Global: First USA spacecraft to successfully land on another planet; originally scheduled for July 4, landing was delayed until this day in 1976 due to rough landing site. Jul 20 — Space Exploration Day, Global: Widely observed as one the greatest achievements in Human History, proposed International Holiday to celebrate the first people walking on the Moon / another celestial body. Jul 20 — SpaceFund, Online / Houston TX: Webinar: The Moon is Open for Business; featuring Sean Mahoney (Masten), Niki Werkheiser (NASA), Rick Tumlinson and Meagan Crawford of SpaceFund; 12:00 EDT. Jul 20 — Preservation Maryland, Online / Baltimore MD: Webinar:The Next Frontier of Preservation: The Moon; featuring Michelle Hanlon of For All Moonkind, and Teasel Muir-Harmony, Curator of the Apollo Collection at National Air and Space Museum; 13:00-14:00 EDT. Jul 20, 22, 24 — UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Wilton Park, U.S. Dept of State, Secure World Foundation, Online: Operating in Space: Current Multilateral Policy Issues and Challenges (Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries – GRULAC region). Jul 20-22 — International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, et al, Online / San Diego CA: Virtual: 30th Annual INCOSE for Earth’s Future – Uniting Technology and Grand Challenges through Systems Engineering.

Jul 20-24 — Farnborough International Airshow, Online / Farnborough, United Kingdom: Farnborough International Airshow 2020; reconfigured to a virtual event.

Jul 20-24 — NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, Caltech, JPL, Online / Pasadena CA: 2020 Sagan Exoplanet Summer Virtual Workshop: Extreme Precision Radial Velocity.

Jul 20-31 — University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo HI: 5th annual Software Systems for Astronomy; course TBD.

Jul 20 – Aug 21 — International Space University, Online / Strasbourg, France: Interactive Space Program (ISP2020).

Jul 20 — Moon: 4.5° S of Pollux, 00:00; New Moon, 07:32.

Jul 20 — Saturn: At opposition, 12:00.

Continued From…

Jul 12-23 — Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE: Should be visible to the naked eye in Northern Hemisphere during evening, moving from constellation Lynx toward Big Dipper as it nears Earth closest approach 0.692 AU on July 23.

Jul 13-31 – ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo HI: ‘Imiloa to begin reopening with educational Halau Lamaku program.

Jul 18-26 — Space Generation Advisory Council, Online / Vienna, Austria: SpaceGen United; first online Congress, gathering 150+ participants, space industry experts and SGAC Alumni.

Jul 19-20 – Moon Society, Online / Pasadena MD: 2020 Lunar Development Conference; featuring Michael Mealling, Sean Mahoney, Rick Tumlinson, Michelle Hanlon, Emily Law, Sara Jennings, Darel Preble, others; US$10 registration.

TUESDAY

Jul 21 — ISS, U.S. EVA #68, ~405-km LEO: Behnken and Cassidy to perform 7-hour spacewalk beginning 07:35 EDT to continue battery upgrades outside station; live coverage available.

Jul 21 — AIAA, Online: ASCENDxWebinar Part 2: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Aerospace Community and Workforce; featuring Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and Society of Women Engineers; 10:30-12:00 EDT.

Jul 21 — Cosmosphere International Science Education Center and Space Museum, NASA, Online / Hutchinson KS: Engaging the Artemis Generation: Virtual Q + A with NASA Astronaut Nick Hague; also featuring NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, KS State Senator Jerry Moran, Cosmosphere President Jim Remar, Cosmosphere Camp Alumni Teresa Sindelar and Charlie Garcia, 10:30-12:00 CDT.

Jul 21 — W. M. Keck Observatory, Online / Kamuela HI: Virtual Astronomy Talk: When Machines Take Over: Astronomy in the 21st Century; by J. Xavier Prochaska, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of California – Santa Cruz, 17:00-18:00 HST.

Jul 21 — Moon: 2.00° NNE of Beehive Cluster, 00:00.

Jul 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2002 BF25: Near-Earth Flyby (0.024 AU)

WEDNESDAY

Jul 22 — British Interplanetary Society, Online / United Kingdom: Lecture: The BIS Moon Suit; featuring Stephen Wisdom.

Jul 22 — SETI Institute, Online / Mountain View CA: Lecture: Astronomy in Space – From Hubble to Roman; featuring Professor Meg Urry (Director of the Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics) and Dr. John Grunsfeld (Astronaut and Astrophysicist), 19:00-20:00 PDT.

Jul 22 — Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), Commercial SmallSat Spectrum Management Association, Online: Orbital Debris Mitigation: The Next 50 Years; 16:00 PDT.

Jul 22 — Secure World Foundation, Space Enabled Research Group at MIT, Online / Cambridge MA: Serving Society with Space Data – SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; 10:00-11:00 EDT.

Jul 22 — Moon: 4.1° NNE of Regulus, 14:00.

Jul 22 — Mercury: At westernmost elongation, 05:00.

Jul 22 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 NO: Near-Earth Flyby (0.005 AU)

THURSDAY

Jul 23 — Chandra X-ray Observatory, HEO: NASA spacecraft in extended mission phase reaches 21st full year / begins 22nd year of operations in Space; instruments able to detect X-ray sources 100 times fainter than any previous X-ray telescope; launched 1999.

Jul 23 — Roscosmos State Corporation, Launch Soyuz / Progress 76P, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan: An RSA Soyuz rocket to launch the next cargo resupply mission for ISS.

Jul 23 — Secure World Foundation, Online / Washington DC: Capacity-building for Space Sustainability: The role of government, industry, and civil society; 09:00-11:00 EDT.

Jul 23 — Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Online / Washington DC: Live Chat: Chandra X-Ray; 13:00 EDT.

Jul 23 — Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE: Closest Approach to Earth (0.692 AU)

FRIDAY

Jul 24 — Apollo 11 Splashdown 51st Observation, Nationwide USA / Global: Celebrated as Splash Down Day, today marks successful return of Apollo 11 with splashdown in Pacific Ocean 1,448 km SW of Hawaii at 12:50 PDT; Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins proceeded to spend 21 days in quarantine inside a 9.1-meter long facility known Lunar Receiving Laboratory.

Jul 24 — Moon: At perigee (distance 368,338.74 km), 19:05.

Jul 24 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 ND: Near-Earth Flyby (0.037 AU)

SATURDAY

Jul 25 — Juno, Perijove 28 / 27th Science Flyby, Jupiter Orbit: NASA craft in 53-day orbit to come within ~3,500 km of Jupiter cloud tops during Perijove 28, its 28th close flyby of Jupiter and 27th science flyby with instruments turned on, 06:15:21 UTC.

Jul 25 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / SAOCOM 1B, Cape Canaveral FL: Falcon 9 rocket to launch SAOCOM 1B satellite for CONAE, Argentina space agency.

Jul 25 — Amor Asteroid 2020 NN: Near-Earth Flyby (0.042 AU)

SUNDAY

Jul 26 — Moon: 6.7° NNE of Spica, 09:00.