August 24-30, 2020 / Vol 39, No 34 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Africa Poised for 21st Century Space Activity While currently lacking launch capability, major elements of space economy are emerging in Africa, a vast continent home to 1.2B people across 54 countries. Astronomically, the High Energy Stereoscopic System array conducts ongoing investigation into 0.03 – 100 TeV cosmic gamma ray origins from the Khomas region of Namibia. The Southern African Large Telescope has the largest optical aperture in the southern hemisphere, and an ESO-style international consortium of 14 countries has committed US$800M+ for construction of the Square Kilometer Array phase 1 – an incredible venture that would dwarf all current radio telescopes when complete. SKA is then to be integrated into planned African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network and global VLBI. As a result of these significant efforts the IAU general assembly 2024 is to be held in Cape Town, bringing the world’s astronomy community to Africa for the first time. Astronautically, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Guyana, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Angola, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Gabon and Sudan have established space programs. Nigeria National Space Research & Development Agency recently signed an MoU with spacefaring power ISRO signaling cooperation on Earth observation, space science and planetary exploration. Independent organizations such as Foundation for Space Development champion bold initiatives like Africa2Moon, a plan to conduct radio astronomy from the farside of the Moon, brainchild of Africa space leader (L-R) Carla Sharpe. Proudly Human, led by Adriana Marais and supported by Biosphere II veterans Abigail Alling and Mark Van Thillo, aims to operate advanced analog missions in Africa, Antarctica and underseas focusing on off-grid technology and teamwork. (Image Credits: ESA, Foundation for Space Development, Proudly Human, Biosphere Foundation, NAN)

MONDAY Highlights… Aug 24 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy joins Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner in Zvezda service module while team conducts precise pressure measurements as part of ongoing air leak diagnostics; unidentified objects in time lapse video taken by Vagner being analyzed by Roscosmos. Aug 24 — NewSpace: Sutherland Space Hub receives provisional approval in Scotland; ispace Japan raises US$28M in Series B investment round and announces “Blueprint Moon” lunar data services initiative; Blue Origin-led ‘National Team’ hands over prototype human lunar lander to NASA. Aug 24 — Solar System: Asteroid 2020 QG makes closest recorded flyby of Earth at 2,945 km, opaque Sun origin trajectory concern for future NEO detection; Johns Hopkins study indicates future landers may contaminate scientifically important lunar ice; Yutu-2 lunar rover heading northeast towards reflective impact craters / basalt in 21st lunar day. Aug 24 — Galaxy: Analysis of Fermi and Arecibo data finds rhythmic synchronization between microquasar SS 433 and gamma ray cloud 100 light years distant; astronomers utilizing ALMA identify 12 billion year old MWG-like spiral, challenging galaxy formation theories; cold gas emissions originating in atomic hydrogen clouds at galactic center discovered. Aug 24 — Global: ORIGIN mass spectrometer developed at University of Bern to undergo NASA tests in the Arctic for Europa Lander 2025; US Space Force to share Standardized Astrodynamics Algorithm Library with UK; ISRO working on lunar building technique utilizing regolith, guar beans, bacteria, urea. Aug 24 — USA: NASA studies South Atlantic Anomaly in Earth magnetic field which may pose safety / communication hazards; executive memo calls for increased commercial space activity including new LEO platform; all electric X-plane in development by Ames, Langley and Armstrong research centers. Aug 24 — Hawai’i: P/2019 LD2, discovered by ATLAS determined to be centaur that will transition to comet by 2063; Indian students find 2020 OE6 MCA in Pan-STARRS data made available via International Astronomical Search Collaboration; Optical Ground Station 2 on Haleakala operational in preparation for 2021 Laser Communications Relay Demonstration.

= 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 (SE), Jupiter (SSE), Saturn (SSE), Uranus (E), Neptune (SE); Morning Planets: Venus (ENE).

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Aug 24-26 — AIAA, Online / New Orleans LA: 2020 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition.

Aug 24 – Sep 4 — University of Auckland, Newcastle University, University of Freiburg, Institute for Advanced Study, Fermilab, Online: Cosmology from Home 2020; plenary lectures by Tessa Baker, Ami Choi, Steen Hannestad, Renée Hložek, Antonella Palmese.

Aug 24 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 PP3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.041 AU).

Aug 24 — Aten Asteroid 2020 PJ6: Near-Earth Flyby (0.035 AU)

Continued From…

Jan 2019 – Sep 2020 — New Horizons, Kuiper Belt: Full data collected from 7 instruments during KBO Arrokoth flyby to be transmitted to Earth over this time period.

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.

TUESDAY

Aug 25 — Voyager 1, Interstellar Space: NASA spacecraft begins 9th year in interstellar space, data indicates it became first human-made object to enter interstellar space Aug 25, 2012; launched Sep 5, 1977; some science instruments to be turned off this year as power is running out, complete data transmission predicted to cease 2025.

Aug 25 — Moon: At first quarter, 07:58; 6.0° NNE of Antares, 22:00.

WEDNESDAY

Aug 26 — ULA, Launch Delta 4-Heavy / NROL-44, SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral SFS FL: ULA to launch classified satellite cargo for U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Aug 26 — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Air Force Association, Online: NASA/USSF Partnership in Space, with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond of US Space Force, by invitation only.

Aug 26 — Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS), Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Online: Pre-event Webinar 1 for 2020 EMER-GEN; event being held Sep 12-15.

Aug 26 — The Space Court Foundation, Secure World Foundation, Online: The Artemis Accords and the Future of Space Governance; Moderated by Daniel Porras, speakers include Christopher Johnson, Oonagh Sands and Dr. Guoyu Wang; 13:00 EDT.

Aug 26 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 PF3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.016 AU).

Aug 26 — Apollo Asteroid 2016 AH164: Near-Earth Flyby (0.040 AU).

THURSDAY

Aug 27 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / SAOCOM 1B, Cape Canaveral FL: Falcon 9 rocket to launch SAOCOM 1B satellite for Argentina space agency (CONAE).

Aug 27 — Aerospace Corporation Center for Space Policy and Strategy, Online / El Segundo CA: Space Policy Show Webinar: Public-Private Partnerships in the Space Sector; featuring Karen Jones and Randy Segal; 07:00 PDT.

Aug 27 — ISS National Lab, Center for the Advancement for Science in Space, NASA, Online: 2020 International Space Station (ISS) R&D Conference – Plenary Day 1; talks by Kathy Lueders, Thomas Zurbuchen, Angela Hart, Alex MacDonald; moderated by Jeff Foust; 10:00 – 14:00 EDT.

Aug 27 — Moon: At descending node, 02:00.

FRIDAY

Aug 28 — Moon: 1.41° S of Jupiter, 16:00.

SATURDAY

Aug 29 – Sep 5 — International Union of Radio Science, Rome, Italy: 33rd URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium; reset to Fall 2021.

Aug 29 — Moon: 2.21° SE of Saturn, 08:00.

SUNDAY

Aug 30 — Van Allen Probes, LEO: Spacecraft reach 8 full years / begin 9th year in space today, launched 2012; contributing to the understanding of Earth radiation belt environment and its variability.