Annual Microsymposium 61, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 51 Being Hosted at Woodlands, Texas

Co-Organizers Jack Mustard of Brown University and Vlada Stamenkovic of NASA JPL are expecting broad international participation during Microsymposium 61: Planets Underground – The Next Frontier in Planetary Exploration, set for Mar 14-15 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Input is expected “from Russia, China, ESA, India, Japan, USA, Korea, and other space-faring nations and commercial enterprises” on the topic of non-terrestrial subsurface investigation – a study which holds particular contemporary relevance for long-term off-world habitation. Data collected by GRAIL has shown the Moon interior contains significant amounts of empty space which humans might occupy; shielding residents from cosmic radiation and mitigating thermal extremes and impact risks. Microsymposium 61 is followed by 51st LPSC on Mar 16-20. Founded as Apollo 11 Lunar Science Conference, LPSC has since 1970 gathered a range of physical scientists to focus on lunar and planetary data, research and exploration. LPSC 2020 is sponsored by Universities Space Research Association, LPI and NASA. Conference co-chairs Eileen Stansbery of NASA JPC and Louise Prockter of LPI will welcome ~1,800 participants for 1,300 poster presentations and a plethora of lectures and Public and Scientist Engagement Events. Special Session on Current Lunar Exploration: Chandrayaan 2 and Chang’e-4 and Scientific Exploration of the Lunar South Pole will occur on March 17 and March 18, respectively. (Image Credits: NASA, LPI, Brown University)

MONDAY

Mar 9 — CNSA, Launch Long March 3B / BeiDou, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Xichang, China: China Long March 3B will carry addition to BeiDou satellite constellation; 07:50 local time.

Mar 9-12 — SatShows, Access Intelligence LLC, et al, Washington DC: Satellite 2020; featuring Elon Musk Keynote; at Walter E. Washington Convention Center; planning for ~15,400 attendees from 100+ countries.

Satellite 2020 Conference in Washington DC Simultaneous with WSBR and NAS Astro2020

Washington DC resonates with talk of space technological advances. The Satellite 2020 conference opens March 9-12 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Keynote address will be given by (clockwise from BL) Elon Musk of SpaceX. Other keynote presenters include Ellen Stofan, former NASA Chief Scientist now Director of the National Air and Space Museum, and actor Cas Anvar of “The Expanse”. The panel on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics features Tanya Harrison of Planet Labs and Clare Martin of Astroscale. A roundtable for Global Launch Service Providers includes Peter Beck of Rocket Lab, Tory Bruno of United Launch Alliance, Dan Hart of Virgin Orbit, and Gwynne Shotwell of SpaceX. Washington Space Business Roundtable holds an annual flagship luncheon Mar 10 at the Satellite 2020 conference. The National Academy of Science Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, known as Astro2020, will identify priorities for the next decade. An Astro2020 meeting with theme of ‘An Enabling Foundation for Research’ opens Mar 9-11 at the Keck Center in DC. Alliance for Space Development, with sponsorship from the National Space Society and Space Frontier Foundation holds the annual March Storm and Washington DC Blitz Mar 15-19. After one day of training, participants will spend four days visiting members of Congress to support space. A goal of March Storm is to make space settlement and development part of USA national policy. (Image Credits: Satshow, Astroscale, ULA, Virgin Orbit, Alliance for Space Development)

Mar 9 — Moon: Full / Super / Worm Moon, 07:47; at perigee (distance 357,176.96 km), 20:24.

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.

Mar 2-31 — NASA, Nationwide USA: NASA solicits ‘Artemis Generation’ Astronaut applicants.

TUESDAY

Mar 10 — Washington Space Business Roundtable, Washington DC: WSBR Annual flagship luncheon and silent auction; 11:00-13:30.

Mar 10 — Colorado Chapter of Citizens for Space Exploration, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Colorado Business Roundtable, Aerospace States’ Association, Colorado Space Coalition, Colorado Space Business Roundtable, Manufacturers Edge, Denver CO: Aerospace Day at the Colorado State Capitol 2020.

Mar 10 — Apollo Asteroid 2018 RF6: Near-Earth Flyby (0.029 AU)

Mar 10 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 CA3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.035 AU)

Mar 10 — Apollo Asteroid 535844 (2015 BY310): Near-Earth Flyby (0.036 AU)