Four International Launches upcoming for ISS Delivery, Earth Observation and Communications Satellites

JAXA is scheduled to launch the 7th H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV-7), also called Kounotori “White Stork”, on H-2B rocket from Tanegashima Space Center September 10 to deliver cargo and experiments to six Expedition 56 crew members at ISS 4 days later. HTVs can hold up to 6,000 kg, more than twice that of Russia Progress. During ascent, JAXA will attempt the release at 300 km of HTV Small Re-entry Capsule containing protein crystal samples for recovery splashdown off the coast of Ogasawara Islands. SpaceX is planning 61st flight of a Falcon 9 with launch of Telstar 18 Vantage communications satellite to GTO from Cape Canaveral FL with 4-hour launch window starting 23:28 on Sep 8, and first stage recovery on OCISLY drone ship. ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C42 mission is set to loft NovaSAR-S (synthetic aperture radar tech demo) and SSTL-S1 (high-res Earth observation) satellites, both built by SSTL, and secondary payloads Sep 16 from Satish Dhawan Space Center. United Launch Alliance at Vandenberg AFB CA will attempt the final launch of Delta 2 rocket Sep 15 to carry NASA ICESat 2 satellite for ice-sheet, sea-ice, and vegetation canopy observations. Delta 2 has a success rate of 98.7% and this launch could fulfill a 100th successful mission streak. (Image Credits: JAXA, NASA, SpaceX, SSL, SSTL, ULA)

MONDAY

ASE 31st Planetary Congress in Belarus Encourages International Participation, Youth in STEM

The 31st Annual Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE): Creating the Future of Space will be held for the first time in Minsk, Belarus September 9-15. The ASE is an educational organization of over 400 Astronauts from 38 countries where members convene to discuss developments in their respective space programs. ~90 Astronauts from 17 countries are expected to participate, including (L-R) Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko. With an objective to encourage interest in STEM, space exploration, and international cooperation, the program will include technical sessions led by space explorers along with a focus on cultural and historical heritage. On Community Day Astronauts will visit Belarusian schools and universities to meet and encourage the next generation with lectures, presentations, and share experiences. In addition, the city botanical garden is set to feature a parkway of Astronauts and a monument will be unveiled in Kosmonavtov Street in honor of Belarus space flight participants. The opening session “Creating the Future of Space” will be chaired by Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky and National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vice-Chairman Sergei Kilin. Kilin mentions ASE goal of increasing involvement in the international space effort and the importance and significance of a human Moon return. Other technical sessions include flight reports and futures in space chaired by Astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, Yuri Usachev, Gerhard Thiele, Oleg Kotov and Michel Tognini. (Image Credits: ASE, NASA, ESA, CNES, Roscosmos, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus )

Sep 10 — California Academies of Sciences, San Francisco CA: Lecture: Our Journey Toward Mars; featuring J.R. Skok from SETI Institute; at Morrison Planetarium, 19:30.

Sep 10 — The Space Show, Online / Tiburon CA: Dr. David Livingston talks with Dr. Chris Limbach of Texas A&M about particle beam and laser interstellar propulsion.

Sep 10-13 — Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Rohnert Park CA: Astronomical Society of the Pacific Annual Meeting: Advancing Astronomy for All.

Sep 10-13 — University of Gottingen, Gottingen, German: Workshop – Observing the Sun as a Star: Would We Find the Solar System If We Saw It?

Sep 10-14 — University of Vienna (Universitat Wien), Vienna, Austria: Workshop: Moonshine; to discuss new Moonshine phenomena and potential interconnections between them.

Continued from…

Jul 8 – Oct 9 — NAOC, National Aquatic Center “Water Cube”, Beijing, China: Lunar Exploration Technology Exhibition featuring 10-meter diameter Moon, lunar imagery, ‘moonlight’ and surround sound composition.

Sep 8-16 — Merritt Astronomical Society, Loon Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada: Merritt Fall Star Quest 2018.

Sep 9-11 — Maui Economic Development Board, Inc, SGAC, Maui HI: Emer-Gen 1st Annual Conference; designed for professionals and students under 35 interested in careers in space, includes networking, mentoring, courses, and professional development sessions.

Sep 9-15 — National Engineering University of Lima, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco, Ollantaytambo, Peru: 8th International Workshop on Astronomy and Relativistic Astrophysics (IWARA2018).

Sep 9-16 — Association of Space Explorers, Minsk, Belarus: 31st Planetary Congress of the ASE: Creating the Future of Space.