Solar System Complete: Planning for Planetary Exploration Towards 2061

Technologies and Infrastructures Workshop for Planetary Exploration, Horizon 2061 is being held April 23-25 at SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. Corresponding to the return of Comet Halley in the inner Solar System and the centennial anniversary of Yuri Gagarin 1st human space flight in 2061, the workshop will focus on key science questions about small bodies, planets and planetary systems which will drive technologies and paths of exploration into the outer Solar System and Beyond. Topics included in 8 sessions cover Advanced Space Mobility (propulsion, elevator, spaceports), Intelligent Spacecraft, Advanced Communication, Space Manufacturing, Future Observatories for Solar Systems and Exoplanets, Sample Returns and Mining. Michel Blanc will speak on ‘Planetary vision, a European view’; Enrico Flamini on ‘ASI Vision of Planetary Exploration and technological challenges’; Joseph Lazio on ‘Communication and radio science’; Stephen Mackwell on ‘Lessons learned from Planetary Science Vision 2050’; and Bernard Foing on ‘Towards Sustainable Moon / Mars Villages: Infrastructures and Enabling Technologies’. Projected optimistic Interstellar ‘Starship Century’ dates place human exploration of the Solar System at Saturn in 2060s, heading to Uranus in 2070s. NASA is currently exploring Jupiter with Juno and the Kuiper Belt with New Horizons. ESA is planning to launch Jupiter JUICE mission, and NASA planning Europa Clipper in 2022. China is aiming for a Jupiter mission 2036, and Uranus 2046. (Image Credit: NASA, ESA, JPL, IAU, LPI, DLR, A. Ferri, J. Lazio / NRL, Aber, SPC, ILOA)

MONDAY

Apr 23 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ: Colloquium: Pushing the Boundaries – Expanding Possibilities for Exoplanet Atmospheric Characterization; Emily Rauscher, University of Michigan.

Africa Countries Plan to Deliver Space Advancements in Near Future

Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt move forward to meet the demands of space exploration. Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng announces Ghana’s readiness to host the African Union Space Agency. Frimpong Boateng mentions being at the center of the world, the center of the equator, and having a radio astronomy observatory makes Ghana a prime location for astronauts and space scientists. Ghana also plans to launch a super computer facility this year to propel itself into modern technology. The African Regional Data Cube is set for May 9-11 in Nairobi, Kenya. Earlier this month, Kenya sent its first CubeSat to ISS. The 1KUNS-PF was developed by the University of Nairobi in collaboration with JAXA. In late May, it will be launched by ISS Kibo module, using the JAXA robotic arm. Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, and Ghana are the only African countries to have sent satellites into space. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, largest economy and second most advanced country in space technology, aims to create a space industry for economic development. They have launched 5 satellites and plan to send an astronaut into space by 2030. South African National Space Agency supports the world’s largest radio telescope that once complete, could enable astronomers to view space with greater detail using electromagnetic spectrum instead of visible light. Egypt Council of Ministers recently approved a national space agency and intends to create a satellite center in 2019 while launching the country’s first indigenously made satellite in 2020. (Image Credit: NASA. JAXA, IAF, CNN, Ghana.gov, World Atlas, University of Nairobi)

Apr 23-24 — Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group, Institute of Air and Space Law, Leiden Law School, Leiden University, et al, Leiden, The Netherlands: Hague Space Resources Governance Working Group.

Apr 23-25 — Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne Tourism & Convention Bureau, Lausanne, Switzerland: Technologies and Infrastructures Workshop for Planetary Exploration, Horizon 2061; at SwissTech Convention Center.

Apr 23 — Mercury: At aphelion (0.4667 AU from Sun), 01:00.

Apr 23 — Apollo Asteroid 2018 GG4: Near-Earth Flyby (0.025 AU)

Apr 23 — Aten Asteroid 2012 XL16: Near-Earth Flyby (0.041 AU)

Apr 23 — Aten Asteroid 2017 HF1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.061 AU)

Apr 23 — Apollo Asteroid 2015 XF352: Near-Earth Flyby (0.090 AU)

Continued from…

Dec 21, 2017 – Jun 4 — New Horizons, KBO Ultima Thule (2014 MU69) Trajectory: Spacecraft to awaken from hibernation June 4 to prepare for KBO flyby 1 Jan 2019; approach officially begins in August.

NET Apr 20 — Rocket Lab, Launch Electron / “It’s Business Time” Multi-Payload, Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand: Two-week launch window opens for first fully commercial launch dubbed ‘It’s Business Time’ with two Spire Lemur 2 CubeSats and one GeoOptics CICERO satellite.

TUESDAY

Apr 24 — Hubble Space Telescope, LEO: Spacecraft with 2.4 meter diameter main telescope begins 29th year in space today, launched Apr 24, 1990; expected to continue operations until at least 2022.