Four Launches and Reentry of Tiangong-1 Expected Late March

Russia Soyuz MS-08 carrying Expedition 55/56 members Richard Arnold, Andrew Feustel, and Oleg Artemyev to join Anton Shkaplerov, Scott Tingle, and Norishige Kanai on the ISS, is expected to launch March 21 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. On the same day at Kourou, French Guiana ELA-3 launch site, Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA (VA242) is set to launch the Superbird 8 / DSN1 hybrid telecommunications satellite for Tokyo-based SKY Perfect JSAT Corp., as well as the UK-based Avanti Communications owned Hylas 4 satellite. March 24 at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India, the launch of ISRO GSLV Mk.2 with cryogenic upper stage will loft the 2,100-kg GSAT 6A satellite. This payload will contain several transponders and will demonstrate a 6-meter unfurlable antenna. Rocket Lab plans to launch the NASA VCLS / ELaNa XIX late March from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. This will be their first fully commercial launch with 12 CubeSats on the Electron Payload Plate, a customizable interface between Electron and its payload, enabling it to support multiple systems. The 8,500-kg CNSA Tiangong-1 is expected to reenter Earth atmosphere between 43°N and 43°S latitudes March 29 to April 9, currently falling at 6-km per week and increasing. The space station consists of 2 modules and 15 cubic meters of pressurized volume. (Image Credit: NASA, JAXA, ISRO, RSC, CMSA, Arianespace)

MONDAY

Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Heading Toward 50th Year

The 49th LPSC in the Woodlands TX March 19-23 jointly organized by Lunar and Planetary Institute and Johnson Space Center will host ~1,800 planetary and lunar scientists and students from more than 40 countries. Originally named Apollo 11 Lunar Science Conference, this year’s LPSC co-chairs are (L-R) Louise Prockter of LPI and Eileen Stansbery of NASA JSC. Highlighted sessions include Planetary Scientist Workshop with Emily Lakdawalla, Cassini’s Amazing Discoveries by Linda Spilker, Antarctic Search for Meteorites Slide Show, and the Venus and Mars Exploration Analysis Groups. LEAG Town Hall will update the community on its activities and the LEAG Community Networking Event is sponsored by Moon Express. The 45th Anniversary of Apollo 17 Panel will feature Harrison Schmitt, Gerry Griffin and James Head, moderated by Carle Pieters. Microsymposium 59: Chinese Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Program on Mar 17-18 is organized by Chunlai Li of NAOC, Lev Zelenyi of IKI, Yuri Kostitsyn Vernadsky Institute, Maria Zuber of MIT, Apollo 15 Commander David Scott, James Head of Brown University, Clive Neal of Notre Dame, Ho Jin of Korea Kyung Hee and Makiko Ohtake of JAXA ISAS. Truly international collaboration in Space may soon develop in light of China major successes with the Chang’e Program, USA shift toward the Moon with Space Policy Directive 1, and worldwide interest in lunar operations. The NASA Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Mission Concepts is also being held Mar 18. (Image Credit: LPI, NASA, Planetary Society, SSERVI)

Mar 19-23 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, USRA, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Woodlands TX: 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference; bringing together international specialists in petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, geology, astronomy to present the latest results of research in planetary and lunar science.

Mar 19-23 — United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Falda Del Carmen, Argentina: United Nations / Argentina Workshop on the Applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

Mar 19-24 — National Institute for Astrophysics – Italy (INAF), European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Bertinoro, Italy: Conference: Life on Earth and Beyond – Emergence, Survivability, and Impact on the Environment.

Mar 19 — Moon: 4.4° SSE of Uranus, 09:00.

Continued from…

Feb 3 – Mar 19 — Johnson Space Center, NASA, Houston TX: Campaign 4: Mission 4 – Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA 2017); 45 day analog spaceflight / Moon / Mars mission.

Feb 15 – Oct 15 / TBD — Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS), 2,500-meter Elevation, Mauna Loa HI: HI-SEAS 6 four-member ‘Lavanaut’ crew from Australia, Korea, Scotland and Slovakia 8-month space mission simulation postponed.

NET Mar 16-31 — Rocket Lab, Launch Electron / VCLS ELaNa, Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand: First full commercial launch of Electron rocket with various CubeSats for NASA Venture Class Launch Service (VCLS) Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XIX mission.

Mar 17-24 — Recontres de Moriond, CNRS, La Thuile, Italy: 53rd Rencontres de Moriond: Cosmology 2018.