New Global Wave of Small and Low-Cost Launchers Broaden Space Access Opportunities

Interstellar Technologies Inc of Japan, led by Takafumi Horie, is working to bring online its 10-meter tall, 1-ton rocket Momo with a launch cost of about US$440,000. Landspace Technology is a company in China founded by Zhang Changwu to allow civilian engagement in the global commercial launch market with its new rocket based on the proven 20-meter tall Long March 11. There is also a plan for sea-launch technology put forth by Tang Yagang of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation to use Long March vehicles to lift commercial payloads up to 500 kg to 500-km SSO (sun-synchronous orbit) from a converted 10,000-ton freighter positioned in open ocean at equatorial latitudes. Rocket Lab, a USA-based company led by New Zealander Peter Beck, is conducting test flights of its 17-m tall, 1.2-m diameter Electron Rocket with capacity of 150 kg to 500 km SSO and a price tag less than US$5M. Vector Space Systems led by Jim Cantrell in Arizona is on track towards commercial launches in 2018 with its Vector-R rocket lifting 45 kg to 800 km orbit. Virgin Orbit under the leadership of Dan Hart is pushing forward with development of Launcher One, designed to air-launch 200 kg payloads to SSO from a high altitude carrier aircraft. Spanish startup PLD Space helmed by Raúl Torres is working on the Arion 2 orbital rocket with a baseline lift capacity of 150 kg to LEO and the goal of achieving Europe’s first reusable rockets. (Image Credit: Interstellar Technologies, Landspace, Rocket Lab, Vector Aerospace, Virgin Orbit)

MONDAY

ISU SSP17 Students Near Completion of
2 Month Intensive Studies in Ireland

The International Space University 30th graduate-level Space Studies Program (SSP17) held in Cork, Ireland June 26 to August 25 is bringing together 112 students and 320 international space professionals from 26 countries, including 5 astronauts. The Space Job Fair “Gateway to Work in Space” Aug 12-13 will have workshops and interview training, company presentations, candidate success stories, meeting and networking events, and discussions about the future of space jobs. The Team Projects final presentation day will be Aug 24 under the topics: Entrepreneurial and Innovation Ecosystem for Space led by Gary Martin and Norah Patten; The Future of ISS led by Dan Glover and Jan Walter Schroeder; Roadmaps and Strategies for Space Sector National Capacity Building led by Ed Chester and Rob Hill; and The Future of Internet of Things and Their Applicability to Space and Energy led by Joseph Pellegrino. Inspirational and educational talks have been given by Dan Tani, Nicole Stott, Robert Thirsk, Yi So-yeon, Jeffrey Hoffman, David Levy, Simon “Pete” Worden and John Logsdon. Some of the countries represented at SSP17 include USA, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Nigeria, India, Turkey, Australia, Poland, Papua New Guinea, Spain, UK, Netherlands, and Germany. The 31st Space Studies Program is to be held summer 2018 in the Netherlands with help from Delft University of Technology, Leiden University and ESA European Space Research and Technology Centre. ISU also hosts the Master of Space Studies Program, Southern Hemisphere Program and Executive Short Courses. (Image Credit: ISU, Alan Landers)

Aug 14 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / CRS 12,

Aug 14-17 — Moonchild Theatre Company, London, United Kingdom: Pluto, The Play; written by Callum O’Brien, 19:00, £10.

Aug 14-18 — National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka, Japan: 10th Meeting on Cosmic Dust.

Aug 14-18 — Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia: Conference: Bursting Universe by Robots Eyes.

Aug 14-19 — Rencontres du Vietnam, Quy Nhon, Vietnam: 5th Vietnam School of Astrophysics Physics (VSOA): Galaxies.

Aug 14 — Moon: At last quarter, 15:16.

Continued from…

Jun 15 – Aug 15 — International Space Elevator Consortium, Online: ISEC 2017 Summer Internship Program.

Jun 26 – Aug 25 — International Space University, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland: ISU 30th Space Studies Program (SSP 2017).

Jun 17 – Aug 19 — Singularity University, Moffett Field CA: SU 2017 Global Solutions Program

Aug 5 – Sep 18 — Johnson Space Center, NASA, Houston TX: Campaign 4: Mission 2 – Human Exploration Research Analog; 45 day analog spaceflight / Moon / Mars mission.

Aug 13-15 — Singularity University, San Francisco CA: SU 2017 Global Summit; meet fellow changemakers while discovering the world’s breakthrough innovations in technology and business.

Aug 13-16 — Hong Kong Polytechnic University, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), Hong Kong: 2017 International Symposium on Planetary Remote Sensing and Mapping.

TUESDAY

NET Aug 15 — Rocket Lab, Launch Electron Rocket Flight 2 “Still Testing”, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand: Second orbital test flight of Rocket Lab Electron dubbed “Still Testing” from new site at Mahia Peninsula, carrying several commercial CubeSats; possibly not until October.