August 25-31, 2025 / Vol 44, No 34 / Hawai`i Island, USA
Lunar Broadcast Precursor: Terrestrial Edition

Andøya Satellite Summit 2025: Europe First Spaceport Unites Nations

Andøya Satellite Summit 2025, held August 25-27 at Fyrvika, Andenes, showcases Europe first operational spaceport, Andøya Spaceport, uniting over 100 leaders from 50+ organizations across 10 countries, including Norway, Germany, France, United States and Canada. Norwegian Space Agency, European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA drive multinational collaboration, advancing satellite technology and launch innovation. The program includes keynotes by Norwegian Space Agency Director General Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, ESA Directors Laurent Jaffart and Toni Tolker-Nielsen, and perspectives from Isar Aerospace Chief Commercial Officer Stella Guillen, Andøya Space CEO Ketil Olsen, Northrop Grumman Vice President Troy Brashear, Space Norway Director Odd-Harald Hagen, EIDEL CEO Truls Andersen, Rheinmetall Head of Space Nadja Peterseim, and Kongsberg Defence Vice President Arne Gjennestad. Monday keynote, “Building a stronger ecosystem for the space industry,” sets the tone. Day one features market talks and a reception with Nordland County Mayor Eivind Holst. Day two includes Isar Aerospace launch complex tour and innovation panels. Day three offers an Arctic whale safari and concluding remarks. Fully booked, Andøya Spaceport fosters global partnerships, cementing Europe leadership in space. (Image Credit: Spaceport Norway, L-R Hauglie-Hanssen, Tolker-Nielsen, Olsen, Guillen)

MONDAY

Aug 25 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 73 seven members focusing on cardiovascular health with NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim, an MD, doing artery ultrasound scans of Zena Cardman of NASA and Kimiya Yui of JAXA; Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos using both microscope to study artery-lining cell and camera to capture Earth landmark images; Mike Fincke of NASA renewed thermal tape on spacesuit helmets that protects them from extremes when in use during spacewalks.

Aug 25 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou 20 three-member crew using a large-scale robot, called an artificial intelligence model, named Wukong in honor of Sun Wukong the legendary Monkey King, a symbol of agility and intelligence; the astronauts said Wukong offered highly comprehensive guidance during preparations for the 3rd spacewalk of the crew, using both ground-based search strategies and in-orbit data.

☾ Aug 25 — Moon Enterprise News: Weekly lunar advisories coming soon….

Aug 25 — CASC, Launch Long March 8A / Unknown Payload, Commercial LC-1, Wenchang Space Launch Site, China: 10th group of Guowang Internet satellites.

o Aug 25-27 — Andøya Space, Norwegian Space Agency, Innovation Norway, Kongsberg, et al, Andøya, Norway: Andøya Satellite Summit 2025 – Arctic².

Aug 25 – Oct 1 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Online / Reston VA: Orbital Mechanics and Mission Simulation Course; instructor Ken Ernandes of L3Harris and Florida Institute of Technology.

Ongoing…

● Jun 10 – Sep 30 — Adventures in Astronomy, Online / Bridgeport CT: Adventures in Astronomy-Approaching Infinity; 17 Zoom classes with George Roush.

o Aug 1 – Sept 7 — CNSA, Hong Kong Science Museum, et al, Hong Kong, China: On display are near- and far-side lunar samples from Chang’E-5 and -6 and Chang’E-6 return capsule and parachute.

= Terrestrial and o = International terrestrial events in local time;  = Moon, = Space and = International space events in Hawai’i time unless noted.

Weekly Planet Watch Morning Planets: Mercury (ENE), Venus (E), Jupiter (E), Saturn (S), Uranus (E), Neptune (S); Evening Planet: Mars (W).

Astroscience Exploration Network (ASEN) Posits Africa as Key Contributor in Space Exploration

Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life (NoRCEL) is collaborating with National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to hold ASEN 2025, August 27-28. Sohan Jheeta (pictured) founded NoRCEL to promote collaboration among scientists, researchers, students and enthusiasts for origin-of-life science, including hypothesizing existence of life beyond Earth. NoRCEL seeks to make astroscience (astrobiology, astrophysics, astrochemistry and planetary sciences) accessible through educational outreach, especially in the Global South, has affiliations with 7+ countries in Africa, 12+ universities in India and a Latin American Hub. An online magazine is now in its 3rd publication and features an article on exoplanets. NoRCEL supports 100+ PdD students and postdocs globally and is entirely volunteer-run, including scientists with a sense of humor such as the one who asked, “Who keeps reheating primordial soup in the lab microwave?” NASRDA is the space agency of Nigeria and has goals to advance education and research Africa-wide in astroscience. Part of the Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, NASRDA is hosting ASEN  in-person event at Abuja, but online attendance is encouraged and has a registration fee of only US$27 / €24. Africa has a growing role in advancing space exploration and has terrain such as deserts that can stand-in for extraterrestrial conditions. (Image Credits: NoRCEL)

 

TUESDAY

Aug 26 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / NAOS, SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB CA: Satellites to SSO: Luxembourg Earth observation, 800 kg built by OHB Italia, ground resolution 50 cm; those of Dhruva Space, Planet, Exolaunch.

● Aug 26 — Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, KSC FL: Meet Astronaut Terry Wilcutt, who is a director at NASA Johnson after piloting or commanding 4 Space Shuttle (STS) missions, 79 and 89 with Mir dockings, and 106 to prepare ISS for 1st permanent crew

☾ Aug 26 — Moon: 2.47° SSW of Mars, 06:00.

☆ Aug 26 — Apollo Asteroid 2024 CL: Near-Earth Flyby (0.077 AU)

WEDNESDAY

Aug 27 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 10-56, SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL: 28 satellites for Starlink constellation.

Aug 27 SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 10-11, LC-39A Kennedy Space Center FL: 28 satellites for Starlink constellation.

● Aug 27 — American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Resources Technical Committee, Reston VA: Webinar: Innovation through Inspiration: Space Robotics Competitions; presented by Robert Mueller of NASA Kennedy Swamp Works.

o Aug 27-28 — Astroscience Exploration Network of NoRCEL, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA), Abuja, Nigeria: Astroscience on the African Continent; at NASDRA Headquarters and online.

☾ Aug 27 — Moon: 1.05° SSW of Spica, 04:00.

Aug 27 — Mercury: At perihelion, 0.3075 AU from Sun, 02:00.

☆ Aug 27 — Apollo Asteroid 2025 PM2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.024 AU)

 

THURSDAY

● Aug 28 — Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC), Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Online / Laurel MD: Surface Power Focus Group monthly telecon; 11:00 EDT.

● Aug 28 — SpaceNews, Online / Alexandria VA: Panel discussion: Nuclear Power in Space; moderated by Jeff Foust; with former NASA Acting Chief Technologist Bhavya Lal, Fred Kennedy of Dark Fission Space Systems; 13:00 EDT.

☆ Aug 28 — Amor Asteroid 2025 QP: Near-Earth Flyby (0.054 AU)

FRIDAY

● Aug 29 — Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC), Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Online / Laurel MD: Abstracts Due: 6th Cislunar Security Conference 2025; to be held Dec 2-4.

☾ Aug 29 — Moon: At apogee, distance 404,566 km, 06:00.

☆ Aug 29 — Aten Asteroid 2017 RK15: Near-Earth Flyby (0.040 AU)

SATURDAY

★ Aug 30 — Van Allen Probes, LEO: Spacecraft reach 13 full years / begin 14th year in space today, launched 2012; adding to the understanding of Earth radiation belt environment and its variability.

Aug 30 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 17-7, SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB CA: 24 satellites for Starlink constellation.

Aug 30 SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 10-14, SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL: 28 satellites for Starlink constellation.

● Aug 30-31 – Space Center Houston, Houston TX: Family Overnight; tent-camp by Falcon 9 rocket or Independence shuttle replica; STEM activities; US$80.

☾ Aug 30 — Moon: At first quarter, 20:24.

☆ Aug 30 — Apollo Asteroid 1998 SH2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.020 AU)

SUNDAY

● Aug 31 – Sep 2 — Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, KSC FL: Meet Astronaut Mike Foreman.

☾ Aug 31 — Moon: 0.71° SE of Antares, 01:00.

Aug 31 — Venus: 1.17° S Beehive Cluster, 18:00.

☆ Aug 31 — Apollo Asteroid 2025 NO3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.091 AU)

25 Jul 2026
  • Mission Milestone
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir takes command of ISS during changeover, followed by three Expedition 74 crew members returning to Earth.
26 - 30 Jul 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
AAS hosts, and AIAA co-hosts, specifically AAS Space Flight Mechanics Committee and AIAA Astrodynamics Technical Committee. At Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa.
26 Jul 2026
  • Mission Milestone
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and Christopher Williams set to undock from ISS in Soyuz MS-28, triggering the start to Expedition 75 with Commander Jessica...
27 Jul 2026
  • Launch
SLC-4E (~35°N), Vandenberg SFB CA, USA
Another batch of 24 satellites for SpaceX's Starlink space-based Internet service.
27 - 28 Jul 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Exeter, United Kingdom
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Astrophysics Group at the University of Exeter, we are pleased to announce the international...
28 Jul 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Online
10:30 ET, Boeing to announce its 2nd quarter 2026 financial results.
29 Jul 2026
  • Space / Astro Events
Moon Orbit
14:37 UTC / 04:37 HST.
29 Jul 2026
  • Launch
Wenchang Space Launch Center, ~19°N, Hainan Island, China
Undisclosed payload on China's Long March 7A rocket from Hainan Island.
29 Jul 2026
  • Launch
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), ~39°N, Shanxi, China
Unknown payload launching from Launch Complex 9A launch pad.
29 Jul 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Online
Set to launch August 30, this 2pm EDT briefing will feature NASA personnel Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Jackie Townsend, Julie McEnery, and Jeremy Perkins.
30 - 31 Jul 2026
  • Space / Astro Events
Worldwide
Emanating from ~6km-wide comet with 5.3-year Solar orbit, visible in constellation Aquarius near star Delta Aquarii, fast, faint meteors peak on this night, best...
30 - 31 Jul 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
London, United Kingdom
The International Research Conference is a federated organization dedicated to bringing together a significant number of diverse scholarly events for presentation within the conference...
30 Jul 2026
  • Launch
SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
Launch window opens 03:09am EDT for classified payload to launch for the US National Reconnaissance Office.
31 Jul 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Venice, Italy
to be held December 2-4, 2026 in Venice, Italy. Interstellar space is not the domain of any one discipline. It demands insight from across the...
01 - 09 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Florence, Italy
Includes ~150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions / Panels / Task Groups, such as SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and...
02 - 07 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Fukuoka, Japan
From 02 to 07 August 2026, a few thousand geoscientists across diverse disciplines will gather at the 23rd annual meeting of the Asia Oceania Geosciences...
03 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Online
Occurring at 12pm ET with NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and SpaceX, followed by and 2PM ET briefings with the crew itself: 12...
04 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Online
Holding its first financial results telecon 4:30pm EDT, after going public on June 12, 2026.
05 Aug 2026
  • Observation / Anniversary
Mars Surface
NASA Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory) rover surpasses another full year of operations on Mars surface today; launched Nov 26, 2011 – landed Aug 5,...
06 Aug 2026
  • Launch
Andøya Spaceport, ~63°N, Norway
2nd test flight of Isar Spectrum launch vehicle, to carry 5 cubesats to SSO, and ESA "Boost!" experiment: * CyBEEsat (TU Berlin) * TriSat-S...
07 Aug 2026
  • Launch
Tanegashima Space Center, ~30°N, Japan
Japan to launch 04:30 local time the MICHIBIKI No. 7 | Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-7) navigation satellite.
09 - 25 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
This international lunar science meeting has two objectives: to provide a platform for leading experts to review recent advances across lunar research, from the...
25 Jul 2026
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir takes command of ISS during changeover, followed by three Expedition 74...
26 - 30 Jul 2026
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
AAS hosts, and AIAA co-hosts, specifically AAS Space Flight Mechanics Committee and AIAA Astrodynamics Technical...
26 Jul 2026
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and Christopher Williams set to undock from ISS in Soyuz MS-28,...
27 Jul 2026
SLC-4E (~35°N), Vandenberg SFB CA, USA
Another batch of 24 satellites for SpaceX's Starlink space-based Internet service.
27 - 28 Jul 2026
Exeter, United Kingdom
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Astrophysics Group at the University...
28 Jul 2026
Online
10:30 ET, Boeing to announce its 2nd quarter 2026 financial results.
29 Jul 2026
Moon Orbit
14:37 UTC / 04:37 HST.
29 Jul 2026
Wenchang Space Launch Center, ~19°N, Hainan Island, China
Undisclosed payload on China's Long March 7A rocket from Hainan Island.
29 Jul 2026
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), ~39°N, Shanxi, China
Unknown payload launching from Launch Complex 9A launch pad.
29 Jul 2026
Online
Set to launch August 30, this 2pm EDT briefing will feature NASA personnel Shawn Domagal-Goldman,...
30 - 31 Jul 2026
Worldwide
Emanating from ~6km-wide comet with 5.3-year Solar orbit, visible in constellation Aquarius near star Delta...
30 - 31 Jul 2026
London, United Kingdom
The International Research Conference is a federated organization dedicated to bringing together a significant number...
30 Jul 2026
SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
Launch window opens 03:09am EDT for classified payload to launch for the US National Reconnaissance...
31 Jul 2026
Venice, Italy
to be held December 2-4, 2026 in Venice, Italy. Interstellar space is not the domain of...
01 - 09 Aug 2026
Florence, Italy
Includes ~150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions / Panels / Task Groups,...