ISS Exp 50 Upgrades Continue Multinational Effort to Maintain Human Presence in Space

Astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Peggy Whitson of NASA conduct EVA 41 scheduled April 2 to perform Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA-3) outfitting and Multiplexer/De-Multiplexer (MDM) work. This is the second in a series of three EVAs for ongoing repairs and forward-looking upgrades that are tasked to this Expedition. Next is EVA 42 on April 7 with Astronauts Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet of ESA for Multiplexer/De-Multiplexer (MDM) and ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC-4) work. There is a reboost scheduled on Apr 5 that is designed to position the station at the correct altitude for departure of Soyuz MS-02 on Apr 10 transporting crewmembers Kimbrough, Andrei Borisenko and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos back to Earth. With this completion of another cycle of human LEO operations, the station itself has yet to achieve its original vision — enabling upward and outward exploration and travel, as a waypoint for humans en route to Moon, Mars and beyond. Current plans to create a Cislunar Human Outpost capable of supporting crews on extended missions in lunar orbit and elsewhere, reflect a pivot at NASA and renewed urgent interest in Moon transcending potential short-term policy changes. Plans being studied by Bill Gerstenmaier associate administrator for human exploration and operations propose that first elements of the lunar outpost could, if decided soon, be delivered as secondary payloads on early SLS flights. (Image Credit: NASA, Roscosmos)

MONDAY

Mar 27 — Cornell University, Ithaca NY: Lecture: 2017 LPSC Recap; 12:30.

Algeria Hosts 4th ACAA, Looks Toward Future Aurès Observatory

ACAA 2017, the 4th Algerian Conference on Astronomy and Astrophysics, is being held March 27-29 at University of Khenchela Abbes Leghrour, Algeria, North Africa. The focus is on time domain astrophysics (gravitational waves, gamma ray bursts, supernova) in the multi-messenger era, within the context of the future Aurès Observatory – two astronomical / space observatories planning to be built in Ahaggar and Aures regions. Aurès Observatory will boost scientific research in Algeria, which is the 10th largest country in the world by area, the largest in Africa and home to an estimated 40 million people. Parts of Algeria offer near-flawless sky unaffected by light pollution; a 2016 study shows more than one-third of humanity can no longer see the Milky Way. Algiers Observatory (built 1985, altitude of 300 meters) is now known as Centre de Recherche en Astronomie Astrophysique et Géophysique (CRAAG), and it combines astronomy with astrophysics and geophysical research. Topics of ACAA 2017 include Science with Gaia (results which may change understanding of some astrophysical phenomena), Small Bodies of the Solar System (primarily comets, meteors, asteroids between Mars and Jupiter), Stellar Variability (different processes which appear during evolution of a star), and New Trends in Astrophysics. The Scientific Committee members include (L-R) Conference Chairman Nassim Seghouani and Yassine Damerdji of CRAAG, Alain Klotz of University of Toulouse, Marc Sarazin of ESO, Valerie Connaughton of USRA, Zouhair Benkhaldoun of Oukaimeden Observatory Morocco, and Fulvio Ricci of University of Roma. (Image Credit: ACAA, siriusalgeria.net, CRAAG, ESO, INFN)

Mar 27 — SETI Institute,

Mar 27 — Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center, NASA, Titusville FL: Vector Space Systems Vector-R launch vehicle to be displayed prior to its installation at NASA Now exhibit.

Mar 27-29 — Abbes Leghrour University, Algeria Research Center in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics (CRAAG), Khenchela, Algeria: The 4th Algerian Conference on Astronomy and Astrophysics (ACAA 2017).

Mar 27 – Apr 7 — United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Vienna, Austria: 56th Session Legal Subcommittee – Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 2017.

Mar 27 — Moon: New Moon, 16:57.

Mar 27 — Aten Asteroid 2010 EG21: Near-Earth Flyby (0.074 AU).

Continued from…

Mar 1-31 — Guerilla Science, Online / UK, USA: Kickstarter Campaign: Intergalactic Travel Bureau: Space Vacations For All VR; free STEM outreach tool that will help educators & space enthusiasts spread the magic of a journey to space.

Mar 26-31 — Aspen Center for Physics, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Aspen CO: Conference: Formation and Dynamical Evolution of Exoplanets.

TUESDAY

Mar 28 — 30th Observation of National Space Society Founding, Washington DC: Events taking place to celebrate the 30th anniversary of NSS, international nonprofit educational and scientific organization specializing in space advocacy.

Mar 28 — University College London, UCL IEEE Student Society, IEEE UK, British Interplanetary Society, London, United Kingdom: Seminars: Terrestrial and Planetary Radioglaciology.