Japan Space Astronomy and 21st Century Exploration Advancing

Launch of Astro-H Astronomy Satellite from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan aboard the 30th H-2A rocket is indicative of a greater expansion of Astronomy into Space, both with satellites and lunar missions. Initial countdown toward Feb 12 launch is scrubbed due to inclement weather, next available window to be announced. Reaching its designated orbit at 575-km altitude to begin conducting X-ray and gamma-ray observations of some of the most powerful phenomena in the Universe, it will become known by an as-of-yet unannounced new official name. The primary objective is to explore the structure and evolution of the Universe by studying objects such as supernova explosions, supermassive black holes, and galaxy clusters. One stated goal is to elucidate dark matter and dark energy. The project is lead by JAXA and includes participation of more than 200 researchers at 70 contributing institutions in Japan, the USA, Canada, and Europe. The Astro-H space observatory is 10-100 times more sensitive than its predecessor, 14 meters in length when fully extended and with a mass of 2,400 kg is the heaviest of 8 total that Japan has developed (only seven launched; Astro-G was cancelled). Japan seems to specialize in space-based X-ray astronomy; Astro-A through E, now known as Hinotori, Tenma, Ginga, ASCA, and Suzaku, have all been X-ray observatories. The exceptions Astro-F and G, were designed for Infrared astronomy and radio astronomy respectively. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is hosting the International Lunar Observatory Association public education event known as Galaxy Forum, at their Mitaka, Tokyo headquarters, including participation of JAXA lunar exploration representatives, Japan space enterprise leaders, NAOJ astronomy experts and former Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki. (Image Credit: JAXA, Space Age Publishing Company)

MONDAY

Feb 15 — ISS, LEO: Expedition 46 six-member crew working with two 3D printers (one from Made in Space – USA and one from Altran of Italy for ASI), planning to release Cygnus OA-4 on Friday, gathering data on how 16 sunrises & sunsets a day affects humans, Sally Ride EarthKAM continues to gather images of Earth & allows middle school students to choose specific locations.

Feb 15 — Chang’e-3 Lander, Guang Han Gong, Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W, Moon Surface: Should awake from hibernation for Lunar Day 28 on Feb 18 to continue data observations from Moon, new Chang’e data now available online.

Feb 15 — Akatsuki, 400 x 440 km Venus Orbit: JAXA craft in instruments check out phase, planning to begin observations of Venus atmosphere & monitor weather beginning in April for at least 2 years.

Feb 15 — Ad Astra Rocket Company, Webster TX: NewSpace company with Astronaut Franklin Chang Díaz as president & CEO, developing Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) prototype, creating documentary to show space applications of VASIMR engine including Jupiter Slingshot Mission, lunar cargo transport & deep space robotic missions.

Feb 15 — Tethers Unlimited, Bothell WA: Working on Positrusion Recycler concept to convert ISS / Space waste into filament able to be used in 3D printing, developing SpiderFab system capable of manufacturing antennas, solar arrays, sensor masts, and producing Terminator Tape for decommissioning nano- and microsatellites; founders Dr. Robert Hoyt and Dr. Robert Forward, BoD member Arthur M. Dula.

Feb 15 — Icarus Interstellar, Multiple Locations: Discussing possibility of making science-based competition for designing interstellar missions; Drexel University Icarus chapter working on propulsion designs of CubeSats for Icarus Project Tin Tin (mission to Alpha Centauri); offering free online Interstellar newsletter.

Feb 15 — Chelyabinsk Meteor Explosion 3-Year Observation, Chelyabinsk, Russia / Worldwide: Known Near Earth Asteroid count totals 13,534, awareness of the need for NEO detection & tracking is increasing as people mark Chelyabinsk meteor explosion 3-year anniversary which injured 1,000 people.

Feb 15-19 — Anand Engineering College Agra, University of Western Ontario, Agra, India: Astronomy at Taj 2016: Winter School on Astronomy and Workshop on Star Formation.

SLS, Orion, EM-1 CubeSats Promise Innovative Moon / Deep Space Science and Technologies

The long-awaited, next-generation NASA Space Launch System (SLS) maiden launch date is set for no later than November 2018. Dubbed Exploration Mission 1, SLS 70-metric ton configuration will loft the Orion crew module on a 21-day journey, flying 70,000 km past the Moon. It will also carry 13 CubeSats, four of which will target the Moon: 6U (12 kg) Lunar Flashlight with a 80 m² solar sail to map ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters at Moon South Pole from 20-km altitude, 6U (14 kg) Lunar IceCube will use an electric RF ion engine and search for water ice from 100-km altitude over 6 months, LunaH-Map will map hydrogen within craters at the Moon South Pole, and 14-kg Skyfire will take sensory data of the Lunar surface during its flyby. Another CubeSat “Near Earth Asteroid Scout” will attempt to reach an NEA using solar sail propulsion, send images to Earth and observe its position in space. The Orion command module, currently at KSC, will undergo 30-flight systems installations this year and be powered on for the first time in early 2017. The first Human Moon flyby mission is planned for 2023. Future configurations of SLS / Orion could carry crews to Asteroids, Mars and the Jupiter system. (Image Credit: NASA, ASU, LMCO) Pictured: Chris Crumbly SLS Program Manager

Feb 15 — Moon: 8.9° S of Pleiades, 04:00; 0.35° NNW of Aldebaran, 22:00.

Feb 15 — Aten Asteroid 2006 XP4: Near-Earth flyby (0.064 AU).

Continued from…

Aug 28 – Aug 28, 2016 — NASA, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, Mauna Loa HI: Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Mission 4; at 2,440-meter altitude.

Jan 25 – Feb 24 — Johnson Space Center, NASA, Houston TX: 2016 Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign; 4 volunteers to spend 30 days in HERA 148-cubic-meter capsule simulating a mission to asteroid.

Feb 14-18 — American Astronautical Society, AIAA, Napa CA: 26th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting.

TUESDAY

Feb 16 — Eurorockot, Launch Rockot / Sentinel 3A, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia: Eurorockot Rockot to launch Sentinel 3A Earth observation satellite for ESA and European Commission; mission will measure sea surface topography, sea & land surface temperature, ocean & land color.

Feb 16-19 — ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands: Final Presentation Days – Payload Technologies and Products; at ESTEC.

WEDNESDAY

Feb 17 — Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS), LEO: Three satellites in magnetosphere (two in Moon orbit – now called ARTEMIS) enter 10th year in space today; launched 2007.