Lunar Exploration and Planetary Caves Meetings Showcase Solar System Priorities
The 2015 Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) to be held October 20-22 at the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) Headquarters in Columbia MD. Scientists, engineers and commercial sector entrepreneurs will be working on issues involving science, exploration, and utilization of the Moon to create a sustained human space-faring capability — advancing exploration of the Solar System. Institutional support also comes from NASA and Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI). Clive Neal of University of Notre Dame and Steve Mackwell of LPI are the Conveners with a distinguished Science Organizing Committee that includes Program Chair Samuel Lawrence (L) of Arizona State University, James Carpenter of ESA-ESTEC, Noah Petro of NASA/GSFC, Jeffrey Plescia of JHU/APL, Bob Richards of Moon Express, Greg Schmidt of NASA Ames and Charles Shearer of University of New Mexico. The 2nd International Planetary Caves Conference, at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff AZ on Oct. 20-23, highlights themes such as Extraterrestrial Cave Properties, Astrobiology and Biological Signatures, Cave Microclimates, Cave Detection, Robotic Exploration / Mapping and Human Habitation / Related Technologies. The program convened by J. Judson Wynne (R) includes a full day of excursions to local caves, and is supported by LPI, NASA/JPL, New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Northern Arizona University, The Explorers Club, The SETI Institute (Carl Sagan Center), USRA, University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) and U.S. Geological Survey. (Image Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech, Arizona State University, ESA)
MONDAY
Oct 19 — ISS,LEO: Expedition 45 reviewing procedures for upcoming EVA, working on spacesuits, participating in in-flight events with public, preparing coffee in specially designs cups for Capillary Beverage experiment, doing research to improve design and strength of buildings & bridges on Earth, maintaining ISS water supply system, exercise equipment & computers.
Oct 19 —Venus Climate Orbiter (Akatsuki), Heliocentric Orbit: JAXA US$300M spacecraft continuing to be monitored as trajectories for attempting Venus orbit in December & plans for observing Venus are being finalized.
Oct 19 — Rosetta, Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko Orbit: About 216M km from Sun & 270M km from Earth, ESA craft mapping surface, studying water cycle & comet’s interaction with solar wind; layers of material reveal that comet’s “duck” shape is result of a low-speed collision between 2 separate comets in past.
Oct 19 — Bigelow Aerospace LLC,Las Vegas NV: NewSpace company 330-cubic meter volume “Bigelow Expandable Activity Module” to be delivered to ISS in Jan 2016 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9, planning to adapt modules for private space station and lunar surface.
Oct 19 — MoonSpike Limited, London, United Kingdom: Raising funds through KickStarter Campaign, aiming to build rocket to launch probe to Moon surface; team will be lead by Kristian von Bengtson (co-founder of Copenhagen Suborbital) and space entrepreneur Chris Larmour.
Oct 19 — Uwingu, Boulder CO: Founded by Alan Stern, company lets public nominate names for exoplanets & craters of Mars; working toward Nov 28 “Beam Me to Mars” message transmission to be sent through Universal Space Network at a rate of 1M bits per second.
Oct 19 — The Space Show, Online / Tiburon CA: Dr. David Livingston talks with Ben Haldeman from Planet Labs.
= All times
for terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for space events, and…
= All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time;’ Greenwich, England).
JUICE Industry Day Keeps Europe Jupiter Mission on Track for 2022 Launch
A two-day JUICE Industry Day themed Exploring the Emergence of Habitable Worlds Around Gas Giants is set to take place at ESA European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, The Netherlands October 27-28. JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) spacecraft prime contractor is Airbus Defence and Space SAS. This industry day will allow for competitive procurement to complete the building of the spacecraft, harmonizing and standardizing components, minimizing cost and meeting quality requirements. The 5,000-kg JUICE is intended to spend at least 3.5 years observing the gas giant’s atmosphere and plasma environment, and the surface and interior of the 3 largest icy moons, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto beginning in 2030. Ten science instruments will include radar to study subsurface structures, a magnetometer to characterize subsurface oceans on moons and Jupiter magnetic field, and a camera to image geology on moons, and Jupiter clouds, lightning and rings. Spectral-imaging from ultraviolet to sub-millimeter wavelengths will record temperatures, Jupiter aurorae, exospheres, atmospheres, and characterize ices / minerals. JUICE will look for signs of alien life, help to answer unknowns about the Jupiter system / the Solar System, and complement data found during the Juno mission. (Image Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, Caltech)
Aug 11 – Oct 31 — International Astronomical UnionOffice for Astronomy Outreach, Online:NameExoWorlds Contest; public voting for 15 stars and 32 exoplanets.
Oct 20-22 — Lunar Exploration Analysis Group, NASA, USRA, LPI,Columbia MD:Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Meeting; with a focus on lunar resources & understanding the dynamic Moon; at Universities Space Research Association headquarters.
Oct 21 — Orionids Meteor Shower Peak: The 2nd of 2 showers that occur each year as a result of Earth passing through dust released by Halley’s Comet, Orionids appear to radiate from Constellation Orion, are swift (68 km/sec), can be bright & leave persistent trains; can produce between 20-70 meteors per hour.
Oct 24 — Mars Odyssey, Mars Orbit: NASA spacecraft enters 15th year in orbit around Mars today, holds record for longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth.
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The 2015 Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) to be held October 20-22 at the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) Headquarters in Columbia MD. Scientists, engineers and commercial sector entrepreneurs will be working on issues involving science, exploration, and utilization of the Moon to create a sustained human space-faring capability — advancing exploration of the Solar System. Institutional support also comes from NASA and Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI). Clive Neal of University of Notre Dame and Steve Mackwell of LPI are the Conveners with a distinguished Science Organizing Committee that includes Program Chair Samuel Lawrence (L) of Arizona State University, James Carpenter of ESA-ESTEC, Noah Petro of NASA/GSFC, Jeffrey Plescia of JHU/APL, Bob Richards of Moon Express, Greg Schmidt of NASA Ames and Charles Shearer of University of New Mexico. The 2nd International Planetary Caves Conference, at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff AZ on Oct. 20-23, highlights themes such as Extraterrestrial Cave Properties, Astrobiology and Biological Signatures, Cave Microclimates, Cave Detection, Robotic Exploration / Mapping and Human Habitation / Related Technologies. The program convened by J. Judson Wynne (R) includes a full day of excursions to local caves, and is supported by LPI, NASA/JPL, New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Northern Arizona University, The Explorers Club, The SETI Institute (Carl Sagan Center), USRA, University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) and U.S. Geological Survey. (Image Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech, Arizona State University, ESA)
= All times
= All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
= All times for space events, and…
= All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time;’ Greenwich, England).
