Ambitious Mars Mission to Uncover Mysteries of Past, Prepare for Future Human Exploration
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), a rover with more scientific capability than any ever sent to another planet, is ready for its challenging journey to the Red Planet. Launch is set for 10:25 EST on November 25 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch period for MSL will extend to Dec 18. Scheduled to arrive at Mars in Aug 2012, the 900kg rover known as Curiosity will attempt a new landing method with a rocket-powered descent stage lowering the rover on a tether like a sky-crane. Curiosity will land in a selected zone that measures 20 by 25km, next to a 5-km-high mountain inside the equatorial, 154-km Gale Crater. During its 23-month prime mission (1 year on Mars), the nuclear powered rover will use its 10 science instruments to investigate whether environmental conditions ever have been favorable for development of microbial life, and characterize the weather and natural radiation environment that will affect future human missions. In preparation for the launch, NASA has set up a 2-day Tweetup event on Nov 23 & 25 at Kennedy Space Center, along with a host of other prelaunch news conferences on Nov 21-25. (Image Credit: NASA)
Canada Space Summit to Explore Space Data Challenges, National Contributions to Space
The Canadian Space Society will hold its annual ‘Space Summit Conference’ in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on November 23-25. Over 200 space industry professionals and enthusiasts will converge to discuss this year’s theme, ‘Big Data from Space and Earth: Challenges and Opportunities,’ and focus on current issues regarding data sets collected from various space and ground-based instrumentation. The conference will include technical sessions on various topics including space commercialization, exploration, life science, education, Earth orbit, astronomy as well as law and policy. Canadian Space Commercialization Director Farnaz Ghadaki (TL) will chair the Nov 23 sessions on space commercialization. Speakers include Virgin Galactic Commercial Director Stephen Attenborough (CL) and Accredited Space Travel Agent Natasha Rhodes. The conference will also feature a public education event geared towards raising public awareness of Canada contributions to space exploration. The upcoming NASA Mars Curiosity Rover set to launch NET Nov 25 will carry a Canada-made science instrument, Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer which will enable the rover to determine the chemical composition of the rocks and soil on Mars as well as be able to gather data day and night. (Image Credit: Canadian Space Society)
= 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).
Nov 21 — International Space Station, LEO: E-30 crew members Cmdr Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin begin 4-month stay onboard the ISS.
Nov 21 — NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Orbit: LRO continues to function nominally in its 50±15 km near-circular orbit as it makes digital elevation and terrain maps that will be a fundamental reference for future human exploration.
Nov 21 — Mars Rover Opportunity, Red Planet: Scientists continue with seasonal plan for Opportunity, which is to winter over on the north end of ‘Cape York’ on the rim of Endeavour Crater; total odometry to date is 34.33km.
Nov 21-23 — Kennedy Space Center, NASA Headquarters, Cape Canaveral FL; Washington DC: ‘Atlas 5 / MSL Launch Coverage Events,’ science briefings and pre-launch news conference scheduled throughout the week leading to launch and will be held at the Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site and NASA Headquarters.
Nov 21 — Asteroid 5261 Eureka: Closest Approach To Earth (0.514 AU).
Continued from…
Sep 22 — Space Adventures, NASA, ESA, JAXA, Online: Closing date submissions for ‘YouTube Space Lab Competition;’ through Dec 7.
Nov 23, 25 — Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL: NASA to host 2-day launch Tweetup for 150 of its Twitter followers for the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Nov 25.
Nov 23 — Moon: At Perigee (Distance: 359691km); 13:00.
THURSDAY
Nov 24-25 — Laboratory for Space and Microgravity Research, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain: ‘6th Spanish Space Students,’ the annual congress of the LEEM which brings together students and young professionals with Space experts, companies and organizations.
Nov 24 — Moon: New Moon; 20:10.
FRIDAY
NET Nov 25 —ULA, Launch Atlas 5 / MSL, Cape Canaveral FL: A ULA Atlas 5 rocket set to launch NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) Mission.
NET Nov 25 — ILS, Launch Proton / AsiaSat7, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan: An ILS Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage set to deploy the AsiaSat7 satellite to provide television broadcasting services over Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
Nov 25 — Partial Solar Eclipse: Moon to pass nearest to center of the Sun; this will be the 4th time a New Moon will orbit between the Sun and Earth to cause a solar eclipse in 2011.
Nov 25 — Moon: 4.3° NNE of Antares, 09:00;1.9° NNW of Mercury, 23:00.
SATURDAY
Nov 26-28 — Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL: ‘Astronaut Encounter: Apollo Astronaut Al Worden,’ half-hour, interactive Q&A-oriented program aims to inspire children and adults alike to strive for excellence.
Nov 26 — Moon: 2.9° NNW of Venus; 17:00.
SUNDAY
Nov 27 — Asteroid 2008 KT: Near-Earth Flyby (0.067 AU).
Includes ~150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions / Panels / Task Groups, such as SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and...
At the Palais des Nations and online. Outer space is entering a renewed phase of strategic importance, defined by rapid innovation, growing competition and deepening...
This international lunar science meeting has two objectives: to provide a platform for leading experts to review recent advances across lunar research, from the...
At CSIR International Convention Centre. Key topics are Earth Observation, Developing Space Tourism, Space Supply Manufacturing. Cultural tours are offered.
(No earlier than 10 Aug) Japan to launch the MICHIBIKI No. 7 | Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-7) navigation satellite. Launch window remains open through...
Participants will receive theoretical and hands-on training in electron imaging and X-ray spectroscopy for application to planetary samples. This training opportunity is targeted at...
"Leading Australia’s Space Future for Our Strategic Advantage". Southern Space 2026 brings together decision-makers who set the direction for Australia’s space sector. It is...
The second test launch of LandSpace's ZQ-3 rocket with undisclosed test payloads. Zhuque-3 first stage booster will attempt to land on its downrange landing...
A total solar eclipse with a magnitude of 1.0386 (greatest eclipse 17:47:06 UTC) will be visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic...
Includes presentation of the Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence, activities for the new class of Astronaut Scholars, 2-day Technical Conference where Scholars present their...
During U.S. spacewalk 97, two astronauts will replace a Space-to-Ground antenna on the orbital complex. The antenna is a critical communication system NASA uses...
Key themes include: Characterizing exoplanet-host solar-like stars; Star-planet interactions; Planet populations around solar-like stars. At University of Liège.
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), a rover with more scientific capability than any ever sent to another planet, is ready for its challenging journey to the Red Planet. Launch is set for 10:25 EST on November 25 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch period for MSL will extend to Dec 18. Scheduled to arrive at Mars in Aug 2012, the 900kg rover known as Curiosity will attempt a new landing method with a rocket-powered descent stage lowering the rover on a tether like a sky-crane. Curiosity will land in a selected zone that measures 20 by 25km, next to a 5-km-high mountain inside the equatorial, 154-km Gale Crater. During its 23-month prime mission (1 year on Mars), the nuclear powered rover will use its 10 science instruments to investigate whether environmental conditions ever have been favorable for development of microbial life, and characterize the weather and natural radiation environment that will affect future human missions. In preparation for the launch, NASA has set up a 2-day Tweetup event on Nov 23 & 25 at Kennedy Space Center, along with a host of other prelaunch news conferences on Nov 21-25. (Image Credit: NASA)
The Canadian Space Society will hold its annual ‘Space Summit Conference’ in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on November 23-25. Over 200 space industry professionals and enthusiasts will converge to discuss this year’s theme, ‘Big Data from Space and Earth: Challenges and Opportunities,’ and focus on current issues regarding data sets collected from various space and ground-based instrumentation. The conference will include technical sessions on various topics including space commercialization, exploration, life science, education, Earth orbit, astronomy as well as law and policy. Canadian Space Commercialization Director Farnaz Ghadaki (TL) will chair the Nov 23 sessions on space commercialization. Speakers include Virgin Galactic Commercial Director Stephen Attenborough (CL) and Accredited Space Travel Agent Natasha Rhodes. The conference will also feature a public education event geared towards raising public awareness of Canada contributions to space exploration. The upcoming NASA Mars Curiosity Rover set to launch NET Nov 25 will carry a Canada-made science instrument, Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer which will enable the rover to determine the chemical composition of the rocks and soil on Mars as well as be able to gather data day and night. (Image Credit: Canadian Space Society)
= 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).
Nov 21 — International Space Station, LEO: E-30 crew members Cmdr Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin begin 4-month stay onboard the ISS.
Sep 22 — Space Adventures, NASA, ESA, JAXA, Online: Closing date submissions for ‘YouTube Space Lab Competition;’ through Dec 7.
