Human Moon Missions To Be Considered During International Lunar Conference in Hawaii
Achieving a human mission to the surface of our Moon in this decade will likely require international collaboration, technological innovation through private / public partnerships, significant public support, and entrepreneurial incentives. Several studies have outlined methods to achieve this lofty goal in a cost-effective and timely manner. In the early 1990s, General Dynamics conducted a series of Early Lunar Access studies which sought to enable 2-3 week crew stays on the Moon, while reducing total costs by a factor of 10 compared to Apollo. NASA JPL recently published a study about a hypothetical 7-day human mission to the Moon’s Malapert Mountain. After conducting 2 feasibility studies on a Human Service Mission for its proposed Lunar Observatory, the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) has recently proposed an initiative for an Independent / International Consortium for a US$5-10B-Human Lunar Service Mission within the decade. On November 13-17, astronautical engineers, astronauts, educators and NewSpace entrepreneurs will convene on Hawai`i Island for the 2011 International Lunar Research Park (ILRP) Leaders Summit. Organizers hope to establish an ILRP on the Moon, beginning with development of a terrestrial prototype in Hawaii that would leverage the State’s Moon-like environment to test new space exploration technologies, and pioneer public education / professional training programs to enable extended missions beyond LEO. (Image Credit: NASA, ILOA, ILRP, artinnaturephotography.com)
Mars500 Mission Advancing Future Mars Exploration, International Cooperation
Astronauts voyaging to Mars in the future may better know what to expect during long-distance space flight thanks to the successful completion of the Mars500 experiment on November 4 at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, Russia. More than 6,000 people from 40 countries applied for the 520-day experiment which began June 3, 2010 and simulated a full-length human mission to the Red Planet. The 6 international crew of ‘astronauts’ (R) consisted of Cmdr Alexey Sergeyevich Sitev, Sukhrob Rustamovich Kamolov and Alexandr Egorovich Smoleevskiy of Russia, Wang Yue of China and Diego Urbina and Romain Charles of Europe. The mission tested the psychological effects on the astronauts who managed to live together in a 550 cubic meter simulation unit. The mission also included 3 simulated Mars-walks made in February 2011. Despite recent setbacks in the Russia space program, space officials say they hope to send humans to Mars by 2040. Another recent event, ‘Women and Mars Conference,’ which took place Nov 9-10, featured several prominent women in the space industry including Linda Billings (BR), Tiffany Montague (BL) and Michelle Viotti.Explore Mars President, Artemis Westenberg notes, “Women could walk on Mars within the next 20 years…”. (Image Credit: ESA, exploremars.org)
= 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 14 — International Space Station, LEO: E-29 crew continues station maintenance and scientific research while getting ready for 3 new crew members as well as their own departure on Nov 21.
Nov 14 — NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Orbit: All systems nominal in scientific phase of mission as LRO continues to make digital elevation and terrain maps that will be a fundamental reference for future human exploration.
Nov 14 — Phobos-Grunt Mars Mission, LEO: Chances of saving the Russia Phobos-Grunt and China Yinghuo-1 Mars satellite grow slim as scientists continue efforts to communicate with the US$170M spacecraft and fix software issues.
Nov 14 — Cyber, Space & Intelligence Association, Space Transportation Association, Washington DC: ‘China Space and Cyber Challenges.’
Nov 14 — National Space Society, Washington DC: NSS to hold press conference to announce space solar power study conducted by the International Academy of Astronautics at 09:00 – 10:30 EDT.
Nov 14-16 — NASTAR Center, Philadelphia PA: ‘NASTAR Suborbital Scientist Training Program,’ provides researchers, professors and graduate students with hands-on space flight physiology training to prepare them to design experiments and perform research aboard commercial suborbital space flights.
Nov 14 — Asteroid 2005 XB: Near-Earth Flyby (0.074 AU).
Continued from…
Sep 22 — Space Adventures, NASA, ESA, JAXA, Online: Closing date submissions for ‘YouTube Space Lab Competition;’ through Dec 7.
Nov 13 — State of Hawai`i, Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, Pacific International Space Alliance, et al, Waikoloa HI: ‘2011 International Lunar Research Park Leaders Summit;’ through Nov 17.
Nov 16 — USA Congress, Washington DC: ‘Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony,’ to honor astronauts John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin.
img title=”white_star” src=”http://www.spacecalendar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/white_star3.gif” alt=”” width=”16″ height=”16″ /> Nov 17 — Leonids Meteor Shower Peak: Appearing to radiate from Constellation Leo, the Leonids meteor shower produces a maximum of 10-15 meteors per hour, however the Quarter Moon will make viewing shower unfavorable.
Nov 17 — Asteroid 91007 Ianfleming: Closest Approach to Earth (0.959 AU).
FRIDAY
Nov 18 — Moon: At Last Quarter, 05:09; 5.6° SSW of Regulus, 13:00; 7.2° SSW of Mars; 18:00.
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.
Achieving a human mission to the surface of our Moon in this decade will likely require international collaboration, technological innovation through private / public partnerships, significant public support, and entrepreneurial incentives. Several studies have outlined methods to achieve this lofty goal in a cost-effective and timely manner. In the early 1990s, General Dynamics conducted a series of Early Lunar Access studies which sought to enable 2-3 week crew stays on the Moon, while reducing total costs by a factor of 10 compared to Apollo. NASA JPL recently published a study about a hypothetical 7-day human mission to the Moon’s Malapert Mountain. After conducting 2 feasibility studies on a Human Service Mission for its proposed Lunar Observatory, the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) has recently proposed an initiative for an Independent / International Consortium for a US$5-10B-Human Lunar Service Mission within the decade. On November 13-17, astronautical engineers, astronauts, educators and NewSpace entrepreneurs will convene on Hawai`i Island for the 2011 International Lunar Research Park (ILRP) Leaders Summit. Organizers hope to establish an ILRP on the Moon, beginning with development of a terrestrial prototype in Hawaii that would leverage the State’s Moon-like environment to test new space exploration technologies, and pioneer public education / professional training programs to enable extended missions beyond LEO. (Image Credit: NASA, ILOA, ILRP, artinnaturephotography.com)
Astronauts voyaging to Mars in the future may better know what to expect during long-distance space flight thanks to the successful completion of the Mars500 experiment on November 4 at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, Russia. More than 6,000 people from 40 countries applied for the 520-day experiment which began June 3, 2010 and simulated a full-length human mission to the Red Planet. The 6 international crew of ‘astronauts’ (R) consisted of Cmdr Alexey Sergeyevich Sitev, Sukhrob Rustamovich Kamolov and Alexandr Egorovich Smoleevskiy of Russia, Wang Yue of China and Diego Urbina and Romain Charles of Europe. The mission tested the psychological effects on the astronauts who managed to live together in a 550 cubic meter simulation unit. The mission also included 3 simulated Mars-walks made in February 2011. Despite recent setbacks in the Russia space program, space officials say they hope to send humans to Mars by 2040. Another recent event, ‘Women and Mars Conference,’ which took place Nov 9-10, featured several prominent women in the space industry including Linda Billings (BR), Tiffany Montague (BL) and Michelle Viotti. Explore Mars President, Artemis Westenberg notes, “Women could walk on Mars within the next 20 years…”. (Image Credit: ESA, exploremars.org)
= 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 14 — International Space Station, LEO: E-29 crew continues station maintenance and scientific research while getting ready for 3 new crew members as well as their own departure on Nov 21.
Sep 22 — Space Adventures, NASA, ESA, JAXA, Online: Closing date submissions for ‘YouTube Space Lab Competition;’ through Dec 7.
