Ad Astra Kansas (AAK) will hold its ‘Founders Meeting 2011’ on November 4-5 at the State Capitol, Topeka KS. The organization is dedicated to advancing a 21st Century vision of space and science development in Kansas, America and the World, using as its basis the Kansas State Motto, “Ad Astra per Aspera,” or “To the Stars through Difficulty.” Founded in 2001 by a group of citizens and educators, AAK has worked diligently to promote science / technology research, development and education. Its newsletter, AD ASTRA Kansas News, highlights the latest in Interstellar Research and Development. In 2003 it gained affiliate membership status with the Kansas Space Grant Consortium and helped form the observance of ‘Ad Astra Kansas Day’ in April, which coincides with the April 1990 deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope (TR) from Space Shuttle Discovery by Kansas Astronaut Steve Hawley (BL). Since then, AAK initiatives continue advancing STEM education with the promotion of Galaxy Forums and various events held at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center (BR). The AAK is currently sponsoring a sesquicentennial education project, ‘Science in Kansas – 150 Years and Counting,’ featuring trading cards of past and present individuals in science fields to inspire Kansas students and to honor Kansas’ science legacy. Pictured: Kansas Initiative co-founder Randall Chambers (TL). (Credit: adastra-ks.org, NASA, Adrian Mann)
China Advancing Human Space Program with Launch of Shenzhou 8
China will launch the Shenzhou 8 spacecraft in early November from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, about 1600km from Beijing. The robotic spacecraft will perform the 1st China space docking with Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, which was launched on September 29 and is now in orbit 350km above Earth. Shenzhou 8 will feature a modified Russian androgynous docking module capable of coupling with Tiangong-1 in both manual and automatic modes. It is expected to conduct its first docking test with the 7.7-Metric Ton station 2 days after launch. This latest step in what will be a decade-long effort to construct a human-inhabited permanent space station in orbit will be followed by 2 more missions in early 2012. One of those missions is expected to be crewed, with astronauts expected to stay for up to 1 month. Shenzhou 8 will return to Earth in late Nov. (Credit: CNSA)
= 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).
Oct 31 — International Space Station, LEO: E-29 crew members continue to prepare for arrival of Progress 45 cargo craft, which is scheduled to dock to the station’s Pirs docking compartment on Nov 2, delivering 2.8 tons of food, fuel and supplies to the station crew members.
Oct 31 — 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.
Oct 31 — Mars Rover Opportunity, Red Planet: Mars Rover Opportunity to trek to north end of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour crater where northern tilts are favorable for energy production; total odometry is 34.08km.
Oct 31 — Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL: Media event to announce new partnership between Kennedy Space Center and an outside organization that will open NASA facilities to USA commercial space launch service providers at 10:00 EDT.
Oct 31 – Nov 4 — The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Parkes, Australia: ‘Science Symposium: Science with Parkes @ 50 Years Young,’ celebrating 50th year of the Parkes 64m telescope which has enabled world-class discovery.
Oct 31 — Asteroid 2010 VU98: Near-Earth Flyby (0.046 AU).
Continued from…
Sep 22 — Space Adventures, NASA, ESA, JAXA, Online: Closing date submissions for ‘YouTube Space Lab Competition;’ through Dec 7.
TUESDAY
Nov 1 — NASA New Horizons Spacecraft, Deep Space: New Horizons Spacecraft continues successful trek to Pluto and is currently 21.85 AU from Earth and 10.8 AU from Pluto.
NET Nov 1 — CNSA, Launch Long March 2F / Shenzhou 8, Jiuquan, China: A Chinese Long March 2F rocket set to launch Shenzhou 8 on an unmanned flight to conduct the 1st docking between 2 CNSA spacecraft in orbit.
Nov 1 — Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville AL: ‘Combined Federal Campaign Workforce Rally,’ an annual goodwill drive to support charitable organizations at the local, state and national levels.
Nov 2-6 — American Society for Gravitational & Space Biology (ASGSB), International Society for Gravitational Physiology (ISGP), San Jose CA: ‘Joint Meeting of the ASGSB / ISGP 2011.’
Nov 2 — Moon: At First Quarter; 06:38.
THURSDAY
NET Nov 3 — RSA, Launch Proton / Glonass, Baikonur, Kazakhstan: A Russian government Proton rocket and Block DM upper stage set to launch 3 Glonass M navigation satellites or the Russian space agency.
Nov 3 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – San Francisco, Mountain View CA: ‘TechTalk: Team Phoenicia,’ Will Baird.
Nov 3 — Space Transportation Association, Washington DC: ‘STA Breakfast,’ with Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana.
Nov 3 — Taurids Meteor Shower Peak: Appearing to radiate from Constellation Taurus, the Taurids don’t offer more than 7 meteors per hour and will make a faint appearance due to a bright waxing gibbous Moon.
Nov 4,5 — Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hilo; Kamuela; Kailua-Kona HI: ‘DLNR Listening Sessions,’ Hawai`i Island meetings to discuss support for Astronomy and the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope.
Nov 5 — Glenn Research Center, Cleveland OH: ‘19th Annual Young Astronaut Day,’ over 350 students from 28 local schools and youth organizations to participate in fun and competitive events designed to stimulate interest in aeronautics, space science and engineering at 09:30-15:00 EDT.
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.
Ad Astra Kansas (AAK) will hold its ‘Founders Meeting 2011’ on November 4-5 at the State Capitol, Topeka KS. The organization is dedicated to advancing a 21st Century vision of space and science development in Kansas, America and the World, using as its basis the Kansas State Motto, “Ad Astra per Aspera,” or “To the Stars through Difficulty.” Founded in 2001 by a group of citizens and educators, AAK has worked diligently to promote science / technology research, development and education. Its newsletter, AD ASTRA Kansas News, highlights the latest in Interstellar Research and Development. In 2003 it gained affiliate membership status with the Kansas Space Grant Consortium and helped form the observance of ‘Ad Astra Kansas Day’ in April, which coincides with the April 1990 deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope (TR) from Space Shuttle Discovery by Kansas Astronaut Steve Hawley (BL). Since then, AAK initiatives continue advancing STEM education with the promotion of Galaxy Forums and various events held at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center (BR). The AAK is currently sponsoring a sesquicentennial education project, ‘Science in Kansas – 150 Years and Counting,’ featuring trading cards of past and present individuals in science fields to inspire Kansas students and to honor Kansas’ science legacy. Pictured: Kansas Initiative co-founder Randall Chambers (TL). (Credit: adastra-ks.org, NASA, Adrian Mann)
China will launch the Shenzhou 8 spacecraft in early November from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, about 1600km from Beijing. The robotic spacecraft will perform the 1st China space docking with Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, which was launched on September 29 and is now in orbit 350km above Earth. Shenzhou 8 will feature a modified Russian androgynous docking module capable of coupling with Tiangong-1 in both manual and automatic modes. It is expected to conduct its first docking test with the 7.7-Metric Ton station 2 days after launch. This latest step in what will be a decade-long effort to construct a human-inhabited permanent space station in orbit will be followed by 2 more missions in early 2012. One of those missions is expected to be crewed, with astronauts expected to stay for up to 1 month. Shenzhou 8 will return to Earth in late Nov. (Credit: CNSA)
= 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).
Oct 31 — International Space Station, LEO: E-29 crew members continue to prepare for arrival of Progress 45 cargo craft, which is scheduled to dock to the station’s Pirs docking compartment on Nov 2, delivering 2.8 tons of food, fuel and supplies to the station crew members.
Sep 22 — Space Adventures, NASA, ESA, JAXA, Online: Closing date submissions for ‘YouTube Space Lab Competition;’ through Dec 7.
Nov 4,5 — Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hilo; Kamuela; Kailua-Kona HI: ‘DLNR Listening Sessions,’ Hawai`i Island meetings to discuss support for Astronomy and the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope.
