December 27, 2010 – January 9, 2011 / Vol 29, No 52 – Vol 30, No 1 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Galaxy Forum Architecture 2011 to Advance 21st Century Education, ILO Missions in New Decade

The Galaxy Forum program is initiated through the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) and promotes 21st Century education, science and astronomy, exploration and enterprise through understanding of humanity’s place in the Galaxy and Universe. Each event throughout the world features participation and events (lectures, presentations, arts and entertainment) from educators, teachers, students and astronomers of all kinds in the local community. Galaxy Forum has been active and thriving in USA (California, Hawaii and Kansas), Canada (Vancouver), Asia (Beijing, China; Bangalore, India and Tokyo, Japan) and Europe (Prague, Czech Republic) since its inaugural event in Silicon Valley on July 4, 2008. The Program in 2011 may include the addition of Shanghai, Paris, New York and Capetown, and other considered locales with possibly more substantial, National events. The ILOA’s mission is to “expand human understanding of the Cosmos through observation from our Moon” via its ILO-X Precursor, ILO-1 Polar and ILO Human Service Mission. In addition to advancing Galaxy 21st Century Education into all levels of all classrooms, Galaxy Forum events are also designed to solicit philanthropic supporters to help fund the development, launch and operations of these missions. A dominant idea and reality of our times, ‘galacticity’ or ‘galactivity’ has increased magnitudinally since Hubble’s conclusive Galaxy confirmations a mere 80-90 years ago, and may become as characterizing an influence for the 21st Century as was ‘relativity’ or ‘relativism’ for the 20th. (Credit: ILOA)

New Space Ports Advancing Importance of Pacific Rim Space Access in New Decade

As the 21st Century moves into its 2nd decade, several commercial entities are primed to join the 9 government agencies currently capable of launching satellites into space. As many of these countries and companies have a presence in the Pacific Rim, the region looks to become abundant in spaceports. With pioneering activities of commercial space companies such as Scaled Composites, XCOR Aerospace and Masten Space, the Mojave spaceport in California (A)(1) is becoming a center for the emerging NewSpace industry. A University of British Columbia scientist has recently proposed constructing a US$100M launch site on the west coast of BC (B). The Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska (C)(3) successfully launched a Minotaur 4 rocket on a US$170M mission with 7 government and university satellites. As with other Pacific-based launch sites, the Kodiak complex does not necessitate overflights of population centers or private property, a key concern for rocket launchers. China recently announced that the 3rd phase of its Chang’e Moon program, including a human Moon mission, will be launched from its new Wenchang Launching Base in the south China province of Hainan (D)(2). Australia’s Woomera Launch Site (E) saw successful launches in the 1990s and holds promise as a potential site for future activities. The 9,700,000 square meter Tanegashima Launch Center (F)(4) located in southern Japan is the launch site for the H-IIA and H-IIB Launch Vehicles. Japan, together with Russia, Korea and USA could gain equatorial, Pacific space access by forming some kind of sea-launching consortium. The company’s launch platform could possibly be based in Hawaii, an ideal central-Pacific location. (Credit: pacificrimllc.com, mychina.com, spacetoday.net, look-on.info, virginmedia.com)


= 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).


Weekly Planet Watch – Morning Planets: Mercury (ESE), Venus (ESE), Saturn (SSE) / Evening Planets: Jupiter (SW).


MONDAY

Dec 27 — International Space Station, LEO: E-26 crew members continue with science and maintenance activities as the newest crew members Flight Engineers Dmitry Kondratyev, Catherine Coleman and Paolo Nespoli continue to familiarize themselves with their new home, taking part in orientation activities and participating in emergency drills.

Dec 27 — 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.

Dec 27 — Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), Red Planet: NASA MRO to end primary mission on Dec 31, nearly 5 1/2 years after launch, however, orbiter may continue to provide relay services for another 5 years.

NET Dec 27 — ILS, Launch Proton / KA-SAT, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan: An ILS Proton rocket with Breeze M upper stage set to deploy the KA-SAT communications satellite for Eutelsat to provide broadband internet services to Europe.

Dec 27 — International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA), Hawai`i Island HI / Global: 2011 Proposed Initiative By ILOA / Space Age Publishing to form independent, international Consortium for Human Lunar Service Mission (HSM) with ILOA possibly accounting for 10% of US$5 – 10 Billion HSM enterprise; Outreach to Spacefaring Nations, AeroSpace Companies, NewSpace, philanthropic supporters of Galaxy / 21st Century Education.

Dec 27Moon: 1.6° S of Asteroid 3 Juno, 05:00; At Last Quarter, 18:19.

Dec 27Asteroid 2010 XN: Near Earth Flyby (0.060 AU).


Continued from . . .

Sep 8 — American Museum of Natural History, New York NY:Journey to the Stars,’ in this all-new Space Show narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, travel 13 billion years into the past, when the 1st stars were born; through Dec 31.

Dec 20 — Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills MI:The Mystery of the Christmas Star,’ journey back 2000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the Star sighted by the Wise Men; through Dec 23, 27-30.


TUESDAY

NET Dec 28 — Arianespace, Launch Hispasat 1E & Koreasat 6, Kourou, French Guiana: Arianespace Flight 199 set to use Ariane 5 rocket with cryogenic upper stage to launch Spanish Hispasat 1E communications satellite to serve Europe, North America and South America. Koreasat 6 satellite for South Korea.

Dec 28 — Glenn Research Center, Great Lakes Science Center, LEO / Cleveland OH: Cleveland students to have phone conversation with ISS astronauts Cmdr Scott Kellyand flight engineers Catherine Coleman and Paolo Nespoli at 11:30 – 11:50 EST.

Dec 28Asteroid 3192 A’Hearn: Closest Approach to Earth (1.172 AU).


WEDNESDAY

Dec 29Moon: 7.5° SSW of Saturn; 12:00.

Dec 29Coma Berenicid Meteors: Radiating from Constellation Coma Berenices, this meteor shower emits a few bright fireballs every hour.


THURSDAY

Dec 30Mercury: 12.3° ENE of Antares; 06:00.

Dec 30Asteroid 2007 YH1: Near Earth Flyby (0.052 AU).


FRIDAY

Dec 31 — X Prize Foundation, Santa Monica CA: Deadline for registration to compete for Google Lunar X Prize.

Dec 31 — Virginia Living Museum, Newport News VA: Star of Wonder: The Mystery of the Christmas Star.’

Dec 31Moon: 6.9° S of Venus; 05:00.


SATURDAY

Jan 1 — NASA Voyager 1, Deep Space: After 33 years and over 17.3 billion km traveled, Voyager 1 spacecraft passes through the heliosheath (the turbulent outer shell of the Sun’s sphere of influence) as it departs from our solar system and becomes humankind’s 1st interstellar probe.

Jan 1 — Cassini OTM-273, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #273 today.


SUNDAY

Jan 2 — Virginia Living Museum Abbitt Planetarium, Newport News VA: ‘Virginia Skies,’ event will give children and adults a chance to explore the evening skies above Virginia in this classic planetarium presentation.


MONDAY

Jan 3-7 — Indian Space Research Organization, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India: ‘98th Indian Science Congress,’ one of the largest national science events, with thousands of delegates participating, exploring, understanding, analyzing and interacting on matters of science.

Jan 3-7 — University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa: ‘Workshop on Convection in Stars.’

Jan 3Earth: At Perihelion (0.983 AU).

Jan 3Quantarids Meteor Shower Peak: Radiating from the constellation Bootes, the Quadrantids are an above average shower with up to 40 meteors per hour at their peak.


TUESDAY

Jan 4-7 — American Astronautical Society, Online: Deadline for AAS Lady Mamie Ngan ISU Scholarship Applications.

Jan 4-7 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Orlando FL: ‘49th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting,’ including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition.

Jan 4Moon: New Moon; 09:03.

Jan 4Asteroid 6318: Closest Approach to Earth (0.910 AU).


WEDNESDAY

Jan 5 — The SETI Institute, Mountain View CA: Colloquium Series Lecture: ‘Near Earth Asteroids as Targets for Human and Robotic Exploration,’ David Morrison.

Jan 5-7 — The National Academies, Houston TX: ‘Meeting: Human Spaceflight Crew Operations.’

Jan 5-9 — The International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture, International Astronomical Union, Lima, Peru: ‘9th Oxford International Symposium on Archaeoastronomy,’ event for researchers in fields such as astronomy, anthropology, archaeology, history, museum studies, surveying, statistics and the history of religions as well as the history of science and astronomy.

Jan 5-Feb 4 — International Space University, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia: ‘Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program,’ an intensive, interdisciplinary, live-in program for professionals, graduates and senior graduates with 40 core lectures, workshops and a group research project.


THURSDAY

Jan 6 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – San Francisco, San Francisco CA: ‘AIAA – SF Council Meeting.’


FRIDAY

Jan 7 — Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC: ‘Flights of Fancy – Stories for Children: Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars Space Poems and Paintings,’ Douglas Florian.


SATURDAY

Jan 8-14 — Geological Society of Africa, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa: ‘CAG23 South Africa 2011: Together in Africa for a Leading Role in Geoscience.’

Jan 8 — Cassini OTM-274, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #274 today.


SUNDAY

Jan 9-13 — American Astronomical Society, Seattle WA:217th Meeting of the AAS.’

Jan 9Asteroid (Closest Approach to Earth): 84225 Verish (1.044 AU); 6470 Aldrin (1.205 AU)

Jan 9Asteroid 6318: Near-Earth Flyby (0.070 AU).

01 - 09 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Florence, Italy
Includes ~150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions / Panels / Task Groups, such as SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and...
08 - 09 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Geneva, Switzerland
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...
09 - 25 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
This international lunar science meeting has two objectives: to provide a platform for leading experts to review recent advances across lunar research, from the...
10 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Online
2:00pm PDT - Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) will release its financial results for the 2nd quarter 2026. A live webcast and replay of...
10 Aug 2026
  • Launch
SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
A batch of 29 satellites to launch to LEO for the Starlink mega-constellation, which now exceeds 10,897 active satellites. The first stage B1085 is...
10 - 12 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Pretoria, South Africa
At CSIR International Convention Centre. Key topics are Earth Observation, Developing Space Tourism, Space Supply Manufacturing. Cultural tours are offered.
10 Aug 2026
  • Launch
Wenchang Space Launch Center, ~19°N, Hainan Island, China
Undisclosed payload on China's Long March 7A rocket from Hainan Island.
10 Aug 2026
  • Launch
Tanegashima Space Center, ~30°N, Japan
(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...
11 - 13 Aug 2026
  • Education Program
Houston TX, USA
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...
11 - 12 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Canberra, Australia
"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...
11 Aug 2026
  • Launch
Jiuquan Space Launch Center, ~41°N, Gansu, China
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...
12 Aug 2026
  • Observation / Anniversary
Heliocentric Orbit
NASA craft surpasses another full year in space today, having launched Aug 12, 2018; probe came within ~6.16M km of the Sun on Dec...
12 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Online
Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) will hold a conference call 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). A live webcast and replay of the...
12 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Online
NASA will stream the eclipse live with views across the path and interviews with subject matter experts through a variety of platforms. During the...
12 Aug 2026
  • Space / Astro Events
Global / Inter-Global
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...
13 - 15 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Houston TX, USA
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...
13 Aug 2026
  • Mission Milestone
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
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...
15 Aug 2026
  • Launch
Launch Complex 1, ~39°S, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
NASA astrophysics 9-month mission to gather ultraviolet light information for understanding origins of stars / planets / life.
15 Aug 2026
  • Launch
SLC-4E (~35°N), Vandenberg SFB CA, USA
Undisclosed payload launch to LEO. Second stage to attempt landing on ASDS barge, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY).
15 Aug 2026
  • Launch
SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
Launch of Globalstar global mobile communications satellite to LEO. Second stage is set to land on the SDS barge, A Shortfall of Gravitas (ASOG).
17 - 21 Aug 2026
  • Meeting / Conference / Symposium
Liège, Belgium
Key themes include: Characterizing exoplanet-host solar-like stars; Star-planet interactions; Planet populations around solar-like stars. At University of Liège.
17 Aug 2026
  • Launch
Wenchang Space Launch Center, ~19°N, Hainan Island, China
Unknown payload expected to launch on Long March 12, a is medium-lift vehicle that uses propellant of kerosene and liquid oxygen, able to place...
01 - 09 Aug 2026
Florence, Italy
Includes ~150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions / Panels / Task Groups,...
08 - 09 Aug 2026
Geneva, Switzerland
At the Palais des Nations and online. Outer space is entering a renewed phase of strategic...
09 - 25 Aug 2026
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
This international lunar science meeting has two objectives: to provide a platform for leading experts...
10 Aug 2026
Online
2:00pm PDT - Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) will release its financial results for the...
10 Aug 2026
SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
A batch of 29 satellites to launch to LEO for the Starlink mega-constellation, which now...
10 - 12 Aug 2026
Pretoria, South Africa
At CSIR International Convention Centre. Key topics are Earth Observation, Developing Space Tourism, Space Supply...
10 Aug 2026
Wenchang Space Launch Center, ~19°N, Hainan Island, China
Undisclosed payload on China's Long March 7A rocket from Hainan Island.
10 Aug 2026
Tanegashima Space Center, ~30°N, Japan
(No earlier than 10 Aug) Japan to launch the MICHIBIKI No. 7 | Quasi-Zenith Satellite...
11 - 13 Aug 2026
Houston TX, USA
Participants will receive theoretical and hands-on training in electron imaging and X-ray spectroscopy for application...
11 - 12 Aug 2026
Canberra, Australia
"Leading Australia’s Space Future for Our Strategic Advantage". Southern Space 2026 brings together decision-makers who...
11 Aug 2026
Jiuquan Space Launch Center, ~41°N, Gansu, China
The second test launch of LandSpace's ZQ-3 rocket with undisclosed test payloads. Zhuque-3 first stage...
12 Aug 2026
Heliocentric Orbit
NASA craft surpasses another full year in space today, having launched Aug 12, 2018; probe...
12 Aug 2026
Online
Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) will hold a conference call 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m....
12 Aug 2026
Online
NASA will stream the eclipse live with views across the path and interviews with subject...
12 Aug 2026
Global / Inter-Global
A total solar eclipse with a magnitude of 1.0386 (greatest eclipse 17:47:06 UTC) will be visible...