Moscow International Solar System Symposium to Focus on Mars Exploration
The Space Research Institute is holding the 1st annual Moscow International Solar System Symposium (1M-S³) on October 11-15 in Moscow, Russia. This year’s theme will be Mars system studies with particular focus on the Russia Phobos Sample Return Mission, which is in preparation for launch in the end of 2011. Eric Galimov (TL), head of the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, and Yu Kostitcyn will provide a review of the scientific goals of the Phobos samples laboratory studies. There will also be sessions on the Mars environment, unsolved questions of Phobos and Deimos, recent results of Mars and Phobos studies and future planetary meetings. The final session will feature a presentation by Hideo Hanada (BR) on the development of selenodetic instruments for Japanese lunar explorer SELENE-2. On Oct 15 there will be a splinter meeting on Russia-France cooperation in solar system exploration. Projected topics for future years of this international symposium include the formation and evolution of the Solar system, planetary systems of other stars and exobiology. (Credit: SRI, JAXA)
Zero-G Flights Encourage Commercial Human Spaceflight, Education
On October 16, Zero Gravity Corporation (Zero-G) passengers will board the G-Force One for a weightless flight experience from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas NV. The plane will conduct 12-15 parabolas, with each parabola simulating 30 seconds of reduced gravity. The parabolas are performed when the aircraft climbs at a 45° angle and reaches an altitude of 9800m. The plane is then ‘pushed-over’ and the aircraft points down at a 30° angle as everything in the plane becomes weightless for 20-30 seconds. Each parabola takes approximately 16km of airspace to perform. Zero G was co-founded in 2004 by X Prize Chairman Peter Diamandis (BR), astronaut Byron Lichtenberg and NASA Engineer Ray Cronise and later acquired by Space Adventures Ltd, the 1st commercial spaceflight company to launch 7 clients on 8 successful missions to the ISS. Since its start, Zero G has successfully flown more than 6,000 passengers aboard 250+ weightless flights, established a microgravity services contract with NASA and implemented several education and research programs for educators. On Oct 3, Zero G conducted its 1st flight from Honolulu International Airport in Honolulu HI. Thirty Hawaii math and science teachers were able to experience a Zero G flight sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Foundation Discovery Program to inspire young people to pursue STEM education. (Credit: Zero Gravity Corporation, Space Adventures)
= 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 11 — International Space Station, LEO: E-25 crew members aboard the ISS include Cmd. Doug Wheelock, Flight Engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin, Shannon Walker, Oleg Skripochka, Alexander Kaleri and Scott Kelly.
Oct 11 — NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Orbit: All systems nominal in scientific phase of mission as LRO continues to return data from the Moon.
Oct 11 — Mars Rover Opportunity, Red Planet: Mars rover continues trek to Endeavour Crater as total odometry to date passes 24km.
Oct 11 — Asteroid 2010 SX11: Near-Earth Flyby (0.051 AU).
Continued from . . .
Oct 10 — Lockheed Martin, Washington DC: ‘1st USA Science & Engineering Festival,’ featuring over 500 science & engineering organizations from across the nation for hands-on science activities to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers; through Oct 24.
TUESDAY
Oct 12 — Space Frontier Foundation, New York NY: ‘2nd TEDxMidTownNY: Sustainable Settlement – In Space,’ participants to discuss requirements for sustainable space settlement featuring MirCorp Co-Founder Rick Tumlinson and SpaceWorks President AC Charania.
WEDNESDAY
Oct 13 — National Space and Technology Association, Houston TX: ’3rd Annual State-of-the-City Technology Report and EXPO.’
Oct 13 — Comet 236P / LINEAR: Closest Approach to Earth (0.904 AU).
THURSDAY
Oct 14— International Launch Services, Launch Proton / XM 5,Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan: XM 5 radio broadcasting satellite to provide digital music and entertainment programming to customers in North America.
Oct 14-15 — ESA, Porto, Portugal: ‘4th Coastal Altimetry Workshop,’ workshop for scientists and engineers dealing with satellite altimetry to discuss data processing, emerging applications and new technologies.
Oct 14 — Asteroid 162269: Near-Earth Flyby (0.088 AU).
FRIDAY
Oct 15 — Next Step in Space Coalition, Commerical Spaceflight Federation, Houston TX: ‘Space Economy Career Fair,’ event to bring together government leaders and space industry veterans to explore new employment opportunities and expansion plans in the Houston area.
Oct 15 — Asteroid 2010 SG15: Near-Earth Flyby (0.088 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 Space Research Institute is holding the 1st annual Moscow International Solar System Symposium (1M-S³) on October 11-15 in Moscow, Russia. This year’s theme will be Mars system studies with particular focus on the Russia Phobos Sample Return Mission, which is in preparation for launch in the end of 2011. Eric Galimov (TL), head of the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, and Yu Kostitcyn will provide a review of the scientific goals of the Phobos samples laboratory studies. There will also be sessions on the Mars environment, unsolved questions of Phobos and Deimos, recent results of Mars and Phobos studies and future planetary meetings. The final session will feature a presentation by Hideo Hanada (BR) on the development of selenodetic instruments for Japanese lunar explorer SELENE-2. On Oct 15 there will be a splinter meeting on Russia-France cooperation in solar system exploration. Projected topics for future years of this international symposium include the formation and evolution of the Solar system, planetary systems of other stars and exobiology. (Credit: SRI, JAXA) 
On October 16, Zero Gravity Corporation (Zero-G) passengers will board the G-Force One for a weightless flight experience from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas NV. The plane will conduct 12-15 parabolas, with each parabola simulating 30 seconds of reduced gravity. The parabolas are performed when the aircraft climbs at a 45° angle and reaches an altitude of 9800m. The plane is then ‘pushed-over’ and the aircraft points down at a 30° angle as everything in the plane becomes weightless for 20-30 seconds. Each parabola takes approximately 16km of airspace to perform. Zero G was co-founded in 2004 by X Prize Chairman Peter Diamandis (BR), astronaut Byron Lichtenberg and NASA Engineer Ray Cronise and later acquired by Space Adventures Ltd, the 1st commercial spaceflight company to launch 7 clients on 8 successful missions to the ISS. Since its start, Zero G has successfully flown more than 6,000 passengers aboard 250+ weightless flights, established a microgravity services contract with NASA and implemented several education and research programs for educators. On Oct 3, Zero G conducted its 1st flight from Honolulu International Airport in Honolulu HI. Thirty Hawaii math and science teachers were able to experience a Zero G flight sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Foundation Discovery Program to inspire young people to pursue STEM education. (Credit: Zero Gravity Corporation, Space Adventures)
= 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 11 — International Space Station, LEO: E-25 crew members aboard the ISS include Cmd. Doug Wheelock, Flight Engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin, Shannon Walker, Oleg Skripochka, Alexander Kaleri and Scott Kelly.
