September 11-17, 2023 / Vol 42, No 37 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Space Security and Sustainability to be Addressed in Conjunction with 78th UN General Assembly
 

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is set to hold its annual Outer Space Security Conference dedicated to avoiding conflict in space while maintaining security by drawing diplomatic, military, academic and commercial space leaders into discussion on September 13-14 at United Nations Plaza in NYC. Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) has been a longstanding goal of the UN, first articulated in a 1981 resolution reaffirming 1967 Outer Space Treaty ban of weapons of mass destruction. 178 countries voted to ban first placement of any type of weapon in space during the 69th UNGA in 2014, while Georgia, Israel, Ukraine and USA voted against the measure. China and Russia introduced a draft resolution banning all weapons in space and on other celestial bodies in 2008 to the 65-nation Conference on Disarmament (CD), which is still pending ratification. Also meeting at United Nations Plaza September 15, The Space 18th SDG Panel will lobby for inclusion of an 18th Sustainable Development Goal supporting space exploration. Led by Space Renaissance International and National Space Society, 50+ space organizations including Interstellar Foundation, the Moon Society and Space Age Publishing Company (publisher of Space Calendar, Steve Durst Editor: “Egalitarian Considerations for Cislunar Development”) will give talks on why human activity outside the closed system of Earth is necessary to reach sustainability goals such as clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and promoting peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16). (Pictured clockwise): Brian Weeden (SFW), Sarah Erickson (UNIDIR), Peter Martinez (SWF), Krista Langeland (RAND), Adriano Autino (SRI), Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom (Space Base), Bernard Foing (SRI), Marie-Luise Heuser (SRI); Image Credits: SRI, NSS, UN, NASA)

MONDAY 

☆ Sep 11 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 69 seven-member crew transferring cargo from Progress 84P & 85P, Cygnus NG-19; using Velocicalc tool to measure airflow through airlocks, Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, 2 International Docking Adapters.

☆ Sep 11 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou 16 three-member crew Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, Gui Haichao continue testing new equipment, conducting test of zero-gravity shoes providing grip, ability to move in high steps, aiding in exercising lower limbs.

☾ = Moon activity

★ = Space and… ☆ = International space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).

Stanford, Harvard Universities Explore Astrophysics, Astrobiology, Origins of Universe with International Academics

Two premier USA Universities present Astrophysics and Astrobiology conferences September 12-15. The Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory will host KIPAC@20 exploring recent advances in astrophysics and cosmology, and prospects for breakthroughs in the coming decade. Cosmology, galactic, stellar astronomy, high energy astrophysics, exoplanets, fundamental physics, data science, instrumentation, and beyond will be discussed. Program will explore the crossover between astrophysics research, data science, technology, and wider industry with KIPAC alumni participating.  Topics include 3D dust mapping in the Milky Way with Greg Green, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy; Extremely Large Telescope programs; Rob Simcoe, MIT; and The Emergence of Star-Forming Cosmic Web; Dongwoo Chung, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto. The Origins of Life Initiative at Harvard University will host an inaugural international science conference along with University of Chicago, ETH-Zurich, and University of Cambridge entitled “Life in the Universe”. Some 55 academic speakers will present multidisciplinary, innovative research on the emergence and early evolution of life, its place in the cosmos, exoplanets and planet formation. Kate Adamala, University of Minnesota, to speak on Synthetic Biology & Synthetic Cells; Moderator Steven Mojzsis, University of Colorado, and panelists to address The Early Earth vs. Early Mars – New Comparisons. (Image Credits: Kavli, SLAC, Max Planck Institute, Harvard) 

o Sep 11-12 — Swiss Aerospace Cluster, Center for Aviation and Space Competence, Space eXchange Switzerland (SXS), ESA, Lucerne, Switzerland: Commercial Space Days.

● Sep 11-14 — Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), Baltimore MD: The First Year of JWST Science Conference; celebrating the first full year of science with JWST.

☆ Sep 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2023 Ru: Near-Earth Flyby (0.027 AU).

☆ Sep 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2023 RK: Near-Earth Flyby (0.040 AU).

Ongoing…

☾ Aug 23 – Sep 6 — Chandrayaan-3, Shiv Shakti Point, Moon: Nominal mission duration of Vikram lander and Pragyan rover at 69.373°S, 32.319°E; may awaken Sep 22.

o Sep 5-14 — European Astrobiology Institute, Nördlingen, Germany: Impacts and their Role in the Evolution of Life.

☾ Sep 6 – NET Jan/Feb — Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), Lunar Landing Trajectory: SLIM Moon mission 3-4 month trajectory to soft land east of Shioli crater (13.2°S, 25.2°E) on Moon near side equatorial region.

☆ Sep 6 – NET Mar — X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), ~550-km LEO: XRISM undergoing 6 month check out testing phase before start of science operations to study galactic plasma.

TUESDAY

● Sep 12 — 61st Observation John F. Kennedy Moon Speech & 31st Observation 1st Black American Woman in Space, USA / Worldwide: As the World looks forward to the First Woman on the Moon and a Human Return to Moon, observations made today for 61st anniversary of Kennedy Moon Speech (1962) and to celebrate the 31st anniversary of Astronaut Mae Jemison becoming first Black American Woman in Space (1992).

● Sep 12 — Space Policy Institute, Secure World Foundation, Washington DC: Our Fragile Space: Protecting the Near Space Environment; exhibition and discussion by space photographer Max Alexander.

● Sep 12 — National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Online / Washington DC: Thriving in Space – Release of Decadal Survey on Biology and Physical Sciences in Space; 10:30 EDT.

● Sep 12-13 — US Chamber of Commerce, Airbus, RTX, Washington DC: Global Aerospace Summit: Innovating the Skies, Connecting the World.

● Sep 12-15 — Harvard University, Cambridge MA: Life in the Universe Conference: Origins of Life Initiative.

● Sep 12-15 — Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC), Stanford CA: KIPAC@20; opening reception September 11, at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

☆ Sep 12 — Moon: At apogee (distance 406,288 km), 06:00; 3.8° NNE of Regulus, 21:00.

☆ Sep 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2023 RC1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.008 AU).

☆ Sep 12 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 RT2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.028 AU).

☆ Sep 12 — Comet C/2023 PI ‘Nishimura’: Near-Earth Flyby (0.839 AU).