United Nations Hosting Multiple Space Related Events in Vienna

calendar feature - un space events in viennaThe Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space holds its 51st session February 10-21 at the UN Office in Vienna, Austria. The provisional program includes sections on space debris, space-system-based disaster management, global navigation satellite systems, space weather, near-Earth objects, use of nuclear power sources in outer space and long-term sustainability of outer space activities. Elöd Both of Hungary has been nominated to Chair the Subcommittee which comprises representatives from 76 Member States. A number of related events are being held in conjunction with the 51st UN COPUOS session including an Expert Meeting on Improving Space Weather Forecasting in the Next Decade co-hosted by the International Space Weather Initiative on Feb 10-11. ISWI is actively promoting installation of new ground-based instrumentation in non-traditional locations and making substantial progress in observations of equatorial ionosphere, solar transients and energetic particles. International Living with a Star program works to coordinate plans of World space agencies for missions related to space weather – an inherently international enterprise with global implications. There is also a UN Expert Meeting on International Space Station Benefits for Health on Feb 19-20. The focus is to identify space-proven health applications for the benefit of underserved populations on Earth. (Image Credit: UN, COPUOS, SOHO ESA/NASA)

25th Space Radiation Workshop Focuses on Human Space Flight

Radiation, Human Research ProgramThe 25th Annual NASA Space Radiation Investigators’ Workshop with the theme ‘Challenges and Opportunities: Maximizing Human Space Flight Research’ is set for February 11-13 in Galveston, Texas. Active researchers in the Space Radiation Program interact and share their results with scientists in the Human Research Program and discuss future program directions. Principal Investigators will give presentations under Human Research Program categories of Behavioral Health and Performance, Exploration Medical Capability, Human Health Countermeasures, Space Human Factors and Habitability, and Space Radiation. John Norbury (L) of Langley Research Center will chair 2 sessions on ‘Physics and Space Technology’ and David Kirsch (C) of Duke University will chair ‘New Investigations – Space Radiation.’ According to Dr. Cary Zeitlin, PI for the Martian Radiation Environment Experiment, the average yearly dose of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) on Earth is 0.3 millisieverts (radiation from all sources equals 3.6 millisieverts). The average yearly GCR dose during cruise to / from Mars equals 657 millisieverts. Dr. James Logan (R) stresses “the standard approach just won’t cut it for extended missions beyond earth orbit… considerable strategic vision, innovation and resources [are required]… once these new realities are taken into account, where we should go, how we should get there and why do it at all will become more and more obvious.” (Image Credit: NASA, WPI, Duke Univ., Virtualastro, J. Logan)


FEB-APR = 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 – Evening Planets: Mercury (WSW), Mars (S), Jupiter (E); Morning Planets: Venus (SE), Saturn (S).


MONDAY

Feb 10 — ISS, LEO: Expedition 38 transferring cargo from Cygnus (scheduled for demate / release Feb 18) & newly arrived Progress 54P with 2,584 kg of cargo; configuring hardware, positioning camera in Combustion Integrated Rack.

Feb 10 — LADEE, Moon Orbit: Will continue to monitor Moon dust / atmosphere until scheduled impact (likely Apr 21); science team analyzing data from Chang’e-3 landing, meteoroid showers, other variations.

Feb 10 — Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), Mars Trajectory: India spacecraft operating nominally, will undergo 3 Trajectory Control Maneuvers heading toward Sep 22 orbital insertion.

Feb 10Blue Origin LLC, Kent WA: NewSpace company planning to review sub-scale propellant tank assembly and space vehicle subsystems designs for Orbital Launch Vehicle being developed for NASA CCiCAP.

Feb 10Astrobotic Technology Inc., Mojave CA: Testing Griffin lunar lander sensor package and software system on Masten Xombie suborbital rocket.

Feb 10Spacefleet Ltd, Wiltshire, United Kingdom: Developing prototype of EARL suborbital reusable launch vehicle, will have 3m-long hull, be powered by bi-liquid engines, able to reach 30-km altitude.

Feb 10-11 — International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI), United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, Austria: Expert Meeting on Improving Space Weather Forecasting in the Next Decade.

Feb 10-21 — United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Vienna, Austria: 51st session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Feb 10 — Moon: 4.9° S of Jupiter, 19:00.

Feb 10 — Asteroid 2006 DP14: Near-Earth flyby (0.016 AU).


Continued from…

Jan 15 – Sep 30 — The Planetary Society, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Online / Pasadena CA: Submit your name to be sent to asteroid 101955 Bennu in 2016.

Jan 20 – Feb 25 — Penn State Lunar Lion Team, RocketHub, Online / State College PA: Lunar Lion Google Lunar X Prize Crowdfunding Campaign.

Jan 31 – Mar 2 — Starfire Scientific Inc., Kickstarter, Online / Cochrane, Ontario, Canada: Starfire Space Cannon Kickstarter Campaign.

Feb 9-14 — University of Exeter, Davos, Switzerland: Exoclimes III Conference – The Diversity of Planetary Atmospheres; at Davos Congress Centre.

Feb 9-14 — American Geophysical Union, Yosemite Village CA: AGU Chapman Conference: Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in the Solar System.


TUESDAY

Feb 11 — SETI Institute, Mountain View CA: SETI Talks: Is Planetary Defense Feasible – DE-STAR: A Planetary Defense and Exploration System; presented by Philip Lubin of UC Santa Barbara.

Feb 11 — W. M. Keck Observatory, Kamuela HI: Astronomy Talk: Examining the Planet-Forming Zone Around New Stars; presented by Greg Doppmann at Kahilu Theater, 19:00 HST.

Feb 11 — The Space Show, Online / Tiburon CA: Host Dr. David Livingston talks with Mark Bray, Task Lead at Jacobs Technology.

Feb 11-13 — Johnson Space Center, NASA, National Space Biomedical Research Institute, USRA Division of Space Life Sciences, Galveston TX: 25th Annual NASA Space Radiation Investigators’ Workshop: Challenges and Opportunities – Maximizing Human Space Flight Research; at Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center.

Feb 11 — Moon: At apogee (distance 405,768 km), 19:00; 11.7° S of Pollux, 20:00.

Feb 11 — Asteroid 2013 BS45: Near-Earth flyby (0.016 AU).

Feb 11 — Asteroid 2014 BT43: Near-Earth flyby (0.025 AU).

WEDNESDAY

Feb 12 — Oregon L5 Society, AIAA Pacific Northwest Section, Portland OR: Commercial Mining with a Lunar Elevator; presented by Liftport Group adviser Charles Radley at Midland Library, 18:00 PST.

Feb 12-14 — South California Center for Galaxy Evolution, University of California High-Performance AstroComputing Center, Irvine CA: The Near-Field Deep-Field Connection.

THURSDAY

Feb 13, 14 — Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech/NASA, Pasadena CA: Lecture Series: The History and Future of Space Communications – Celebrating 50 Years of the NASA Deep Space Network; presented by Les Deutsch, Deputy Director for JPL Interplanetary Network Directorate.

Feb 13-14 — JAXA, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand: SpaceEd Workshop for Educators; for intermediate and secondary teachers.

Feb 13 — Moon: 6.3° SSW of Beehive Cluster, 01:00.

FRIDAY

Feb 14 — Royal Astronomical Society, London, United Kingdom: Royal Astronomical Society Ordinary Meeting; at Burlington House.

Feb 14 — NASA HQ, Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, Online / Washington DC: Asteroid Grand Challenge: Virtual Seminar Series; David Morrison speaks on History of impacts research and planetary defense, 11:00 EST.

Feb 14 — Space Center Houston, Houston TX: Lunch with an Astronaut, Brian Duffy; US$49.95 adult.

Feb 14 — Moon: Full (Snow Moon), 13:54; 4.8° SSW of Regulus, 22:00.

SATURDAY

Feb 15 — International Launch Services, Launch Proton / Turksat 4A, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan: Proton rocket to deploy Turksat 4A communications satellite, at 03:09:03 local time.

Feb 15-16 — Auckland University of Technology, SpaceUp, KiwiSpace Foundation, Auckland, New Zealand: SpaceUp New Zealand; featuring Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, Prof. Takashi Kubota (JAXA Hayabusa mission).

Feb 15 — Asteroid 2014 BQ43: Near-Earth flyby (0.055 AU).

SUNDAY

Feb 16-21 — Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan: The Impact of Galactic Structure on Star Formation.