Asia-Pacific Region to Address Space Technology and Climate Change at APRSAF-17
Melbourne, Australia will host the 17th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-17) on November 23-26. Sponsored by the Australian Government, JAXA and MEXT, this year’s event will focus on the theme: “The role of space technology and industry in addressing climate change.” Space agencies, governmental bodies and international organizations (such as the United Nations) as well as companies, universities and research institutes from over 30 regional participants will take part in the largest space-related conference in the Asia-Pacific region. Days 1 and 2 will include parallel sessions for 4 working groups: Earth Observation, Communication Satellite Application, Space Education and Awareness and Space Environment Utilization. During the plenary session, status reports will be provided for the Sentinel Asia, Satellite Applications For Environment (SAFE) and Satellite Technology for the Asia-Pacific Region (STAR) projects. Pictured: APRSAF-17 co-chairs Michael Green (BR) of the Australia Government’s Innovation and Space Branch, Tetsuhiko Ikegami (BL) of MEXT. (Credit: APRSAF)
Dutch Seek to Advance Role in Space Based Solar Power
On November 23, the Dutch Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) Consortium will sponsor an SBSP workshop in Haarlem, Netherlands. The Consortium, made up of Dutch companies TNO Industry & Techniek, Dutch Space, Ecofys, Altran, JIVE and ECN, will provide a forum for participants to discuss SBSP as a potential business for the Dutch market as well as survey partnerships with the international space community to advance renewable energy sources. The event will focus on the key role of the Dutch technological market in the field of solar PV and receiver / transmitter technology. Presentations will be given by ECN Director Wim Sinke (BR) and Space Horizon President Arno Wielders (TL). With the world energy usage projected to increase 87% by 2035, the need to develop alternative energy sources will be inevitable. However, harvesting solar energy from space still poses a challenge since converting beamed energy from space into electricity in a power grid has not been successfully demonstrated. (Credit: Space Horizon, JIVE, Altran, ECN, Dutch Space, TNO, growth5, cleartechnica)
= 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: Venus (ESE), Saturn (ESE) / Evening Planets: Jupiter (S).
MONDAY
Nov 22 — International Space Station, LEO: E-25 crew members Cmdr Doug Wheelock and flight engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin continue last minute preparations for their return to Earth on board a Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft Nov 25 at 23:46 EST.
Nov 22 — NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Orbit: All systems nominal in scientific phase of mission as LRO continues to return data from the Moon.
Nov 22 — Mars ‘Hopper,’ Red Planet: British Scientists from Leicester Space Research Center continue with research and design on a Mars ‘hopper’ that would move by sucking in carbon dioxide from Mars’ atmosphere and compressing it into fuel as well as be able to leap .7km at a time and travel 643km during a 6-year mission.
Nov 22 — Asteroid 1756 Giacobini: Closest Approach to Earth (1.041 AU).
TUESDAY
Nov 23 — WM Keck Observatory, Kamuela HI: ‘Star and Planet Formation,’ Josh Eisner.
Nov 23 — Space Horizon, Dutch SBSP Consortium, Haarlem, The Netherlands: ‘Space Base Solar Power Workshop,’ to address potential solution for global challenges related to increasing demand for energy.
Nov 23-26 — Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, Melbourne, Australia: ‘17th Session of the APRSAF,’ includes a poster contest for children themed ‘Space Technology to Help Earth.’
Nov 23 — Asteroid 2008 KT: Near-Earth Flyby (0.014 AU).
WEDNESDAY
Nov 24 — Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo HI: ‘Science Rocks! After School Program,’ event to help students in grades 4-6 acquire a solid background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills.
Nov 24 —International Symposium on Space Technology and Science Committee, JAXA, et al, Online: Extended submission deadline for ‘28th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science‘ held Jun 5-12, 2011.
THURSDAY
Nov 25-26 —Laboratory for Space and Microgravity Research, Madrid, Spain: ‘5th Spanish Space Students – S3,’ event for professionals and students.
Nov 25 — Asteroid 2010 VP: Near-Earth Flyby (0.078 AU).
FRIDAY
NET Nov 26 — Arianespace, Launch Ariane 5 / Intelsat 17 & HYLAS 1, Kourou, French Guiana: Arianespace Flight 198 set to use Ariane 5 rocket with cryogenic upper stage to launch Intelsat 17 communications satellite and HYLAS 1 satellite for Avanti Communications UK.
Nov 26-27 — European Southern Observatory, Santiago, Chile: ‘Chilean Astrophotography Workshop 2010.’
SATURDAY
Nov 27 — Cassini OTM-268, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #268 today.
SUNDAY
Nov 28 — Asteroid (Near-Earth Flyby): 207945 – 1991 JW (0.095 AU); 2009 WY104 (0.096 AU).