Russia, India, USA Robotic Spacecraft Set to Join China with Moon Landers in 2021

An unprecedented flurry of lunar landings is planned for the year by multiple national and commercial enterprises: Russia may resume remote exploration slightly ahead of others if October 1 launch date announced by Roscosmos leader Dmitry Rogozin, now also in charge of a dedicated lunar directorate, holds true. Luna-25 is an entirely new spacecraft (Luna-Glob) while paying homage to the historic mission series. ISRO Chair Kailasavadivoo Sivan also confirms Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover will be sent NET November, where they will coordinate with Chandrayaan-2 orbiter currently in 100-km lunar polar orbit – reducing expected price to US$84.1M vs $136.8M cost of the prior mission. Two independent efforts from USA are also keen on making Moon landings in 2021: Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines are counting down days until Peregrine and Nova-C landers are to touch down in Lacus Mortis and Schroter’s Valley, respectively. IM is striving for October 11 launch via SpaceX Falcon 9. International Lunar Observatory Association is sending ILO-X precursor instruments with IM, joining 5 NASA and several independent payloads. Japan company Dymon will rideshare with Astrobotic to deploy a small rover, as will SpaceBit of UK. While Astrobotic aims for July, its mission is contingent upon the completion of ULA Vulcan Centaur, which CEO Tory Bruno has stated will be pushed to late 2021 while awaiting Blue Origin BE-4 engines. (Image Credits: Roscosmos, IM, ISRO, NASA)

MONDAY

India Sets Near and Long Term Goals: Human Space Missions, Boost Commercial Space, Reusability / Green Tech

K. Sivan begins his 1-year extended term as ISRO Chair January 14 and outlines India 2021 plans as well as a 10-year projection for sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth. In late February, PSLV-C51 is to launch the first satellite developed entirely by Brazil space agency, Amazônia 1 for Earth observation, from Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 re-attempt at Moon South Pole landing is being prepared for second half 2021. India first solar researcher, Aditya-L1, is planned for January 2022. Chandrayaan-2 initial data release from 7 instruments is now available to the public; release of new data sets containing lunar surface mineral mapping is expected later this year. Perhaps most significant is human spaceflight program development with Gaganyaan first uncrewed flight possibly late 2021 – which may use green propulsion and lithium-ion batteries. Further efforts are being made toward private industry partnerships, including the recent establishment of Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Center, and the commissioning of a launch site 750 km South of Sriharikota at Kulasekarapattnam from where the upcoming Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will launch when complete. First demo flight of SSLV is slated for March 2021 from a dedicated launch pad “Small Satellite Launch Complex” in Sriharikota. Also in progress are advancements for heavy-lift capabilities, public outreach, and technologies for tracking, telemetry and R&D. (Image Credits: ISRO, Roscosmos, Google Maps)

Jan 11 — Moon Village Association,

Jan 11 — NASA, Online / Washington DC: Winners of Breakthrough Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge to be announced today; team presented concepts for lunar payloads that could explore previously uncharted areas on Moon.

Jan 11-15 — American Astronomical Society, Online / Phoenix AZ: 237th Meeting of the AAS.

Jan 11-15 — AIAA, Online / Reston VA: 2021 Science and Technology (SciTech) Forum – Part 1.

Jan 11-15 — International Space Science Institute, Bern, Switzerland and Online: Workshop: Global Change in Africa – Role of Space Observations.

Jan 11 — Moon: 1.50° S of Venus, 11:00.

Jan 11 — Jupiter: 1.41° NNW of Mercury, 09:00.

Jan 11 — Amor Asteroid 2013 YS2: Near Earth Flyby (0.047 AU)

Jan 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 RO6: Near Earth Flyby (0.050 AU)

Continued From…

Nov 4, 2020 – Feb 28, 2021 — International Astronautical Federation, Online: Abstracts Submission Open: 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2021); being held Oct 25-29.

Jan 10-12 — AIAA, Online / Reston VA: International Student Conference.

Jan 10-15 — European Microwave Association, Institute of Engineering and Technology, IEEE, AESS, et al, Online / Utrecht, The Netherlands: 50th European Microwave Week; in conjunction with 17th European Radar Conference and 15th European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference.

Jan 10-15 — American Meteorological Society, Online / New Orleans LA: 101st Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society.