** What’s Up: March 2021 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL
What are some skywatching highlights in March 2021? Look for Mars close to the Pleiades in the first couple of weeks of March. Then wake up early to observe the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn, which return as morning planets this month. Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up….
In March, the stars of spring lie eastward: Look for the constellations Gemini and Cancer to spot interesting celestial features like star clusters M35 and the Beehive Cluster, and NGC 3923, an oblong elliptical galaxy with an interesting ripple pattern. Keep watching for space-based views of the galaxies.
5. Friday, Mar.5, 2021; 9:30-11 am PDT (11:30 am-1 pm CDT, 12:30-2 pm EDT): We welcome back Dr. Clive Neal from Notre Dame to talk about astronauts on the Moon, lunar ice, planetary protection and lots more.
6. Sunday, Mar.7, 2021; 12-1:30 pm PDT (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): We welcome back space attorney Dr. Mark J. Sundahl with co-author Tanja (T.L.) Masson-Zwaan to talk about Lunar Legal Landscape Challenges, Opportunities and more.
Some recent shows:
** Sunday, Feb.28.2021 – Open lines program welcomed discussion of topics suggested by listeners. “Robert Jacobson started us off with his commercial space update. We then took multiple calls from callers on lots of subjects including space settlement, children and childbirth for space settlement, Mars, Moon and much more.”
Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:
** Northrop Grumman CRS-15: Redwire Crystallization Facility – ISS National Lab
On Northrop Grumman CRS-15, Redwire will launch its sixth commercial facility to the International Space Station, the Industrial Crystallization Facility (ICF). The ICF will provide a space-based platform for the growth and formulation of centimeter-scale single crystals and other exotic materials for use in the optics and sensor industries. Validation of the ICF will also provide a proof of concept for applied industrial materials production in microgravity, which will be an important in-orbit research and development capability in the future. Learn more about this facility, and how it may support future research and development in low Earth orbit.
Learn highlights of ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations that are part of the Northrop Grumman CRS-15 mission to the space station. This mission will bring with it several technology development demonstrations to the orbiting laboratory. This video provides a snapshot on some of the unique investigations that will be performed on the space station over the coming weeks and months.
** NLRA 2021-3: Technology Advancement and Applied Research on the ISS National Lab Webinar – ISS National Lab
** Expedition 64 Spacewalk 71 and 72 Preview Briefing – February 24, 2021 – NASA Video
At the Johnson Space Center, Houston, NASA managers and flight controllers previewed a pair of upcoming spacewalks by Expedition 64 crewmembers outside the International Space Station during a briefing Feb. 24. ISS Deputy Program Manager Kenny Todd, spacewalk flight directors Marcos Flores and Chris Edelen and spacewalk officer Art Thomason discussed a spacewalk on Feb. 28 by NASA Flight Engineers Kate Rubins and Victor Glover to begin the installation of hardware that will support upgraded solar array components to be delivered to the station later this year. They also provided a rundown of activities during a March 5 spacewalk by Rubins and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Flight Engineer Soichi Noguchi to upgrade other external systems on the orbital outpost.
1. Monday, Feb. 22, 2021; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT: No program today.
2. Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT): We welcome back Dr. Haym Benaroya, professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Rutgers University, to discuss hybrid lunar habitat inflatable structures and more.
3. Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021: Hotel Mars TBA pre-recorded. See upcoming show menu on the home page for program details.
4. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021; 7-8:30 pm PDT (9-10:30 pm CDT, 10-11:30 pm EDT): No program today.
5. Friday, Feb.26, 2021; 9:30-11 am PDT (11:30 am-1 pm CDT, 12:30-2 pm EDT): No program today due to follow-up post surgery eye exam.
6. Sunday, Feb.28, 2021; 12-1:30 pm PDT (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): Welcome to Open Lines. Robert Jacobson will start us out with a brief commercial space report and then we will take your calls on any and all space, science, tech, STEM, STEAM, and policy matters. We want to hear from you so give us a call at 1-866-687-7223.
Some recent shows:
** Sunday, Feb.21.2021 – Dr. George Sowers, former Chief Scientist at ULA and currently a professor at the Colorado School of Mines, talked about “multiple topics, policies, returning to the Moon, resource utilization and more“.
** Friday, Feb.19.2021 – Dylan Taylor “returned to talk about the booming commercial space industry, policy, returning to the Moon, China, investing in space and lots more. A great discussion you won’t want to miss.”
** Tuesday, Feb.16.2021 – Andrew Chanin of ProcureAM discussed “their space EFT which is listed with the symbol UFO. Not only did we discuss their commercial space fund in detail, we talked about drivers for the commercial space industry, trends, international competition, China and much more.”
A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):
Panel discussion by Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning for Secure World Foundation with
Natália Archinard, Deputy Head of Education, Science and Space Section at Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
David Barnhart, Research Professor in the Department of Astronautical Engineering at University of Southern California
Tanja Masson-Zwaan, Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University
Space logistics and satellite servicing include new commercial activities that promise to revolutionize the way we use space but also stretch existing regulatory and oversight frameworks. As a result, there have been calls for new “rules” on how these and other space activities will be governed. This panel will discuss how best practices, standards, national regulations, and international law all play a role in creating the governance framework for space and how that process may unfold for satellite servicing.
** SSL Digital Symposium – Day 3, Part 3 – A sustainable space legacy for next generations?
Panel discussion by Claude Nicollier, astrophysicist, astronaut and professor emeritus EPFL / Space Innovation,
Anne-Marlène Rüede, PhD student EPFL, SGAC SSS co-team leader and
Kevin Pahud, EPFL student and Space@your Service association founding member
While space is more related to Earth’s activities and services than ever before, this entire industry is undergoing a massive transformation, with new actors, new business models, new perspectives and the likes of a « space for all » promise. At the same time, sustainability is part of the main challenges that mankind is facing and space will be no exception. This legacy is initiated by today’s experts, but young students are already pushing for a change they will take part in. That’s why we decided to give a voice to EPFL students and young Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) members about their expectations, ideas and the way education should prepare them achieve these goals.
** Tianwen-1 orbit insertion, ESPI Asia NewSpace report, Space in CNY Gala – Weekly News Round-Up Ep 20 – Dongfang Hour – YouTube
1) Tianwen-1 inserts itself successfully in to Martian orbit … 2) Publication of the ESPI Report “New Space in Asia”, including DFH (and GT!) contribution for the China Part … 3) Happy New Year of the Ox! + Chinese New Year Art of Social Media…
** The Space Show – Friday, Feb.19.2021 – Dylan Taylor “returned to talk about the booming commercial space industry, policy, returning to the Moon, China, investing in space and lots more. A great discussion you won’t want to miss.”
** The Space Show – Tuesday, Feb.17.2021 – Andrew Chanin of ProcureAM discussed “their space EFT which is listed with the symbol UFO. Not only did we discuss their commercial space fund in detail, we talked about drivers for the commercial space industry, trends, international competition, China and much more.”
The world is entering a new space race but every new satellite launched into Earth’s orbit runs the risk of colliding with one of the millions of pieces of space junk left behind by previous missions. So how can we solve our space junk problem? Featuring former NASA astrophysicist, Don Kessler; Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, Moriba Jah; space systems engineer, Richard Duke; and Victoria Samson of the Secure World
Matt Hourihan is perhaps the world’s expert on how the U.S. government funds basic science and development activities. He joins the show to talk about the big picture of where the money goes, how the focus has changed over time, and the consequences of budget cuts to critical science investments.
American citizens have unparalleled opportunities to impact the future of space exploration. This workshop walk you through the actions you can take to advocate for NASA from home or at the Capitol.
United Launch Alliance and its predecessor companies have launched every U.S. mission to Mars since the 1960s. President and CEO Tory Bruno joins us for a Q&A on the company’s past, present, and future Mars mission involvement, and how his company plans to help advance Mars and solar system exploration in the years ahead.
In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Dr. Peter Martinez, Executive Director of the Secure World Foundation, USA talked about potential scenarios for the future of humanity in space. Growth and Sustainability in Space – ensuring the long-term usability of Earth’s orbits and beyond: There are more human activities taking place in space today than ever before, and there are no signs of this growth slowing down. Mega-constellations, on-orbit services and lunar mining are all going from science fiction to reality. However, to ensure that humans will continue to be able to benefit from space, steps must be taken to put best-practices and norms of behaviour in place for space operations.
“Orthographic projections of the “Unified Geologic Map of the Moon” showing the geology of the Moon’s near side (left) and far side (right) with shaded topography from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA). This geologic map is a synthesis of six Apollo-era regional geologic maps, updated based on data from recent satellite missions. It will serve as a reference for lunar science and future human missions to the Moon. Credit: NASA/GSFC/USGS.” Credits: USGS
